Dick "The Turban" Durbin Subpoenaed In Blagojevich Trial

And the hits just keep on coming for the Democrats.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he's been subpoenaed by Rod Blagojevich's defense attorneys to testify at the ousted Illinois governor's upcoming corruption trial.

Durbin discussed the subpoena during an appearance in Chicago on Friday — a day after Blagojevich's lawyers asked a federal judge to issue a subpoena to force President Barack Obama to testify.

Now Obama needs to get worried. Durbin is spineless wonder and if the prosecutors get on the right train of questioning Barack could find himself on the same side of the bus he has thrown so many others under.

Dick Durbin, improving the tone of politics in America since 1983.

Hey Barry, starting to feel a little heat? Durbin was one of the first to beg Obama to run for president. If you played real close attention to that url of the petition you have seen it was from George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Dick also took some heat when he called for the resignation of Roland Burris, whom Blagojevich appointed to take over the empty seat of Obama in the Senate. It is a sordid and tangled web of deceit and corruption in Illinois politics and this trial could prove to be an interesting sideshow to the upcoming rerun season on television.

Roland Burris and the Chicago Way: 'Who Walks Away From $1.2 Million?'

It didn't take long for the skeletons in Roland Burris' closet to start coming out.

Roland Burris, Illinois' newest senator, likes to talk about his years of service to the people of the state and his steadfast refusal to engage in the politics of favors.

He rarely discusses one milestone in his long public career: a record $800,000 campaign loan he received in his 2002 run for governor. Nor is he quick to mention the man who made the loan, businessman Joseph Stroud, who provided most of Burris' financial support—$1.57 million in all—for that failed bid.

So why did this businessman go to Burris?

The businessman made it clear he had called on Burris, then a private citizen, because of Burris' political résumé. "There is an appropriate person to go to who was formerly a state attorney general here in Illinois, I believe, to properly secure prosecution of a crime," he testified in the ex-employee's lawsuit.

Burris testified that Stroud's contributions bought him no special access and he denied an allegation in the suit that Stroud had offered Burris $20,000 if the former employee were charged with eavesdropping because of tape recordings she made.

So how much total was "loaned"?

During Burris' campaign, Stroud's support accounted for more than 70 percent of Burris' political fund. The $800,000 loan remains the biggest single gubernatorial contribution since records went online in 1994, state elections officials said.

Stroud made a second loan of $400,000, of which Burris repaid $6,000, for a total of about $1.2 million in loans to Burris' gubernatorial race, state election records show. Stroud also provided $375,000 in cash and in-kind donations like airtime on WJYS, billboard ads and staff.

Politicians don't always repay campaign loans, but the amount of outstanding debt in Burris' case brought scrutiny from Illinois legislators last month when he appeared at a hearing over former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's possible impeachment.

Burris has yet to pay back a dime of these loans.

You try not paying back $1.2 million in loans to somebody and see what happens. Perhaps there were some favors involved?

"Who walks away from $1.2 million?" Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said in a recent interview, later adding, "It's just human nature to think that with a loan of this nature that there is a monetary and a personal indebtedness to this individual."

Asked about Stroud at the time of the donations, Burris only would say he is a "friend," telling reporters, "That's all you need to know."
Burris met Stroud at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Burris said in civil-suit testimony. He said he helped to place Stroud's wife, Yvonne, on the board of the Chicago Sinfonietta.

Curious how most of the MSM is ignoring this story .

All in the Family: Mrs. Blago Gets a Cushy Job

The deal making in Chicago just keeps on keeping on. Patti Blagojevich has herself a job, care of a business associate of Roland Burris.

Her job? Raise money to repay a state-backed deal.

"Why did the Chicago Christian Industrial League hire Patti Blagojevich?

“Who better than the first lady of Illinois?’’ said Judy McIntyre, the charity’s former executive director, who hired the governor’s wife five months ago. “Here’s someone whose name would be immediately recognizable and would open doors.’’

The charity needed money to repay a $10.8 million it obtained from ShoreBank with help from the Illinois Finance Authority — a state agency created by Blagojevich’s husband — to build a $25 million homeless shelter.

“Everyone knew we were looking for someone to raise money because of the debt,’’ McIntyre said. “They only raise about $1 million a year, they need to raise $2 million.’’

Blagojevich is paid $100,000 under a one-year contract that began Sept. 1.

$100,000 for a year's worth of making a few phone calls and putting the arm on some rich people? Nice work if you can get it. So how did this part-time real estate agent get such a prime assignment?

Gery Chico, who was another potential Senate candidate, said he helped Blagojevich get the job. But Chico said he wasn’t trying to sway the governor to appoint him to the Senate seat he tried to win four years ago, when he lost to Obama in the Democratic primary.

“Her husband had mentioned that she needed work,” Chico said. “I talked to her. I had to know what she was thinking about. She said she was very interested in children’s issues and women’s issues as well. I thought it would be a good fit.’’

Chico said he asked McIntyre to interview Blagojevich. McIntyre had worked at City Hall when Chico was Mayor Daley’s chief of staff.

After consulting with Good, McIntyre said she hired Blagojevich. She said she didn’t need — or seek — approval from the entire board, whose members include Fred Lebed. Lebed runs a lobbying firm with Roland Burris, whom the governor appointed to Obama’s Senate seat. Lebed has said he had nothing to do with Blagojevich getting hired.

All in the family, indeed.

Burris Likely To Be Seated

As the Roland Burris fiasco continues to spiral into a huge embarrassment for Democrats, it appears opposition is crumbling and he'll be accepted.

Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris is closer to taking President-elect Barack Obama's seat in the Senate, say knowledgeable officials in both parties, despite Democratic leaders' vows to reject any appointee of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

After being rejected Tuesday when he tried to join the class of incoming freshmen senators, Burris is finding new support on Capitol Hill as Democratic leaders scramble for a way to defuse the standoff with growing racial, political and legal complications.

The likelihood that Burris, a Democrat, will eventually prevail and become the Senate's only black member after Obama's resignation from the seat, increased Tuesday evening when a key chairwoman got behind him, cracking what had been united public front by Senate Democrats against a Blagojevich appointee.

Burris was scheduled to meet with the Senate's top two Democrats — Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and assistant leader Dick Durbin of Illinois — on Wednesday, a day after his paperwork was rejected at the opening of the 111th Congress.

For all the bluster, bravado and photo ops shown blocking Burris, this demonstrate conclusively the buffoonish ineptitude of Senate Democrats and Dingy Harry Reid in particular.

'Some Are Questioning Leon Panetta's Lack of Intelligence'

Is Barack Obama stepping back from Leon Panetta? Some curious statements at a media briefing this afternoon, as well as an amusing question.

Question: Some are - some are questioning Leon Panetta's lack of intelligence - lack of experience on intelligence matters. Sorry about that. I know this is tricky for you since you haven't announced it yet, but what does he bring to the table for you?

Obama: Well, as you noted, I haven't made - haven't made a formal announcement about my intelligence team.

(cell phone rings)

Obama: That may be him calling now... finding out where it's at.

Obama: I have the utmost respect for Leon Panetta. I think that he is one of the finest public servants that we have. He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy, an impeccable record of integrity.

As chief of staff, he is somebody who - to the president - he's somebody who obviously was fully versed in international affairs, crisis management, and had to evaluate intelligence consistently on a day-to-day basis.

Having said all that, I have not made an announcement. When we make the announcement, I think what people will see is, is that we are putting together a top-notch intelligence team that is not only going to assure that I get the best possible intelligence unvarnished, that the intelligence community is no longer geared towards telling the president what they think the president wants to hear, but instead are going to be delivering the information that the president needs to make critical decisions to keep the American people safe.

Still, one can only imagine despite criticism, an announcement is a mere formality, and it's unlikely Panetta will face much, if any, resistance.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden are defending the selection of Leon Panetta to head the CIA.

Members of Congress have voiced surprise and skepticism over the choice, but Panetta isn't expected to face serious opposition when the nomination reaches the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Among those caught by surprise yesterday was the incoming committee chairwoman, California Democrat Dianne Feinstein. After his name surfaced, she expressed skepticism about his qualifications -- as did Kit Bond, the ranking Republican on the committee.

Feinstein's office says Obama called her today and apologized for not keeping her informed on the selection.

Meanwhile, for the second day in a row, Feinstein bucks her own party.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) broke with her party’s leadership Tuesday in calling for Roland Burris to be seated in the Senate once his paperwork is signed by the Illinois secretary of state.

Feinstein, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said that not allowing Burris to be seated could broadly undermine future gubernatorial appointments.

“I can’t imagine the secretary of state countermanding a gubernatorial appointment,” Feinstein said. “The question, really, is one in my view of law. And that is, does the governor have the power to make the appointment? And the answer is yes. Is the governor discredited? And the answer is yes.

“Does that affect his appointment power? And the answer is no until certain things happen.”

She added if Burris isn’t seated “it affects gubernatorial appointments all over the country.”

Feinstein’s break with her party’s leadership is the latest headache for congressional leaders, who blocked Burris Tuesday morning from being sworn in because of the cloud surrounding Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois governor arrested last month on accusations of selling Barack Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder.

'I Am the Senator, and It Sounds Good'

Doesn't sound like Roland Burris is going anywhere. This should be fun.

Roland Burris suggested he would challenge an effort to block his appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, but said he's confident Senate Democrats will relent and let him take the job.

"We think they will come around and recognize that the appointment is legal and valid and I am the junior Senator from Illinois," the former Illinois attorney general said in an interview at his office here.

He spoke Wednesday as it became clear that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich offered the post to at least one other African-American politician, and as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald sought more time to seek an indictment against the governor—and perhaps widen a five-year-old corruption case that already has resulted in felony convictions.

Gov. Blagojevich, facing federal corruption charges, named Mr. Burris on Tuesday as his choice for the Senate seat that the governor is accused of having tried to sell. Senate Democrats have vowed to block Mr. Burris's appointment, citing the allegations against Gov. Blagojevich.

Mr. Burris, 71 years old, brushed off the opposition in a 25-minute interview in which aides called him "senator" and he gamely argued that he'd make a good representative of his state. "From South Beloit to Cairo, from Galena to Zion, East St. Louis to Lawrenceville, I know this state. I know its people," he said.

He also questioned—as have several legal scholars—the Senate's legal right to keep him from taking the Senate seat. "By what authority can [Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid] deny a governor carrying out his constitutional duty?" Mr. Burris said.

"I am the senator, and it sounds good," he said. "This is what I love to do. I tried to be governor not once, not twice, but three times. I'm giving up a lot of money to go to the Senate, OK? I'm taking a pay cut."

Burris is taking the effort to court. Is there anything that can legally stop it?

Probably not.

Maybe the Democrats ought to cut their losses and just seat Burris. After all, he's more qualified than Barack Obama ever was to represent Illinois in the Senate and with just a few months effort he'll achieve more than Obama ever did as a Senator. Heck, you never know. They might just get their some actual representation from their senator.