*** UPDATE *** Judge Zagel said he is “unpersuaded” on three defense attempts to drop charges…
On Thursday morning, the defense took issue with three specific charges: The government’s allegation that Blagojevich conspired to land a job at the non-profit organization, Change to Win, in exchange for the U.S. Senate seat; the charge the ex-governor made false statements to the FBI; and the charge that Patti Blagojevich was paid real estate fees by Tony Rezko for doing no work.
Per the false statements charge, the defense argued that Blagojevich telling an FBI agent that he maintained a “firewall” between government and politics was “ambiguous.”
“I don’t think there is anything particularly ambiguous about ‘firewall,’” Zagel said. “In fact, I think there is nothing ambiguous about ‘firewall.’”
On Patti Blagojevich’s fees, Zagel said: “There is circumstantial evidence that the fees were disproportionate to any work that was done, and I am not sure there is any evidence of any work that is done.”
Zagel summarily dismissed the defense’s argument on the Change to Win allegation, simply saying he was “unpersuaded.”
Zagel also said today that closing arguments could finish Monday and the jury may get the case on Tuesday, .
[ *** End of Update *** ]
* I always pay close attention whenever Michael Sneed writes about the feds. She has the best sources in the businesses over there…
Is former first lady Patti Blagojevich still in the line of fire? Is there fear her real estate dealings with Tony Rezko fall within the realm of indictability?
Stay tuned.
Judge Zagel sure appears to think that Mrs. Blagojevich’s actions could be construed as crimes. From late yesterday afternoon…
Prosecutors showed that Patti banked $12,000 a month from the Rezmar development company, and also accepted tens of thousands in other checks and home improvements.
The defense is now trying to get the Patti accusations knocked from the indictment, saying there was plenty of evidence that she did legitimate work for Tony Rezko and earned those commissions.
“The government has not come close to proving that those real estate fees were anything close to a bribe,” defense attorney Shelly Sorosky said.
Judge Zagel cut in and offered a historical comparison.
“Do you by any chance know who the Everleigh sisters were?” They were madames in a high-class Chicago brothel around the turn of the 20th century.
The Everleigh sisters gave cash to various police officials in order to protect themselves and their business, Zagel explains.
“I think that that would constitute bribery, even though you might not be able to point to a single specific action or inaction taken by those police officers,” Zagel explains. “It might be bribery over a dozen years. Here, hypothetically, six years. … It’s still a bribe, even though it’s very difficult to point to what the quo was for the quid.”
“I think you’re construing it too narrowly,” the judge tells the defense.
* Meanwhile, Mark Brown credibly writes that yesterday’s guilty verdict in the retrial of former Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez is ominous for Rod Blagojevich…
Sure, the Blagojevich allegations are completely different, and the Blago media coverage was at a whole other level of intensity, but what Sanchez learned the hard way is that the public doesn’t like politics as it is practiced in Illinois.
And when 12 members of that public finds their way onto a jury for a government corruption case in the Northern District of Illinois, they tend to let the defendant know it.
The Sanchez jurors didn’t like it when they learned how he had used City Hall’s sham hiring system to bypass cloutless applicants in favor of his foot soldiers in the Hispanic Democratic Organization.
And the jury in Blagojevich’s trial most certainly did not like what they heard of our former governor’s conniving on secret government wiretaps.
Even more basically, it’s hard to believe that any of those jurors didn’t develop a strong personal dislike for Blagojevich after listening to his uncensored scheming.
Agreed.
* The Tribune quotes sources who say Blagojevich stumbled badly in practice cross examination sessions…
The ex-governor’s practice runs — with prominent criminal-defense lawyers acting as cross-examiners — were troubling, sources with knowledge of the sessions told the Tribune.
The sources said the former governor had difficulty wrapping words around the concepts he wanted to use to defend himself.
Fine lines from Kadner…
In the end, he couldn’t work up the courage to be a character witness on his behalf.
