Outfitters

Rumors are Obama met my favorite Iraqi billionaire, Nadhmi Auchi, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago in 2004. Neither Auchi or Obama recall the meeting, and their mutual influence peddler Tony Rezko doesn't clearly recall either.

Robert Novak: "Obama bought a mock Georgian mansion on Chicago's south side on June 15, 2005, the same day Rezko's wife bought a plot next door from the same seller. Federal prosecutors recently revealed that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire who lives in London, wired $3.5 million to the financially strapped Rezko in Chicago less than a month before the Obama-Rezko purchases. James Bone, investigative reporter for the Times of London, wrote last Tuesday that "the money transfer raises the question of whether funds" from Auchi "helped" Obama buy his house."

Robert, Robert, Robert ... is that the best you can do? The above insinuation hardly shakes the ground - Michelle Obama was bringing home mega-bacon during this time period with the couple's combined income approaching $1 million a year, sufficient income for a down payment on the $1.5 million Chicago mansion, although it's nice if someone makes the down payment for you.

Through all his travails in Chicago politics Nadhmi Auchi is still bullish on America. February 12, 2008: "One of Britain’s most successful businessmen says he remains bullish on investing in the American economy and wants to complete a proposed $2-billion real estate development near downtown Chicago. Nadhmi Auchi ... looks forward to developing a 62-acre parcel just west of Chicago's "Loop" near downtown as part of a signature project, Riverside Park, that would include residential, retail, and commercial space."

Anyone know how much of those proposed billions are from federal and state coffers?

What congressional district is Auchi's Riverside development project in? Is that Danny Davis' 7th congressional district? I searched and searched but did not find the answer to that question.

Novak quotes Clinton as stating: "I was fighting" against "bad" Republican ideas, she told Obama, "when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slumlord business in inner-city Chicago." In fact, Clinton messed it up. Rezko was not a client of Obama's firm and was not a slumlord. Accused of racial insensitivity, Clinton dropped the issue."

Right, Rezko was not a client of Obama's firm - he was just partnered with Allison Davis, who was Obama's boss at the firm. Rezko and Davis made at least $855,000 in "development fees." Would you like a wet wipe for those greased palms?

I don't think Hillary backed off because of "racial insensitivity." Or is that what we're calling "an offer you can't refuse" these days?

Robert Novak - why do you deny Rezko was a slumlord? What do you call someone who buys and rehabs, on the cheap, those inner city dumps designated as housing for low income? Eleven of Rezko's not-a-slumlord properties were in Obama's district. The properties were cited by the city for lack of heat and in need of major repairs, many now boarded up and/or in foreclosure - and you know who is stuck with repaying the federal, state, and city loans/grants used to rehab the buildings.

Obama's good buddy and law firm boss, Allison Davis, business partner of Tony Rezko, is not a slumlord either - although sewage bubbles up to the electrical outlets in units he owns and/or manages. Obama is not a slumlord - he just profits from the political donations bubbling up from slumlords. Would you like another wet wipe?

Gary Poter, Obama donor, politically connected owner of the construction company that rehabbed all Tony Rezko's buildings, was stabbed to death in 2006 in his Northwest Side office, allegedly by employee Tom Tuduj, disgruntled over a poor performance review.

Tuduj was CEO of TT Ventures Unlimited, LLC, a catch-all start-up company with a defunct phone number in southern California, and has listed Kristy Tappan as CFO, formerly of Tamalpais Bank, subsidiary of Epic Bancorp where William "Jeff" Tappan sits on the board of both banks. Any connection to anything there?

All I can say Bubba is it's a good thing Patrick Fitzmas is back on the job rooting out organized crime and terrorism, keeping Chicago safe for bullish investors. Yessirree - wouldn't want any mobsters running the Windy City.