“You can’t prepare for a guilty verdict,” he said.
He’d better try.
* Blagojevich’s attorney Sam Adam, Sr. told reporters today that Rod and Patti Blagojevich are trying hard to keep news of the trial away from their two daughters…
“Their biggest problem is not letting this get to their children,” said Sam Adam. “Little Annie who’s eight years old, they’ve got to keep all the news away from her, and it’s very difficult.
“She’s scared she’s going to lose her daddy.”
The concern about trial news is odd because they brought the kids to the trial. Adam addressed that topic too, saying Blagojevich’s older daughter demanded to go, and then the younger daughter said she wanted to go as well…
“I know the news media all said this was a play for sympathy, not at all.”
Asked if the parents had any regrets about bringing the kids to the trial, Adam said “Not at all.”
* Robert Blagojevich’s attorney said he has some regrets, however. He wanted Congressman Jackson to be called to the stand, but he wouldn’t say why…
“I don’t know if I can at this point go into it. But it would have shown, you know, you’ve got the Jesse Jr. alleged bribery extortion. You’ve seen one side of it that I believe the evidence shows really didn’t occur. I believe the jury would have seen the other side of Jesse and the Indians if Jesse would have testified,” Ettinger said.
I cannot understand why Jr. wasn’t subpoened and testified as to his knowledge/involvement in the shakedown. It certainly would have a damaging effect to the defense’s case.
Even though no money was transacted, hearing the details from a taker of the Blago bait would only have strengthened the Fed’s case. The average juror IMO would likely have been more inclined to convict if another complicit in this case took the stand and sang. I don’t care if Daddy thinks Jr. is innocent, let’s hear it fronm the Congressman’s mouth….
jesse jackson is the only house illinois appropriator after november 2 if congressman kirk wins the special and he’ll be the only one period in the next session of congress. In a congressional delegation lacking clout in the house and with all the needs of the state I would think there’d be no interest in seeing him torched.
The defense has been second guessing itself since Day 1, why should it be any different. today. Poor Poor Sam Adam, Sr & Jr., Ettinger, Rod & Patti and the girls.
Let’s not lose sight of all the VICTIMS during Rod & Rob’s rampage through Illinois.
Fair point shore, although with Obama in the White House and Durbin’s position in the Senate, if we are to jettison an appropriator, now would be the time.
Rangel, Waters, Jackson. This is an outcome of gerrymandering safe districts under the Voting Rights Act. There is simply no competiton in these districts and the result is that these members feel they can’t be touched.
Jackson is next on the House Ethics Committee list, right after the trial is over. He probably won’t be expelled, but it won’t be pretty either.
As for Rod and the Adam team: boo-freaking-hoo. I have no sympathy for any of them.
===Blagojevich’s attorney Sam Adam, Sr. told reporters today that Rod and Patti Blagojevich are trying hard to keep news of the trial away from their two daughters…===
This is what, two weeks after they took them into Federal Court to witness the trial first hand??????
This whole bunch seems to respond only to that days news cycle, unmindful that today’s response NORMALLY would coincide with last weeks response.
To borrow from yesterdays QOTD. Illinois might suck some now, but it will suck a whole lot less when Blago is in an orange jump suit and the rest of these Bozos are no longer news.
Sam, after your recent interviews, I was just starting to like you. Don’t start lying to us about why the kids were brought to court. And drop the ‘we woulda coulda’ on no defense case. We all know you had nothin’.
=Rangel, Waters, Jackson. This is an outcome of gerrymandering safe districts under the Voting Rights Act. There is simply no competiton in these districts and the result is that these members feel they can’t be touched.=
Powerful statement. The question remains - what to put in its’ place in Illinois? People have suggested the model used in Iowa but others have warned that Iowa is to homogenous in ethinicity and population distribution to say their redistricting program could be applied in Illinois. OK, so, what do we do here?
regarding Amy Blagojevich “demanding” that she gets to go to court. When I was her age and I demanded to go somewhere, my parents said “no” if they didn’t want me to go - and that was end of discussion.
Ican’t say enough good stuff about Pat Fitzgerald. He has done a lot of good around Chicago, although I still wonder how Daley didnt get hit. Anyway, I don’t get how pat can say POTUS and especially Rhanm did nothing wrong when they decide if he keeps a very important job. I dont mean to question his cred, I just don’t get it or why no one has at least raised it in the media.
- Wacker Drive - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:42 pm:
All this sounds like “Major Squirming” by the Rod & Patti show.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:42 pm:
I cannot understand why Jr. wasn’t subpoened and testified as to his knowledge/involvement in the shakedown. It certainly would have a damaging effect to the defense’s case.