And the truth is that no one would have believed him anyway.
* The Tribune also previewed how the feds plan to wrap things up…
Blagojevich allegedly schemed to get campaign contributions in exchange for actions such as boosting the state reimbursement rate for Children’s Memorial Hospital and signing a bill to aid Illinois horseracing tracks. The phone calls played in court back that up, [Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar] said, perhaps giving a bit of a preview of the government’s closing argument on Monday.
In scenarios such as the attempted swapping of the Senate seat for an Obama Cabinet post or a high-paying job as leader of an issue-advocacy organization, Blagojevich was a central player, Schar said.
“He actually made the extortionate phone calls and requests himself,” Schar told Zagel. “This wasn’t just talk. It was implementation of his plan.”
Perhaps stealing a page from the defense team’s upcoming closing argument, Zagel described the former governor as “desperate” and “out of touch with reality” in the months leading up to his arrest.
More…
Prosecutors told the judge that the government’s evidence was strong enough to let a jury decide the brothers’ guilt. In addition to wiretaps, prosecutors also had testimony from the people who participated in the schemes with them, Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar said.
“Where there were conspiracies we have conspirators,” Schar said.
Prosecutors also argued that the secretly recorded phone calls in the case proved Blagojevich engaged in illegal pay-to-play politics. The judge, however, acknowledged that few of Blagojevich’s plans and directives were carried out.
“There was an extraordinarily large amount of talk in this case,” Zagel said. “But not a lot actually got done.”
The judge, however, said a conspiracy is a crime that can be accomplished only with a significant amount of communication.
“A conspiracy is a crime of words,” said Zagel, noting it doesn’t need to be carried out in order to be illegal. “You can have a conspiracy entered into with fools and bumblers and it’s still a conspiracy.”
More…
“It’d be one thing if people were sitting around talking about things and it never got past the talking stage,” Schar says. “(Rod Blagojevich) had Mr. Greenlee researching ambassadorships … He had Mr. Greenlee researching foundations … He’s the one who had the meeting with Mr. Balonoff on Nov. 6.”
“This wasn’t just talk, that was implementation of his plans,” Schar says.
* Roundup…
* Rod Blagojevich on why he did not testify. Video
* After Talk of Testifying, Blagojevich Bypasses It
* Brother: ‘Relief’ that testimony is over
* Constable: The part of the wild and wacky Blago will be played by silence
* Windbag’ Blago likely smart not to talk
* Southtown Star: Blagojevich rests - for now
* QC Times: Bye-bye, Blago: Ex-gov remains speechless at trial’s close
* SJ-R: Another broken promise from Blagojevich
* Not testifying common for Ill. politicians
* Blagojevich: Government ‘proved my innocence’
* Ex- gov. Blagojevich: ‘I talk too much’
* Blago’s surprise move not to testify carries risks
* Blagojevich punts defense, attorneys claim acquittal to come
* Rod Blagojevich: “Maybe the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I talk too much”
* Judge: Wiretaps reveal talk, but not much ‘got done’
* Brown: Message for Rod Blagojevich: Sanchez verdict shows how jury sees corruption
* Blagojevich trial: Defense lawyers argue to have conspiracy charges tossed
* Wall Street Journal reporter handcuffed at federal court
* WSJ reporter arrested in court after Blago trial
* Wall Street Journal to Fight Charges Against Arrested Reporter
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:22 am:
Are they using the threat of indicting Patti to muscle Rod into a guilty plea?
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:36 am:
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:22 am:
“Are they using the threat of indicting Patti to muscle Rod into a guilty plea?”
This would not surprise me in the least. Good call.
- Northside Bunker - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:37 am:
Nope, Never gonna happen Patti’s daddy is Alderman Richard Mell. He’s been cashing in all his political capital.
- John - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:38 am:
Could someone please tell me why rich people and companies donate tens of thousands of dollars to political campaigns. Is it really because they believe in the candidate? My guess is that they believe that they’ll get something for it.
