For what it’s worth, Rod’s really getting nailed on Nightline by Cynthia McFadden who is calling his responses laughable to his face. He doesn’t look happy.
I guess that love fest cable news had with our state reps for the past month or so appears to be over.
I guess everyone should be happy with their 15 minutes and all.
For Fritchey - if he wants to be a congressman, he is going to have to learn to put up with the national talking head nonsense. Some of it is crazy, some of it is intensely spot on. He didn’t shine so well here.
Fritchey shouldn’t worry too much. Geraldo’s been crusading for who ever will have him ever since the Al Capone’s vault incident. Poor guys been walking around with that rather massive chip on his shoulder for the last 20 years.
The essence of Geraldo’s schtick: “I’m an attorney and I know stuff! Nyet nyet nyet.” Obviously Geraldo didn’t want to hear one thing Fritchey said. His mind is made up.
As someone who hasn’t seen Geraldo since his late night commentary during the OJ criminal trial days, I must say he appears as obnoxious now as he was then. No substance. No in-depth.
John certainly could have done better, but what an ass Geraldo is. Fritchey should have just said, “Geraldo, he was impeached on a bipartisan vote of 117-1 with the only no vote his sister-in-law. This was a pretty clear cut case.”
If you think Fritchey got his rear kicked by geraldo, just wait until you see what Sara Feigenholtz does to him in five weeks. He’s woefully behind in raising money, so he spends his time on fox news to get some national “exposure”. Nice work!
If Rod had any testicular virilty he’d go face to face with Bill O’Reilly on the Fox’s - The Factor.
Bill O’Reilly could have Rod on the “Pinhead” segment of the show.
All this talk about Nightline is nonsense. I read the transcript. The body language may have been bad for RRB, but the questions were not nearly as rough as some have claimed here. Walters was the best.
Geraldo being on GRod’s side isn’t necessarily a good thing… He has gotten more & more obnoxious over the years. Fritchey could have replied “if Geraldo knows so much about what’s going on in Chicago, what did he find in Capone’s vault?”
Rich, I’m grading on a curve. Most of the interviews today have been like Larry King - marshmallows and taking Rod’s word for it on the witness issue. I think McFadden called BS on him repeatedly and clearly threw him off his game.
I think that sociopaths have a special way of persuading each other.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:07 am:
+1 for McFadden.
I watched King, didn’t watch Nightline, but the transcript sounds pretty digging to me. My favorite line, smacking down his wife: “She doesn’t sound like much of a lady, to say nothing of a first lady”
- Wannabe Vanilla Man - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:17 am:
Geraldo is a washed up, has been “Hard Nosed” journalist. Not Letting Fritchey talk is about the the surest sign that you have no legs to stand on. I can hear Geraldo now in a job interview with him. “Where were you when I was un-sealing the crypt of Al Capone? And I fell flat on my face. Why weren’t you there to help me? Well, Gerald, I was 1 years old and slobbering all over my binky. Kinda like you now defending Rod is God and his great crusade. The truth be told, the next time I hear the name Geraldo, I hope he is in a reunion tour singing Rico Suarve. OK, maybe I wasn’t one when that song was hot, but you get the idea. Hey, I have another idea, lets get Geraldo to run against Roland in the next primamry. The slogans could be “It’s all about me” vs. “It’s all about him, but I reported it first”!
Of course Geraldo has Blago’s back. They both belong to the “Goofy Hair on Your Head Club.” Blago with his ridiculous coif and Geraldo with that animal that lives under his nose. Gotta look out for each other. Good ol’ Fox Noise
McFadden at least kept going after Blago, demanding answers and not easing up. Walters was good also. LK was pathetic. Geraldo doesn’t even merit a mention except for his brilliant display of ignorance.
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:28 am:
Watched all the interviews and I agree that Mcfadden/Nightline was the most direct. Although I think they were all softball interviews.
Geraldo’s interview was a mugging. Is Geraldo saying that the evidence to this point is not “yet” impeachable?? ie the legislature is basing the removal on corruption charges not yet proven by Fitzgerald? It seems that is his argument. Perhaps we are all too close to this. I think were all are aware of the years of stories and feel confident along with the legislature that he is corrupt, though not yet proven to be. ps I don’t have any doubts myself but I am beginning to see how others could not get it. Its frustrating….
I am not a fan of Geraldo or Blagojevich, but there is a grain of truth to Rivera’s shouting: the Illinois General Assembly could have impeached Blagojevich for one hundred and one valid reasons, but the report that they assembled was sloppy. It does look blatantly political hachet job rather than professional prosecution.
Some of the legislators calling for Blagojevich’s head look like rank hypocrites and johnny come latelys.
Blagojevich will be removed from office, but the methods used to kick him to the curb do not reflect positively upon the legislators. The state constitution probably should be amended because the impeachment provisions are so vague.
As much as I dislike Blagojevich, I think that he may not be convicted in the federal court because the prosecutor went public with the wiretaps before the crime was committed. Fitzgerald may have overplayed his hand too soon.
State Representative John Fritchey did not come across in a positive manner on television tonight. I cannot imagine him as a desirable addition to Congress.
It seems to me that Blago’s arrest was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. In one interview Blago said that there’s been impeachment talk in the past about him (all true). There were many reasons to impeach him. The arrest was just the final straw.
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:51 am:
====he may not be convicted in the federal court because the prosecutor went public with the wiretaps before the crime was committed. Fitzgerald may have overplayed his hand too soon. =====
I think the national press and others are forgetting that the Senate seat sale proposal and recent wire taps are just the previous three or four months. Fitzy & numerous teams have been at for four years. I am sure the gov & others have been recorded long before that. He may not be convicted on the senate seat but the hiring fraud and contract fraud will be damning. I predict there will be many, many indictments when it all over. The “Chi town machine” will be rocked
===As much as I dislike Blagojevich, I think that he may not be convicted in the federal court because the prosecutor went public with the wiretaps before the crime was committed. Fitzgerald may have overplayed his hand too soon.===
I’m not an atty., but I believe what Blago got arrested for falls into the conspiracy to commit a crime category. Correct me if I am wrong.
Geraldo is just so terribly unprofessional. This is why he still has to cover hurricanes onsite after 20 years in the biz.
- this voter will remember - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 5:17 am:
Geraldo is just trying to make a name for himself (again) and get in the limelight. He has not followed Illinois news for the past 6 years and all of a sudden he is an expert of the Blagojevich case.
While most posters here were attacking Judy Barr Topinka, praising Blagojevich and ultimately voting for him yet again during the last election cycle, I was constantly attacked and criticized for doing just the opposite. I have consistently argued since he began diverting money appropriated for other purposes to his health care and other “vote for me” initiatives that he should be impeached for that immediately. Just a bit of context for what I’m going to say next:
Rivera may be nuts. Rivera may be an over-the-top drama queen. But, in this case, Rivera is right on the money. While some of those offenses may have been included in the articles of impeachment, they’re not the focus of the proceedings. Nor are they the catalyst for the proceedings. The entire impeachment process revolves around his alleged attempted sale of Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. Yet, Gov. Elvis, who shockingly (hell, stupidly) wants the Senate to hear all of the wiretap tapes in the Feds’ possession, cannot bring in any evidence or witnesses related to the criminal case which is the crux of the impeachment case against him.
No matter what evidence is brought in the other matters, and no matter whether those are properly proven or not, he will be removed from office based upon what he said in a few incriminating snippets the US Attorney has chosen to publicly release from those tapes. And, as Blago has whined until nobody wants to hear his squeaky voice anymore, he is prevented from defending himself in a meaningful manner against that.
So, it would seem to me that these impeachment proceedings will likely result in the reversal by 40 state senators of the multitude of votes incomprehensibly cast for our looney governor by those now screaming for his impeachment; in reality, by those who closed their eyes and ears to the obvious out of nothing but political partisanship.
You reap what you sow, folks. Remember that four years after the Obama presidency …
By all accounts US Attorney Fitzgerald is one of the best around. He and the agents working the case have heard the full tapes, they are experts on criminal law. While he may have acted before acts occurred, what reason would he have to take the tapes out of context. I would love for that to be pointed out. Also, last time I checked all those supeonas that were issued dealt with lots of other issues. It would be nice to even just have that mentioned.
