224 Comments - Bookworm - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 5:16 pm: If you’ve got the same bug that my daughter and I had last week and my hubby has now… I feel for ya Rich. Take care - ivoted4judy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 5:43 pm: Walter Cronkite did the evening news with double pnuemonia!!! Now there was a newsman!! Get better old man, this is the week WE NEED YOU AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME!!! - Levois - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 5:43 pm: I can’t believe they’ll that Larry King will be particularly tough. - Anonymous Coward - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 5:46 pm: Aside: Governor’s TV tour costs taxpayers THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s media tour to the East Coast had some cost to Illinois taxpayers. Blagojevich went to New York today to appear on several national television shows, where he repeated claims that the state Senate is not giving him a chance to respond to impeachment charges being considered by the state Senate this week. Television network ABC paid for the trip and lodging for the governor and his security detail, Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero. Taxpayers picked up the cost of salaries of the two Illinois State Police troopers in the detail, as they would no matter where the governor was, plus the flight cost for one trooper who flew out earlier to “check things out,” Guerrero said. Guerrero did not know how much the trip cost. Representatives of the shows Blagojevich appeared on, including “Good Morning America” and “The View,” say the governor was not paid an appearance fee. Blagojevich is expected to appear on CBS’s “Morning Show” Tuesday morning, Guerrero said. - You Go Boy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 5:48 pm: I’m getting sick too…some of these media folks are being taken in by Blago. Chris Matthews particularly…can’t watch this stuff. The flu would be a reprieve. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:07 pm: A full hour? No way. Blago’s got about five minutes of material. Brutal. - SpfldJimbo - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:07 pm: You Go Boy I know what you mean. I just sent an e-mail to Fox re: Geraldo and his silliness. Chris Matthews? No one’s here to hold the gun to my head…so I’m not watching him. - 2ConfusedCrew - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:22 pm: I thought your work with the GMA crew proved worthwhile….normally the just play patty cake with controversial guests who come in on their own…she at least pressed a little. I would prefered a question like “what possible context is there that makes ‘get me %50K from the head of the childrens’ hospital if he more state cash’” sound legal or not the sleaziest mouth of scum ever opened.” Then repeat the same question until the time for the interview is over. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:29 pm: There is a shovel attached directly to Rod’s mouth. The more he talks, the deeper he digs his own grave. What I want to know is what is his real end game here? Nobody with 1/2 a brain would think this would slow or stop the impeachment. And reaching that elusive 12th juror makes sense if you think he’s going to trial (which I don’t). Otherwise, there’s no point other than padding Rod’s ego in his twisted view of the world. ACHAA!! - Leigh - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:29 pm: Get better soon Rich! - Budget Watcher - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:29 pm: Beyond the brief entertainment value of his media day, why does anyone care what he’s doing and saying? In 4 days or less he’ll be removed as Governor and permanently neutered as a politician. Six years of a hellish era will have ended. Nothing he does or says today will have any impact on the final impeachment outcome. Also, as this business moves towards the criminal phase, keep in mind that this guy wasn’t corrupt by himself. He’s already thrown out a whole bunch of names, people who he knows want to minimize or downplay their past involvement with him. Private citizen Blagojevich, fairly or unfairly, could be very very dangerous to a lot of people. So, over the coming months I have a feeling there will be several more surprises, twists and turns leading up to the indictment and on through the subsequent trial. As an passive observer, that promises to be the real entertainment for me. - Gregor - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:49 pm: Wow, a whole hour… That’s a lot of poetry reciting! You never know with Larry King if he’s going to be asleep and easy or on fire and angry. After the first thirty minutes of Rod bloviating and dodging the questions, I think Larry is going to lose his cool and open up a can of old-man whoop— on him, myself. Larry remembers Nixon very well, and will probably draw many parallels. Previous poster had it right: Rod memorizes about 200 words and then just repeats them, and a full hour is more time than he has material to span. Expect a huge mistake somewhere in the second half. And the SNL and Daily Show writers should send Rod a $1500 birthday card for writing their next three shows for them. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 6:55 pm: by the by, did you seat the verbal beat-down Geraldo did on John Fritchey? Given that Geraldo may/may not have a grasp of what is going on in IL, but he made Fritchey, who may/may not have the facts on his side, like what Blago (I can not believe I am typing this!) said of the cowboy of “give him a fair trial and then hang him. Fritchey should know better than to walk into a buzzsaw like that, a bit disappointing. Congressman Fritchey? If he wants the drink that Potomac kool-aid, he needs a better showing when walking into a possible ambush. - jaundiced eye - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:06 pm: Folks, pay attention to the words in the post by Budget Watcher. Very true because God knows what other names will surface in the process of Rod’s upcoming criminal trial. It ain’t over til it’s over. … Rich, get better. This crud that’s going around is no fun! Can’t wait to see the Larry King show. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:12 pm: Budget Watcher, it’s like Menken said: “Blago’s as fascinating and appalling as a two-headed boy.” You just keep watching. I think the only real objective of today’s exercise, the end-game, was a final day of “glory.” Big Man in the Big Apple, the center of attention. I’m sure his learned counsel, Sam “Kramden” Adam Jr., enjoyed the attention, too, as well as an excellent adventure on somebody else’s dime. By this time next week, the cameras will be gone and Blago will be a hazy memory to the world outside of Illinois. Just another guy who’s lost his job and is looking for work in a bad economy. Worse, he’s in trouble with the law and his father-in-law, who used to set him up with nice desk jobs, has had it with him. That’s it. - sal-says - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:12 pm: Why bother with questions. Most of ‘em seem inclined to take all his crap in like it was gospel. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:19 pm: When asked on Chicago Tonight for the advice he would give, Dennis Culloton just said “put down the shovel governor.” AKA shut the ____ up. - Captain Flume - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:21 pm: You know, I had thought I try to watch the Governor on LKL tonight, but I don’t want to give either the fraction of rating point my viewership might mean. To quote FZ: “I am the slime from your video/oozin’ along on your living floor/ I am the slime from the video/Can’t stop the slime, people, lookit me go . . .” - Been There - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:32 pm: Does anyone know if they plan to play the tapes tomorrow? - Bookworm - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:38 pm: Blago’s ethical funnel cloud is letting loose with one last round of thunder and lightning before it dissipates… then the hard work of cleaning up the damage it left behind will start. - Eileen Left - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:54 pm: Unfortunatly for GRod the trial won’t be held for another year and by then all of this diversion will be long forgotten. His attempt to turn a juror in his favor will have been a very expensive ploy that will surely fail, especially now that Fitz is on to his little game. - Toni H. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:57 pm: I’m praying they play the tapes tomorrow. I just want to “hear” them!!!! - Snidely Whiplash - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:57 pm: I though Sawyer went after him like a pit bull. Surprised the heck out’ve me, since she usually offers her “tough” interviews a comfy pillow and a latte. What else could she have done, put a gun to his head and threaten to kill him if he didn’t answer? - Toni H. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 7:58 pm: Also…sorry for 2 entries… I think “Bill” is commenting over at Gretawire! There is a post overthere that sounds alot like him!! Deny, Deny, Deny…. - Budget Watcher - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:01 pm: I would disagree that this is his last hurrah. Again, he was a central character in a series of alleged multi-character corruption schemes. There will be numerous folks, some rightly and some wrongly and some in-between, who’ll get caught up in this impending criminal mess. I also believe he’ll go nuclear at some point in the coming months and it won’t be very pleasant for a lot of people who did business with him. Some of these business associates are reputed to have mob related ties and/or are political heavy hitters. Could be an interesting next 12 months. - Question Answered - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:03 pm: Anonymous Coward just answered the question I was going to ask - who is paying for this ridiculous PR trip. Why why why are WE footing the bill? Out-of-state travel for State employees, except where ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, was banned last year — why would this ridiculous frolic be any different?? - Captain Flume - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:04 pm: I wonder how many e-mails Larry has gotten to ask the governor “What were you thinking?” - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:05 pm: The title for Rod’s memoirs: “A Life Taken Out of Context.” - So ILL - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:07 pm: The Fitz vid…Awkward! - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:07 pm: He’s already used his 5 minutes of material. Going to be a long….hour! - How Ironic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:09 pm: Larry put on Fitz presser. Gov doesn’t look too happy. Gov “it wouldn’t be proper for me to comment on the criminal case.” Gov wants us to hear the “whole story”. Larry wants to know if the Gov thinks Fitz is making it all up. Gov straps on his dancing shoes. He’s tappin’ away. Time for a break. Larry in HD isn’t an improvement. I think I’ll watch the rest on my 13″ CRT. 50″ Plasma is too much! - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:09 pm: Fed Up - I’d say there’s a possibility they will fill up the time with commercials. Let’s see what happens. - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:10 pm: He is in pathological mode when presented with Patrick Fitzgerald’s post arrest statements. He is trying like hell to believe what he is telling Larry. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:10 pm: Blago just said that the Illinois Supreme Court has rules that forbid him from commenting on his criminal case. Huh? It’s a federal case. Blago, you can comment all you want. Joe Bruno, the former Senate president in New York, got indicted the other day, walked out the courthouse and said the U.S. attorney was on a witchhunt. Whoops. Now he just said that the feds are the good guys. It’s all a big misunderstanding, what he said on the tapes. It’s a free speech issue. - A Citizen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:11 pm: All guv wants is a Catch and Release program - just let him go and have the fun of catching him again. Only problem is Illinois will remain frozen in time during that and go bankrupt! - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:12 pm: “had his senate seat already picked” Did I hear that right? - How Ironic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:12 pm: I’ve got to TIVO the rest. Kids are gonna kill me. They are in no mood for Larry, or the Gov. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:12 pm: At some point, especially after today’s showing, can we finally say Rod is not all “there”? If you want to call him “crafty”, “savy”, “a political animal”, then fine, but when dilusion overshadows just fundamental decision-making, then you have to look at it with an eye toward some sort of mental issues that are not normal. - Jim in Accounting - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:13 pm: Expecting tears any second now. - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:15 pm: He can’t remember the bleeping golden conversation. He hasn’t heard the tape. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:15 pm: Brings back Oprah into the equation. - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:15 pm: Same old same old. Nothing new here. - State worker w/ an MBA - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:16 pm: It’s great. They cut away to the Fitzgerald press conference and Gov has no idea he is on split screen and he is making sure his hair is in place. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:16 pm: Blago - “Of course it sounds bad, but think about conversations you have on your telephone” - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:17 pm: did you see him checking his hair???? too funny!!!!!!!! - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:17 pm: Blago admits it sounds bad on the tapes. But sometimes you say things you don’t mean, or you say things in anger “like I’m going to kick that guy’s you know what.” - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:17 pm: And all this time I thought the measure of a man was what he did behind closed doors when no one was looking. - Tired of the Mess... - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:18 pm: New drinking game–shot each time the following is said: -The Senate won’t let me; -If I have the chance I will be proven innocent; -That was taken out of context; or, -If Rahm Immanuel could testify… - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:19 pm: LOL Tired- I was thinking the same but I don’t think I could make it through the hour. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:20 pm: Bad timing at the break. “Bosley hair restoration for Men.” Those fellas ain’t gonna be warming to Hairdo. “Let’s hear all the tapes.” =If I go down, we’re all goin’ down, capiche?= “At all times, those tapes would prove I was always acting in the best interest of the people of the State.” =”Legal, Political, Personal. Those are the considerations.”= Next break- $100k job search. =Hey Larry, can I borrow your pen? I want to jot down that Web Site for Patti.” - Boone Logan Square - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:20 pm: Hope you have some chicken soup, Rich. I liked how Rod claimed he had no idea the feds were wiretapping “the sanctity of his home” even though he was making jokes about the taps the day before his arrest. Rod now saying he had no interest in appointing himself to the seat. - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:21 pm: Seems like ole Larry has a lot of commercials! No substance from Blago so let’s sell some product. - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:21 pm: The split screen hairdo fix is priceless…Not at the salon ROD - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:22 pm: AA thought of the drinking game, too, but didn’t want to waste good booze on Rod. - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:22 pm: Hobo - good call, looks like they’ll have at least 30 minutes of commercials. That way he will only have to repeat “out of context” and “I want to call Rahm Emanuel” a few times. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:22 pm: I’m not a regular follower of Larry King, but this seems like an awful lot of commercials in the first 20 minutes. - A Citizen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:22 pm: Are there usually this many commercial breaks on L.King? - Tired of the Mess... - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:22 pm: Is anyone really buying his line of garbage? I made it through the first ten minutes of the drinking game before I threw up. I am not sure if it was the liquor or Rod - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:23 pm: I did not think anyone went into his bedroom to get him…hiding behind his daughter? - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:23 pm: Has anyone tried calling in? - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:23 pm: Just answer the ^&%* question! If he thinks that this is somehow helping him, he is wrong. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:24 pm: Calls already? - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:24 pm: I have been trying to call in. Line is busy. - Jim in Accounting - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:25 pm: People, he’s not doing this for him. He’s doing this for all of us! - Anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:25 pm: the fix is in! Ha! - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:25 pm: Me too, Speaking at Will; I’ve been cut off twice. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:25 pm: Larry wants to know why the Senate seat was “bleepin’ golden.” Rod says he wants to hear the tapes. Larry smiles and asks you can’t remember saying it? Larry knows better. He did some time back in the day. He knows a hustler when he sees one. - Anonymous Coward - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:25 pm: I’m watching Alton Brown cook Brussels Sprouts on DVR… Almost as hard to stomach. - Question Answered - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:25 pm: The only thing that could explain why all of these media outlets are giving him a platform is that they love watching a train wreck. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:26 pm: A, usually no, from my recollection. Someone had to pay for that Gulfsteam ride to Gotham City. ————————————————– “Bleeping Golden? If I had known my convos were being taped, I probably wouldn’t have said it that way.” Understatement of the day, dude. - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:27 pm: “I’m the first governor to endorse Barack Obama!” YeeeeHaaaa! I bet BHO loves that! - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:27 pm: Throwing Obama under the bus now. And another commercial. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:27 pm: POTUS goes under the bus! - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:27 pm: notice how he squirms watching the tapes - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:29 pm: My question is, we as Illinoisians realize what is going on, but what about the rest of America? - Jim in Accounting - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:29 pm: Wow. Does Larry take commercial breaks or do the commercials take Larry breaks? - LN - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:29 pm: Question Answered, I think all these media outlets are giving GRod a platform because they like how many people want to WATCH the train wreck. Aka: profit & numbers. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:30 pm: Kings asks if he and Obama were close. B: “That depends how you define close.” I don’t know if that was a statement of hurt feelings or a statement of anger. - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:31 pm: Rod looks as confused as an amish electrician - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:31 pm: Rod backpedals on the “Supreme Court won’t let me comment” bs. - Tired of the Mess... - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:32 pm: 3 shots for everyone!!! - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:32 pm: Rod, try another tune….this is getting really old! - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:33 pm: “with the advice of lawyers” so it is not your fault? - Jim in Accounting - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:33 pm: Look out, other governors, you’re going under the RodBus too! - Bill Baar - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:33 pm: B: “That depends how you define close.” Between warning and near miss…. - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:33 pm: Hobo - my daughter (high school) asked me at dinner tonight why Blago wasn’t allowed to bring in witnesses. I’ll bet the number of people who are falling for all this would stagger the imagination! - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:34 pm: “Let’s hear all the tapes.” Rod must think there a few folks who should be worried about those tapes. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:34 pm: “Nixon had issues with tapes.” Another instant classic. “McCain and Teddy Kennedy should be impeached.” He drags McCain too far into this, the guy might hunt him down and kick his butt. - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:34 pm: Just threw the legislature under the bus! It’s getting crowded under there. - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:35 pm: I have to give credit to Rod. Simply to have the mental stamina to go through a day like this is amazing. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:36 pm: =============== Rod must think there a few folks who should be worried about those tapes. =============== Either that or it’s a delay tactic. Might take a while. - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:37 pm: the sky must be a pretty blue in Rod’s world. I would have gone home and gotten under the covers after the 1st interview. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:37 pm: Good to see someone’s making money. Larry, lots of commercials. - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:37 pm: == Hobo - my daughter (high school) asked me at dinner tonight why Blago wasn’t allowed to bring in witnesses. I’ll bet the number of people who are falling for all this would stagger the imagination! == You would not beleive the number of people who have asked me that same question today. I had callers on the air with me today that were buying this. So this isnt being completely ineffective. - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:37 pm: SAW: A tape recorder on playback doesn’t have to have much mental stamina–or much of an IQ either! - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:37 pm: Speaking at Will- In my younger days I saw kids have all kinds of stamina, doing stupid things, while high on PCP. Just a thought. - A Citizen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:38 pm: The sheer volume of commercials is unprecedented. Enough already - this boils down to a 20 minute show. - Anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:38 pm: By saying everyone should hear the tapes, it makes him sound like he is innocent. But he knows that the Senate will never get those tapes and it is possible that no one will ever hear what’s on the tapes! So it makes him look better. He is loony. - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:39 pm: Lots of “uhms” and “ahhs” wen talking about Ed Genson. - Bookworm - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:39 pm: I hate to invoke Godwin’s Law here, but apparently Blago is following the maxim that if you tell a lie big enough, often enough and loudly enough, people will believe it. He also apparently believes firmly in the idea that there is no such thing as bad publicity. - So ILL - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:39 pm: Political witch hunt! - just guessing - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:40 pm: I think the big media push might have more to do with drumming up interest for a big book deal to pay his legal fees. Don’t think there would be that much interest on a national level, but who knows what he’s thinking. - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:40 pm: dying to show his innocence. GO TO SPRINGFIELD AND TESTIFY. Honestly, I can’t take much more of this. - Anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:40 pm: Rod: “This is a political witchhunt.” “I’m a big boy” - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:40 pm: oooh he is so scarey - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:41 pm: “The will of the people who elected me.” Dude, you have a 7% approval rating. - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:41 pm: HoBoskillet–I’m a student in Rochester, NY, and remember reading a comment on a local news site on an article about JJJ coming to talk about black politics in the Obama era and instead being questioned about being “Candidate 5″. The comment was basically saying “Let Burris be seated, Blago’s done nothing wrong, innocent until proving guilty,” etc. So I don’t think they get it, unfortunately. Love the current question about the ethics test. Is she going to mention the fact that they penalized people for finishing it too early? - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:42 pm: State employee calls in about ethics test. Ha. He claims he passed the test. - Stu - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:42 pm: “I got a 100″ - So ILL - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:42 pm: I’m not claiming to be a genius. HA - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:42 pm: first honest thing..he is not a genius - David - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:43 pm: I love it when he said the test was easy. People tell me that the test is a joke. - State worker w/ an MBA - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:43 pm: Does not know if it cost money for state employees to take the ethics test. What a bit wit. “I took it and got a 100 so she should get 110.” We did not live in the mansion because we didnot want to kids to grow up behind a gated house. Give me a break. - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:43 pm: a monkey