[Bumped up for visibility, and updated.]
* 7:40 am - The governor is on WLS Radio’s Don & Roma Show right now. He’s claiming that removing him from office is all about getting Pat Quinn installed so he can raise taxes.
* 8:16 am -And it’s over. Whew, what an interview that was. lol
More in a bit.
* The podcast will likely be placed on this page.
*** UPDATE *** Here is the podcast…
* Part 1
* Part 2
* Part 3
* And IR did an excellent job of live-blogging…
ROMA: Why didn’t you submit a witness list?
BLAGO: Technical process — if your lawyers don’t file a request to appear, you can’t bring in witnesses. All I ask is that the Senate give me the same 6th Amendment just let me bring in my witnesses- for instance, Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett, Jesse Jackson, Senator John McCain, other governors that helped with prescription drug program.
BLAGO: I’ve done nothing wrong, and will vindicate myself… I will say that what I did and what I was doing was in the best interest of the people — part of a political process — not that inconsistent with how the process works. That’s why this impeachment process is important.– by not allowing me to bring witnesses — w/o due process of law, no witnesses — how will that affect future governors?
The reason I’m not participating is this is not fair process — I invite a fair process. tThey want to get me out fast to put a huge income tax on the people of Illinois — and push through a gasoline tax increase. The bill is already there for them to quietly do.
DON: Same as Arizona Governor Meachem — you haven’t been indicted, but you’re being impeached.
BLAGO: It’s about raising taxes — the Dems and Reps how the people get screwed — they both want to raise to pay for their special interest spending — they do special interest spending. The Reps want a tax increase to have a campaign office.
They want a huge income tax increase and a huge gas sales tax increase…
* 8:51 am - Sun-Times…
Gov. Blagojevich continued to hammer away at the rules governing his upcoming impeachment trial this morning, saying the “fix is in in” and Illinoisans would be socked with massive tax increases should he be kicked out of office.
“They want to get me out fast so they could put a huge income tax increase on the people of Illinois,” the governor said in a 43-minute interview this morning on WLS-AM 890’s Don Wade & Roma show. “And they want to raise the sales tax on gas. . . . If I’m out of the way, they can quietly push this through.”
The governor’s radio appearance kicked off what’s expected to be a media blitz that could lead up to appearances on national news networks within the next several days.
Blagojevich signaled he has no plans to show up in Springfield for the impeachment trial if the rules don’t change. He also indicated he’d have more to say publicly later today.
* Tribune…
“This is politics,” he said on the “Don Wade and Roma” show on WLS-AM 890. “This is about raising taxes. Pat Quinn has cut a deal with Democratic leaders….It’s all about getting rid of me to raise taxes on people.” Both income and sales taxes would be increased by May, he said.
Blagojevich did not address any of the specific charges brought against him. Asked if he wanted to apologize for anything, he said in reference to the U.S. wiretaps: “I apologize for the profanity…If I knew they were listening, I wouldn’t have used those words.”
* Daily Herald…
For the second day in a row, Gov. Rod Blagojevich stated he is not being treated fairly during his impending impeachment trial.
Blagojevich told reporters outside his Chicago home Friday the pending impeachment trial denies him basic rights, including due process and the ability to call defense witnesses.
He added the legislature is trying to boot him out of office so they could approve a tax increase, something he said would not be allowed if he is in office.
He added he isn’t just challenging the flaws in the impeachment process for himself, but also for future governors across the county who may be involved in a similar situation some day.
AP…
The impeached governor tells The Associated Press Dec. 9 is to his family, “what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States.” He says it was “a complete surprise.” But he says just as the U.S. prevailed in World War II, he’ll prevail in fighting the charges.
* Sneed…
Sneed hears Blagojevich, who is weighing the possibility of a major media blitz, is keen on appearing on Barbara Walters’ hit ABC-TV show “The View” with its all-woman panel.
• • Translation: Word is Gov. Blago, who is being probed by the feds, impeached by the Illinois House and awaiting trial in the state Senate, is considering launching an all-out media attack.
• • The fear: It could backfire. Putting the poetry-spouting governor out to explain “Y” and having it interpreted as “X” could be disastrous.
• • The upshot: “It would be Rod’s decision,” a source said. “It’s his deal.”
• • The backshot: “The governor is weighing offers from multiple media sources — and if he did appear on ‘The View,’ it would probably be in tandem [contingent?] with an interview on ‘Good Morning America,’ which is also on ABC-TV and has expressed interest in him appearing on the show,” a top source said. “He is weighing his offers.”
* 9:02 am - Zorn: It’s a delusional life
* Related…
* Emanuel had pal make call to Blago : In the days when President Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett sought an appointment to Obama’s vacant Senate post last November, Gov. Blagojevich’s staff received a call: Blagojevich should expect nothing in return from Obama for giving the Senate appointment to Jarrett — nothing but “appreciation.” But the person who made the call wasn’t on Obama’s team. He was John Wyma, a longtime Blagojevich aide who had been secretly working with the government, according to sources. Wyma made the call at the request of another friend, the then-president-elect’s chosen chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel — a contact with the Blagojevich camp that was not mentioned in Obama’s internal report released in December.
* Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers expect his removal from office
* Scott Reeder — Blagojevich sees self as victim
* Governor declares trial a sham, likens arrest to Pearl Harbor
* Blago could sue to stop Senate trial
* Blago blasts the rules
* Blagojevich is fighting impeachment — “more to say later”
* Blagojevich trials could expose pay-to-play in Southern Illinois
* Blago appointee gets $40K pension boost
* Give Him a C for Creativity Also
* Arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich clinched Carol Fowler’s return to TV news
* Coming to Second City: ‘Rod Blagojevich Superstar’
- Concerned Observer - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:44 am:
Oh, that’s the reason? It was all about raising taxes? Well, why didn’t someone say so!
Whew. Here I thought it was about incredible corruption. Glad we got that cleared up. We could have had quite a misunderstanding.
- Anonymous Coward - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:45 am:
“my mental state is where it’s always been..”
- Tao of Rod - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:46 am:
Rod should really seek psychological help after he is impeached.
This is not about taxes, it’s about his corruption.
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:46 am:
He’ll make a fine radio personality. Is this the audition?
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:47 am:
At one point early on in the interview, he mentions that “if he had a radio show” he could talk about what *really* goes on in politics.
Heck, I’d listen.
- Anonymous Coward - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:50 am:
Had he known the public was listening to his tapped phone, he wouldn’t have used profanity…
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:50 am:
LOL — Blagojevich apologizes for his profanity on the phone taps. If he knew he was being recorded, he wouldn’t have used “those words.”
- ILPundit - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:50 am:
The interviewing skills of Don and Roma are abysmal.
They are pretty much giving him free access to a microphone and aren’t making any attempt call him on his B.S.
- Wacker Drive - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:51 am:
Rod’s studdering and stammering, long pauses are highly suspect.
- Cinho - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:52 am:
And I’ve got some prime property for sale about five miles east of Lake Shore Drive available only to those people who believe this new theory.
- Narcoleptic - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:55 am:
The fact that he thinks he knows or wants others to think he knows what “really goes on” is probably what he considers his ace in the hole.
- ILPundit - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:55 am:
This man is dangerous. He’s angry and imbalanced
- partially - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:57 am:
Well, I think he’s crazy to think the impeachment is about raising taxes.
But, you could say that the root of the conflict with Madigan is about his refusal to raise taxes. Madigan’s plan the whole time was to force rod to raise taxes before lisa took office. That led to much of the budget conflicts, healthcare stuff, familycare stuff, etc.
- Anon - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:58 am:
I’m disappointed with Don & Roma - Sounds like a Rod infomercial.
- Bill Baar - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 7:59 am:
Like a lot of lunatics, there is truth to it… you can bet the Democrat’s plan is a take hike with Quinn followed by throwing Quinn under the bus for Lisa or another….
Crazy like a Fox the Guv.
- Bill Baar - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:04 am:
Powerful phonies in far away places….wonder who they are?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:04 am:
I have to wipe the stuff out of my ears.
If his impeachment is unconstitutional, a violation of his 6th Amendment rights, why is he not in federal court? Of course, he says, the GA is against him, but is the entire U.S. justice system rigged against him, too? He can’t get a fair hearing in the United States of America? He just said he doesn’t know if they’re going into court.
I was making breakfast for my kids so didn’t catch the context, but did he say earlier he wants to call Ted Kennedy and John McCain to his Senate trial as well?
He’s wrapping himself in the Obama people. I told you they shouldn’t have dealt with him on this Senate seat!
Can one be a paranoid megalomaniacal sociopath?
- Bill Baar - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:06 am:
This is wild…Tax increase in May if he goes…
- John Bambenek - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:06 am:
Blagojevich should send Jim Tobin a thank-you card for the talking points.
- Crazy... - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:06 am:
He is soo insane!
- Lip Balm - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:07 am:
Good-Bye Rod!
- Juice - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:09 am:
Just think of the children!
Oh look…a kitty!
- ILPundit - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:10 am:
Questions not asked:
If you aren’t going to fight impeachment, why haven’t you resigned?
Why didn’t you submit a list of witnesses to the Senate, rather than just assume they would not approve the request?
How can this be about passing an income tax when there appear to be far more votes to impeach you than it takes to pass an income tax over a gubernatorial veto?
Don and Roma absolutely blew this interview
- Bill Baar - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:11 am:
The TR quotes are fantastic… I hope this audio will be available…this is classic.
Now he’s onto golden glove boxing and TR.
- Anonymous Coward - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:12 am:
Teddy Roosevelt inspired me to become a Golden Glove boxer…..
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:12 am:
Uh oh.
Rod: “we’re going to do something a little bit later today…”
- ILPundit - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:13 am:
Holy cow, he comapred his arrest to Pearl Harbor in an AP interview:
//www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVNAcA-xtCA6PKQ8h5s7dBlD_BKwD95SP9N01
- You Go Boy - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:13 am:
SJ-R has a picture of this lunatic in an outfit that looks like an audition for “Grease”. The shades, the Members Only black leather jacket…ye gods, this man should be in a straight jacket.
- Heartless Libertarian - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:13 am:
This was classic. I know Don and Roma didn’t call him out on anything, but it was much more entertaining that way. It just shows you that he is mentally unstable, cookoo? This was just fantastic!
- tubbfan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:13 am:
ILPundit - with regards to Don and Roma’s abilities, why do you think the Gov chose that show as his kick off event?
- Princess - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:14 am:
I had to turn him off, just can’t listen to him any longer. So sick of ‘for the people’–he’s supposedly done all this ‘for the people’. I sat through healthcare and then on to downsizing government, blah blah. Gee, he lost the support of public workers. Now tell them why Rod. How about the months n months you fought state workers for a fair contract, how you tried to make healthcare unaffordable for the people who deliver state services. Months of ‘will get get a contract’, ‘will be be forced to drop our healthcare’. Then on to tossing out frontliners and closing up this or that. You could try telling about how you’ve downsized the budgets so that repairs can not be made, supplies can not be purchased, workloads have been doubled n tripled or just gets left undone. See, I had to turn it off. As a state employee family , you, Rod, have made my life a nightmare all year. Okay, rant over, forgive the tirade, it does not happen often.
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:15 am:
The script for the upcoming Second City “Rod Blagojevich Superstar” is right here. They don’t need to write much. It’s all been said in the last 45 minutes.
- I.D.O.T. Bleachers - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:16 am:
Frank Capra Movie ?????? More like Stephen King.
- Anonymous Coward - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:16 am:
Now he’s Jimmy Stewart going to Washington..
- Bill Baar - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:16 am:
Don’t under estimate this guy…remember Raushenberger yesterday telling the ethics committee Illinois wasn’t angry enough about corruption… this Tax thing could have some appeal… the hypocrisy, the operators in far away places… He’s going to let us know how it operates… in a weird way he might be right!
OH no…this is like Frank Capra movies! The good guy against the establishment…
no no, but this may be the crazy guy against the establishement… it might turn into that!
- How Ironic - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:16 am:
The Gov says “My life is a Frank Capra movie”
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:16 am:
The building of the insanity defense continues. He is who we thought he is.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:18 am:
Tubfan is right. Don and Roma’s bread and butter is that they don’t get too tough. That’s why people go on the show.
With this guy, though, just drop a quarter in him and let him go. He’s his own worst enemy.
- Ghost - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:19 am:
And somewhere his children must stand before their peers while their fathers voice continues to ring out around them; a hammer blow crushing their childhood behinds its constant barrage.
Forget the State, does he have no care for what his constant hubritic presence in the media is doing to his children?
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:20 am:
Out of the mouth of babes.
As I drove my son to school this morning I happened to be listening to this radio show which forced him to do so also. I thought it odd that he actually seemed to be paying attention.
As he left my car, he turned to me and said, that guy is worse than Jafar. I had to search my memory banks to remember that Jafar is the snake from the movie Aladin.
So I have a new name for this double talking snake and that is Jafar.
- the Patriot - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:20 am:
He is right, Quinn will raise taxes. While I am no fan of Quinn it may be the only way to bail us out of the Rod years. No way the democrats will be responsible and actually cut spending.
Go Rod, this is the Guv we know. I am glad to see him back to his old self. He beat the President, US Senate, Sec of State, AG, and the U.S. Attorney with the Burris fiasco. Not exactly the message you send to a sociopath that he is finished.
Hang on because a sociopath with nothing to lose is about to go head to head with a lot of democrats who have stayed quiet for 6 year, who have everything to lose. If I supported Rod, I have to be a little worried about what he is going to do in the next 14 days.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:20 am:
He is NUTS. I don’t see how you can say you are not allowed to call witnesses, when you don’t follow the rules to even submit a witness list. I hope they work 16 hours a day to get this trial over soon so we can make this guy go away.
- Stayathomemom - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:22 am:
If his is so worried about raising taxes than maybe he should us his Gov power and get rid of Stroger.
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:23 am:
So the plan is: media blitz all morning and then Friday afternoon filing and a 4pm press conference?
- Justice - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:25 am:
Lots of rope……and an opportunity to ramble. He isn’t crazy or delusional, in my humble opinion……..he is simply an idiot. The fight with Madigan, the constant backing off on his word, the health care plan for the world, and his ultimate run for the presidency was all bouncing around in his head along with his ego, completely void of reality. He’ll have plenty of time to think about it in prison. It’s great entertainment but unfortunately at our expense. Looking forward to the day we can look back…..and move on.
- ToughGuy - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:26 am:
Now Rod is starting to sound like a Republican….likes to criticize but has no solution or plan exept the “other people” are bad.
- South Side Mike - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:28 am:
For all those who are much more versed in political lore: How far up the charts on craziest/zaniest IL politicians has Rod zoomed? I know he’s nowhere near the most corrupt (inept at the corruption, possibly). But with all the flamboyant, truth-is-stranger-than-fiction characters in IL political history, does Rod make the top 5 or 10? If not, will he be there by the time this is all done?
- Pay Up - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:28 am:
… just drop a quarter in …
Is that code for a $25,000 donation?
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:32 am:
== The Gov says “My life is a Frank Capra movie” ==
Yeah ‘A hole in the head’ 1959
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:34 am:
I always find it amusing how he apologizes for his swearing on the tapes but then says he didn’t say what he said on the tapes. Maybe the feds edited out his statement after every sentence when he said, “I kid, I kid” of course using the voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
- Bill - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:34 am:
Rod just gave all of us the finger. He isn’t gonna quit. If we want him out we’ll have to throw him out. Do you think the average citizen cares at all about state employees, Princess? Is that why he should be impeached? Do you think the average citizen cares if Madigan’s kid gets to be governor? Is that why he should be impeached? The outcome of this whole mess won’t be good, long term, for our state.
Politics in Illinois is an inside game more so than almost any other institution in our history. After Rod is gone it will back to the good old days for all of us.
Tax eaters, special interests, lobbyists, family dynasties, 1.
Citizens, 0.
Go ahead and do what you gotta do, Senators, but if you feel good about it you’re just as bad, if not worse, than Rod.
Go ahead and talk about corruption, bloggers, even though there is not even an indictment, let alone any proof. Just continue to slander Rod. It will give all of you someone to blame for all of our state’s problems for years and years to come as we all make a living off the citizens and the same sick system just keeps churning along.
- ILPundit - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:36 am:
I think we you snag the very first interview with a Governor since being arrested and impeached, you have a bit of responsibility to ask some questions.
I don’t blame Blago for choosing them, I blame Don and Roma for whimping out.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:37 am:
OneMan, that’s good. There’s also Capra’s “American Madness,” 1932.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:41 am:
== Tax eaters, special interests, lobbyists, family dynasties, 1.==
Bill do you really think Rod would be here today if his father-in-law was an accountant instead of an alderman and ward boss?
- Bill Baar - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:42 am:
…the same sick system just keeps churning along.
Bill, you’re right, and the best way for the Guv to redeem himself is to start telling us all everything he knows about his time as member in good standing of our very sick system.
He could do a lot to change things now by turning on all of those Democrats and Republicans alike who’ve turned their backs on him.
Like a mob guy who flips… it would be redemption of the Guv’s soul worthy of a Frank Capra movie.
- Ahem - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:43 am:
Fine. Enter it into the evidence!
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:43 am:
BTW, I think we now know what show every crooked pol is going to plead their case on from now on. I’ve heard more hard hitting quetions at a Hanna Montana press conference. It was like he was being interviewed on Sesame Street.
- Amy - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:45 am:
missed listening, but heard he has a quote comparing the day he left home in handcuffs to Pearl Harbor Day. when will our long state nightmare be over?
- Bluefish - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:50 am:
Don Wade likes to talk big but he is like a soft little puppy every time the governor is on the show (must be why Blago keeps going back).
- Anonymous Coward - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:52 am:
They have the podcasts available now.. (split into 3 parts)
- And I Approved This Message - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:54 am:
The interview was frightening. This guy has completely lost his grip, if he ever had it. And it’s getting worse by the day. I shudder to think what else he has up his sleeve in the next few days. Senate, hurry please.
- Anonymous Coward - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:55 am:
http://www.wlsam.com/sectionalRSS.aspx?id=17424
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:55 am:
Question:
How do you know you are unpopular?
Answer:
When Governor Blago keeps throwing you under the bus to make himself look better.
Who are you?
Todd Stroger of course.
- Leroy - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:55 am:
Hate the player all you want, but he does have a point…
Will we being paying more in taxes?
- he gone - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:57 am:
I thought it was too cold to be playing softball this time of year, what a joke.
I missed the end, did he really say:
Rod: “we’re going to do something a little bit later today…”
- HoBoSkillet - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:57 am:
Don’t worry, Don Wade will launch into an uninterrupted 15 minute tirade about the Governor probably around 6 am on Monday…
- Princess - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:58 am:
Bill–”Do you think the average citizen cares at all about state employees, Princess? Is that why he should be impeached”?
Don’t turn my words, Bill. First off, no, my rant has nothing to do with my thinking this governor should be impeached. Did I say ‘impeach the horse’s behind cause he has annoyed me’? NO I did not. In fact I did not mention the word impeach or ‘toss the dog’ out at all in my posting. I said “I” could not listen to him. I, me, Bill, have no desire to hear more from the guy. I said “he’ has made my family’s life a nightmare all year–and he has. Do I really care if average citizens take pity on me? Not a twit. What I do care about is the way this gov rolls on and on about the wonderful leader he is/has tried to be and if it was not for those ‘evil’ other people ______ (fill in the blank) when in reality this state is in a terrible mess. No, what I said , Bill, was I could not continue to listen to Rod droan on. I was not attempting to get a statewide sympathy ear, nor the ‘poor me’ angle. I was talking as to why I could no longer listen to the jackin’ fallin’ outta his jaw. The state GA does not need my opinion of the operations of agencies under to governor to impeach him. They have a whole list of their own
- Secret Square - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:01 am:
Sure, our not-so-esteemed gov didn’t raise taxes on “people”. He also never told us the truth about how much his programs really cost (not just for the programs themselves but for the corruption likely involved). He also didn’t hesistate to raise fees on businesses, to propose a gross receipts tax, or sweep money that was set aside for other programs. Nor did he hesistate to blow off federal matching funds. If a tax increase is necessary — and unfortunately, some kind of tax increase probably is — his creative accounting practices had a lot to do with it.
- Macbeth - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:02 am:
He’s going to make an *enormous* amount of money on the lecture circuit. He’s turning himself infamous — and is glib and charismatic enough to make his infamy seem endearing.
I gotta admit — this is quite shrewd.
The middle finger is right — and it’s the citizens of Illinois he’s giving it to. We’re the enablers, and we get to watch him stuff the cash in the bag and head for the hills (where more opportunity awaits).
It’s despicable.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:03 am:
Secret, good point. I know Don and Roma are creampuffs, but they could have asked a question for the folks being put out of business because the state doesn’t pay its bills in a timely manner.
- The KQ - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:03 am:
I finally had to stop listening when he compared what he is going through (e.g. friends turning on you)to the “many examples in the Bible”. I honestly hope he get the help he needs!
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:10 am:
What I believe this all shows a pattern of how he works and the way he has ran his office. If he doesn’t like the rules he doesn’t obey them, says they are wrong and not right. He did it with JCAR, numerous times. He feels he is above all Laws and Rules.