Oh my god, he just gave CBS a riff on “Checkers”. Please lord, make it stop.
- If It Walks Like a Duck - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:40 am:
I didn’t hear Geraldo “Al Capone’s Safe” Rivera offer to represent the Gov. Is he even licensed to practice? I give Geraldo a “Marksman” rating on shooting off his mouth, but he didn’t even hit the target.
Rod: “I went around”, “I went around”, I got creative and went around”
And I thought we had three branches here. Silly me, guess the state can just save a bit of money by getting rid of all those unneeded Senate and House members, ya know, ‘for the good of the people. Sorry Rod I don’t have anymore time to waste at this hour.
Also, someone forward to Eugene Robinson the complaint–which, if memory serves correctly, includes more allegations that just the senate seat bartering.
==By all accounts US Attorney Fitzgerald is one of the best around.==
By whose accounts? What I see is one screw up after another. He’ll screw this up too. Five years and tens of millions of dollars and what do we have? Nothing? No indictment. No evidence. Nothing.
- I can't believe my eyes - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:51 am:
Geraldo looks more upset than when he was looking in the Capone’s vault and found nothing!
Hey, Geraldo, I’m an attorney, too. And you, sir, are the fraud. Kudos to Rep. Fritchey. What state is Geraldo licensed to practice law in? I’d like to write to their ARDC equivalent about how to file a complaint against him.
Bill, you’re right. No free speech here in Illinois. Blago’s in his second day in New York whining and prevaricating on quite possibly every network and cable gabfest.
But it ain’t free — it’s on our dime.
Has anyone in this freak show asked him why he doesn’t file a federal suit if his impeachment is unconstitutional and a violation of his 6th Amendment rights? Does he not believe he can get a fair hearing anywhere in the United States of America?
Just watched the Nightline interview. I’ve got to side with Rich. Not much there. Other than the fact that she didn’t use “Bleepin” rather, used the F-Bomb, and was “bleeped” herself. That was funny when she did it the first time, the Gov’s eye’s got pretty wide there.
Actually, Word, if you are even interested in the truth, the networks are picking up the tab for much of Rod’s travels. His detail would get paid regardless of where he is. The way to stop that would be for the Senate to end this sham and just vote him out. Then his state perks will stop. Of course, that would probably cut down on back benchers like Matt Murphy getting their 15 minutes of fame. They are going to drag it out and milk it for all they can get.
As far as a court appeal, some of the freaks have asked Rod about that and he says that his attorneys, whoever are left, advised him against it.
Just vote and get it over with. Spare us the spectacle. I think we all know that this is a sham “trial” with a pre-determined outcome.
Fritchey should have answered the question about drug importation this way.
“Gov. Blagojevich is being impeached for doing this he was not authorized to do under the law or the Illinois Constitution. Gov. Blagojevich claiming that his abuses of power helped some people does not relieve him of the responsibility for abusing power.
“As for some of the charges being old, the Illinois House would have liked to impeach Gov. Blagojevich awhile back. But then-Senate President Emil Jones, an ally of Gov. Blagojevich, made it clear that he would marshal the votes to retain Blagojevich as Governor.”
it is extraordinarily generous of you to call fox news a cable news outlet. it’s more like “access: conservative points of view”. like entertainment tonight or access: hollywood, there’s very little actual news covered by the network…
- Leave a light on George - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:28 am:
Bill,
Don’t blame Fitz for the delay in getting an indictment. If Gov. F Rod would just stop commiting crimes the feds could catch up.
Remember all the stuff in the 76 page affidavit happend in the last few months.
Anyone who calls a TV talking head like Rivera “right” about anything when he doesn’t even let his “guest” answer a question is nuts. “Put up your right hand…” Are you kidding me?
Further, to just take the vote without reviewing the evidence would be purely political. There’s a process in place, however flawed, and it needs to be followed. If the Senate didn’t they would be just like Blagojevich–making up the rules as they went along.
Snidely Whiplash, don’t endorse Geraldo’s abject and total ignornance. Rivera is WAY WAY WAY off the mark, he has NO IDEA what’s gone on in this state and he’s been suckered by Blago’s charm…one of the few people he’s managed to fool in his all out desperation media blitz.
What this vid shows is how ill-prepared John Fritchey is/was for an interview. He had to know this was not going to be favorable. That being said, is Fritchey more about being in front of a TV camera, prepared or not for what may lay ahead, or was he just so ill-prepared, no matter the motivation, it was going to go bad? When this impeachment is broken down in a post-mortem, Fritchey may well be one who could be looked as an opportunist, instead of looking out for the people of IL (?)
WHAT THE HECK? What do you mean there’s no free speech in Illinois? I’ll remedy that REAL quick…
- MikeintheSuburbs - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:48 am:
I think one of the previous posts got it right. It is hard for people in the rest of the country to see that the Great Senate Seat Sale of 2008 was just the icing on the cake for at least six years of similar sorts of dealings that put the entire State of Illinois up for sale, not just one Senate seat. My own Democratic State Rep has been after him for that whole time. He is finally being impeached and shown the door because the national spotlight was shining on him and it could no longer be ignored.
Look, Blagojevich would have never been impeached if it hadn’t been for the premature, politically motivated arrest on Dec. 9. Those “charges” have never been substantiated or documented other than in an affidavit from the Bush FBI. Almost everything else in the 13 counts happened before the Gov was re-elected in 06.
Why was no action taken earlier? Was that Emil’s “fault” or was it a lack of political courage on the part of the Senate and House?
If, in fact, the “charges” by the FBI and USA are the catalyst for the impeachment then the Gov. should, in fairness,he should be allowed to call witnesses to refute these charges.
Well, life isn’t fair and Rod is through as Governor. OK, why not be truthful and admit that? Why act like this spectacle is some sort of solemn tribunal? They don’t like (hate?)Rod and want him gone. Just do it.
Most commentators in the country can see that. They must all be wrong and only the members CapFax Blago Haters Brigade are right.
That is probably one of the best summations of the entire political aspect of his escapade. While I am no fan of Judy, she definitely represented the lesser of two evils for the citizens of Illinois in that she would have likely done far less harm than a Blago rerun of the previous four years.
In retrospect its amazing to realize that he got re-elected under the circumstances that he did, considering both Levine and Rezko were under indictment already before the November 2006 election. There seemed to be very little in their indictments that was not likely already known, or at least greatly suspected by Democratic insiders, yet they stood by the Governor; campaigned for him, and did whatever they could to help support his re-election.
I am really surprised that more of them have not yet been measured by the media to wear the jacket for what has occurred, not just on their watch, but in many cases with their complicitness through either omission or in some cases commission in many of the issues outlined in the Articles of Impeachment now.
Rich, having just read the transcript, I wonder if your opinion of the McFadden interview has changed now that you’ve gotten a decent night’s sleep and are (hopefully) feeling a bit better.
All due respect — and there is a LOT of respect due for the wonderful work that you do — I think your standards are a bit high. Babs did do the best job, you’re right, but McFadden appears to have come a close second. She was prepared, she was aggressive, she was rather thorough, in my opinion.
It would take a journalist on the order of Cronkite or Murrow to truly crack Blago. He’s a master of ‘message’, no matter how convoluted that message is. If we concede that there are’t any of those people anymore, then we have to at least applaud those who approach their level.
Oswego willy “What this vid shows is how ill-prepared John Fritchey is/was for an interview”–
You call that an interview? It was nothing more than Rivera needing a person to direct his ‘performace’ at. There was never any intention in letting Fritchey speak nor to present ant ‘other side’ of the story. The only thing Fritchey might be faulted for is not wasting his time watching much Fox to know that this was nothing more than he should have expected out of being asked for an ‘interview’ by anyone on Fox. First we got Fritchey being announced and right off the bat Heckler Rivera jumping in . They could have just as well shut off the camera on Fritchey right then, there was never any intention of actually allowing any type of civilized question/answer type interview.
I did not see Nightline, but from what I read in the transcript, McFadden’s interview seemed as tough as Walters’ on The View. Of course, maybe I am taking McFadden’s interview out of context.
The issue that may be getting lost here is not the governor, not the mpeachment, its not even if it is “a fraud” or not. The issue is opportunists, like Fritchey, who get on these cable shows for face time, and putting themselves, and the case in such a poor light, because, unless you have been living in a cave about Geraldo on this issue, Geraldo is all about it being a farce, and if you are ill-prepared for that type of attack, who do you blame? John Fritchey, you blame yourself. The motivation seems to be of an opportunists on BOTH sides. The case is in the senate, Geraldo gets to fight his windmills. They both, Geraldo and Fritchey are disappointing.
Thanks for posting that video Rich, I am not a FOX watcher and hadn’t seen that. Fritchey obviously walked into a bad situation to begin with, and then made the worst of it. He looked horribly defensive, and opened himself up to the can of whoop a%$ when he said:
“I have not taken nearly the money from the pharmaceutical industry that the Governor has”
I agree this was a mistake for him to go on here. 5th district Democratic Special Primary election voters are not watching Fox News, but now they could likely see snipets of this ambush interview in an upcoming commercial being used against him.
Bad strategy followed by poor execution does not usually make for a successful campaign.
MSNBC this a.m. ….Barnicle, Bresinski reading WaPo piece from Gene Robinson….VERY disappointing. all agreed that there is not much to the criminal case against Blago. It was like listening to upside down world, their opinion of his actions is so different from how most of us see it.
so, rich, as for agit-prop theatre on Fox, it seems to be rampant on even the new liberal land MSNBC. god help us.
In my humble opinion McFadden was able to bring out a bit of show of anger in Rod. He slightly brought his body/shoulders forward, increased his tone of voice-that type of thing.
Remember Iran-Contra? Remember the (Republican) independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh? Remember how he begged for the Senate to not have its ridiculous hearings that gave Weinberger, North, et al immunity so they would speak? Remember how it turned out? Very few were convicted, and the search for the real story ended before it began. (Read “Firewall.”)
So here we are with a loser governor who is up on criminal charges but can’t help himself when it comes to shady dealings. The criminal investigation continues, and the GA decides enough is enough so they vote to impeach and try him to determine if he is fit to continue to govern. But instead of messing up the prosecution, they feel they have enough usable info to impeach. Cooperating with a federal criminal investigation while attempting to get rid of this sham of a governor seems like the right track to me. And they are following the rules of the Constitution instead of making up a process out of whole cloth or using questionable interpretations of their powers (like Blago and other “leaders” have recently done) to do so.
What we could have witnessed yesterday from New York is how shoddy work is now called television journalism. We saw a difference between local news and national news, and it demonstrated how far short of the mark national news has become.
Blagojevich isn’t new news, but to New York journalists, he seemed to be. Instead of discussing how Rod Blagojevich was finally exposed after years of investigations and administrative incompetence, our intrepid journalists couldn’t resist name dropping. Oprah, Emanuel, Jackson and Obama were more in their sights, thanks to Blagojevich, than was Blagojevich’s failures. Blagojevich showed how easily led our supposed television hot shots are as he dropped repetitive lies, told fabulous tales, and surrounded himself with posse as though he was a geek hip-hop mogul.
By the time our journalists had finished setting up their questions in a manner to show their impartiality and star power, the questions behind these intros were limpid and pale. No one felt enough emotions while interviewing the country’s worse governor. While no one confessed an Obama-like thrill up their legs when interviewing Blagojevich, most of them were chomping at the bit to talk about Oprah.
Blagojevich was Blagojevich, as we have come to know and despise him. Nothing new here. But as he was enrobed in New York television infamy, his star treatment chaffed Illinoians. Watching the millionaire television reporters familiar to our evening new hours treat Blagojevich as though he wasn’t scum, lowered their credibility from Rockford to Cairo.
Blagojevich wasn’t treated with justice. He was treated with respect. After six years of ample evidence otherwise, Blagojevich’s blitz in the Big Apple showed a competence we know he withheld from Day One in the governor’s office.
==By whose accounts? What I see is one screw up after another. He’ll screw this up too. Five years and tens of millions of dollars and what do we have? Nothing? No indictment. No evidence. Nothing.==
Look it hasn’t even been two months since Blago was arrested, and there are hundreds & hundreds of hours of recorded tapes to listen too. This is why Fitz asks for & received permission for a 90 day extension for the indictment, which will come. I think there is plenty of evidence not only from the tapes but from previous years of play to play, shakedowns, illegal hiring, etc…so just look where Rezko is at.
We have to remember that the “news” media, including this blog, thrive on controversy. Where there is none, some is created. Where there is not enough, some more will be manufactured. This is especially true in television, where hosts overtalk their guests to create tension and the impression of disingenuous injustice, Meanwhile, local mopes like Fritchey and Matt Murphy and Lou Lang, to name a few Illinoisans in this case, feel the siren sounds of national attention to prop up their own ambitions, and the national media is more than willing to go along, because the ratings will bear them.
Fox News, MSNBC, CNN– none of them need to look into background. The devil might be in the details, but not the ratings.
Why people tolerate stuff like the Geraldo piece is a mystery. I would have told him to lower his voice or I would walk off. “Lower your voice, Geraldo. You are acting like a child.”
wow…Geraldo did a number on Fritchey. Regardless of what enlightened people may think of the facts, most people who watch Fox news arent enlightened, and Geraldo made Fritchey look like part of the political lynch mob hanging the governor. That was really something. Buck up John — you may have to deal with worse when running for the 5th CD.
- Illinois.Pundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:28 am:
The reason Geraldo is so angry with Fritchey is because he knows that Fritchey knows where Al Capone’s vault is buried!
Bill, one thing you are right about, it is a done deal. We the people of Illinois will soon be rid of the worse excuse for a governor in a century. Hoorah. We will have a chance a working toward recovering as a state.
Blagojevich will not stray far from publicity for its the only thing he clearly cares for. His trial on federal charges will likely end up with him going to prison. Fitting, but sad for his kids.
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:29 am:
====By all accounts US Attorney Fitzgerald is one of the best around.==
===By whose accounts? What I see is one screw up after another. He’ll screw this up too. Five years and tens of millions of dollars and what do we have? Nothing? No indictment. No evidence. Nothing. ===
This may be the first time but I agree with Bill.
Fitz could have informed the public about Blago prior to the ‘06 election to avoid this mess. Unless Chi town would blindly support him anyway despite validated corruption charges. Obviously, campaign charges news articles were not enough for the Chicago sheep.
Fitz’s responsibility is not to crash election but I wish he would have in this instance…now we have national shame and the real dirt on blago and the machine is not even out yet. Just wait for more shame and embarrassment when the real corruption news hits.
I have heard no one go into the withholding of a grant to a hospital in exchange for a campaign contribution, no one calling out the Governor on his “no witnesses allowed” claim or on the missed deadlines for challenging rules or calling witnesses at the impeachment trial. Not one interviewer mentioned that if no plea was entered by the Governor, that a plea of not guilty would be entered for him at the senate trial. These are the details that cannot be taken out of context, yet they were ignored completely by the interviewers. My good opinion of national news, cable or network, has never been very high. It is sinking ever lower now.
Its just amazing to me though that he can repeat “when the full story comes out” so many times, yet he’s on national television with the opportunity to give the full story right then.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:37 am:
Fritchey, you just got Punk’d!
BTW, doesn’t Ashton Kutcher usually come on at the end? I’m confused.
Rich is right about McFadden. She didn’t let up on the questions she asked but the problem was what she was asking. She could have easily asked more questions that had more meat. See Rich’s Cap Fax for today to see what I mean.
Also she’s was not using bleep herself for the swear words but having the actual swear words edited out. Nothing wrong with that except she gets on Patti for not being lady like. Why didn’t she just say bleep instead of using the actual words if that bothered her so much.
- Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:43 am:
===He slightly brought his body/shoulders forward===
Rivera kept referring to the fact that the whole thing is about the senate seat and everything else was just window dressing and is inconsequential. What most outside of Illinois don’t know is that the impeachment would never have had a chance as long as Emil Jones was the senate president. All those “old” issues have legs even now because they were never addressed. Since the arrest came so close to Jones’ retirement the latter gets no mention. Later discussions by the group “Special Report” revealed that more legitimate thinkers were not taken in. Still, the “I’m being railroaded” message seems to be resonating. Does Blago think he can sway enough senate votes? Do his veiled threats of exposing the corruption of any of them have a chance?