- cassandra - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:38 am:
Yes, that’s what I was thinking, although since our Blago thinks he is not only innocent but a victim of a federal conspiracy against “the people,” it might not fly with the Blagos. He and Patti seem to have a folie a deux approach to this indictment and trial.
- bdogg - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:43 am:
i think the money rod spent on clothes will be huge with the jurors. spending that kind of money on yourself, when you have children going to college one day, really made him look like a complete fool. it also put him into debt. which gives the motive for doing what he did. adios, roberto.
- Tangerine - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:44 am:
If they do end up indicting Patti, I wouldn’t be surprised. What strikes me about that couple: how could two parents be so incredibly arrogant as to not think they’d get caught, so incredibly stupid to not realize they were being watched, and so incredibly selfish and power-hungry to do things that would effectively leave their two young children orphans?
That being said - not having those two as parents might be a blessing in disguise.
- Robert - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:47 am:
I hope they go after Patti; she’s as guilty as he is. I imagine the only reason she wasn’t tried already was that jury might be sympathetic to a husband and wife with kids both being on trial.
John, to answer your question: of course, 90% of the time! But there are some people - limousine liberals, right-wing Christians, true libertarians - who do donate to people who they believe in, without expectations of any personal reward aside from seeing their values implemented. I sure don’t think any Blago donors fall into the category of donating because of their values.
- the Patriot - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:47 am:
John, I think you inadvertently left out the trial lawyers and unions who were the biggest givers to Blago and contiune to give to Dems.
If no one else goes down outside the Blago Bro’s there is a serious problem. I don’ know that Patti is it or not, but when you have wide ranging conspiracy dealing with dozens, if not hundreds of people and only a handful go down that is a problem.
I am still wondering why after 6 years of investigation they had less evidence to present than in the Ryan case. Could it be that the end trails lead to Madigan, Mell, Daley, Emanual, and Obama? Surely not. I mean everybody uses a mob, I mean union bosses to carry legitimate requests to the Governor right Pauly?
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:48 am:
“Maybe the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I talk too much”
I believe he is speaking the truth there. But I could be wrong. Again. For the hundreth time. Could be another lie. I don’t think even he knows anymore.
Is Patti next?
Should she be? At what point should she be? Are the crimes she is thought of having committed capable of being forgiven without facing justice? At what point do we plea bargain with her and her lawyers in order to eradicate her buffoon of a husband? First - bring Blago to justice and ensure his time fits the crime. Then consider what to do with her.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:48 am:
The Tribune claimed Zagel’s reference to the Everleigh sisters was comparing Patti B to “turn of the century hookers” but actually, in this analogy, wouldn’t it be Rezko who was the “high class hooker” making the regular payments while Patti was the “cop” — the proxy for the public official (Rod) for whom the payments were intended?
- John Bambenek - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:50 am:
Where you have a seller, you have buyers. A lot more people need to be indicted her. Jesse Jackson Jr., for one. Getting Rod into a plea deal to spare Patti might have made sense before the trial, now its the end, just drop the hammer.
- Northside Bunker - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 10:58 am:
Ghost-pay roller, not a crime? Since when?
Maybe Patti wasn’t required to take the state ethics test.
She can claim ignorance.
The last 6 years haven been a bad joke on us.
- iMAGINE - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:04 am:
“You can have a conspiracy entered into with fools and bumblers and it’s still a conspiracy.” ~ Judge Zagal
Pretty much sums it up!
- Berkeley Bear - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:06 am:
Fear of a perjury indictment is the number one reason Patti was unlikely to testify in any event. The feds definitely tried to use the threat of charges against her to get Rod to plead out, but it didn’t work (or hasn’t yet). I doubt they go after Patti (unless she says/does something more to force their hands), but they might still use the threat to try and get him to drop an appeal.
