With his poll numbers dropping through the White House basement floor and his 49th birthday at hand, President Barack B.O.Obama sure could use some real party time with the guys back home in Chicago.
And nothing says "let's party!" like a political fundraiser. Obama will headline one Thursday for his beleaguered basketball buddy, Alexi Giannoulias, who is campaigning as a Democrat for Obama's old Senate seat.
Naturally, all the guests will applaud when Obama gives Alexi a big hug, smiles and says, "My man."
But who are the guys behind the guys who won't be there to soak up the recognition? Shouldn't there be table of empty chairs, to silently honor those who are otherwise indisposed?
I'm guessing that Tony Rezko, the president's benefactor, friend and personal real estate fairy, would love to attend. He was the star of a Sun-Times report published Monday about a $22 million development loan from the Giannoulias family's now-defunct Broadway Bank to a Rezko company.
It would be nice for Rezko to show up. That way, Obama could point, then shout for all to hear: "That's not the Tony Rezko I know!"
Sadly, Tony has no time for fundraisers these days. He's in federal custody, awaiting sentencing on his convictions for political influence peddling.
Rezko has other pending cases, too, including one involving bouncing $450,000 in checks written against his Broadway Bank accounts to pay gambling debts.
The Rezko thing isn't Giannoulias' only problem. Giannoulias is getting thwacked on a daily basis for what Tribune investigative reporters David Jackson, John Chase and Ray Gibson disclosed in April. It was $27.7 million in loans from Broadway Bank to some earthy felons who ran their own street-loan business.
Every 10 minutes or so, Giannoulias' opponent -- the serial embellisher U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk -- and his Republican allies suggest that Giannoulias was a mob banker. "To hear my opponent Congressman Kirk say it's a mob bank is offensive," Giannoulias told WGN-AM morning host Greg Jarrett the other day. "It's dangerously inaccurate. I wouldn't know what a mafia guy looked like if he walked down the street."
OK, fine. But could he recognize Michael "Jaws" Giorango and Demitri Stavropoulos? They received the $27.7 million in loans from Broadway Bank. The majority was loaned when Giannoulias was a senior loan officer. He touted his bank experience in his campaign for state treasurer.
Giorango and Stavropoulos, according to the Tribune, used the money for real estate deals and for street loans -- a curious practice that I'm told is legal.
Giorango was convicted in 2004 of promoting a nationwide prostitution ring. Some of the call girls worked for famous Chicago madam Rose Laws. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison.