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* You may remember my Sun-Times column from last month which began…
Everybody, calm down. This nightmare will soon be over.
I try to avoid cable TV news shows, but I tuned in this week to watch some of the talking heads grossly overreact to reports that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald won’t cooperate much with the General Assembly’s attempt to remove Gov. Blagojevich from office.
The talking heads were babbling wildly over whether that meant Blagojevich might remain in office for the rest of his term.
Not a chance.
One of those bobbleheads in question was the Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson, who claimed back then that US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s refusal to allow the House impeachment committee to take testimony from people referenced in the criminal complaint against the governor would doom the impeachment proceedings.
Nevermind the fact that everybody in Illinois politics already knew that Fitzgerald wouldn’t cooperate. And nevermind the fact that there was already plenty of material to use against Blagojevich in the impeachment without Fitz’s cooperation. Robinson believed that this development was dramatically important.
Oops.
Robinson obviously had no idea what he was talking about, and it boggled my mind that the program’s producers would allow him to drone on and on, even though he was so clearly and thoroughly clueless.
* But, today, it’s even worse. Robinson has another goofy theory that he peddled in the allegedly esteemed pages of the Washington Post…
Is Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich about to be impeached on grounds of loopiness, obnoxiousness and a bad haircut? Apparently so. In defense of the Illinois state senators who seem to have already decided the governor’s fate, however, the haircut really does border on the criminal.
But it is unclear to me what else Blagojevich has done that a duly constituted jury would find illegal. Even in the matter of his menacing mop, at worst he’s a co-conspirator in a dastardly act committed by his barber.
Robinson goes on like that for several more paragraphs, selectively quoting from the criminal case and knocking down red herrings that he dutifully drags in front of his readers. The governor is not being impeached because of “loopiness, obnoxiousness and a bad haircut,” he’s being impeached because innumerable actions he has made as governor are tantamount to an abuse of power egregious enough to warrant removal from office.
It is abundantly clear from reading Robinson’s column that he knows absolutely nothing of Blagojevich’s history, and cannot comprehend the charges against him.
As to the criminal complaint, the governor devised numerous alleged criminal schemes - not just related to the US Senate seat - and then ordered that they be carried out. Those orders would be crimes, Mr. Robinson.
I can’t wait until this is over so that the DC talking heads will finally turn their erroneous, fallacious and salacious attention to their own backyards.
* Related…
* If Blago believes what he says, he needs help
* Blago drives Denial Tour ‘09 right off a cliff
* Deluded: Blagojevich Embarrassing Himself, State of Illinois
* Seriously, governor?
* The astonishing assertions continue….
* Governor’s ‘woe is me’ act wears thin even on national TV
* Ill. governor’s own words to haunt him at trial
* Senate to hear selected Blago recordings
* Blagojevich trial: FBI agent who helped lead probe testifies today
* Impeachment: Witnesses could be called Tuesday
* Unfiltered: Impeachment Prosecutor’s Opening Statement
* Prosecutor: Constitutional Rights Don’t Apply in Impeachment
* If Blagojevich takes the witness stand …
* Prosecutor: Blagojevich ‘Utterly Abused’ His Power
* Impeachment trial observers wonder: Why isn’t Rod Blagojevich here?
* Start of Senate trial marked by Gov.’s absence
* Gov’s complaints are out of context
* Is his removal in the cards?
* Illinois needs a governor, not a television star
* Media blitz vs. Senate trial
* Illinois, policing itself
* Governor on tour as trial starts
* Senate begins trial as governor hits TV shows
* Blago hits talk show circuit as impeachment trial begins
* Ill. governor continues media rounds in NY
* Gov. Rod Blagojevich gave no ground in his gamble of a public relations blitz
* Blago says ‘the fix is in,’ as he makes the talk-show rounds
* Senator Oprah? Blagojevich takes on the talk shows
* Cost of governor’s trip? At least he didn’t take state plane
* Taxpayers paying for some of governor’s media blitz
* Illinois Senator Dan Rutherford’s Video Update of the Senate Trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich
* Topinka: Voters Get What They Deserve
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:46 am
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It’s always depressing to hear journalists discuss matters with which you’re familiar only to hear utter nonsense. Makes you question the usefullness of listening to them about anything else. For me, it’s a killer to hear 60 minutes talk finance.