could pass that test blindfolded - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:45 pm: oh for gods sake, he acts like he was in a gang - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:45 pm: had I know someone was listening, I wouldn’t have said the bleeping, bleeping….. - State worker w/ an MBA - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:45 pm: He has heard Presidents using the F word. When has a President ever talked to Rod? - Anonymous Coward - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:46 pm: “in the war with Serbia…” - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:47 pm: Reid and Durbin just went under the bus too. - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:47 pm: Didn’t Nixon talk to him during the taking of that photo, state worker? - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:47 pm: did he just call Larry a jew? - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:48 pm: State worker–Maybe Nixon used the F-bomb when Rod stalked him for his autograph. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:48 pm: We didn’t want our kids to live in the mansion…instead we stayed in the neighborhood.. and posted a ginormous brigade of State Troopers all around the place, each earning premium pay and beaucoup OT while the mansion sits empty. - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:48 pm: baloney? 7% is right - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:48 pm: How do you get a 100 on the test? Weren’t there only 3 questions this year, and 10 last year? And this year’s questions really weren’t graded? Anyone remember for sure? - Jim in Accounting - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:48 pm: His approval rating is low because of the national economy. - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:48 pm: “None of us have high approval ratings” Doesn’t Obama have a net approval of +57? - Speaking at Will - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:49 pm: That Poll was Bolonga! - Boone Logan Square - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:50 pm: Comedy clips up next. - A Citizen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:50 pm: Betcha Larry’s think’n, hmmmm, It’s good to be King. Being a guv in Illinois just sucks! - David - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:50 pm: 7% is a lie, it must be .07% - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:50 pm: The last 50 minutes has been one long comedy clip! - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:51 pm: What kind of reporter doesnt know where he got the poll numbers he cites? Larry King needs to retire. He’s giving Blago a chance to look competent….and even likable. - State worker w/ an MBA - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:52 pm: I like it when he said he gets up to jog at 6 am in the cold and dark, yet the press sees him leaving home at 10 or 11 in the morning. His last 2 porch pressers certainly were not done at 6 am. It was broad daylight. - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:52 pm: Rod and a ProActive commercial. Illinois is trying to clear up some political acne. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:52 pm: Sorry folks, got distracted from a friend of mine from New York who called wondering what the heck is up with our state. Most of us in Illinois understand what is going on here but we also need to communicate outside our state not to buy into Blago’s garbage. - LN - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:52 pm: I do believe there were only 3 questions on the ethics test. I’m not sure if it was graded per se, but I after I finished it I got to print out a really cool certificate! lol - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:52 pm: Larry’s had about a half dozen grippers. I think they have to put the electric paddles to his chest every five minutes to keep the show going. - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:53 pm: I agree with the comment above that he is positioning himself for a book deal, but doesn’t he realize (a) he won’t get to profit from his crimes, (b) when convicted, he’ll lose his state pension, (c) Mark Kirk has introduced a bill so that all federal pensions will be lost if you are a convicted felon, and (d) resigning would have brought leniency from the feds. I also think he thinks he has in his back pocket the dirt on everyone else and when the feds flip him, he won’t do jail time in exchange for cooperation. Just more delusion on his part. I can’t wait for the Senate to vote and make him irrelevant again. - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:53 pm: Now the jokes and skits. - State worker w/ an MBA - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:53 pm: Laughing at people making fun of him. What a joke. Remember the John Stewart Daily Show interview when he claimed not to know it was a comedy show? - So ILL - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:53 pm: OH snap. Brutal vid montage. - Jim in Accounting - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:54 pm: “What show was that?” Now how can he think anybody believes he doesn’t know what SNL is? - Former State Employee 2 - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:54 pm: Does anyone know for certain that he did take the Ethics Test? I was always under the impression the he didn’t - Anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:54 pm: Wow, I think I actually just felt bad for him for a second- watching him watch people make fun of him and his hair. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:55 pm: Quoting out of context Larry King says they will ask about children’s hospital if they have time. - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:55 pm: “Our remaining moments with the governor of Illinois.” Please, get this all over with as soon as possible. - Cubs Fan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:55 pm: “Our remaining moments with the governor of Illinois…” Thinking of how few there really are, that brought a smile to my face after nearly an hour of screaming obscenities at my TV. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:55 pm: This is just pathetic. Larry King is using his usual “marshmallow” approach. And he’s puffing Rod up. I’m going to puke. - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:56 pm: laughing at SNL actress saying his hair looked like the “little Fisher Price people”…ouch. - Lefty - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:56 pm: This is like being at a political wake. - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:56 pm: Larry is feeding him every big question as he goes to commercial break. Allows Blago to think of an answer instead of putting him on the spot. Might as well have written a script and handed it to him for screening before the show started. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:57 pm: Good observation, word. Maybe the suspenders hold him upright. - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:57 pm: “Ask your typical viewer who your state rep and senator are” Karen May and Susan Garrett. Take that, Blago! - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:57 pm: GA under the bus now. Gov is only one who truly represents the people. No one knows their state legislator. - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:58 pm: ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!!! - Anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:58 pm: Wow, now he is implying people are stupid because they don’t know who their local elected officials are. Doesn’t seem to have much respect for the “will” of the people. - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:58 pm: Children’s hospital, the Trib……they were all good things. - Boone Logan Square - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:58 pm: “All of those are good things.” - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:58 pm: New definition of purgatory–watching reruns of today’s Blago media events over and over. - chimary - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:59 pm: he pays pediatricians before others???noone gets paid - State worker w/ an MBA - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:59 pm: Larry Bomke, Rich Brauer, Raymond Poe. Ray Lahood Dick Durbin. His own State Rep - who lives down the block from Him - does not even like him. - Jorge - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:59 pm: So shaking down a children’s hospital is a good thing? - Ben S. - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:59 pm: Thank God it’s over. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:59 pm: Whoa, every kid has health care and every provider gets paid and paid faster. Biggest whopper of the day! - Nearly Normal - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: It’s over media wise for tonight. May be over for good very soon. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: I know Rich doesn’t care about the Cubs but politicizing Wrigley Field like this is disgusting! - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: What’s going on here, are we getting different versions? Larry said he was going to ask about the children’s hospital before break. That didn’t happen here. - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: Larry throws D’s under the bus. “Governor Rod Blagojevich, Democrat of Illinois” - Cubs Fan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: “Governor Rod Blagojevich, Democrat of Illinois”. That was completely uncalled for Larry! Most of us don’t claim him and haven’t for a long time! - anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: That was an hour of my life I won’t get back. My stomach hurts. - Anon - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:00 pm: If he is convicted by the entire Senate, then wouldn’t the “will” of the whole state be removing him from office, just like how the “will” of the people elected him twice? - UISeast - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:04 pm: Thank you to all that live blogged the event. I’m not sure what this says (considering the lack of content in the interview), but you made my programming class tonight more entertaining… I’ll hit up the DVR when I get home. - Princess - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:04 pm: Still trying to recover from Rod’s answer on the last caller’s question about Sen n Reps not really being the ‘will of the people’. - OneMan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:04 pm: I got to use a blago word at my TV when he talked about free rides for seniors. Also nice how he tossed the president under the bus a bit. Loved how they caught he adjusting his hair. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:04 pm: ===“Governor Rod Blagojevich, Democrat of Illinois”. That was completely uncalled for Larry! Most of us don’t claim him and haven’t for a long time!=== I speculate that might be a dig on Larry’s part against Fox News. - ivoted4judy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:06 pm: Is it Thursday yet?????????? - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:07 pm: Did Rod abandon his claim that impeachment was a plot to get rid of him so the GA could raise taxes? I thought I heard him say impeachment was the result of these “allegations.” - Amy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:09 pm: Greta: “I actually agree with you. (re procedure, witnesses). I don’t know if you’re guilty or innocent, but…” larry and greta….softballs. nice calll in softball re the ethics requirement….Blago hit that one out of the park. also, hit Obama in the gut with the statement that he took recommendations from Obama on who to hire as agency heads. national media…..WAKE UP!!!!! - A Citizen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:09 pm: Wonder if part of the deal to appear on L King was that guv got 50% of the fees for commercials? That would explain everything. - Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:11 pm: - Tired of the Mess… - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:18 pm: New drinking game–shot each time the following is said: -The Senate won’t let me; -If I have the chance I will be proven innocent; -That was taken out of context; or, -If Rahm Immanuel could testify… Tha would cause alcohol poisoning. - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:11 pm: It’s been 10 minutes and I’m still trying to figure out what happened. word, I knew something was missing. You are right, I don’t remember him using that line tonight. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:15 pm: Today at work I spoke with a co-worker who doesn’t follow Illinois politics as well as we do. This person stated “Well he might be crazy but he’s right in that he didn’t raise taxes.” Sadly this angle is going to play with many people. - Amy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:15 pm: feel better Rich! - Cranky Old Man - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:17 pm: HoBo, I sure hope that person doesn’t vote. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:17 pm: Oops - I meant “doesn’t follow Illinois politics as closely as we do.” - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:18 pm: Cranky - you are wrong, this person is a religious voter. - Cranky Old Man - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:21 pm: Nothing better than the uniformed affecting who is elected. No wonder we’re in the situation we’re in. There are soooo many more like that, I’m sure. - Oldstyle Fan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:21 pm: Add “Will of the people” to the drinking game list. - Merit Comp Slave - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:26 pm: Keep your eyes on the ball, folks. Summary-he wants the tapes to be heard in their entirety at the impeachment trail so that his criminal trial would be tainted. He doesn’t know what’s on those tapes but he wants them all played. This is very important - like Deep Throat instructing “Woodstein” to “follow the money” in All the President’s Men. Think about it - Just Guessing - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:27 pm: We’re not done yet boys and girls- Tune in to Nightline later tonight, when Cynthia McFadden gets the honor. A sample: MCFADDEN: You’ve also been called narcissistic, delusional, a sociopath. One state senator says that you’re not playing with a full deck. Are you playing with a full deck? BLAGOJEVICH: Hmm. Let me put it this way. Politics is a business where people call you names. - Bookworm - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:28 pm: Normal, watching Blago for eternity would be hell, not purgatory. - OneMan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:28 pm: My daughter counted 40+ of that tongue thing he does before the show was 2/3rds over. - steve schnorf - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:31 pm: I used to be a real fan of “60 Minutes” until one day they did a show about something I actually knew about. I suggest we all keep in mind what we’ve seen today as we decide how much credence to give the talking heads on the next 1000 stories they cover. All that has been missing is Nancy Grace, though she may be tomorrow, I guess. - Pomerium Ultra - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:32 pm: Based on today’s “media events” the Governor fully expects to be turned out of office soon. What he is doing is previewing his criminal defense. It now seems more obvious than ever that he will call everyone from the President’s staff to U.S. Senators to other governors to members of the General Assembly to testify. I suspect that he’ll cite a long list specific incidents, even some without bearing on the case, in an attempt to tie the case into a Gordian Knot and enact his brand of revenge. The wheels on the bus go round and round. - Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:35 pm: So, in “Blago world” was this an up day? By the way what is his current approval rating? - Anonymous Coward - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:35 pm: Watch Gov. Blagojevich’s Interview With ABC News’ Cynthia McFadden On “Nightline” Tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET - A Citizen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:36 pm: “Cuckoo !” - steve schnorf - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:37 pm: Cranky, clearly here in Illinois the uninformed do the electing - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:41 pm: I’m blag-xhausted. Don’t know if I can take 30 more minutes of him dancing around every question on Nightline. Will have to see how Leno leads off tonight though. All in all, it was an up day! Just heard the Senate is supposed to play the tapes tomorrow. Could be another up day. - Huh? - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:42 pm: One of the things that caught my attention was how fast blago was blinking. As a silly trivia question, it would be interesting to know blago’s average number of blinks per second. I can’t remember where I heard that excessive blinking was a body language sign for lying. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:42 pm: ===uninformed do the electing=== Let’s be honest with ourselves here for a moment. I proudly wore my Topinka for Governor bumper sticker but it was the informed as well as the uninformed who do the electing around here. We did it all for our own reasons and now is not the time to be pointing blame. Now we have to look forward and not backward. - sal-says - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 9:45 pm: “- Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:56 pm: Larry is feeding him every big question as he goes to commercial break. Allows Blago to think of an answer instead of putting him on the spot. Might as well have written a script and handed it to him for screening before the show started.” Larry was probably supposed to ask the questions AFTER the breaks, but it is Larry. - Captain Flume - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:04 pm: == All that has been missing is Nancy Grace, == She was the guest after the governor on The View this morning! (but not on the topic of the previous guest) - Little Egypt - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:05 pm: I’m so (bleeping) happy that I didn’t give GoverNOT another second of my attention tonight and I boycotted Larry King. I figured he would repeat at least 10 times over and over the same old crap he had been spewing all day on the talk shows and I can’t take another minute of it. I will, however, watch the Senate in the a.m. I’m so looking forward to the end of the week just to see what vehicle Blago will use to drive away into the sunset. I’ll send packing boxes to Springfield and Chicago. Anyone know whose attention they should go to because you know it will be some staffer who will get the privilege of packing up the offices. It really should not be Blago because who knows what he will take off with. The days this week just can’t pass fast enough. I’m getting (bleeping) giddy. - Question - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:09 pm: Here is one of his slips that the Feds caught. There are more…. - HoBoSkillet - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 8:12 pm: “had his senate seat already picked” Did I hear that right? Yes, I heard it too. - Downtrodden - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:19 pm: The folks who design the ethics test for state workers have often designed test questions around cases they have investigated or matters inspired by current events, even though some of the questions involved cases later overturned by the courts or found to be a crock after going through the ethics police. Can’t wait to see this year’s test questions! - DuPage Dave - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:21 pm: Why do so many commenters think that Blago has any sort of strategy? He is clearly grasping at straws. His attorney quit because he won’t do the rational things required to improve his chances of staying out of jail. So what if some percentage of the population buys his “They won’t let me call witnesses” line– his trial won’t start for at least a year and he will be largely forgotten by then. No one can “work the jury pool” this far in advance of a trial. Let’s face facts: this guy is not operating on a rational basis. He’s loving the attention of the national media now, and somehow thinks he can outsmart everyone and come up smiling in the end. It’s not gonna happen, Rod. - Fed Up State Employee - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:29 pm: DDave: Agree…just get him out of office, out of control in state government, out of our lives. Once that happens, the court case means nothing to me and Blago will become a bad memory. - Blago Sphere - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:30 pm: You have to realize that the Gov understands that he will ultimately be judged by the 12-14 people that were too dumb to figure out a way to get out of jury duty, Also, they have to try to empanel a jury of 12 people that are generally unaware of the facts and the circumstances of the case already so that they can remain impartial. He does not even need an acquital; just a hung jury. The chance of them seating a juror with season tickets for The View, is far greater than finding one that is a regular watcher of Masterpiece Theater. The chances of them seating at least 1/12 that has had challenges with access and affordability to health care are probably pretty high as well. Every move he is making (Burris appointment, etc) is calculated to peel off some empathetic juror, and has nothing to do with retaining the office anymore. - steve schnorf - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:39 pm: ?, he was re-elected by the 50% of our 12 million citizens who bothered to vote, and by the ones who didn’t bother. - Bookworm - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:41 pm: Spectacles like today confirm my decision to not bother even having cable or broadcast TV anymore — I get all my news and video clips off the internet. Apparently I’m not missing a thing. As sickening as today’s spectacle was, everyone, I’m hoping the moment the Senate roll call for conviction hits 40 votes, and the sight of Pat Quinn taking the oath of office, will be worth it. - steve schnorf - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:44 pm: and he carried about 30 counties, not 3, and won by more than 350,000 votes - Jacksonville - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:44 pm: Leno called him Gov SOB insanity plea for being on the view - A Blago Victim - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:45 pm: Barbara Walters hit the hardest and she came the closest to landing a punch on Blago. Her question about Patti’s cancellation stumped him. Diane Sawyer tried but she blew a strong start by misplaying his transcript words –as it was out of sync with the graphics. When I heard the Sen. Oprah comments I knew that would dominate much of the news of the day. Larry King was the worst–but Blago looked shifty when watching the taped roll-ins. Did he really not know who Amy Poller was? - Gregor - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:51 pm: I think his end game now is to do anything he can to mess up or delay the criminal trial. He’s already lost his job, his body just won’t recognize it for another day or two. - S. Illinois - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:55 pm: Cynthia McFadden on Nightline is my new favorite person. She is SMOKING Blago! Finally someone did their homework. - Justice - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:58 pm: Listening to the Impeachment proceedings today brought a bit of sanity back into the chaos. I simply tuned out the rest of the bizarre media events. I do so look forward to the removing him from office and eventually marching his fanny off to prison after the indictment and trial. - Question - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:08 pm: My mistake Steve. I trust you. I thought I remembered seeing a state red and blue map. Thanks for setting the record straight. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:21 pm: I think Special Agent Cain’s testimony tomorrow will serve as an interesting counterpoint to today’s spectacle. This “courtroom” will be different from what he is used to, but this FBI veteran will leave the stand having done his job and leaving the Senate with no doubt about the matters for which he was called to testify. - BigDog - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:25 pm: Why hasn’t anyone that has had him on today pointed out that the impeachment trial is not a court of law and is not intended to provide the same procedures and rights that a criminal court of law does? Has none of them done the research to just learn the very basic concept that that it is meant to protect the office itself and to remove someone that is not providing an acceptable level of service in the position? To do it any differently would open the door to allowing him to cling to the office like grim death for months on end and dig this state into an even deeper hole (if that’s even possible). Also, if this whole thing has taught me anything, it’s that you really have to go above and beyond from a corruption standpoint to drive the legislature to bring an impeachment procedure on your head. In my opinion, he’s done enough to get impeached about 4 or 5 times, each with a unique set of charges. - Tim - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:42 pm: The Nightline interview was the best one I saw all day. Cynthia McFadden put the screws to Rod, and all he could do was repeatedly claim that he was “taken out of context.” - Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:38 am: Blago is good! He went 8 rounds today with harldy a scratch or even a bloody nose. He hit all the talking points and even created a few more along the way. All while framing the impeachment and the 13 articles within his spectre of “I am doing right by the peeps” . Very smooth indeed. High volume on your site Rich. Kudos - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 5:33 pm: So if no one knows who their state and federal legislators are, that means the people in his districts didn’t know they were voting for Rod for state rep and Congress and just did what Mell’s army told them to? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.