Only the basics - Blagojevich
Monday, Jul 26, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* OK, well, I have an Internet connection, but it feels like a 1200 baud dial-up modem. For you youngsters, that’s really, really s-l-o—-w.
Anyway, today is closing arguments day at the Blagojevich trial. I’d keep a close eye on the Sun-Times Blago Blog if I were you. Here’s a link-fest roundup…
…Adding… Some of you are already doing it, but please help us out by posting updated stories in comments. Thanks.
* Blagojevich trial: Day 27 — Closing arguments
* Blagojevich Closings Today
* It all comes down to closing remarks in Blagojevich trial
* Theatrics, booming rhetoric on order for closing of Blago’s trial
* Closing arguments to begin in Blagojevich trial
* The final pitches in Rod Blagojevich’s trial
* Will Jurors Vote For Rod?
* The landfill and Blagojevich’s fall
* Can Blagojevich lawyer go on offensive while backtracking?
* Schmich: Blagojevich and the rules of friendship
* Finke: A lot of talk, no action a Blagojevich trademark
* Erickson: Like it or not, more Blago to come
* Chapman: Truth not an option in Illinois
* Goudie: Guilty or not, why Rod really was Tony Soprano
* Blagojevich didn’t take the stand but still could take the heat — from his own lawyers
- Publius - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:03 am:
How can you survive on such slow internet speeds like that? Today should be an interesting day
- LINK - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:10 am:
Anyone surprised he brought his children today?
- Publius - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:10 am:
Not really, typical him to try to play with the jury’s mind
- Dan S, a taxpayer and a Cubs Fan - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:11 am:
Blago has no shame what so ever, always trying to push the buttons. sad, very sad.
- Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:13 am:
How could you be surprised; he’s used kids repeatedly as shields, this is probably just the first time he has used his own in such a high profile setting. I am sure its not the first time however, and it may not be the last either.
- Wacker Drive - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:34 am:
Rod uses his children because he is and always was a coward.
Patti doesn’t even have enough sense to leave their kids home.
Perfect example of how self-absorbed Rod & Patti are.
- Stooges - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:34 am:
The lowlife brought his kids to court. Its a wonder Patti wasn’t on crutches and Blago in a wheelchair. Man I hope the jury sees this move as a pathetic attempt to gain their sympathy, and puts the hammer down. He never ceases to stoop lower than we think he can.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:40 am:
That’s really sad.
- Shameless - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:42 am:
It doesn’t surprise me either that he brought the kids, but it does surprise me that she let him. Truly, what evil, desperate people they both are.
May God have mercy on those girls that they not grow up scarred by the parenting they’ve received.
- And I Approved This Message - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:43 am:
It’s going to be an interesting dinner table tonight when Rod and Patti try to explain away all those nasty lies the mean men from the government told about Daddy for hours in court. Rod may have his own psychological issues but it is unconscionable for him to make his kids suffer through this for a cheap stunt for the jury. This can’t be over soon enough.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:46 am:
I’ve always thought a defendant should get some extra prison time for bringing kids to court and using them like that. In federal court talk, a two level enhancement in the sentencing guideline.
- Secret Square - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:50 am:
All I can say is, when I was 13, I didn’t always enjoy going to NORMAL social events with my parents. I can only imagine how I would have felt about going to a federal criminal trial involving one or both of them!
- chicago 7 - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 11:46 am:
Most of the charges are going to hinge on how the jury instructions define the ‘overt act’ in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy. Anyone out there know what the instruction says?
Think about it: you and I conspire to rob a bank. Two days later, I go on line to figure out what car I want to steal for the getaway vehicle. Is that an overt act? I think the feds are really stretching oin this - you can’t convict on an attempt to attempt.
Prediction: Guilty on lying to the feds, nothing else.
- Levois - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 12:34 pm:
Just for the sake of comparison, how long did it take for George Ryan’s trial to wrap up?
- Festus Hagen - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 1:43 pm:
That Rod is using his kids to try and sway the jury is “no surprise”. That his wife Patti is allowing him to subject her kids to this type of embarrassment is another matter. Just imagine what Dick Mell must be thinking of his daughter Patti for allowing Rod to do this to his grandchildren! Those are “his” grandchildren that are being put through the wringer by his daughter and her husband. That has to be really tough for Dick Mell to see happen.There doesn’t seem to be a thing that alderman Mell can do about it, either.
- Gregory Tejeda - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 2:31 pm:
As someone who used to operate an international news service’s Statehouse bureau (gee, that almost makes it sound impressive) with a 1200 baud modem, I sympathize with you.
- LINK - Monday, Jul 26, 10 @ 10:18 pm:
I should have hinted at my earlier post (10:10 AM) as being “snarky” but it did elicit the comments I expected. Still, as others already stated, it is a sad commentary on their parents and I wish their children well.