Watching Rod use as his defense that he helped kids with health care and insurance made me sick. “Who can argue with helping kids?” he kept saying on every interview.
I think today I am going to go to a Walmart or Target somewhere on south or west side of Chicago and tell all of the shoppers that I will pay for their prescriptions, kids diapers, food and other essentials. Do this all day long. Then at the end of the day I will write a check for all of it. In a few days it will bounce and they will come after me. I will then announce that who could argue with what I have done? Who could disagree with all of the children I have helped? The end result is what counts. The process of actually paying for it means nothing. Of course everyone will agree with that theory and everyone will be better off.
Geraldo and others like him are completely stupid, shameless, and reckless. They are an embarrasment to true journalism. I was verbally attacked at my health club due to much of this media nonsense. A woman who knows where I work went wacky on me, screaming that what WE are doing to this Governor is wrong and he should have the rights that every other citizen has. I tried to explain that this is a political process, NOT a criminal one. I was kind. I was not defensive, just trying to explain. She would not hear anything I said. She was screaming that we should be ashamed of what WE are doing to this poor man and his family. This was done in the presence of others. It was embarrasing and for a few moments I did not feel safe in that locker room. I wonder if she is related to Rod. She is off of her nut. Sadly, some people are foolish enough to believe this canned press garbage.
Rich, I am extremely grateful for your presence in the midst of this nightmare. You care what happens in Illinois. Geraldo and his ilk only care about ratings.
Bill, I’m beginning to be worried about you. You have been so 99.9% supportive of our wonderful Governor Rod Blagojevich and have spent an immense amount of time on this blog defending him. I think you would agree that our wonderful governor’s days as the leader of this state are limited, not necessarily to days but now down to hours left in office. What will you do to fill your time? I could recommend those 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles. Also I’ve heard a great way to relax, even for the male species, is to take up needlework of some kind; i.e., crocheting, knitting, embroidering, quilting. You may even be able to post pictures here of your handiwork and get some of us to buy your products. I do wish you well my friend as you go through Blagojevich withdrawal. Most of us are doing just fine and thank you for asking.
MEMO TO REP. FRITCHEY: Sometimes it’s better to not appear on TV at all vs. being non-selective about whose show you actually are on. Geraldo made a fool of himself but succeeded in taking you down with him. I have (had) more respect for you than to answer each and every reporter’s call to sit in front of a camera. BYW, try the spray tan products. They work really well after the Florida tan has worn off.
- Illinois.Pundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:10 am:
I’m still amazed by this interview. It’s not so much that Geraldo is a moron. That’s a known commodity. It’s that Fritchey blew himself up. I mean come on, the guys been on TV more than Oprah in the last two months. I actually was starting to think he was a reporter for Fox. I mean the impeachment was one thing because he was on the committee. But when he went down to file petitions and appeared live to talk about Burris. That was ridiculous. He will jump on any opportunity to be on TV. Maybe he’ll think twice now. This is exactly why Feigenholtz will win. Her two key opponents have huge egos and thrive on being in the media. She could care less about being in the media and prefers to spend time working for her constituents.
Illinois Pundit is right on in his post about Fritchey. Recently, Fritchey has been falling all over himself to get in front of TV lights, and isn’t that also what Fritchey has complained about Blagojevich. Will Fritchey learn from this ambush and be less of an opportunist? Even Jack Franks has backed off. It’s not about Fritchey, and when you get ambushed about the topic, and you make it about you, you can look bad. We will see if Fritchey learns anything.
- Illinois.Pundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:54 am:
Thanks Oswego Willy! I think part of it is ego and part of it is being behind the 8 ball on the race. He won’t be able to catch Sara financially, so he’s taking unpaid media any way he can get it. The problem being when you pay for media, you know what you get. When you don’t pay for it, you get Geraldo yelling at you!
For a little perspective on the media freakshow, rent “Network,” by the greats Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayevsky.
It was considered outrageous satire in 1977. Today? Not so much.
- Starting to support Rod - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 2:01 pm:
I dont like the Government using these small cuts froms his phone calls, they should make the entire phone call available, who is Billy? I would like to hear some recordings of Mayor Daley or Mike Madigan talking about campaign contributions, those guys were corrupt when Rod was still wet behind the ears. Also lets hear the entire conservations of Cong Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rahm and David Axelrod.
- Alan Schreiber - Wednesday, Jan 28, 09 @ 8:41 pm:
I enjoyed watching Fritcheys eyes wander all over, a sure sign of a good liar.
- Amy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:58 pm:
maybe you’ll like cable tomorrow when (if) Blago goes on with Rachel Maddow, cause Rachel sounds ready to go!
also, Cynthia McFadden is doing great on Nightline with Blago right now.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:58 pm:
For what it’s worth, Rod’s really getting nailed on Nightline by Cynthia McFadden who is calling his responses laughable to his face. He doesn’t look happy.
- John - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 10:58 pm:
I guess that love fest cable news had with our state reps for the past month or so appears to be over.
I guess everyone should be happy with their 15 minutes and all.
For Fritchey - if he wants to be a congressman, he is going to have to learn to put up with the national talking head nonsense. Some of it is crazy, some of it is intensely spot on. He didn’t shine so well here.
- SweetLou - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:11 pm:
Fritchey shouldn’t worry too much. Geraldo’s been crusading for who ever will have him ever since the Al Capone’s vault incident. Poor guys been walking around with that rather massive chip on his shoulder for the last 20 years.
- Cheswick - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:11 pm:
The essence of Geraldo’s schtick: “I’m an attorney and I know stuff! Nyet nyet nyet.” Obviously Geraldo didn’t want to hear one thing Fritchey said. His mind is made up.
As someone who hasn’t seen Geraldo since his late night commentary during the OJ criminal trial days, I must say he appears as obnoxious now as he was then. No substance. No in-depth.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:16 pm:
John certainly could have done better, but what an ass Geraldo is. Fritchey should have just said, “Geraldo, he was impeached on a bipartisan vote of 117-1 with the only no vote his sister-in-law. This was a pretty clear cut case.”
- Obama's Puppy - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:19 pm:
Anything to be controversial hey Geraldo?
- uofcalum - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:20 pm:
If you think Fritchey got his rear kicked by geraldo, just wait until you see what Sara Feigenholtz does to him in five weeks. He’s woefully behind in raising money, so he spends his time on fox news to get some national “exposure”. Nice work!
- iMAGINE - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:21 pm:
Geraldo broken into Rod’s koolaide container.
- publius - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:26 pm:
cynthia mcfadden has done the best tv interview so far….
kudos to her, and it looks like blago is getting mad.
rich, hope you are watching it!
- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:33 pm:
Poor choice by Fritchey. No upside to getting into it with Geraldo on his turf. His potential voters aren’t watching Fox.
He should have had a zinger ready for Al Capone’s vault and the Lexington Hotel.
McFadden on Nightline was awfully tough on Blago and the missus.
- Opie - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:33 pm:
If Rod had any testicular virilty he’d go face to face with Bill O’Reilly on the Fox’s - The Factor.
Bill O’Reilly could have Rod on the “Pinhead” segment of the show.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:34 pm:
All this talk about Nightline is nonsense. I read the transcript. The body language may have been bad for RRB, but the questions were not nearly as rough as some have claimed here. Walters was the best.
- Segatari - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:36 pm:
I just watched some of it…I think you’re not giving McFadden enough credit Miller.
- 312 - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:37 pm:
Geraldo being on GRod’s side isn’t necessarily a good thing… He has gotten more & more obnoxious over the years. Fritchey could have replied “if Geraldo knows so much about what’s going on in Chicago, what did he find in Capone’s vault?”
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:40 pm:
Since you just watched some of it, Segatari, go read the transcript before disagreeing. Thanks.
- Levois - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:40 pm:
Heh, I lost some semblance of respect for Geraldo!
- kimsch - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:47 pm:
Thanks for posting the vid Rich.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:57 pm:
I would like Geraldo’s job!
Anytime you can get paid that much to shout instead of think…
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 26, 09 @ 11:57 pm:
Rich, I’m grading on a curve. Most of the interviews today have been like Larry King - marshmallows and taking Rod’s word for it on the witness issue. I think McFadden called BS on him repeatedly and clearly threw him off his game.