Comment by Greg Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:51 am
==erroneous, fallacious & salacious==
point, jackie chiles
Comment by anon24 Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:52 am
btw, why doesn’t everyone sign into Robinson’s 2pm chat today?
Comment by Greg Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:54 am
Amen to that. Perhaps people who don’t live in Illinois and have not seen how Blago governs just can’t believe anyone could be that nuts. Even Illinois residents couldn’t believe he was that bad for a long time… that’s how he got reelected
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:55 am
Eugene is one of many who chime in on MSNBC’s shows….the only one I watch is Morning Joe, who is entertaining, has a beautiful sidekick (Willie), just kidding - Mika - and a variety of opiners, some of which make sense. The rest of MSNBC (particularly super arrogant Keith Olberman - and Chris Matthews aka Chubby Interruptus - can all go to ratings haiti.
Comment by You Go Boy Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:00 am
Everyone likes to look smarter than the person they are sitting next to. By claiming that Illinoians are railroading Rod Blagojevich because they don’t like the way he combs his hair, Robinson is claiming to be smarter than Illinoians. By claiming that we are impeaching Blagojevich over something everyone knows is shallow and silly, Robinson claims that Illinoians are incapable of understanding impeachment, are easily led, and shallow and silly. Robinson makes himself look better by making this claim.
Some writers work hard and are rewarded with star power. Robinson knows a short cut - trumpet your own intelligence by claiming everyone else is stupid.
Robinson is a hack, and compared to the work he has done over the past couple of years, should be considered a compliment.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:01 am
Yesterday was a good old-fashioned media frenzy over a whole lot of nothing.
The economy, the wars, and the agendas of the new administration and Congress are the immediate and big stories — but those are hard to relate or even understand by the best and brightest in broadcast journalism.
A freak show like Blago — everyone wants to get into the act. It’s like OJ, Monica, Elian, Britney, Lindsay, ad nauseam. Alleged entertainment masquerading as news.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:04 am
it seems many in the national press do not have a clue. geraldo on cavuto yesterday was out of his mind. seems the national press cannot separate the impeachment and trial process from a true criminal trial that will be done by the u s attorney. not one of the talking heads had a clue to what bag o tricks has done to the state and why he is being removed.
Comment by wizard Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:08 am
Rich: How do we go about feeding questions to these national media folks? Althought the Senate seat sale is the sexiest charge, they need to begin focusing on the other issues such as the extortion of Childrens Hospital state funds for a $50 k campaign contribution. And the attempt to force the firing of the Trib columnists. Wouldn’t you think that some journalist would pick up on how dangerous that was? And how about a question for Blago that if he holds the presumption of innocence in such high regard, why did he immediately fire the Director of the Lincoln Library upon filing of shoplifting charges but before the guy was convicted? The national media people are ridiculously unprepared to interview the Governor.
Comment by One of the 35 Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:08 am
Wait, You Go Boy, the rest of MSNBC already IS in ratings Haiti! The Capitol Fax Network would draw more viewers, and maybe more of Illinois’ electorate would learn what’s really happening in state government.
Many commenters, as well as Rich himself, have gained a new distaste for the national media after its mostly poor coverage of this whole episode. I reluctantly agree. It makes you wonder how much of their other reporting is misleading or flat-out wrong.
Comment by cover Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:10 am
The View, on now……BWalters says Blago is likable. JBehar says
he showed he has a sense of humor. WGoldberg says that he does himself a disservice with not taking affadavits from Rahm, etc., because he may be right about what he’s saying.
they redeem themselves somewhat by saying that what he is accused of the American public is angry about because of layoffs, etc., that selling an office is offensive. but, still, the esteemed Ms. Walters, who admitted she was hard on him,
says Blago is likable. yikes.
Comment by Amy Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:11 am
===How do we go about feeding questions to these national media folks?===
I tried, they didn’t listen. I give up.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:12 am
One of the GA’s and Governor Quinn’s first acts should be to consider a recall amendment to the state constitution for elected statewide constitutional officers. If an official is so crippled as to be ineffective and their continued presence in office is against the best interests of the state for any reason, the citizens should have recourse to do what can’t be done in a timely matter by the rarely-used impeachment process. I would also favor tightening up the state standards on impeachment and removal to a federal “high crimes and misdemeanors” standard. Public recall might’ve gotten the job done a year earlier.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:12 am
I rarely get riled by the things ignorant talking heads say or write. They get a story for five minutes, make up their minds about it, and then try to convince everyone else their opinion is the correct one.
