54 Comments - wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 8:21 am: It’s just starting to sink in now that he’s going to do some real hard time. I mean, Ryan’s still in prison, and Rod’s going to go away for a lot longer time. It’s funny. Michael Jackson’s drug-pusher doctor got four years for killing him and will do two, maybe less with good time. He was on retainer for $150,000 a month. Any drug dealer in the world would stand on their heads for two years for that kind of payday. Rod didn’t get any money for what he was convicted of (not to say he didn’t get any money, especially all the money they cadged out of Patti’s “businesses”). But he’s going to do 80% of somewhere north of 10 years. That’s serious time for a man in his 50s. He was just so bad at it, too. After Ryan, even after Levine and Rezko, he’s still scheming on the phone like he hadn’t a care in the world. What a dope. No more, no less. - Way Way Down Here - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 8:40 am: Very good opinion piece by Professor Siegler. Thanks for posting the link. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 8:45 am: You’re welcome - Bill - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 9:58 am: This is sad, man! - Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:11 am: I hope he is whisked off to the pokey today after sentencing. They had the damn news chopper overhead again this morning from dawn until he left for court. - Dan Shields, Springfield, IL - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:14 am: The big question is will he finally admit some guilt to try to save his keister some what in front of the Judge or will this moron continue to bury himself with his mouth? - Hunterdon - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:16 am: Sad? Bill, this is happy day for Illinois. The man is going to finally pay for his misdeeds. Nothing sad about it, except maybe the fact it took so long to bring Blago to justice. - Hawkeye - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:20 am: Not to worry Bill. I’m happy enough for both of us. - OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:27 am: Yes Bill it is…. - Esquire - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:30 am: All in favor of a reduction in the amount of prison time for Blagojevich provided that he must serve his sentence in monastery that enforces a strict code of silence for the duration of his sentence, signify by raising your hands and calling out “Aye.” - plu - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:05 am: aye - HoosierDaddy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:07 am: You know, I thought I would be happy about this today, and in a sense, I am glad to see justice being served. But at the same time, I can’t bring myself to be gleeful. It is sad that our political system in Illinois is so bad that anybody thought they could get away with this. It is sad that these kids’ dad is going away for a long time, and it is sad that Illinois is going to get another black eye in public opinion. - Secret Square - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:16 am: Aye, provided he also has to shave his head… - Bill - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:19 am: Sounds like Zagel is helping the USA make their argument. He can’t contain himself. He’s been waiting a long time for this. He must really be digging it. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:31 am: Zagel is an exceptionally bright and able judge. But I don’t agree with the suggestion that Zagel plays things down the middle. I’ve appeared before him many times, and have seen (at least) two cases where he really put his thumb on the scales. In general, he is pro-government in most rulings, but can be softer on sentencing. He is, however, a master at picking out facts from the record and combining them to explain in a simple, cogent, and clear manner exactly what happened. He is excellent at making a record that will withstand any appeal. As his past film acting and novel writing shows, he also has a flair for the dramatic. This sentencing proceeding was made for him. He won’t miss the opportunity to shine. - Irony - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:48 am: What would Blago be looking at had the first jury convicted on 3 or 4 counts? Would the Feds have tried on the remaining charges? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:06 pm: Going away, no matter the length is tough. This is not a gleeful day. While I had no use for the shenanigans Rod was doing, including how he ran the office day to day, but, what does this say about Illinois, and about what politics is in Illinois. George wasn’t a deterent enough? I am not Polyana in my belief in government, nor am I John Kass-ian in my detest of government, but I am of the ilk that good politics is good government, and visa-versa. You want your adminstration to work, get your people in. You lose, you’re out, no landing safely every single time you lose, and no deals to make the winners reap more than the voters demand by the change. That being said, Rod was wrong, Rod was crooked, Rod is in denial. There was no line for Rod, and that is his legacy. Nothing … was taboo or off the table … and nothing … is wrong about looking out for “me”, while I tell you, I am looking out FOR you. Rod wanted us to believe politics as usual was out, when it was out … out in the open and blatently obvious to anyone around his administration. The Feds love to get the Ringleader and make that “example to deter”. Rod is going to get more than 10, nor more than 13 years. A decade, plus. So now what, the “Kass”es of the world rejoice. Our last 2 governors will be in prision, probably at the same time for a bit, and both of different parties. You win, our government is failing with character in leadership. So, we rejoice on Wednesday? In the movie Goodfellas, Karen weeps, and says she doesn’t know “anything” and I am not fully comparing Karen to Patty, but those tapes make it clear that her advice and salty language were not deterring her husband’s