Round-Up: Blago News
Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[Posted by Mike Murray]
I wish he would just go away, but with his ego and lack of shame and the fact that we still have a very lengthy trial coming up, it looks like Blago will be around for years to come. 
So might as well keep track of his antics and the like…
* Blagojevich gets fresh legal firepower
Now, Chicago attorney Jay Edelson has been brought in to fight civil lawsuits being filed against Blagojevich.
In a telephone interview Tuesday, Edelson said he’s taking the case free of charge because Blagojevich is facing serious legal issues and needs the help.
Among other cases, Edelson will be representing Blagojevich in a tug-of-war over $90 million that riverboat gambling casinos have paid into a state fund designed to subsidize Illinois racetracks.
The casinos contend they were forced to pay as the result of a corrupt deal.
* Blago: Crazy like a fox, or just crazy?
His new Web site flogs his act (”Gov. Rod Blagojevich is one of the most sought after public figures for public speaking and appearances.”) and I couldn’t help but inquire — what would it cost for the governor to show up at the Sun-Times Christmas party?
“It all depends what you have in mind,” said his publicist, Glenn Selig.
“I see him in a chicken suit, walking around, passing canapes,” I replied, and here Selig surprised me.
“He gets more offers than he can take,” he said. “I gather he would not want to walk around in a chicken suit.”
* Blagojevich won’t be taking lie detector test
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich will not be taking a lie detector test before his upcoming book is released.
• • Hmmm. Isn’t that what Blago’s publisher Michael Viner, who died recently, told a New York columnist a few months ago.
• • The flip side: Blago’s publicist, Glenn Selig, is denying the report. “It was never true. I don’t know where it came from,” Selig said.[…]
• • Net hits: Selig claims there has been a lot of traffic “on Rod’s new Web site and a lot of people have signed up for his newsletter.”
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 9:15 am:
Our media-saturated society has fueled a phenomenon where certain personality types will do anything for their 15 minutes of fame or infamy.
Blago, “reality” TV stars, the Paris Hiltons and the yabbos screaming at Congressmen –, they’re narcissists who will do or say anything as long as people pay attention to them.
- You Go Boy - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 9:29 am:
Re: Blago…I do believe in the end he will get what he deserves. Now, in HIS mind, that would be a huge contract for his own show “LOOK AT ME!!”
For the 99.9% of the rest of us, it means “time wounds all heals” - not quite biblical, but accurate, I hope.
- You Go Boy - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 9:30 am:
I mean “heels”…BOY do I mean heels.
- Northside Bunker - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 9:43 am:
You can bet the FEDS signed up for the newsletter too.
Note: Notice there is no place on RB’s website for comments to be posted for all to read.
What a weakling!
- Cassandra - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 9:43 am:
Still, these developments have to be giving the Dems the shivers. They can hardly disown total responsibility for Blago (although many are trying) since so many (including our Pat Quinn) gave him their ardent support, including financial support and many, many public statements, until it became beyond safe to
withdraw their support. There must be a large supply of I love Blago videos out there, starring our most prominent Democratic pols.
In 2010, the the Dems will try to hold onto the governor’s office while attempting to impose a regressive income tax increase in the middle of a recession. The Blago website, book, and trial are likely to provide a distressing reminder of the
many ways in which our elected leaders can divert those tax increase billions for the purposes of waste and corruption. It’s Illinois. The corruption tax goes up right along with revenue increases.
In so many ways, Blago will be around to remind us of that.
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 10:01 am:
The media just can’t let go of Blago. Is Anne Kavanaugh of Fox 32 still camped out at his house waiting for her one-on-one interview? She vowed to be at his home until he spoke to her.
- And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 10:08 am:
On his web site it says: “He made history in August 2009 when he became the first former elected official still facing charges to be named host of his own radio show.” Wow, there’s a feather in your cap.
Fast forward: “He made history in the fall of 2010 when he became the first former elected official convicted on 19 counts in federal court to be fired as host of his radio show.”
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 10:11 am:
–”He made history in August 2009 when he became the first former elected official still facing charges to be named host of his own radio show.” –
That’s a truly bizarre statement on many levels.