There’s a real threat of blowback if the Feds charge Patti, especially after a conviction of Rod. If a subsequent trial acquitted her of the acts that formed part of the conspiracy conviction against Rod (a distinct possibility given she’s more sympathetic as essentially a single parent with hubby in the pen), the inconsistent verdicts would become an appellate argument for Rod.
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:06 am:
Actually, Northside bunker, Patti was NOT required to take the state ethics test, as she was not a state employee. And lots of private companies have ghost
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:08 am:
oops — failed to fully delete the second sentence. sorry.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:10 am:
Soccermom, I believe the ethics test has a portion about Family members receiving gifts/etc for the state worker doing something favorable.
- Leave a Light on George - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:13 am:
Charge Patti? Wait to see if they sentence Rezko first. If not the feds are still planning for more grand juries.
- Wacker Drive - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:22 am:
Why wouldn’t Patti’s real estate dealings with Tony Rezko fall within the realm of indictability?
Why should she get pass?
Please don’t use the children as an excuse, many people in prison have children.
- the Patriot - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:25 am:
From a policy position, how does it look if the feds offer Patti a deal to flip, convict Rod without her, and never go after her. They will have a hard time getting the next co-conspirtor to flp.
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:25 am:
He Makes Ryan… –
Yeah, the ethics test mentions it, but Patti didn’t have to take the test. Rod, on the other hand…
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:27 am:
And of course Patti was not covered by the state ethics code. If she took an improper gift, that would be Rod’s problem — unless that gift otherwise violated the law. At least, I think that’s the way it works.
- D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:29 am:
Zagel’s comment just re-inforces the fact that the Feds can take anything and fit it into a crime.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:47 am:
last night on WTTW Joe de Lopez explained that there
were lots of lawyers up on the 14th floor of the
Monadnock building prepping GRod. that’s also
where Genson, Gillespie, Beuke office. and more. some of the
guys on 14 are good, but some are way past their prosecutor
glory days. there’s more to the list, worth a look
at who they all are. old Vrdolyak people in multiple.
guys who ran for judge in 1984 to help get a Vrdolyak
nephew elected judge. some who can’t run with the
Fed guys.
- Wacker Drive - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:53 am:
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 11:27 am:
What L-A-W don’t Blagojevich’s understand?
Two college educated individuals, one with a law degree.
- Windy City Mama - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 12:33 pm:
Is no one watching this trial ? If we have learned anything. It’s all about Rod.
Threatening to indict Patti means nothing to him. He has never cared for anyone except himself.
Everything has always been calculated. From meeting and marrying Patti. To the exact time of the birth of their children for campaigns.
He never figured on the feds because he was above everyone and the rules only applied to the little people.
- soccermom - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 12:50 pm:
Wacker Drive —
I’m just saying that if a state employee’s spouse takes a gift, it’s an ethical violation for the employee, not the spouse.
So any unhappy spouses of state employees out there — take a gift from a prohibited source, and send your spouse to prison!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 1:24 pm:
“He gone.”
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 1:24 pm:
===Zagel’s comment just re-inforces the fact that the Feds can take anything and fit it into a crime.===
It’s really sad how people cast aspersions on the feds for ending this nightmare Governor’s reign. This guy was trying to fill his pockets from the second he was elected to the time he was arrested. At the start, he was so successful and had such accomplished accoplices thay generated unprecedented amounts of ill gotten gains.
The taxpayers and people that conduct business with the state owe a huge debt of gratitude to the ones who were able to put a stop to this crime spree.
Just because he was delusional at the end and his schemes didn’t work as well as previously (mainly because everyone already knew not to get close to him) doesn’t mean he should be allowed to keep trying to abuse his office.
I really wish Blago’s apologists and fed bashers would find a new cause-the Larouchies are still around I think.
- Bring Back Boone's - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 1:44 pm:
===but what Sanchez learned the hard way is that the public doesn’t like politics as it is practiced in Illinois.===
It’s one thing for the public to “not like politics the way that it is practiced in IL” but it’s another to just start incarcerating people who haven’t clearly broken any laws.