Now with his trial, he doesn’t like the rules, he will not obey them, will not follow them. He will go to court and try to block the Senate trial, but I do not know how the Supremes can stop it since he did not even file a response, witness list etc.
One more thing Governor, take repsonsibility for your OWN actions, don’t put the blame on everyone else.
- Anon from BB - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:11 am:
Considering what a holy roller Don Wade has been when it has come to this governor, he definitely gave Blago the kid-glove treatment this morning.
I shut it off after 10 minutes, about the time Don and Roma didn’t call the governor out about “not being able to call witnesses.” I felt my blood pressure going up…
- Lurker - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:18 am:
The gov’s press secretaries have been unusually quiet. And I noticed his former senior press aide Rikeesha Phelon, whose last day w/the gov was MONDAY, came out swinging in her new role as Cullerton’s spokeswoman yesterday. That sure didn’t take long.
- Lurker - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:19 am:
My point is he obviously has NO advisors. It’s just getting kinda sad watching him flail away like this.
- enrico depressario - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:21 am:
Exactly when did Rodney stumble upon this tax increase conspiracy, since he is only now sharing this with us? Could it have been around 11:30 last night over his 23rd Tank-and-tonic? Come to think of it, Tank could explain a lot of his behavior…
- Captain America - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:21 am:
It is entirely appropriate that the governor should exit in a blaze of PR infamy. Blago never made a transition from campaigning to governing. He never understood the law or that his executive actions were subject to the approval of the legislature or the constraints of the State constitution. By refusing to participate in the impeachment trial becasue he doesn’t like the rules, the Governor he has forfeited the miniscule chance he had to invite judicial intervention in the impeachment process.
- Secret Square - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:27 am:
Now I am really, seriously getting worried that if he is convicted, THEN he will file suit to block his removal from office… and some judge will actually grant a TRO stopping Quinn from becoming governor until they can hear the case. This could be 10 times worse than the Burris fiasco.
- Shelbyville - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:28 am:
I don’t think that he is insane, but to go on “the View” would certainly be nuts. No one wants to go on The View. The only guests that they have are sent there by their publicists.
If the governor left the state on a medical leave, would the impeachment continue?
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:32 am:
So Blago mismanages and steals the state into 5 billion of unpaid bills, gets himself impeached and says his replacement will have to raise your taxes which is why we should keep Blago.
I’m sold, what was I thinking about not backing this poor martyr.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:32 am:
Bill,
Bite us.
- Been There - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:41 am:
He all but admitted he should be impeached. He said he didn’t commit any crimes or break the rules, BUT he did say he made some mistakes in judgement. Well guess what? The Illinois constitution is broad enough on impeachment and conviction (as we have been reminded by Rich many times) that making mistakes in judgement is enough. Mistakes is judgement can range from taking a left instead of a right when trying to find the bathroom or they can be huge. Like deciding to buy drugs from Canada, ignoring the legislators, eluding to selling the Senate seat, asking for contributions while legislation is on your desk, etc. He still doesn’t get it but the constitution is on the peoples side and the people want him gone.
- Southern Illinois Voter - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:43 am:
Six Degrees -
Amen!
- Derek Jeter - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:43 am:
Blagos attorney(s) are giving him the same advice that Drew Peterson’s attorney gave. Go on national shows and blame someone else for your problems. In Drew’s case he blames Stacy for leaving him for another man. I guess the other man is the I & M Canal or some other place she will never be found.
- the Patriot - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:47 am:
I am a little worried about how the State’s problems are all the Governor’s. Madigan, Jones, and Quinn all went lock step with this guy through 2 election cycles knowing he was a crook and bankrupting the state. They signed off on 5 budgets and a majority of the 6th. You cannot hang the whole turkey of the mess in Springfield on Blago. Blago is Madigan’s man and Quinn rode the short bus with them all into his position twice.
If you don’t believe me, this process is going to get messy because Madigan and now Cullerton are going to have to kick the Governor out without getting dirty when they have been wallering in the same mud hole with him for 5+ years. Madigan can play the “I am for the people” crap all he wants but he supported the Guv twice and has profitted considerably from the Governor’s antics and policies.
Now they get what that deserve and finally have to face the sociopathy THEY created!
- ChampaignDweller - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:50 am:
This guy is so nuts that if he does show up for his hearing, they should pass the metal detectors over him twice. He sounds worse than the average crazy who shows up for court.