- Quizzical - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:06 am:
Geraldo is a bleephead.
I think that sociopaths have a special way of persuading each other.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:07 am:
+1 for McFadden.
I watched King, didn’t watch Nightline, but the transcript sounds pretty digging to me. My favorite line, smacking down his wife: “She doesn’t sound like much of a lady, to say nothing of a first lady”
- Wannabe Vanilla Man - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:17 am:
Geraldo is a washed up, has been “Hard Nosed” journalist. Not Letting Fritchey talk is about the the surest sign that you have no legs to stand on. I can hear Geraldo now in a job interview with him. “Where were you when I was un-sealing the crypt of Al Capone? And I fell flat on my face. Why weren’t you there to help me? Well, Gerald, I was 1 years old and slobbering all over my binky. Kinda like you now defending Rod is God and his great crusade. The truth be told, the next time I hear the name Geraldo, I hope he is in a reunion tour singing Rico Suarve. OK, maybe I wasn’t one when that song was hot, but you get the idea. Hey, I have another idea, lets get Geraldo to run against Roland in the next primamry. The slogans could be “It’s all about me” vs. “It’s all about him, but I reported it first”!
- Beyond Embarrassed - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:17 am:
Of course Geraldo has Blago’s back. They both belong to the “Goofy Hair on Your Head Club.” Blago with his ridiculous coif and Geraldo with that animal that lives under his nose. Gotta look out for each other. Good ol’ Fox Noise
- Toast Man - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:28 am:
McFadden at least kept going after Blago, demanding answers and not easing up. Walters was good also. LK was pathetic. Geraldo doesn’t even merit a mention except for his brilliant display of ignorance.
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:28 am:
Watched all the interviews and I agree that Mcfadden/Nightline was the most direct. Although I think they were all softball interviews.
Geraldo’s interview was a mugging. Is Geraldo saying that the evidence to this point is not “yet” impeachable?? ie the legislature is basing the removal on corruption charges not yet proven by Fitzgerald? It seems that is his argument. Perhaps we are all too close to this. I think were all are aware of the years of stories and feel confident along with the legislature that he is corrupt, though not yet proven to be. ps I don’t have any doubts myself but I am beginning to see how others could not get it. Its frustrating….
- Quizzical - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:31 am:
Beyond Embarrassed:
I agree with the assessment. Maybe its fumes from the grooming products.
- Toast Man - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:34 am:
To Larry Mullholland -
I don’t think we are too close to the action, Geraldo is too far from the action. Obviously he doesn’t feel the need to prepare for “interviews”.
- Honest Abe - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:37 am:
I am not a fan of Geraldo or Blagojevich, but there is a grain of truth to Rivera’s shouting: the Illinois General Assembly could have impeached Blagojevich for one hundred and one valid reasons, but the report that they assembled was sloppy. It does look blatantly political hachet job rather than professional prosecution.
Some of the legislators calling for Blagojevich’s head look like rank hypocrites and johnny come latelys.
Blagojevich will be removed from office, but the methods used to kick him to the curb do not reflect positively upon the legislators. The state constitution probably should be amended because the impeachment provisions are so vague.
As much as I dislike Blagojevich, I think that he may not be convicted in the federal court because the prosecutor went public with the wiretaps before the crime was committed. Fitzgerald may have overplayed his hand too soon.
State Representative John Fritchey did not come across in a positive manner on television tonight. I cannot imagine him as a desirable addition to Congress.
- kimsch - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:46 am:
It seems to me that Blago’s arrest was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. In one interview Blago said that there’s been impeachment talk in the past about him (all true). There were many reasons to impeach him. The arrest was just the final straw.
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:51 am:
====he may not be convicted in the federal court because the prosecutor went public with the wiretaps before the crime was committed. Fitzgerald may have overplayed his hand too soon. =====
I think the national press and others are forgetting that the Senate seat sale proposal and recent wire taps are just the previous three or four months. Fitzy & numerous teams have been at for four years. I am sure the gov & others have been recorded long before that. He may not be convicted on the senate seat but the hiring fraud and contract fraud will be damning. I predict there will be many, many indictments when it all over. The “Chi town machine” will be rocked
- Toast Man - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:54 am:
===As much as I dislike Blagojevich, I think that he may not be convicted in the federal court because the prosecutor went public with the wiretaps before the crime was committed. Fitzgerald may have overplayed his hand too soon.===
I’m not an atty., but I believe what Blago got arrested for falls into the conspiracy to commit a crime category. Correct me if I am wrong.
- So ILL - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 1:05 am:
Geraldo is just so terribly unprofessional. This is why he still has to cover hurricanes onsite after 20 years in the biz.
- this voter will remember - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 5:17 am:
Geraldo is just trying to make a name for himself (again) and get in the limelight. He has not followed Illinois news for the past 6 years and all of a sudden he is an expert of the Blagojevich case.
- Snidely Whiplash - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 6:32 am:
While most posters here were attacking Judy Barr Topinka, praising Blagojevich and ultimately voting for him yet again during the last election cycle, I was constantly attacked and criticized for doing just the opposite. I have consistently argued since he began diverting money appropriated for other purposes to his health care and other “vote for me” initiatives that he should be impeached for that immediately. Just a bit of context for what I’m going to say next:
Rivera may be nuts. Rivera may be an over-the-top drama queen. But, in this case, Rivera is right on the money. While some of those offenses may have been included in the articles of impeachment, they’re not the focus of the proceedings. Nor are they the catalyst for the proceedings. The entire impeachment process revolves around his alleged attempted sale of Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. Yet, Gov. Elvis, who shockingly (hell, stupidly) wants the Senate to hear all of the wiretap tapes in the Feds’ possession, cannot bring in any evidence or witnesses related to the criminal case which is the crux of the impeachment case against him.
No matter what evidence is brought in the other matters, and no matter whether those are properly proven or not, he will be removed from office based upon what he said in a few incriminating snippets the US Attorney has chosen to publicly release from those tapes. And, as Blago has whined until nobody wants to hear his squeaky voice anymore, he is prevented from defending himself in a meaningful manner against that.
So, it would seem to me that these impeachment proceedings will likely result in the reversal by 40 state senators of the multitude of votes incomprehensibly cast for our looney governor by those now screaming for his impeachment; in reality, by those who closed their eyes and ears to the obvious out of nothing but political partisanship.
You reap what you sow, folks. Remember that four years after the Obama presidency …
- Bookworm - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 6:49 am:
Next thing you know, Blago will be demanding to call Geraldo, Oprah, and Homer Simpson as impeachment witnesses…
- Speaking At Will - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:00 am:
Fox News = Disgraceful.
- Speaking At Will - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:05 am:
Rod on the Early Show now.
- Anonymous Coward - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:25 am:
Sigh..
Here’s the governor’s schedule in New York today:
6:45 a.m. CBS’ Evening News (taped before CBS’ The Early Show)
7 a.m. CBS’ The Early Show (Central Park studios)
8:10 a.m. Fox & Friends (FOX)
8:45 a.m. Associated Press’ TV studio (450 W. 33rd St.)
10:30 a.m. Fox Business Network (1211 Avenue of Americas)
11:15 a.m.- In Session/TruTV: Jami Floyd: Best Defense (600 3rd Avenue)
12:30 p.m.. Glenn Beck (FOX)
1:30 p.m. Campbell Brown (CNN Center)
2 pm- Rachel Maddow (30 Rockefeller Center)
2:30 p.m Greta Van Susteren (undisclosed location)
3:30 p.m. DL Hughley (CNN Center)
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:32 am:
By all accounts US Attorney Fitzgerald is one of the best around. He and the agents working the case have heard the full tapes, they are experts on criminal law. While he may have acted before acts occurred, what reason would he have to take the tapes out of context. I would love for that to be pointed out. Also, last time I checked all those supeonas that were issued dealt with lots of other issues. It would be nice to even just have that mentioned.
- Anonymous Coward - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:33 am:
Oh look, a puppy…
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/01/blago_got_daughters_a_christma.html
- Gregor - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:38 am:
Oh my god, he just gave CBS a riff on “Checkers”. Please lord, make it stop.
- If It Walks Like a Duck - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:40 am:
I didn’t hear Geraldo “Al Capone’s Safe” Rivera offer to represent the Gov. Is he even licensed to practice? I give Geraldo a “Marksman” rating on shooting off his mouth, but he didn’t even hit the target.