Phineas, in the comment above you talked about how Rod had been consistently lining his own pockets. That’s not true. He lined his campaign coffers, but that’s not a personal pocket. I always thought the count that had the biggest teeth in Rod’s case was Patti’s money from Rezko for the real estate deals. However the Gs didn’t do a good enough job proving it, and instead concentrated more on the senate seat charges and other political conspiracies. I think that they presented a pretty weak case, but furthermore, these kinds of “conspiracies” “deals” and other distasteful political acts go on all the time. Instead of going around having the feds throw people away in jail because “they don’t like politics” why don’t they change the laws and make things more clear.
- John Bambenek - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 1:58 pm:
I think the G was gimped by the rope-a-dope strategy of getting Rod on the stand, talking a bunch of crap, and them coming up with the prime-beef evidence with Levine and Rezko. Defense rested instead and that means the prime beef is off the table.
That isn’t to say there isn’t plenty of hamburger there.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 2:03 pm:
Boone’s,
It doesn’t matter whether it’s personal money or campaign money. A shakedowns a shakedown and still illegal.
The conspiracy laws seem pretty clear to me and it’s also clear to me that Blago violated them about every other sentence.
- Ghost - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 2:07 pm:
=== There’s a real threat of blowback if the Feds charge Patti, especially after a conviction of Rod. If a subsequent trial acquitted her of the acts that formed part of the conspiracy conviction against Rod (a distinct possibility given she’s more sympathetic as essentially a single parent with hubby in the pen), the inconsistent verdicts would become an appellate argument for Rod. ====
I disagree. There are a lot of criminal trials of singleparents, or both parents. You put up Patti drawing down hundreds of thousands of dollars for no work tied to political corruption and pay to play and you will get an angry jury looking to vindicate an clean house.
If anything, I think the feds will draw anger by letting a politically connected caucasion women with money off the hook while aggressively pursuing single poor minority moms on drug charges.
- Windy City Mama - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 2:32 pm:
Ghost,
Excellent point.
- Bring Back Boone's - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 2:42 pm:
Phineas,
So when Pat Quinn AV’d the McPier reform bill to let SEIU and AFSCME absorb smaller unions and then got a $200,000 campaign contribution that wasn’t a “shakedown.” When are the feds going to indict him?
- GetOverIt - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 2:45 pm:
@Ghost - How did we get to “poor minority moms on drug charges”? What the hell does that mean? “Minority” as in race? I hardly believe anyone will make the connection you are asserting. If you don’t mean to imply race, then again…I hardly believe anyone will make the connection you are asserting.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 2:54 pm:
Boone’s
I could be wrong but I don’t think either of those unions were involved. And no, that was not a shakedown. That is called politics and their is a difference.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 3:37 pm:
I have to disagree with Ghost and Windy City Mama. In the case of poor single moms (of any race) who are busted on drug charges (the drug in question could be pot, heroin, meth, crack, whatever), more often than not, the children are directly endangered, neglected, or abused as a result of the mom’s criminal activity, so a jury hearing the mom’s case may presume the kids have little or nothing to lose if their mom goes to prison. I don’t foresee too many people making a similar assumption about the Blago daughters. There will likely be a lot more hesitation to put away their mom especially if their dad is already behind bars.
- flabergasted - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 3:47 pm:
Is Rod patti’s Svengali? Isn’t possible that he set up the payments to her for himself and she really had no choice? Given his temper on the tapes, she may just be somewhat unable to break from him on anything? He does not appear to really care, except when it is convienient for him. I think an indictment of her would be counter productive. IMO she needs to dump him asap and get on with her life.
- temporarily anonymous - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 4:03 pm:
I have to disagree with those who think rebuttal testimony by Levine and/or Rezko was planned from the inception by the Feds and that the case is now weakened by their absence. Why?
