Results tagged “valeriejarrett”

The Obama administration has gone into spin control in regards to Obama's trip to Copenhagen to support Chicago 2016's failed Olympic bid and is using the classic, "Well, they told us it'd be fine" method. A report in this morning's Tribune reveals behind-the-scenes details describing the way in which the Chicago 2016 bid committee persuaded Obama to make his much-talked-about whirlwind trip to Copenhagen on behalf of the city's bid. Worried that the heated health care bill would head to the floor of either the House or Senate for debate with him in Europe, Obama was still hesitant to make the trip until a few days before he took off.

While President Barack Obama hasn't confirmed his presence at the closing argument for Chicago's Olympic bid, he does have his two best women on the job. Valerie Jarrett, Obama's senior adviser, explained some of the strategies being used to secure Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid with the Tribune on Friday.

• First Clout College, now this: the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Public School system has launched an internal investigation looking at how students are selected to admittance for some of the more elite schools after, according to CPS CEO Ron Huberman, information showed, "that existing policies may not have been followed."
• Several media outlets report today that Brian Dugan is ready to plead guilty to the 1983 murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico; Dugan is already in prison serving two life sentences for two other murders.
• A section of the outbound Bishop Ford Expressway was closed for around eight hours today after a tanker truck spilled corrosive coal tar in the road early this morning.

Over the weekend, the White House posted on its blog about a special ethics waiver that was granted so as to allow senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett to serve as the White House's lead in supporting the Chicago 2016 bid. Per the White House:

Ed Genson, attorney for embattled Governor Rod Blagojevich, has asked the State House Committee investigating Gov. Blagojevich on potential impeachment charges to issue subpoenas to several Obama staff members including Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel. State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, who is heading the committee, confirmed the request but it doesn't appear very likely it will happen as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has already turned down a similar request by the committee claiming such interviews could hamper his criminal investigation. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is also among those that Genson wants subpoenaed.

Hey, look! A politician chooses to release a report at the exact same time everyone is leaving work for the holidays so they can't read it! How unusual! Seriously, though, this report offers nothing unexpected in detailing the Obama team's internal review of the Blagojevich affair. Check out all the dirty laundry (or lack thereof) here. [via NBC5]

It's hard to believe that we're still getting a shit-ton of news out of this scandal, but nothing really surprises us anymore.

Man, this thing is a mess and it's pretty tough to sort out, logistically and legally. Here's what we know: Blagojevich still has the power to appoint the seat - as he is still governor - and there may not be much legal ground for opposition, at least from the U.S. Senate. The Trib points out:

In 1969, the Supreme Court ruled the House of Representatives could not refuse to seat Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, a New York Democrat who was accused of putting his wife on the payroll and misusing travel funds to vacation in the Caribbean. Despite those charges, he was reelected by his constituents in Harlem.

Continue reading "Vacant Senate Seat Race Heating Up"

It's been a busy day for the President-Elect.

President-Elect Barack Obama is set to announce long-time campaign adviser Valerie Jarrett as a Senior Aide in the White House. Jarrett has been associated with the Obamas for almost 17 years, going back to before Michelle and Barack got married. Her experience in the city of Chicago (for better or for worse, depending on your point of view), is extensive.

All told, Jarrett served eight years with the city of Chicago, as deputy corporation counsel for finance and development and then as deputy chief of staff. She later became commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development.

Continue reading "Valerie Jarrett Appointed Senior White House Aide"