- Princess - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:40 am:
Rod: “I went around”, “I went around”, I got creative and went around”
And I thought we had three branches here. Silly me, guess the state can just save a bit of money by getting rid of all those unneeded Senate and House members, ya know, ‘for the good of the people. Sorry Rod I don’t have anymore time to waste at this hour.
- Greg - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:44 am:
Also, someone forward to Eugene Robinson the complaint–which, if memory serves correctly, includes more allegations that just the senate seat bartering.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:47 am:
==By all accounts US Attorney Fitzgerald is one of the best around.==
By whose accounts? What I see is one screw up after another. He’ll screw this up too. Five years and tens of millions of dollars and what do we have? Nothing? No indictment. No evidence. Nothing.
- I can't believe my eyes - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:51 am:
Geraldo looks more upset than when he was looking in the Capone’s vault and found nothing!
- phocion - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:51 am:
Hey, Geraldo, I’m an attorney, too. And you, sir, are the fraud. Kudos to Rep. Fritchey. What state is Geraldo licensed to practice law in? I’d like to write to their ARDC equivalent about how to file a complaint against him.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 7:57 am:
Sure Pho,
You should complain. Free speech is now against the law. Especially here in Illinois.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:07 am:
Bill, you’re right. No free speech here in Illinois. Blago’s in his second day in New York whining and prevaricating on quite possibly every network and cable gabfest.
But it ain’t free — it’s on our dime.
Has anyone in this freak show asked him why he doesn’t file a federal suit if his impeachment is unconstitutional and a violation of his 6th Amendment rights? Does he not believe he can get a fair hearing anywhere in the United States of America?
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:13 am:
Just watched the Nightline interview. I’ve got to side with Rich. Not much there. Other than the fact that she didn’t use “Bleepin” rather, used the F-Bomb, and was “bleeped” herself. That was funny when she did it the first time, the Gov’s eye’s got pretty wide there.
Here is the link:
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6737909
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:17 am:
Actually, Word, if you are even interested in the truth, the networks are picking up the tab for much of Rod’s travels. His detail would get paid regardless of where he is. The way to stop that would be for the Senate to end this sham and just vote him out. Then his state perks will stop. Of course, that would probably cut down on back benchers like Matt Murphy getting their 15 minutes of fame. They are going to drag it out and milk it for all they can get.
As far as a court appeal, some of the freaks have asked Rod about that and he says that his attorneys, whoever are left, advised him against it.
Just vote and get it over with. Spare us the spectacle. I think we all know that this is a sham “trial” with a pre-determined outcome.
- siriusly - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:21 am:
rich - disagree with you a bit. walters was good but Cynthia McFadden did a great job on him -
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:22 am:
Fritchey should have answered the question about drug importation this way.
“Gov. Blagojevich is being impeached for doing this he was not authorized to do under the law or the Illinois Constitution. Gov. Blagojevich claiming that his abuses of power helped some people does not relieve him of the responsibility for abusing power.
“As for some of the charges being old, the Illinois House would have liked to impeach Gov. Blagojevich awhile back. But then-Senate President Emil Jones, an ally of Gov. Blagojevich, made it clear that he would marshal the votes to retain Blagojevich as Governor.”
- bored now - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:23 am:
it is extraordinarily generous of you to call fox news a cable news outlet. it’s more like “access: conservative points of view”. like entertainment tonight or access: hollywood, there’s very little actual news covered by the network…
- Leave a light on George - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:28 am:
Bill,
Don’t blame Fitz for the delay in getting an indictment. If Gov. F Rod would just stop commiting crimes the feds could catch up.
Remember all the stuff in the 76 page affidavit happend in the last few months.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:30 am:
Allegedly happened.
- Democrat - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:37 am:
Geraldo is an idiot, always has been and always we be. He was to stupid to listen what Rep. Fritchey had to say.
- Lefty Lefty - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:40 am:
Anyone who calls a TV talking head like Rivera “right” about anything when he doesn’t even let his “guest” answer a question is nuts. “Put up your right hand…” Are you kidding me?
Further, to just take the vote without reviewing the evidence would be purely political. There’s a process in place, however flawed, and it needs to be followed. If the Senate didn’t they would be just like Blagojevich–making up the rules as they went along.
- Segatari - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:41 am:
Snidely Whiplash, don’t endorse Geraldo’s abject and total ignornance. Rivera is WAY WAY WAY off the mark, he has NO IDEA what’s gone on in this state and he’s been suckered by Blago’s charm…one of the few people he’s managed to fool in his all out desperation media blitz.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:41 am:
What this vid shows is how ill-prepared John Fritchey is/was for an interview. He had to know this was not going to be favorable. That being said, is Fritchey more about being in front of a TV camera, prepared or not for what may lay ahead, or was he just so ill-prepared, no matter the motivation, it was going to go bad? When this impeachment is broken down in a post-mortem, Fritchey may well be one who could be looked as an opportunist, instead of looking out for the people of IL (?)
- Segatari - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:43 am:
WHAT THE HECK? What do you mean there’s no free speech in Illinois? I’ll remedy that REAL quick…
- MikeintheSuburbs - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:48 am:
I think one of the previous posts got it right. It is hard for people in the rest of the country to see that the Great Senate Seat Sale of 2008 was just the icing on the cake for at least six years of similar sorts of dealings that put the entire State of Illinois up for sale, not just one Senate seat. My own Democratic State Rep has been after him for that whole time. He is finally being impeached and shown the door because the national spotlight was shining on him and it could no longer be ignored.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:49 am:
Look, Blagojevich would have never been impeached if it hadn’t been for the premature, politically motivated arrest on Dec. 9. Those “charges” have never been substantiated or documented other than in an affidavit from the Bush FBI. Almost everything else in the 13 counts happened before the Gov was re-elected in 06.
Why was no action taken earlier? Was that Emil’s “fault” or was it a lack of political courage on the part of the Senate and House?
If, in fact, the “charges” by the FBI and USA are the catalyst for the impeachment then the Gov. should, in fairness,he should be allowed to call witnesses to refute these charges.
Well, life isn’t fair and Rod is through as Governor. OK, why not be truthful and admit that? Why act like this spectacle is some sort of solemn tribunal? They don’t like (hate?)Rod and want him gone. Just do it.
Most commentators in the country can see that. They must all be wrong and only the members CapFax Blago Haters Brigade are right.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:53 am:
==making up the rules as they went along.==
That is exactly what they did when they let SuperFitz dictate who they could call to testify.
- Blago Sphere - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:54 am:
- Snidely Whiplash - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 6:32 am:
That is probably one of the best summations of the entire political aspect of his escapade. While I am no fan of Judy, she definitely represented the lesser of two evils for the citizens of Illinois in that she would have likely done far less harm than a Blago rerun of the previous four years.
In retrospect its amazing to realize that he got re-elected under the circumstances that he did, considering both Levine and Rezko were under indictment already before the November 2006 election. There seemed to be very little in their indictments that was not likely already known, or at least greatly suspected by Democratic insiders, yet they stood by the Governor; campaigned for him, and did whatever they could to help support his re-election.
I am really surprised that more of them have not yet been measured by the media to wear the jacket for what has occurred, not just on their watch, but in many cases with their complicitness through either omission or in some cases commission in many of the issues outlined in the Articles of Impeachment now.
- Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 8:57 am:
Rich, having just read the transcript, I wonder if your opinion of the McFadden interview has changed now that you’ve gotten a decent night’s sleep and are (hopefully) feeling a bit better.
All due respect — and there is a LOT of respect due for the wonderful work that you do — I think your standards are a bit high. Babs did do the best job, you’re right, but McFadden appears to have come a close second. She was prepared, she was aggressive, she was rather thorough, in my opinion.
It would take a journalist on the order of Cronkite or Murrow to truly crack Blago. He’s a master of ‘message’, no matter how convoluted that message is. If we concede that there are’t any of those people anymore, then we have to at least applaud those who approach their level.
Feel better soon….
