Volokh Conspiracy Wing Nuttery

There has been a lively debate over at Volokh Conspiracy a slightly wing-nutty site run by some out of touch, ivory tower academics posting slightly buckleyian defenses of the status quo and a dictatorial executive branch...

The latest tiny whirlpool appearing in their draining tub is an especially touching bit of concern trolling. Just what could Obama have offered Blago... What did he know? When did he know it?

Their paranoia focuses on an anticipated Obama denial that he has had any contact with the Governor or Blago's office about a replacement for his Senate Seat. Because this seems to be "not true" the speculation froths up into spectacular visions of sound and fury...

Here's a typical piece from resident wing nut Jim Lindgren;

It is not really plausible that Obama was interested in who was replacing him in the Senate, and that Blagojevich was desperately interested in shaking down Obama for money or favors, and that Obama’s refusal to yield to Blagojevich’s bribery/extortion attempt was conveyed to Blagojevich -- but somehow in over a month there was no contact between the Obama camp and the Governor’s team.

Let's parse this.

Obama was interested in who replaced him in the senate. True.

Blago was shopping the seat to the highest bidder. True.

Obama camp say's they won't play ball. True.

No contact in over a month between the camps. Maybe/maybe not. We'll know when we get the report.



Let me begin by stating that i am not a blind obama supporter, but, even assuming Prof. Lindgren's worst fears are true... that obama was knowingly willing to "play ball" with blago, which he was not, i truly couldn't care. i would trust he was doing it because he felt that having her there would be an asset to his implementing of his agenda. seriously, after years of nepotistic, partisan subversion of every nook and cranny of the executive branch under bush, am i so pure as to say this would be wrong of obama.

however, i do not believe this to be the case.

i believe at some point there were contacts between rahm and blago and/or his office concering obama's desire to have what's her name appointed to his sentate seat. i imagine he delegated the task to rahm and said see what can you do in an above board fashion. quite frankly, i believe obama is too smart to get involved in anything not completely above board because it only jeopardizes his presidency.

i mean, he can't be so concerned with a mere senate seat. it's going to a democrat anyway, no matter what...

did he know blago could be crooked and stupid. i'm sure he did. that's why he delegated it to rahm with the proviso all above board.

there's no question from what's been released, that obama refused to play ball.

did they consider it?

who cares. i hope they did. only fools don't consider all their options. ultimately, they concluded it wasn't worth it.

unfortunately for those of Volokhian bent, most voters are optimistic about an obama presidency and quite simply could care less about this.

unless they have obama on tape, forgeddaboutit.