Remembering the good old days
Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* When politicians got in trouble in the old days they’d often check themselves into a hospital. Blue Cross was far more generous back then. Politicians could go hide out and dodge reporters and anyone else they wanted to avoid.
Now, I’m not saying at all that this is what Congressman Jackson might be doing. I’m just saying that I’m reminded of those stories from long ago…
A Sneed source who claims to have visited Jackson this week said, “Jesse wanted you to know he is finding it difficult to continue his treatment because the press is staking out his home and making access to his doctor, who is within a short walking distance from his home, incredibly hard.”
“He said his doctors are considering sending him back to Mayo Clinic for treatment.”
The source added Jackson, who is being treated for bipolar disorder during his four-month absence from work, is trying “to stay focused and calm to enhance his treatment and is just following doctor’s orders.” Jackson, who is also being investigated by the Feds, sees his doctor twice a day.
Jackson is recuperating, not working and has no intention of dropping out of his re-election campaign, according to the source.
Congressman Jackson, the subject of a Gawker.com report that he was spotted recently having drinks on two nights with two different women at a beer bar in Washington, claims the women were “lobbyists… friends,” according to the source.
* Meanwhile…
Included in his expenditures are fees paid to a political consulting business owned by his wife, Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson.
“For the last four months, his wife is still getting $5,000 checks from the campaign, where during those months he’s in the hospital,” Jackson’s Republican challenger, Brian Woodworth, told NBC Chicago.
- Shore - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 12:38 pm:
If this were new york, the post/sun-times would have had pictures of him either smoking a cigar, drinking with these women or something similar to the time they caught charlie rangel sleeping half nude on a beach in the bahamas. Rangel is still around though.
The only people I’ve ever heard of going to mayo to escape political issues back home are arab royals and their escapes are usually followed by some sort of bad incident.
- Esquire - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 12:42 pm:
In the old days, when there was real party discipline, a party’s county chair, a mayor, a governor, or the leader of the party’s House Congressional Campaign Committee would have picked up the telephone, made a few calls, and then asked/ordered a candidate to step aside.
Things are so fragmented now that such an effort would not be attempted publicly. Nobody will make the call and if someone did try it is doubtful that an incumbent like Jackson would step down.
He will hold on to his office until he is arrested, tried and convicted. It is sad to think that this same Congressional district, give or take the precincts changed in redistricting, has suffered through Gus Savage, Mel Reynolds and, now, Junior.
This is not going to end well. I suspect that are politicians waiting in the wings for the seat to become vacant in a matter of eighteen months.
- x ace - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 12:43 pm:
Beer Drinking probably required for his post Congressional career as a Budweiser Distributor.
- sue - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 12:48 pm:
something seriously wrong with our political system when Jackson will be allowed to coast to reelection and then perhaps be indicted shortly thereafter- This clown seems intent on abusing his constituents-but then again we get the politicians we deserve
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:11 pm:
A different story alludes to campaign expenditures north of 110K with no detail since June. Based on some local campaign reports I have looked at, misrepresenting and inflating expenditures is not as rare as one would hope.
Good work if you can get it.
Hard to believe that going to a bar and smoking cigars is what the Dr. ordered…
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:24 pm:
–something seriously wrong with our political system when Jackson will be allowed to coast to reelection and then perhaps be indicted shortly thereafter-
Meh.
In 1804, Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton dead at Weehawken Heights, was indicted for murder in both New Jersey and New York, yet still presided over the Senate and completed his term as vice president.
Muddled through somehow.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:42 pm:
Sandi Jackson is married to the Congressman. She makes $115K per year as an alderman. And she’s getting paid $5,000 per month to consult on her husband’s campaign?
Could they be more arrogant?
- WhoKnew - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:59 pm:
I’m thinking $5000 sounds pretty cheap for what she has to muddle thru!
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:14 pm:
–Love x ace’s post about becoming a Budweiser distributor. Why doesn’t some investigative reporter break that story?–
Widely reported, 14-year-old stories are John Kass’ investigative specialty.
- Lakeview - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:24 pm:
I’d bet money that Jackson resigns within a month of his re-election, and then the party appoints his successor. That’s how everyone retires nowadays - God forbid we should let the voters choose a replacement.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:39 pm:
===and then the party appoints his successor… God forbid we should let the voters choose a replacement. ===
Congressmen are not replaced via appointment. Special elections are held to fill the vacancy.
Try to bone up on really simple stuff like that before spouting nonsensical victimization screeds on this website.
Thanks.
- bobby brown - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:48 pm:
I’d bet money that Jackson resigns within a month of his re-election, and then the party appoints his successor. That’s how everyone retires nowadays - God forbid we should let the voters choose a replacement.
absolutely not, no way in hades he resigns.why should he? many before have come under more fire and heavier indictments and are still floundering thru the ranks of “public servants”. jesse will be fine. derrick smith looked big mike in the eye and told him what do do with his resignation. oh and looks like he is getting re-elected so now hes hands off of the legislation. kinda makes you think the whole “special session” was a farce to keep him but make it look like they tried in the public eye????rich?
- Jaded - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
Not holding my breath, but it would be great if Woodworth was the Michael Flanagan of 2012.
- Lakeview - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:12 pm:
Ah, Rich, you’re right. My mistake!
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:20 pm:
I wonder how many would stop donating money to campaigns if they had a better idea of how the dollars were being spent. Especially those who complain that it’s difficult for the “average Joe” (whom they seem to want to represent them) to run for office nowadays because of how expensive it is.