- Say WHAT? - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:56 am:
=“I apologize for the profanity…If I knew they were listening, I wouldn’t have used those words.”=
Character is what you do when nobody is watching.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:04 am:
What a gem of an interview! There is so much to learn!
This is our first impeachment and Senate trial of a governor. So we are discovering that even an incompetent governor retains enough credibility to fight against being removed from office. Impeachment is an old process, which predates the power of a media. So what we are seeing is how a modern governor uses this media power against the process. Using the media is how he got into office, so he is showing his skill as he is impeached and removed from office. Should we consider reforming the impeachment process, it would be a good idea to consider how the media has impacted impeachments like Blagojevich’s. We need to address how an impeached official publically implodes and threatens our political culture while imploding, and take measures to protect us from possible damage.
Governor Blagojevich is a politician, and he demonstrates a great deal of political skill in crafting a virtual world that includes the listener. He has enough cognitive skills to still present another version of the situation he is facing, and enough political skill to sell it. He is good enough at it to have won two gubernatorial elections. He demonstrated this skill very well. He has convinced himself, and knows how to convince us. While he didn’t extract himself from the trap he is in, he definitely tested it’s strength – and it held.
The problem a man like Blagojevich faces is the facts. After seven years of stretching and abusing the facts, he has lost too much credibility with voters to have his version of events believed. Illinoisans were willing to look around this shortcoming if the facts also indicated that he was not doing harm. With his arrest, we were no longer willing to ignore his propensity to stretch the facts. Once he was exposed as corrupted, he was abandoned. It isn’t the truth that is entrapping him, it is the facts. As a politician, this is a classic blind spot.
I enjoyed his presentation on why he is being impeached and removed. It is a story of clever half-truths skillfully told in order to present him as irreplaceable. We learn a lot when we listen to cornered politicians. Blagojevich taught us today that he cannot think like the rest of us and that he cannot function as our governor. Even after listening to his version of events, in which he is an innocent victim, one recognizes that he is an utter failure as a state leader, and too incompetent to be in office.
I enjoyed every emotional minute. What a nightmare this man is!
Thank you Illinois Democrats for nominating and re-nominating, electing and re-electing a man so corrupted, hateful and self-serving. Thanks for supporting his administration during these past seven years. Thank you for sinking the Illinois budget into a historic black hole. You will need years to mitigate the damage your political greed and stupidity has created.
We depended on you to offer the best candidates, and you failed us - twice - in spectacular fashion. Don’t expect much future support from the millions you have shortchanged, and now want to overtax.
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:05 am:
When will Gov Goofy be on “Springer”? This entire fiasco has “Springer” all over it. Thisnk of all the “bleeps” there could bein that episode.
- Narcoleptic - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:05 am:
He is embittered and volatile and probably thinks he should never have listened to those (including himself) who told him that running on “Changing Business as Usual” was okay as long as you had $10 million to 1) convince people you were doing it and 2) convince them the other guy wasn’t.
And who have now resorted to the child-like and ineffective retort: Everybody does it! I just got caught!
- tunes - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:14 am:
Amen V-Man! Well said!
- vole - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:15 am:
PLEASE: Call your state senator and request that they vote to block this appointment of Kurt Granberg to head the DNR.
- KGB - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:22 am:
Any truth to the rumor that the Gov was foaming at the mouth during that D&R interview? Sure sounds like it.
- the Other Anonymous - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:27 am:
The impeached governor tells The Associated Press Dec. 9 is to his family, “what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States.” He says it was “a complete surprise.” But he says just as the U.S. prevailed in World War II, he’ll prevail in fighting the charges.
If I’m not mistaken, we prevailed over the Japanese by dropping atomic bombs on two of their cities. I wonder if Blagojevich revealed a bit too much with this statement.
- Secret Square - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:32 am:
Regarding the Pearl Harbor analogy, isn’t the criminal case formally called “United States of America vs. Rod R. Blagojevich”? So if the United States wins, that means Rod loses!
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:39 am:
This was more made for Bob & Tom.
- Bill - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:44 am:
Oh, is there a criminal case? I don’t think so, not yet. All there is right now is a politically motivated, pre-mature arrest and a political impeachment process. Where’s the evidence? Is the statement from the Bush FBI guy evidence? Has anyone heard the wiretaps? Are the written, unsworn essays from disgruntled employees evidence? Oh wait, SuperFitz was “appalled”. That’s really iron clad evidence. Most of the witnesses that Rod may have wanted to testify are on SuperFitz’ do not call list. Sure it is a political process and the Blago haters have the votes and if the Illinois GA wants to allow the USA to dictate terms of their process I guess that they can do that.
