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*** UPDATED x1 - Cross examination begins *** Rod Blagojevich trial live-blogging
Thursday, Jun 2, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller *** UPDATE - 3:52 pm *** The government’s cross-examination has finally begun. * Could he be cross-examined today? That’ll be fun. By the way, if you have a BlackBerry and can’t access the feed, try clicking here. Otherwise, read on. To get us started, I’ll post Natasha Korecki’s stories from yesterday afternoon…
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- tubbfan - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:32 am:
I didn’t see anywhere else the quote from Blago on one of the feeds where he says that he felt he would be impeached if he didn’t appoint Lisa Madigan. Did I miss something?
- Bill - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:46 am:
Zagel is so obviously biased. He is trying to run the defense. If there is a conviction it will surely be overturned. All along Zagel told the defense that they could call Rod to testify if they wanted this stuff in. Now he tries to cut them off every time Rod tries to make a point of his innocence.
They should just forget the rest of the trial and go right to appeal at this point. Hopefully, the jury will see right through Zagel and do the right thing.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:49 am:
Ah, Bill. It’s so good to have you back. lol
- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:59 am:
If appointing Bill comes up during either direct or cross I will be a happy man
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:01 am:
–Blagojevich says Hastert told him, ‘Get your quid pro quo and make it a two-fer’–
What are the odds of Hastert as a rebuttal witness. If I were him, I wouldn’t want that hanging out there.
I can’t imagine any politician every saying “get your quid pro quo.” They might think it, but never say it.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:17 am:
FWIW, I am finding his testimony somewhat convincing, in the sense that he sincerely did not seem to think that all his schemes were illegal. Ignorance is not a defense, though, and nothing he has said disproves his efforts to “get [his] quid pro quo” despite his motivations being for the people of Illinois or just plain greed.
Put another way, his testimony is proving his own stupidity but not his innocence.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:17 am:
Lets remember he got to be pals with SpeakerDenny during the Blagoofers capitol plan…..gotta wonder what SpeakerDenny got for that performance besides his name used in a federal trial.
- Bill - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:36 am:
==If appointing Bill comes up during either direct or cross I will be a happy man==
I’m hoping that they play your commercial for the jury!
- TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:47 am:
Just wanted to say that the Blackberry option for the live feed works great - thanks!
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:49 am:
TwoFeetThick, sorry it took me so long to figure it out. Wish I had known this during session.
- Leave a light on George - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 11:04 am:
Wonder how many doors Rod has opened up to rebuttal witnesses/more tapes with his testimony?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 11:07 am:
–More chatting about finding an African American. This time Tammy Duckworth. #blago2–
LOL, is this part of the “Me Too Stupid” defense? A father of English ancestry and a mother of Chinese ancestry does not an African-American make.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 11:54 am:
#
–Had a discussion with Greenlee about appointing himself and going to Afghanistan and seeking Osama. #blago2–
Okay, we’ve now moved from the “Me Too Stupid” defense to the “Me Too Crazy” defense.
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 12:22 pm:
How about the “It was Madigan” defense? That’s playing now. If only MJM had played along this would not have happened.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 12:29 pm:
If Blago had gone to Afghanistan and found Osama, would he have talked him to death instead of shooting him like the SEALS did?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
How the heck did Jerry Reinsdorf get dragged into this now?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 1:01 pm:
wordslinger, RRB called Reinsdorf on occasion. I was with him once when he called the chairman on opening day. Instead of chatting, Reinsdorf complained about the GRT. lol
- Loving It - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 1:03 pm:
From day one, Rod Blagojevich has never taken responsibility for anything he’s done. It’s always been someone else’s fault, Before, During & After he was in public office.
He was always more than willing to take credit for ALL the obvious grandstanding he’s done throughout his public life.
It’s really incredible this guy is on fire and he continues pour gasoline on himself.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 1:26 pm:
Now he was going to hunt down Osama? Yeah like OJ was hunting the killer! This guy is a wack job, there is no doubt in my mind he believes everything he is saying (even though most of it is not true).
- la la land - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:02 pm:
Loving It: =”From day one, Rod Blagojevich has never taken responsibility for anything he’s done.” “…this guy is on fire and he continues pour gasoline on himself.”=
1000% correct. Steve Brown was right when he said Blago was disturbed or something like that. Its not even funny anymore the fantasy world he has invented for himself. Very sad.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:08 pm:
– Its not even funny anymore the fantasy world he has invented for himself.–
I don’t buy it. That’s what he wants the jury to believe. “I was going to get Osama,” or “I was too stupid to know that something was illegal.”