- Princess - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:02 am:
Oswego willy “What this vid shows is how ill-prepared John Fritchey is/was for an interview”–
You call that an interview? It was nothing more than Rivera needing a person to direct his ‘performace’ at. There was never any intention in letting Fritchey speak nor to present ant ‘other side’ of the story. The only thing Fritchey might be faulted for is not wasting his time watching much Fox to know that this was nothing more than he should have expected out of being asked for an ‘interview’ by anyone on Fox. First we got Fritchey being announced and right off the bat Heckler Rivera jumping in . They could have just as well shut off the camera on Fritchey right then, there was never any intention of actually allowing any type of civilized question/answer type interview.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:02 am:
I did not see Nightline, but from what I read in the transcript, McFadden’s interview seemed as tough as Walters’ on The View. Of course, maybe I am taking McFadden’s interview out of context.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:02 am:
The issue that may be getting lost here is not the governor, not the mpeachment, its not even if it is “a fraud” or not. The issue is opportunists, like Fritchey, who get on these cable shows for face time, and putting themselves, and the case in such a poor light, because, unless you have been living in a cave about Geraldo on this issue, Geraldo is all about it being a farce, and if you are ill-prepared for that type of attack, who do you blame? John Fritchey, you blame yourself. The motivation seems to be of an opportunists on BOTH sides. The case is in the senate, Geraldo gets to fight his windmills. They both, Geraldo and Fritchey are disappointing.
- Shelbyville - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:06 am:
Geraldo is licensed to practice where? He’s about as qualified to enter a courtroom as our governor is. Maybe that is what they have in common.
- Blago Sphere - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:06 am:
Thanks for posting that video Rich, I am not a FOX watcher and hadn’t seen that. Fritchey obviously walked into a bad situation to begin with, and then made the worst of it. He looked horribly defensive, and opened himself up to the can of whoop a%$ when he said:
“I have not taken nearly the money from the pharmaceutical industry that the Governor has”
I agree this was a mistake for him to go on here. 5th district Democratic Special Primary election voters are not watching Fox News, but now they could likely see snipets of this ambush interview in an upcoming commercial being used against him.
Bad strategy followed by poor execution does not usually make for a successful campaign.
- Segatari - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:09 am:
Rodiculous Blagojevich is now claiming he had no idea his new PR firm was representing Drew Peterson…
http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/0gPeW_2K_k0/blagojevich-says-resigning-option
- Amy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:09 am:
MSNBC this a.m. ….Barnicle, Bresinski reading WaPo piece from Gene Robinson….VERY disappointing. all agreed that there is not much to the criminal case against Blago. It was like listening to upside down world, their opinion of his actions is so different from how most of us see it.
so, rich, as for agit-prop theatre on Fox, it seems to be rampant on even the new liberal land MSNBC. god help us.
- Lou Grant - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:09 am:
There is also a video of Geraldo Rivera interviewing Rod Blagojevich here: http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/21798293/kangaroo_court.htm#q=blagojevich+rivera
- Princess - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:10 am:
In my humble opinion McFadden was able to bring out a bit of show of anger in Rod. He slightly brought his body/shoulders forward, increased his tone of voice-that type of thing.
- PPHS - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:11 am:
Perhaps Geraldo has to yell because he is so short. Plus, he has been married 5 times.
Birth Name
Gerald Michael Riviera
Nickname
Jerry
Height
5′ 9½” (1.77 m)
Spouse
Erica Levy (10 August 2003 - present) 1 child
C.C. Dyer (11 July 1987 - 2000) (divorced) 3 children
Sherryl Raymond (31 December 1976 - 1984) (divorced) 1 child
Edie Vonnegut (14 December 1971 - 1975) (divorced)
Linda Coblentz (1965 - ?) (divorced)
- M - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:12 am:
It’s got nothing to do with cable news. It’s just the fact that Geraldo is a loon.
- scoot - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:12 am:
Fritchey did a good job…I woulda shouted down Geraldo for being such a clueless talking head.
- Lou Grant - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:15 am:
Sorry, I just noticed that link to the Rivera interview in the lot of “the View” was on the blog later.
- Lefty Lefty - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:16 am:
Bill-
Remember Iran-Contra? Remember the (Republican) independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh? Remember how he begged for the Senate to not have its ridiculous hearings that gave Weinberger, North, et al immunity so they would speak? Remember how it turned out? Very few were convicted, and the search for the real story ended before it began. (Read “Firewall.”)
So here we are with a loser governor who is up on criminal charges but can’t help himself when it comes to shady dealings. The criminal investigation continues, and the GA decides enough is enough so they vote to impeach and try him to determine if he is fit to continue to govern. But instead of messing up the prosecution, they feel they have enough usable info to impeach. Cooperating with a federal criminal investigation while attempting to get rid of this sham of a governor seems like the right track to me. And they are following the rules of the Constitution instead of making up a process out of whole cloth or using questionable interpretations of their powers (like Blago and other “leaders” have recently done) to do so.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:17 am:
What we could have witnessed yesterday from New York is how shoddy work is now called television journalism. We saw a difference between local news and national news, and it demonstrated how far short of the mark national news has become.
Blagojevich isn’t new news, but to New York journalists, he seemed to be. Instead of discussing how Rod Blagojevich was finally exposed after years of investigations and administrative incompetence, our intrepid journalists couldn’t resist name dropping. Oprah, Emanuel, Jackson and Obama were more in their sights, thanks to Blagojevich, than was Blagojevich’s failures. Blagojevich showed how easily led our supposed television hot shots are as he dropped repetitive lies, told fabulous tales, and surrounded himself with posse as though he was a geek hip-hop mogul.
By the time our journalists had finished setting up their questions in a manner to show their impartiality and star power, the questions behind these intros were limpid and pale. No one felt enough emotions while interviewing the country’s worse governor. While no one confessed an Obama-like thrill up their legs when interviewing Blagojevich, most of them were chomping at the bit to talk about Oprah.
Blagojevich was Blagojevich, as we have come to know and despise him. Nothing new here. But as he was enrobed in New York television infamy, his star treatment chaffed Illinoians. Watching the millionaire television reporters familiar to our evening new hours treat Blagojevich as though he wasn’t scum, lowered their credibility from Rockford to Cairo.
Blagojevich wasn’t treated with justice. He was treated with respect. After six years of ample evidence otherwise, Blagojevich’s blitz in the Big Apple showed a competence we know he withheld from Day One in the governor’s office.
And that sucked.
- scoot - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:20 am:
==By whose accounts? What I see is one screw up after another. He’ll screw this up too. Five years and tens of millions of dollars and what do we have? Nothing? No indictment. No evidence. Nothing.==
Look it hasn’t even been two months since Blago was arrested, and there are hundreds & hundreds of hours of recorded tapes to listen too. This is why Fitz asks for & received permission for a 90 day extension for the indictment, which will come. I think there is plenty of evidence not only from the tapes but from previous years of play to play, shakedowns, illegal hiring, etc…so just look where Rezko is at.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:21 am:
We have to remember that the “news” media, including this blog, thrive on controversy. Where there is none, some is created. Where there is not enough, some more will be manufactured. This is especially true in television, where hosts overtalk their guests to create tension and the impression of disingenuous injustice, Meanwhile, local mopes like Fritchey and Matt Murphy and Lou Lang, to name a few Illinoisans in this case, feel the siren sounds of national attention to prop up their own ambitions, and the national media is more than willing to go along, because the ratings will bear them.
Fox News, MSNBC, CNN– none of them need to look into background. The devil might be in the details, but not the ratings.
- Collar Observer - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:23 am:
hey, looks like Blago has another enabler - good lord, what a nightmare!
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:27 am:
Why people tolerate stuff like the Geraldo piece is a mystery. I would have told him to lower his voice or I would walk off. “Lower your voice, Geraldo. You are acting like a child.”
- Anon - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:27 am:
wow…Geraldo did a number on Fritchey. Regardless of what enlightened people may think of the facts, most people who watch Fox news arent enlightened, and Geraldo made Fritchey look like part of the political lynch mob hanging the governor. That was really something. Buck up John — you may have to deal with worse when running for the 5th CD.
- Illinois.Pundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:28 am:
The reason Geraldo is so angry with Fritchey is because he knows that Fritchey knows where Al Capone’s vault is buried!
- JohnnyC - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:28 am:
I feel dirty after watching that.
