*** UPDATE 1 - 11:34 am *** From Illinois Statehouse News…

Federal Judge James Zagel on Thursday ruled the jury in former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial will remain anonymous, despite a last minute petition by a group of news organizations.

The group attempted to reverse Zagel’s previous decision to seal the jurors’ identities, but the judge said the objection was “untimely” with the trial less than two hours away. […]

During the trial of now imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan the trial interrupted after the Chicago Tribune revealed two members of the case’s jury had criminal records, which they did not disclose during the selection process.

The trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevitch has been pushed back to 11 a.m.

*** UPDATE 2 - 12:09 pm *** Oy…

“I feel great,” Blagojevich said before walking over & shaking hands with several supporters. “The truth shall set you free,” he told one well-wisher as he shook the man’s hand. […]

Outside court, one woman carried a placard saying, “Rod’s not cuckoo. Rod’s not guilty.”

“We like him and he’s innocent,” said May Farley, 78, of Elmhurst.

And if you have the stomach for it, click here to see the grotesque clown in action.

*** UPDATE 3 - 1:25 pm *** Mrs. Blagojevich stands by her man…

[ *** End of Updates *** ]

* Keep in mind as the Blagojevich trial gears up that the media has focused almost solely on the alleged US Senate seat auction. While this is important, it’s not the be-all, end-all of the federal government’s case. The Sun-Times makes this mistake today in its piece about how to keep score during the trial…

Blagojevich’s strategy will be to explain away his comments as typical political horse-trading. He’ll invite jurors to interpret his remarks as pursuing political IOUs for the best interests of Illinois.

He’ll certainly try to do that on the US Senate seat stuff, but he won’t succeed. The truth is, Blagojevich was trying to cut the best deal for himself, not the state. There’s a big difference there. Logrolling is usually legal, if somewhat distasteful to the public at large. Using your government office to pad your pockets is not legal.

But one of the least reported aspects of this case will probably be the one that shocks the jurors the most and will be the thing that he can’t explain away…

On October 8, Blagojevich told a person described only as “Individual A” that he was willing to make $8 million available for Children’s Memorial Hospital, but “I want to get [Hospital Executive 1] for 50.”

Individual A felt that Blagojevich was talking about a $50,000 campaign contribution from the hospital’s chief executive officer and that the $8 million referred to a recent commitment by Blagojevich to secure state funds via “some type of pediatric care reimbursement.”

“Intercepted phone conversations between Rod Blagojevich and others indicate that Rod Blagojevich is contemplating rescinding his commitment of state funds to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital because Hospital Executive 1 has not made a recent campaign contribution,” the affidavit says.

In other words, the governor tried to shake down Children’s Memorial Hospital CEO Patrick Magoon for 50 large. And there is ample evidence that Blagojevich tried to put a hold on that hospital money until he got what he wanted. In fact, the state money wasn’t disbursed until the day Blagojevich was removed from office. The man is despicable and deserves whatever he gets. And he’s gonna get it.

* Again, most of what you’ve read in the mainstream media lately is just smoke and mirrors from Team Blagojevich. Rahm Emanuel, we learned this week, has been subpoenaed. Blagojevich will try to get Emanuel to say the then-governor did nothing illegal during the US Senate escapade. It won’t be enough.

* The Tribune looks at how this trial will benefit the GOP…

Just days before the trial was set to begin the state GOP compiled an assemblage of photographs of current political candidates buddying up to the disgraced former Democratic governor. There’s Quinn, a former running mate, standing with Blagojevich at a political rally, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, posing with Blagojevich in tuxedos at an event, and other photos with Blagojevich and Attorney General Lisa Madigan and her father, Michael Madigan.

“The Blagojevich Trial. Starting June 3rd. Check Your Local Listings for Details,” the state GOP noted in an e-mail to supporters that included the photos.

A strategist with one Republican statewide campaign said they expect the trial will provide “opportunities” to tag the current crop of Democratic candidates with problems that go back to the Blagojevich administration, from the state’s mountain of unpaid bills to Blagojevich hires still on the public payroll.

“It may not be a focal point of the trial, but it does shine a spotlight on the problems of the Democratic Party and the excesses of one party rule with Blagojevich at the top of it,” said the GOP strategist, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the campaigns.

Of course, Blagojevich also allegedly did some crooked deals with Republicans, but the GOP won’t be mentioning that. The state party has, however, set up a new website to “help” voters follow the trial. TheBlagoFiles.com also includes a big “Donate” button so readers can give to the state party.

