56 Comments - x ace - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 9:48 am: “He lied” and ” the Defense doesn’t want you to focus on the evidence” coupled with “asking” is all it takes = straightforward enough for even me to understand. - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 9:56 am: Will the prosecution use all of it’s time today? I can see an argument for keeping it’s close relatively brief and straightforward. Would not be surprised to see the defense throw the kitchen sink of random asides at the jury in an attempt to distract. If they don’t start before 1, I can see them asking to continue tomorrow morning. - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 9:57 am: Lousy autocorrect on this device is responsible for the incorrect apostrophe above. - Shore - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:01 am: estimates on dates for a verdict? Next week? Sentencing-july? Report to prison-november? - Loving It - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:11 am: The crime(s) of the century are nearing completion. I sure hope along with 87% of Illinoisians that the jury doesn’t get bamboozled by Rod and his defense team’s contemptuous lies. 87% based of his last approval rating of 13%. If Rod walks, it will be terrible lesson to today’s youth. Don’t think for one minute they aren’t paying attention. - just sayin' - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:12 am: If I was Fitzgerald I would have been happy with the one conviction on a serious charge in the first trial and moved on to all the other corrupt politicos in this state. I’m not predicting it, but there’s a reasonable chance Blago could beat the rap here. And if he does I’m quite sure CapFax is not going to be a happy place for awhile. Course he could get a year or 2 just on the original conviction on lying to the FBI or whatever. - D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:24 am: Really troubled that the best the pros. can come up w/ is that Blago’s blabbering is the same as a cop asking for $50 bucks to tear up a ticket. It’s going to be too easy for jury to say, “Well he never asked for anything like that. If the ‘ask’ is the crime, Blago never ‘asked’, he was just talking.” - x ace - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:27 am: Expect Pros to go no more than 1 1/2 this a.m. Save at least an hour maybe more for Rebuttal Argument. Can’t see Court carrying Closings over to Tomorrow. ( Although may have to give the Jury instructions then ) Looking forward to the Defense ” He’s a Cub Fan” Closing Argument. - Hunterdon - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:46 am: I just looked up a story from July 2010 that covered the defense’s closing arguments in THAT trial. They kept rehashing a theme that Rod is an “insecure” man who was wronged by his more capable underlings. “He’s got absolutely horrible judgment on people. That’s this case. And they want you to find him guilty of these horrible things because of that,” Adams told the jury back then. “That man wasn’t trying to sell a Senate seat,” he said at another point. “He was trying to get 300,000 people health care. He was trying to make sure a capital bill would result. He was trying to make sure disabled veterans didn’t have to pay property taxes.” Adams of course isn’t here THIS time, but if the defense tries these lame arguments again with THIS jury, it’s certainly going to fail miserably. - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:50 am: The defense closing argument will be the Dusty Baker Defense …ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Dusty Baker, Dusty Baker was manager of the Cubs when he called the governor but he manages the Reds, Now think about it; that does not make sense! Why would Dusty Baker, who managed the Cubs, want to manage the Reds, with a bunch of 2-foot-tall Ewoks? That does not make sense! But more important, you have to ask yourself: What does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense! Look at me. I’m a lawyer defending a former governor, and I’m talkin’ about Dusty Baker! Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense! None of this makes sense! And so you have to remember, when you’re in that jury room deliberatin’ and conjugatin’ the Emancipation Proclamation, does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense! If Dusty Baker manages the Reds, you must acquit! The defense rests. - Hunterdon - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:13 am: Remember that great Delta fraternity hearing scene in the movie “Animal House” where Otter addresses the Dean and the assembly? I’d like to imagine Otter doing the closing argument for the defense today. It would go like this - “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I’ll be brief. The issue here is not whether Rod broke a few laws - he did.” [winks at Judge Zagel) “But you can’t hold the State of Illinois’ form of government responsible for the behavior of one individual. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the Illinois political system? And if the whole Illinois political system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of the American political system in general? I put it to you, members of the jury, isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do whatever you want to the defendant, but I’m not going to stand here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America! (walks back to the defense table humming the “Star-Spangled Banner”) - Spiney Norman - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:21 am: Someday this war’s going to end………… Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore - Loving It - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:29 am: Anyone care to take a stab @ filling in the blanks? Rod (Milarod) R. Blagojevich trial Testimony: 39 days Deliberation: ? Verdict: ? O.J. Simpson trial Testimony: 9 months Deliberation: Less than four hours Verdict: Not guilty of first degree murder Scott Peterson trial Testimony: 5 months Deliberations: Over 7 and a half days Verdict: Guilty of first degree murder Charles Manson trial Testimony: 9 months Deliberation: 9 days Verdict: Guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder Menendez brothers trial First trial: Testimony: 4 and a half months of testimony Deliberations: Erik—19 days Lyle—25 days Verdict: Both deadlocked Menendez brothers Second trial: Deliberations: 20 says Verdict: Both guilty, each of two counts of first degree murder, as well as conspiracy to commit murder Longer deliberations usually favors the prosecution. - CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:36 am: Gotta send a big shout out to the Illinois legislature. THey looked at the facts and tossed Blagoof. The longer the USA talks, the more we wish the IL AG would have told the USA that her office would stick with the massive hiring fraud that has been all but forgotten. - Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:40 am: OneMan hits the nail on the head - thanks for the chuckle! - Leave a light on George - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:41 am: =the massive hiring fraud that has been all but forgotten.= X2 - Way Way Down Here - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:54 am: =the massive hiring fraud that has been all but forgotten.= Boy, I hope not. I’ve been waiting for that one. - Gregor - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:21 pm: I have this song cued up on the ipod in anticipation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqTiA_LyV3k - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:40 pm: From a tweet: =One female juror, who laughed often while #Blagojevich was on the stand, isn’t taking any notes. Just stares at prosecutor= I hope this juror is less like the holdout juror in Blago#1 and more like the person in college who never took notes and just relied on her fellow classmates to take notes that she could get later. Here’s hoping! - Newsclown - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:41 pm: The tweet about the female juror’s expression worries me. Has Casanova Rod found that one crazy chick he needs to charm? - Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:47 pm: Will the “Everyone else is lying, Rod is telling the truth!” defense work? - Coach - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:54 pm: I too have been wondering what happened to the allegation of “endemic hiring fraud” involving “multiple state agencies and departments.” And what about Rod’s record streak of $25K donations? Figured we’d hear something about that too. I get the prosecutor’s point that the “ask” constitutes the crime. But based on the evidence reported, it seems that the feds are telling a story that’s mostly akin to two cops talking about the possibility of soliciting a bribe - not a cop actually knocking on the window asking for one. - wordonthestreet - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:55 pm: While I’m pretty certain Rod did severe and irreparable damage to state government… in so many ways… I’m not convinced being an awful, narcissistic governor is a crime. I fear he may get off again. But even if convicted, we’ll never get back what he took from us. - CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 1:16 pm: Just to keep any newbies ( state summer interns, all brass polishers in the union offices, resting lobbos, etc.)up to date. The key defense plan was to convince one juror that the following their man like a glove. If it fits, you must acquit. They did Profile of the Sociopath This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths. Glibness and Superficial Charm Manipulative and Conning They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims. Grandiose Sense of Self Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.” Pathological Lying Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests. Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way. Shallow Emotions When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises. Incapacity for Love Need for Stimulation Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common. Callousness/Lack of Empathy Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them. Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others. Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet “gets by” by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc. Irresponsibility/Unreliability Not concerned about wrecking others’ lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed. Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively. Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily. - Loving It - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 1:20 pm: - wordonthestreet We’ll be paying for the damage Rod’s done for generations to come. The history books will not be kind to Rod Blagojevich whether he walks or is convicted. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 1:30 pm: I see Larry Yellen is on here. Hey Larry, Is that window still rolled up ? Had to be the dumbest argument I’ve ever heard. - Old Milwaukee - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 1:51 pm: Loving it: You are right. The Blagojevich damage will last for generations. Take a look around state government. There are still plenty of Blagojevich people working from Governor Quinn’s Chief of Staff to the legislative staff to agencies. They are everywhere, and they are mostly not good public servants. - Loving It - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 2:17 pm: - Old Milwaukee You wouldn’t believe the inept individuals Rod Blagojevich placed in policy making positions who are clueless and have large salaries. The majority of them wouldn’t get hired in the private sector. Now we pay for it! Quinn has done nothing to correct this. - steve schnorf - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 3:33 pm: I really don’t like the generalization that if someone was hired during Governor Blagojevich’s administration they are automatically bad. Like most Governors, his hiring produced some good, many perfectly adequate, and some bad state employees. - the Patriot - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 3:46 pm: We will pay for the damage done during the Blago admin for generations. But the legisilature including Madigan signed off on most of it. Don’t forget. We all knew this guy was a clown, and Madigan let him get elected a second time. This is why there is no hiring scandal after this is done. The D’s want a conviction and a closed door. Mike Madigan and Quinn have endorsed everthing Blago did by either endorsing and approving while he was in office or not reversing it after he was out. Blago is the criminal, but the problems we will have from here forward belong to all of them, and those of us who failed to get them out. - Next please - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 3:48 pm: Steve are you or have you ever been a state employee in Illinois? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 3:55 pm: NP, are you serious? The guy is the former state budget director. He’s currently the chairman of the liquor control board. - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:00 pm: “It’s not that he talked 2 much and so it means nothing. It’s that he talked a lot and it means everything. True that… - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:05 pm: I didn’t understand the cop asking for the $50 bribe either. That was the best analogy? How about “he was shaking down a baby cancer hospital?” I think Blago was all that and more, but this hasn’t been the federales finest moment — for the past two-and-a-half years. Blago was kicked out of office and is a convicted felon. The second trial has been for nothing more than Fitz’s ego and hurt feelings. Has there been any action in the U.S. Attorney’s office here on all the razzle-dazzle at CBOE that helped sink the economy? - nothin's easy - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:11 pm: Reviewing the closing statements through the first 1/3 or so of the Prosecution rebuttal, I’m reminded of the hearing in Animal House. I’m just waiting for Blutowski to lead them out… - Kerfuffle - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:14 pm: So Rich are you taking odds on how long the jury will be out on this and what the final verdict will be? Winner can get an autographed picture of Blago! - x ace - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:15 pm: Like the rebuttal focus on Blagovich’s conduct during the trial. ” This isn’t a game! There are rules.” - Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:17 pm: Good point, he can’t even follow courtroom rules in front of you, the jury. Is there any doubt he believed rules of any kind don’t apply to him? - Bill - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:18 pm: ===And if he does I’m quite sure CapFax is not going to be a happy place for awhile.=== Why not? Everyone should be happy when justice is done. We’re counting on the bartender. C’mon baby!Do the right thing! - Bill - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:20 pm: It’s all over Schar! You blew it again. - Kerfuffle - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:24 pm: Bill can evidently predictthe future! Have any hot stock tips? - Bill - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:26 pm: Yeah, sell em all. Quick. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:30 pm: I got to admit that Schar sounds like a moron when talking about Blago not following all their rules. I’m sure Blago-more than anyone else-knows this is no game. Schar better watch out because I bet the jury don’t like him one bit. - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:35 pm: “does he love the Cubs? I’m sure he does. But the guy loves them more than sick kids.” Oh snap - Bill - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:41 pm: Phinnie, He’s sounded like a moron the whole trial. Even if he had any evidence this guy would blow it. - x ace - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 4:55 pm: Mighty Dusty just struck out. - He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 5:18 pm: Steve is right, there are some good people that were hired, but in my opinion more bad eggs than good. In the end there were a lot of Edgar/Ryan staff running things for them. - State worker 573854722 - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 5:54 pm: I’ve seen a lot of state government people come and go, some of Schnorf’s old team mates were no prizes. But their worst day pales by comparison to the stuff the Blago appointees I work with have done. It is pretty disheartening when the new boss comes in and says they got their job by working on the governor’s campaign, …and then go on to tell you