Go ahead have your mock trial and get rid of the duly elected governor. It is constitutional (Illinois) and probably would withstand a challenge. But don’t try to act like it is fair.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:50 am:
Bill, as I recall last year you supported the constitution as-is.
Eat it.
lol
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:53 am:
Fair?
I don’t recall anyone claiming that impeachment is fair. It is the right thing to do, but I don’t think anyone believes it is fair.
Every election has a loser. That’s not fair either. When you run for public office that is the deal - you might lose, and that would be unfair to all the work and money you put into it.
Impeachment is another political process. Blagojevich will lose his office in a special constitutional process designed to throw out failures. Rod Blagojevich has been a failure for over five years.
It isn’t fair, but it is needed.
- Bill - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:23 pm:
Rich,
Yes, I and about 60% of all voters rejected a referendum that would have thrown out the Constitution and started over. As I said at the time, there are a lot of great things about the constitution and there are some things that need work.
Allowing the General Assembly to use the impeachment process as a unpopularity contest is probably one of the clauses that could use some work.
Here is just one example of what I mean.
Most of the alleged “abuse of power” took place during Rod’s first term. Subsequently, he was overwhelmingly re-elected. No one said boo! In fact, the Almighty Speaker and the other constitutionals except Lisa, Cullerton, Hannig, most other Dem legislators and probably David Ellis all endorsed him. Didn’t they know about the abuse then or wasn’t it abuse until the grandstanding USA pulled Rod out of his crib in handcuffs?
Do you think that this would even be taking place if not for that dubious arrest?
We’ve both been around a long time. We both know exactly what is going on. I’ll eat it but I don’t have to like it and I won’t gloat about it.
- Princess - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:23 pm:
Bill–”Go ahead have your mock trial and get rid of the duly elected governor. It is constitutional (Illinois) and probably would withstand a challenge. But don’t try to act like it is fair.”
Where was ‘fair’ when the people were wanting a chance to recall on a ballot and the Senate told us ‘up yours’? If citizens had been given the chance to recall our governor , it very well likely would be the citizens voting to remove the governor and the GA standing back and letting them do it. I believe the spin was citizens are not responsible enough to have a chance at recall, but now we get a new spin ‘impeachment process by our elected reps who speak for us is kangaroo court, sham..’ Yeah, whatever.
- Bill - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:30 pm:
==I don’t recall anyone claiming that impeachment is fair==
Then you haven’t been awake. Everybody involved is claiming it is fair. Cullerton, Madigan, Curry and her whole committee and all other members of the House are claiming it is fair. Even Capt.Fax is claiming it is fair because they supposedly are using the same rules as the senate did for Clinton.
I disagree and a federal court might also disagree if they decide to go that route.
I am not saying its not legal or even that I want Rod to stay in office. In fact, I am looking forward to a nice, big tax increase ASAP after he is gone.
I just don’t think it is fair.
- HoBoSkillet - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:39 pm:
===Most of the alleged “abuse of power” took place during Rod’s first term. Subsequently, he was overwhelmingly re-elected. No one said boo! ===
Bill, the Watergate breakin happened during Nixon’s first term, yet Nixon was re-elected by a far greater majority than anything Blagojevich saw and Nixon was still ran out of town. And if memory serves me correctly Topinka was telling anyone who would pay attention that Blagojevich had legal and ethical problems. If I remember right, Topinka kept stating that no one ever referred to her as “Individual A” in a federal investigation.
- Anon - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 3:52 pm:
Just watched Cavuto on Fox News and 2 female reporters were on there bashing the IL House and Senate for not giving Blago a fair impeachment trial. Cavuto agreed “the people at Gitmo have more rights than the IL Governor. If these people had any idea of what this governor has done to people, I doubt they would be so sorry for this fool. He doesn’t give a rats $%& about the people of IL if he can’t get something out of it. Hopefully everyone will see what IL has been dealing with.
- Bobby - Saturday, Jan 24, 09 @ 10:41 am:
He sounds like two people, one of them a man who curses excessively, and, the other as a man of God. He apologizes for his cursing on the tapes, on the other hand talks about how he believes in God and the way God wants us to live. Either a man here with a mental problem or a hypocrite. . . or both.