* Speaking of the Illinois GOP, the party sent out an e-mail this morning attempting to make a connection between Blagojevich and Alexi Giannoulias…

On the day Rod Blagojevich goes on trial for pay-to-play corruption, will Alexi Giannoulias cancel his planned Messina fundraiser?

Deputy White House Chief of Staff allegedly offered Andrew Romanoff a job to get out of Colorado Senate race;

Messina due in Chicago for Giannoulias fundraiser on June 19th

Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias recently announced that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina would be coming to Illinois on June 19 to help him raise money for his Senate bid.

Last night, Politico reported that Democratic Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff publicly confirmed long-standing reports (and provided emails as proof) that Messina attempted to dissuade him from challenging incumbent Senator Michael Bennett in the Colorado Democratic Senate Primary by offering him a paid government position.

Small beans in comparison to Blagojevich, who wanted a job for himself and/or his wife, and/or a whole lot of campaign money in exchange for appointing the “right” US Senator.

* As I told subscribers this morning, we will have Blagojevich trial coverage right here at the blog. From the Better Government Association’s Andy Shaw…

The Better Government Association has a permanent seat in the courtroom for the Blagojevich trial, and one of our investigative contributors, Chicago attorney and former news producer Darrow Abrahams, will be covering the trial for us on a day-to-day basis. He will be providing me with details of the testimony, the legal maneuvering and the courtroom activities of the participants, and I’ll be contributing regular reports and debriefs on at least two Chicago radio stations and, as needed, on local and national radio, television, print and internet outlets.

Darrow will also be recapping the trial highlights on a daily basis for the BGA website www.bettergov.org. And we’re pleased to be linking those recaps to the CAPITOL FAX Blog so your readers can follow the trial through our eyes. They can also link back to our site for additional trial material, and I hope to offer additional trial insights to your readers via written and video blogs.

The BGA is planning to have a high profile during the trial because the details of the case cut to the very core of our mission: How public officials run our government. In fact, state government itself is on trial right alongside the former governor because the federal indictment alleges that he and his cohorts subverted and perverted government, turning Illinois into an ATM for Blagojevich’s campaign fund and the personal enrichment of his friends and family. Blagojevich denies the charges—calling the case a “persecution,” not a prosecution—so the evidence, the testimony and the crosss-examinations will provide the citizens of Illinois with a rare and priceless “teaching moment” during which we can actually see how government was run during the seven Blagojevich years. The former governor is, of course, presumed innocent until a jury says otherwise, and that presumption will underscore everything we say about the trial. But regardless of the verdict, we should learn some valuable lessons along the way about how government should and should not be run. Those lessons will hopefully result in concrete proposals to clean up any mess we find along the way, end any corrupting practices that are proven, and increase the likelihood that future governors will serve out their terms without the bright lights of a federal investigation blinding all of us.

The fabric of democracy has been tattered and torn over decades of abuse and neglect in the Land of Lincoln. It’s the mission of the BGA to join other groups and individuals who are committed to repairing it. The mission also includes a vigorous debate over the issues raised in the trial, in front of as large an audience as possible, so we appreciate the chance to join the vibrant discussion that CAPITOL FAX already stimulates every day.

We’re hoping to get our first installment today, the first day of jury selection. I’m really looking forward to this.

* Roundup…

* Recall amendment going to print as Blago trial begins

* Illinois GOP could reap the benefits of Blagojevich trial

* 260 Jurors Say Blagojevich Trial Too Long

* The real issue in the Blagojevich trial

* Finally, Rod Blagojevich trial to begin

* Our View: As Blagojevich case begins, voters on trial too

* Fold up the tent Blago, the big circus is over

* Our Opinion: Joking is over for Blagojevich

* 18 Months After Arrest, Blagojevich Trial to Begin

* Blagojevich’s media circus all about today

* Judge sets Blagojevich trial to start on schedule

* Curtain lifting on Blagojevich corruption trial

* Blagojevich jury selection begins today

* Blagojevich trial will spotlight worst elements of state’s political culture

* The power of a trial

* How to keep score at Blagojevich trial

* Blagojevich trial: Rahm may testify

* Obama aides Emanuel, Jarrett subpoenaed for Blagojevich trial

* Ex-governor, brother, their wives expected to be in court today