Even though no money was transacted, hearing the details from a taker of the Blago bait would only have strengthened the Fed’s case. The average juror IMO would likely have been more inclined to convict if another complicit in this case took the stand and sang. I don’t care if Daddy thinks Jr. is innocent, let’s hear it fronm the Congressman’s mouth….
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:43 pm:
Looks and sounds like a group of people who are discussing someone in hospice.
- shore - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:49 pm:
jesse jackson is the only house illinois appropriator after november 2 if congressman kirk wins the special and he’ll be the only one period in the next session of congress. In a congressional delegation lacking clout in the house and with all the needs of the state I would think there’d be no interest in seeing him torched.
- White Coats - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:51 pm:
The defense has been second guessing itself since Day 1, why should it be any different. today. Poor Poor Sam Adam, Sr & Jr., Ettinger, Rod & Patti and the girls.
Let’s not lose sight of all the VICTIMS during Rod & Rob’s rampage through Illinois.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:57 pm:
Fair point shore, although with Obama in the White House and Durbin’s position in the Senate, if we are to jettison an appropriator, now would be the time.
Rangel, Waters, Jackson. This is an outcome of gerrymandering safe districts under the Voting Rights Act. There is simply no competiton in these districts and the result is that these members feel they can’t be touched.
Jackson is next on the House Ethics Committee list, right after the trial is over. He probably won’t be expelled, but it won’t be pretty either.
As for Rod and the Adam team: boo-freaking-hoo. I have no sympathy for any of them.
- Carlos - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 1:58 pm:
The entire state of Illinois and all it’s inhabitants have been victimized Rod, Patti & Rob.
Now there looking for “golden free pass”, forgetaboutit.
- Leave a Light on George - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:05 pm:
Rod is as prepared for a guilty verdict as he was to govern.
- Irish - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:10 pm:
===Blagojevich’s attorney Sam Adam, Sr. told reporters today that Rod and Patti Blagojevich are trying hard to keep news of the trial away from their two daughters…===
This is what, two weeks after they took them into Federal Court to witness the trial first hand??????
This whole bunch seems to respond only to that days news cycle, unmindful that today’s response NORMALLY would coincide with last weeks response.
To borrow from yesterdays QOTD. Illinois might suck some now, but it will suck a whole lot less when Blago is in an orange jump suit and the rest of these Bozos are no longer news.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:23 pm:
ditto Irish 2:10
I’m getting tired of the press’s blathering while waiting though….
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
Rich said,
“He’d better try.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3hn6fFTxeo
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:40 pm:
Didn’t Ettinger have the power to subpoena Jesse Jr.? If so, why didn’t he do it?
- Downstate weed chewing hick - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:53 pm:
So, Annie understands he may go to prison and Rod doesn’t? Why doesn’t that surprise me at all?
- Park - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 2:59 pm:
Sam, after your recent interviews, I was just starting to like you. Don’t start lying to us about why the kids were brought to court. And drop the ‘we woulda coulda’ on no defense case. We all know you had nothin’.
- Edison Parker - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 3:02 pm:
Boone Logan Square: From Natasha Korecki’s article it would seem he didn’t subpoena JJJ because Rod had and he assumed Rod was going to put on a case.
“”We were counting on Jesse Jr. being called,” Ettinger said. “Depending on what he said, I would have called Nayak.”
Ettinger said the ex-governor’s decision not to testify and to call no witnesses took him by surprise.”
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 3:20 pm:
@47th Ward,
=Rangel, Waters, Jackson. This is an outcome of gerrymandering safe districts under the Voting Rights Act. There is simply no competiton in these districts and the result is that these members feel they can’t be touched.=
Powerful statement. The question remains - what to put in its’ place in Illinois? People have suggested the model used in Iowa but others have warned that Iowa is to homogenous in ethinicity and population distribution to say their redistricting program could be applied in Illinois. OK, so, what do we do here?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 3:23 pm:
Too off-topic to get into today Dan. But stick around, I’m sure Rich will have plenty of posts on redistricting in the next year or two.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 4:02 pm:
Yeah, you’re right. I just wanna know what will work cause I want something to go right.
- Baltimoron - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 4:22 pm:
regarding Amy Blagojevich “demanding” that she gets to go to court. When I was her age and I demanded to go somewhere, my parents said “no” if they didn’t want me to go - and that was end of discussion.
- FedED - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 6:06 pm:
Ican’t say enough good stuff about Pat Fitzgerald. He has done a lot of good around Chicago, although I still wonder how Daley didnt get hit. Anyway, I don’t get how pat can say POTUS and especially Rhanm did nothing wrong when they decide if he keeps a very important job. I dont mean to question his cred, I just don’t get it or why no one has at least raised it in the media.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 10, 10 @ 8:46 pm:
What the heck is Ettinger talking about? He could have called Trips. Is he giving Rob a reason to appeal for incompetent counsel?