that making Rod look good is the only important job for the office for the next four years. - Next please - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 6:31 pm: Patti crys a river, tears well-up in Rod’s eyes. What theatrics, these two should be nominated for Acadamy Awards. - steve schnorf - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 6:36 pm: I think part of what happened with RB’s administration was lack of background. Let’s face it, by Edgar and Ryan, after 14 years of JRT, most new hires were picked by, and after being hired, surrounded by people who had been around the track at least a a few times, so there was cover for both learning curve and longer-term inadequacies. RB and many (most?) of his people were almost totally new to state government, especially the executive branch operating side of things. By nature, many didn’t want to take or even ask for much advice from holdovers, and holdovers, when willing to be helpful, didn’t want to push or appear to criticize and attract attention. Additionally, many of Rod’s hires weren’t careerists, and so there wasn’t as much aggregation of experience as there might otherwise have been over seven years. Also, far too many were from Chicago and didn’t want to spend much time in Springfield where most of the accumulated institutional knowledge was. Add early retirement knocking out almost 20% of the workforce, all the most experienced, and I’m sure it did seem bizarre and helter-skelter to the people who had been around awhile. But of the Blagojevich hires I met, I found most to be decent people. - Next please - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 8:11 pm: Steve you very fortunate to of met some decent people. But from where I sit the Illinois Tollway and IDOT weren’t so lucky. - State worker 573854722 - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 9:17 pm: Well and diplomatically said, Steve. The Blago carpetbaggers came to our digs seething with contempt for career civil servants. From their point of view, there was nothing of significance before them, and what they didn’t know didn’t need to be known. So every week was re-inventing the wheel, only less efficiently. Since their real goal was only promoting Blago, resources and time were lost, that could have gone to furthering the actual purpose and goals of our offices. It (life under Blago and post-Blago) has been very much like a bad marriage full of passive-aggressive behavioral games. Every civil servant expects turnover near the top levels after each election, but Blago’s regime struck down deeper into the ranks than republican administrations ever had, and with blatant impunity. (The “endemic hiring fraud”, particularly disregarding of veteran’s preference, and the recent IDOT case in point. Why does Stout still have a job, if Blago is going to jail?) Blago’s people struck deep into institutional memory and capability, driving out the folks that actually knew what to do, and replacing them with unskilled party hacks and youngsters fresh out of college, bluffing their way thru each day, too arrogant and insecure to ask for help or take it when offered. If you tried to advise and help them, you were resented and suspect. If you sat on your hands to wait for them to make a decision, they felt you were sandbagging them and laying traps. And the whole time, no raises and no security, unless you were protected by the union. A very unpleasant and stressful period, and the survivors, to a man, are incredulous that the rest of the Blago plants have not been cut out like malignancies. That’s been our greatest disappointment with Quinn, that the house-cleaning we really needed never came. We’re going to celebrate Rod going to jail, but it’s a Pyrrhic Victory, with the damage and incompetence left in his wake. - Jean - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 9:44 pm: I agree with Steve. Further, I will add that painting everyone that was hired, under Blagojevich, with “one brush” is ridiculous but it seems rather self-serving by some of those who hope to replace them. - Original Rambler - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 10:31 pm: State Worker - I am personally convinced that many of these “endemic hiring frauds” you reference were “standard operating procedure” under past GOP administrations. They didn’t become objectionable until there was a party change at the top. SS makes some very valid points on this topic. - back porch - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:49 pm: What Schnorff and Statae worker say are both correct. I don’t think you know until you live it. I lived it then and I am living it now. Take a deep breath as Rich says. - Just the Facts - Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 11:50 pm: State worker has it right. Steve’s perspective is a bit skewed because he was always too far up the ladder to see, or understand, what the folks at the agencies had to deal with when Rod ’s crew came on board. (Not a criticism of Steve - he is a decent guy, but just an observation from someone who was a bit more in the trenches at the agency level.) There was a definite contempt, on the part of Blago crew for anyone who had been in government under prior administrations. I saw the handwriting on the wall, left on my own terms and did so at double the pay, so I did well. However, many other good people didn’t do so well and it is a shame how the agency has fared. It took a number of years to for government to recover from the Walker years. It will take many more years to recover from Rod. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.