But it stings a little to see that so many people take those opinions as gospel and believe every word of them. That’s why Illinois elected Rod Blagojevich twice–people believed every 10-second sound bite or two-line quote, and they didn’t look any deeper.
Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:12 am
Oh, and it would be a little harder for the media to attack We the People for “Gray Davis’ing” an elected official.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:14 am
It’s a weak case against the Guv and that’s all the outsiders see… a guy who was aggressive for progressive causese (what’s wront with that?) and then selling Obama’s seat when Obama says his staff were cleared of wrong doing….
We know the Guv better, but to those who haven’t followed the story, it’s a weak case…
Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:16 am
feeding questions to the national media….the increasingly famous Mr. Warren, late of the Trib, and Ms.Sweet appear regularly. they should be receptive. Warren is employed on MSNBC. Olbermann and Maddow are not in the same category on the Blago issue as others on MSNBC. even Matthews seems somewhat entranced by Blago.
It is very strange that whatever the place on the liberal conservative scale, MSNBC and Fox cable have both lost their minds on this issue. the Morning Joe Show this am (minus Joe) was totally in Gene Robinson’s corner on this one. maybe the liberals want the Dem (blago) not to be vilified to protect any info he might spout on Obama and more, and certainly the conservatives want Obama to be held in the same slime pit as Blago.
or maybe they are just all nuts. but it does boggle the mind. how much do they get paid?
Comment by Amy Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:19 am
That’s why Illinois elected Rod Blagojevich twice–people believed every 10-second sound bite or two-line quote, and they didn’t look any deeper.
Our suffering is not only of our own making, it is necessary as a consequence of our actions.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:22 am
Amy, you took the words right out of my mouth (or off my keyboard.) It is really amazing, the twisted kind of “bipartisanship” Blago provokes!
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:24 am
Six Degrees of Separation, I agree that we should have the right to recall the statewide officials, but we should also be able to recall all elected officials. Recall elections and term limits, for state legislators, should be constitutional amendments, on the Nov. 2010 ballot.
I agree with Judy Topinka, that voters get what they deserve. In the Mar. 2002 governor primary, I voted for then-St. Sen. O’Malley. If he was our governor, during the past six years, we wouldn’t have any corruption problems, and we would have lower tax rates.
Comment by Phil Collins Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:25 am
===Our suffering is not only of our own making, it is necessary as a consequence of our actions.===
He gets villified a lot–and maybe rightfully so–but Rush Limbaugh is correct when he says, “Elections have consequences.”
Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:32 am
Secret Square: LOL!!!! let’s all do the bipartisan Blago twist!
cue up the Elvis.
Comment by Amy Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:41 am
It’s unfortunate that the national media is not interested in seeking local knowledge about this (Miller and Kass are the ones that most come to my mind). It’s not as tho this info can’t be had easily. It is the same old game of upping the ratings. What crap.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:54 am
From the little I have actually watched and the transcripts of interviews with the Governor by TV hosts that I have read, and from the national “journalists” that I have heard and read, could it be that the corrupt and corrosive political machinations of the Governor and of Illinois politicians in general is really acceptable behavior? Could it be that putting personal gain ahead of real public service and open government is expected, appropriate, and commendable? I am personally offended by that concept, but feel so g.d. foolish for believing otherwise.
Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:57 am
===Many commenters, as well as Rich himself, have gained a new distaste for the national media after its mostly poor coverage of this whole episode.===
My distaste began long before the Obama campaign. But it has been constantly reinforced through that and this.
I’m completely disgusted with the national media.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:01 am
I’ve always watched a variety of news talk show and thought they all had a reasonable range of smart people on. After watching the talking heads respond to the Blago media tour, I have been dumb struck at how surface their discussion actually is. It as if all they really know is the headline, the first paragraph of the teleprompter, and whether someone comes across well. Meaningful follow up questions or pointed pushes are just not something they do. I expect the Larry King softballs because that is what Larry has always done. Watched Robinson this morning on MSNBC. He was awful. There was very little real background info and his point was all about image. The panel made jokes about the “sanctity of the home”, “out of context”, and all the “working hard for the people” statements RRB has been making on every show. I do not recall any listing of what the main impeachment charges are except swearing alot on the phone and the Obama chair. Pretty sad. It’s like these guys are struggling to fill air time or print for a topic they barely know anything about except it is hot right now so they have to be there for their job.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:31 pm