- RobRoy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:28 am:
Bill, one thing you are right about, it is a done deal. We the people of Illinois will soon be rid of the worse excuse for a governor in a century. Hoorah. We will have a chance a working toward recovering as a state.
Blagojevich will not stray far from publicity for its the only thing he clearly cares for. His trial on federal charges will likely end up with him going to prison. Fitting, but sad for his kids.
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:29 am:
====By all accounts US Attorney Fitzgerald is one of the best around.==
===By whose accounts? What I see is one screw up after another. He’ll screw this up too. Five years and tens of millions of dollars and what do we have? Nothing? No indictment. No evidence. Nothing. ===
This may be the first time but I agree with Bill.
Fitz could have informed the public about Blago prior to the ‘06 election to avoid this mess. Unless Chi town would blindly support him anyway despite validated corruption charges. Obviously, campaign charges news articles were not enough for the Chicago sheep.
Fitz’s responsibility is not to crash election but I wish he would have in this instance…now we have national shame and the real dirt on blago and the machine is not even out yet. Just wait for more shame and embarrassment when the real corruption news hits.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:34 am:
I have heard no one go into the withholding of a grant to a hospital in exchange for a campaign contribution, no one calling out the Governor on his “no witnesses allowed” claim or on the missed deadlines for challenging rules or calling witnesses at the impeachment trial. Not one interviewer mentioned that if no plea was entered by the Governor, that a plea of not guilty would be entered for him at the senate trial. These are the details that cannot be taken out of context, yet they were ignored completely by the interviewers. My good opinion of national news, cable or network, has never been very high. It is sinking ever lower now.
- ChiTownGuy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:36 am:
Fritchey did get killed. You have to expect that when you go on a cable news show. They just steamrolled right over him.
FYI- the McFadden interview is here: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6737909
Make your own decision about how good/bad.
Its just amazing to me though that he can repeat “when the full story comes out” so many times, yet he’s on national television with the opportunity to give the full story right then.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:37 am:
Fritchey, you just got Punk’d!
BTW, doesn’t Ashton Kutcher usually come on at the end? I’m confused.
- Been There - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:38 am:
Rich is right about McFadden. She didn’t let up on the questions she asked but the problem was what she was asking. She could have easily asked more questions that had more meat. See Rich’s Cap Fax for today to see what I mean.
Also she’s was not using bleep herself for the swear words but having the actual swear words edited out. Nothing wrong with that except she gets on Patti for not being lady like. Why didn’t she just say bleep instead of using the actual words if that bothered her so much.
- Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:43 am:
===He slightly brought his body/shoulders forward===
The governor has shoulders?
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:44 am:
Rivera kept referring to the fact that the whole thing is about the senate seat and everything else was just window dressing and is inconsequential. What most outside of Illinois don’t know is that the impeachment would never have had a chance as long as Emil Jones was the senate president. All those “old” issues have legs even now because they were never addressed. Since the arrest came so close to Jones’ retirement the latter gets no mention. Later discussions by the group “Special Report” revealed that more legitimate thinkers were not taken in. Still, the “I’m being railroaded” message seems to be resonating. Does Blago think he can sway enough senate votes? Do his veiled threats of exposing the corruption of any of them have a chance?
- Been There - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 9:54 am:
Watching Rod use as his defense that he helped kids with health care and insurance made me sick. “Who can argue with helping kids?” he kept saying on every interview.
I think today I am going to go to a Walmart or Target somewhere on south or west side of Chicago and tell all of the shoppers that I will pay for their prescriptions, kids diapers, food and other essentials. Do this all day long. Then at the end of the day I will write a check for all of it. In a few days it will bounce and they will come after me. I will then announce that who could argue with what I have done? Who could disagree with all of the children I have helped? The end result is what counts. The process of actually paying for it means nothing. Of course everyone will agree with that theory and everyone will be better off.
- Say WHAT? - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:01 am:
Geraldo and others like him are completely stupid, shameless, and reckless. They are an embarrasment to true journalism. I was verbally attacked at my health club due to much of this media nonsense. A woman who knows where I work went wacky on me, screaming that what WE are doing to this Governor is wrong and he should have the rights that every other citizen has. I tried to explain that this is a political process, NOT a criminal one. I was kind. I was not defensive, just trying to explain. She would not hear anything I said. She was screaming that we should be ashamed of what WE are doing to this poor man and his family. This was done in the presence of others. It was embarrasing and for a few moments I did not feel safe in that locker room. I wonder if she is related to Rod. She is off of her nut. Sadly, some people are foolish enough to believe this canned press garbage.
Rich, I am extremely grateful for your presence in the midst of this nightmare. You care what happens in Illinois. Geraldo and his ilk only care about ratings.
Oh yeah, Geraldo, BITE ME!
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:37 am:
I hope that when Pat Quinn becomes governor, if ANYONE from Fox News or MSNBC calls him for an interview, he tells them where they can stick it.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:49 am:
After Al Capone’s vault does anyone take Geraldo seriously.
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:56 am:
Bill, I’m beginning to be worried about you. You have been so 99.9% supportive of our wonderful Governor Rod Blagojevich and have spent an immense amount of time on this blog defending him. I think you would agree that our wonderful governor’s days as the leader of this state are limited, not necessarily to days but now down to hours left in office. What will you do to fill your time? I could recommend those 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles. Also I’ve heard a great way to relax, even for the male species, is to take up needlework of some kind; i.e., crocheting, knitting, embroidering, quilting. You may even be able to post pictures here of your handiwork and get some of us to buy your products. I do wish you well my friend as you go through Blagojevich withdrawal. Most of us are doing just fine and thank you for asking.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:58 am:
===While most posters here were attacking Judy Barr Topinka, praising Blagojevich and ultimately voting for him yet again===
You must’ve been reading a different blog.
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 10:59 am:
MEMO TO REP. FRITCHEY: Sometimes it’s better to not appear on TV at all vs. being non-selective about whose show you actually are on. Geraldo made a fool of himself but succeeded in taking you down with him. I have (had) more respect for you than to answer each and every reporter’s call to sit in front of a camera. BYW, try the spray tan products. They work really well after the Florida tan has worn off.
- Illinois.Pundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:10 am:
I’m still amazed by this interview. It’s not so much that Geraldo is a moron. That’s a known commodity. It’s that Fritchey blew himself up. I mean come on, the guys been on TV more than Oprah in the last two months. I actually was starting to think he was a reporter for Fox. I mean the impeachment was one thing because he was on the committee. But when he went down to file petitions and appeared live to talk about Burris. That was ridiculous. He will jump on any opportunity to be on TV. Maybe he’ll think twice now. This is exactly why Feigenholtz will win. Her two key opponents have huge egos and thrive on being in the media. She could care less about being in the media and prefers to spend time working for her constituents.
- GOP'er - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:39 am:
I just LOVE Geraldo since he joined FoxNews.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:44 am:
Illinois Pundit is right on in his post about Fritchey. Recently, Fritchey has been falling all over himself to get in front of TV lights, and isn’t that also what Fritchey has complained about Blagojevich. Will Fritchey learn from this ambush and be less of an opportunist? Even Jack Franks has backed off. It’s not about Fritchey, and when you get ambushed about the topic, and you make it about you, you can look bad. We will see if Fritchey learns anything.
- Illinois.Pundit - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 11:54 am:
Thanks Oswego Willy! I think part of it is ego and part of it is being behind the 8 ball on the race. He won’t be able to catch Sara financially, so he’s taking unpaid media any way he can get it. The problem being when you pay for media, you know what you get. When you don’t pay for it, you get Geraldo yelling at you!
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 12:18 pm:
For a little perspective on the media freakshow, rent “Network,” by the greats Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayevsky.
It was considered outrageous satire in 1977. Today? Not so much.
- Starting to support Rod - Tuesday, Jan 27, 09 @ 2:01 pm:
I dont like the Government using these small cuts froms his phone calls, they should make the entire phone call available, who is Billy? I would like to hear some recordings of Mayor Daley or Mike Madigan talking about campaign contributions, those guys were corrupt when Rod was still wet behind the ears. Also lets hear the entire conservations of Cong Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rahm and David Axelrod.
- Alan Schreiber - Wednesday, Jan 28, 09 @ 8:41 pm:
I enjoyed watching Fritcheys eyes wander all over, a sure sign of a good liar.