Exhibit A: Levine’s stellar performance at Rezko’s trial. Putting him on the stand when both sides would concede he had virtually no interaction directly with Blago poses a risk this prosecution team seems unlikely to take in exchange for the potential of more Bizarro Stu behavior.
Exhibit B: Papa Tony has been in the graybar for over 2 years, quite a bit of that at an “undisclosed location” (with apparently sufficient fresh tidy-whiteys to kep his lawyer out of court.) Assuming (and no one really knows) that there have been some conversations between Tony and the G over this period of time, putting him up fresh from the cooler poses similar, but different risks as with Levine.
If Schar & Co. thought they needed either one of them to convict, we would have already seen them.
One guy’s opinion.
- Responsa - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 5:40 pm:
===Is Rod patti’s Svengali? Isn’t possible that he set up the payments to her for himself and she really had no choice?===
Flabergasted, I have also given this Svengali possibility serious consideration. It may be the case, but I rather doubt it. However it went down inside their marriage partnership, if she was duped Patti surely had a chance to safely turn on him once he was indicted and impeached and the Feds came calling. She did not. She could have warned off Robert and Julie from getting involved. She did not. I will not be surprised to see the Feds go after her and if they do I think Patti is in real trouble. She is just as guilty and potty-mouthed as RRB but without the charm.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 6:05 pm:
Knowing Rod, if he could testify against Patti in exchange for leniency, he’d do it in a New York minute.
“It was all her idea, I swear! She made me do it. She’s Dick Mell’s daughter. Have you heard her talk? I was scared to death of her.”
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 9:59 pm:
I find this line disturbing. We all seem a little too comfortable in the idea of the Assistant U.S. Attorney can act as Caesar, giving thumbs up or down in the arena, for their own benefit.
If we all believe that, than they are selectively enforcing the law, picking winners and losers, based on whatever suits them — most likely, to leverage convictions against the Big Fish they want to mount above the mantle.
When it comes to that, it’s not about justice, but about resume building and ego boosting for unelected prosecutors who wield awesome and terrible power.
- Springpatchproud - Friday, Jul 23, 10 @ 12:23 am:
Once Blago is found guilty we will hear him come back to life affirming his innocence loud and clear as often as he can before sentencing. It will be a revolting time period. Once he enters the federal pen a calming quietness will wash over Illinois … until the next governor is indicted.
- HatShopGirl - Friday, Jul 23, 10 @ 4:35 am:
wordslinger, I find your posts disturbing.
Blago is the one with imperial ambition. Emperor Blago, is alot like ancient Rome’s Emperor Nero. But instead of a fiddle, our Emperor Blago uses a blow-dryer and hairbrush whilst Illinois burned.
The Government’s prosecutors are employees who get job reviews.
A Governor is a politician, a leader, who is elected and the people pick their leaders in a representative democracy.
Prosecutors answer to the DOJ hierarchy and can get fired, suspended, etc.
Blago, like all Governors and elected legislators, answer to the voters at scheduled intervals called elections.
No one elects the Chief of Police, the Commander, the Public Defender. The lines of accountability are different.
wordslinger, I wonder why you are a Blago apologist. Yes Blago is a fighter. Watching Blago squirm like a worm on a hook isn’t pleasant and I’m glad the trial is being abbreviated.
It’s so sad. I wish I could be Governor of Illinois. There’s so much I would like to see from that aerie and so much change that I would encourage. I think I would have made an excellent Governor, even an excellent President! Blago had the chance, but he didn’t make the cut. It’s really a tragedy.
Blago understands that he’s seen as a lightweight. When he’s looking for his ‘bleepin’ golden parachute out of the Illinois Governor’s seat, he keeps telling people that he wants a job for himself and Patti that is “serious”.
Blago knows he was the class-clown in Springfield. It’s his own fault. He won that ‘bleepin’ golden thing, the Governorship and he did not appreciate it.
Blago is full of hubris and ingratitude.
I wish I had been Governor.