He wanted money. The dude was all about money all the time.
I don’t think his testimony has helped him at all. It always, always, comes back to money or something “tangible” for him.
And there hasn’t been cross or rebuttal witnesses yet.
- Scott217 - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:16 pm:
His testimony could easily become a drinking game.
- Because I say so - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:25 pm:
Hard to decide who was the bigger liar on the stand, JJJ or Rod,
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:27 pm:
Scott217–careful, no alcohol poisoning, please.
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:40 pm:
Is it possible that the defense is dragging Blago’s testimony out to use up the clock? If the defense finishes late then maybe the judge will recess and the cross won’t start until Monday. Could be thinking it is to their advantage to delay the cross so the jury may forget some of these details.
- la la land - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 3:08 pm:
wordslinger: I agree. What i meant by his fantasy world is not that he is crazy, or that the jury will buy it, but that he knows he is caught.
He is trying every last thing he can think of-those he hasn’t thrown under the bus yet (e.g. Durbin now), he is throwing; every last dodge he can, he is dodging-anything to avoid responsibility.
I find it sad that he still won’t own up (not that I thought he would) and is grasping for straws at this point.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 3:52 pm:
Was one of them Bill?
- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 3:57 pm:
My prediction for the first question on cross…
Seriously?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:02 pm:
OneMan, I think they did you one better.
“You are a convicted liar, correct?”
Hilarious.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:03 pm:
No, first question was a ringer. “Rod, you are a convicted liar?’- Rod “yes”.
Oh Snap! This is going to be good.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:05 pm:
Yes, yes they did…
I think I could hear the ‘oh snap’ at my desk on the other side of the loop
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:16 pm:
Looks like the jury is going to see some fireworks now that we are in the cross examination. This will go until 5 when the judge calls for a recess til Monday.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:16 pm:
Ouch! Judge asks Blago how he can remember most intimate details from years ago, but can’t remember if the FBI informed him they were recording his questioning session.
Poor Blago…so hard to dodge when you actually have to answer questions. He’s gonna be a wreck all weekend. Next week is gonna be brutal. This is just warmup!
- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:17 pm:
Perhaps we can buy transcripts and put a play on at Gorilla Tango or something…
- Hunterdon - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:22 pm:
Go get ‘im, Reid! I’ve waited a looong time for this!
- B-non - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:31 pm:
A courtroom meltdown, 140 characters at a time.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:32 pm:
Shocking! Blago can’t stop talking. He’s like one of my kids when they do something wrong. The more they prattle on, the more I know they are lying.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:33 pm:
I’m seriously waiting for a ‘YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH” moment. It’s coming.
- Bluefish - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:34 pm:
Me thinks Blago will not be sleeping too well this weekend.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:38 pm:
As their client falls apart, watch the defense ask for a mistrial.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:57 pm:
“and good for me” exchange: “That’s what I like about that,” sums up his narcissism quite succinctly. Unbelievable–no, believable.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 5:30 pm:
Finally. We’ve been waiting for more than two years for him to answer these questions. I’m glad that Zagel let the prosecution start today, but now it seems like an eternity until Monday.
Something tells me Rod isn’t going to have a nice weekend. As Flounder would say:
“Oh boy, is this great!”
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 5:38 pm:
Well, we all know which word will be floating around in the jury’s minds. Liar!
- Gregor - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 6:08 pm:
This was delicious. Blago says he wanted to chase bin Laden…. we are through the looking-glass now, people. After today, I’d be worried the jury won’t stop at a conviction but may want to tar and feather the guy as well.
I can hardly contain myself till Monday. The cross examination is going to resemble the scramble in a kitchen corner with a roach pursued by someone hammering away with their shoe. A lot of ducking and dodging but eventually ends with a “splat”.
- Birdseed - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 7:10 pm:
==Wonder how many doors Rod has opened up to rebuttal witnesses/more tapes with his testimony?==
Exactly what I was thinking. He sure did name some names…. This is gonna be a circus next week.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 8:17 pm:
WHO REALLY CARES ?????
GOOD OLD ROD HAS BEEN A DISGRACE
SINCE FIRST BEING ELECTED
HE HAS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF
WE SHOULD BE SO ASHAMED AS A DEMOCRATIC PARTY
THAT WE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM
WASTE WASTE AND MORE TAXPAYER WASTE
HIS ONLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WHERE IS JAY HOFFMAN ????