poor choices. But … she will be without her husband, the girls, will be missing a father. When you back-slap and say “It’s a good day”, make sure perspective is kept, for his family and Illinois. Rod hurt all of us, some dramatically more than others, and I understand vindication, but we are getting our “revenge” on others too, and there is no magic wand to make everyting all better or all “right”. It’s sad vindication I feel today. Rod has no one to blame but himself, and we have no one to be whole. - Publius - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:11 pm: Give him 5 or 10 years if he shaves his head, otherwise give him the 10-15 years. I do feel sorry for the kids however and if he is sent away right before the holidays. But you have to pay for the crimes you commit. Would he be sent off to prison right away? I’m not too familiar with the procedures so I’m just curious - Gregor - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:47 pm: I’d like to file an Amicus Curiae with the judge to point out that All Kids was actually a smaller, restricted program begun under George Ryan, and all Rod did was throw open the qualifications to everybody without creating any new funding to pay for it. One of the things JCAR took him to task for and that eventually helped seal his impeachment. Maybe Ryan should get some time off HIS sentences for All Kids, but all Rod did was screw up a working program to make political campaign hay, and never mind the consequences. - Madame Defarge - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:50 pm: Interesting that Blago’s main defense is that he was too inept, incompetent and clueless to successfully carry out his corrupt designs. Kind of like a bank robber going in with gun drawn to rob a bank and finding himself in a bookstore. Never mind! - PublicServant - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:13 pm: Patti and the Defense team are spotted in the lunchroom, but no sign of Rod… Newsflash…Rod is on his way to Serbia! - girlawyer - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:13 pm: This morning a radio announcer said (twice) that Ron Santo had been “indicted” into the Hall of Fame. A sad commentary on Illinois politics that an announcer sees “inducted” and his brain corrects it to the word we have become so accustomed to hearing. - amalia - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:15 pm: isn’t it amazing that Zagel, he of multiple state government positions, is sitting as the judge in this case? he must have encountered Cellini during his 70’s to later 80’s years before hitting the Fed bench. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:22 pm: ===Newsflash…Rod is on his way to Serbia!=== LOL I thought the very same thing. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:33 pm: “Blagojevich didn’t think he was breaking the law even if jurors concluded that he did.” Isn’t this the kind of statement a small child makes when caught out by his parents? - Hunterdon - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:52 pm: Kinda like “I don’t think Mom should make me sit in the corner because I was playing ball in the house after she told me not to. I didn’t break anything.” - Gilkey - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:12 pm: Hunterdon - More like “Mom has let us play ball in the house in the past, but this time I got busted for playing ball too hard. My brother, who was also playing didn’t seem get in any trouble. Mom reserves the right to punish on an as-needed basis.” - Vic Sage - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:22 pm: I think his “I’m a good parent, I spent so much time with my family” is ironic considering how much time he deprived me from spending with mine. - OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:26 pm: Curious what the Blag defense metric is for extraordinary parent. - x ace - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:30 pm: Great to be able to follow the hearing like this. Thankyou - dupage dan - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:41 pm: Good post, Oswego. Not a day to dance in the streets. I do not pity RB but, nonetheless, a sad day for Illinois. - Shore - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:45 pm: this is really good. I don’t have to hit refresh and it stays at the top. don’t know who these younger looking women are that are doing the play by play but they are doing an outstanding job. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:05 pm: Thanks dd, appreciate it. Sad-Vindication … think it’s an Oxymoron … but I am conflicted none the less …. - soccermom - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:11 pm: No matter how long a sentence he receives, it will not serve as a deterrent. Because all of these guys are so arrogant they believe they will never get caught. - shore - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:31 pm: shorter summary of today “Team Blago throws every excuse they can think of at the judge (wall) and hopes something sticks”. - Been There - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:46 pm: Rumor has it that Patty is going to take the stand. - Hunterdon - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:54 pm: Sorosky’s monologue is really starting to bore me. I’d wager he’s boring Judge Zagel to the point of irritation. Not helpful to Blago. - Got the t-shirt... - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 4:03 pm: I’m appalled at Blago’s assertion that his prison term would devastate his family. I was illegally discharged under Blago, appealed and got my job back and with back pay two years ago, unfortunately my wife still suffers from the ordeal. I didn’t commit a crime, but he did (i.e., CONVICTED)and I have no sympathy for this jerk. - Bill - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 4:05 pm: I always had Shelley pegged as a lightweight and a hack. I was wrong. He’s done an excellent job today and throughout the trial under some very difficult circumstances. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 4:20 pm: How wise of a defense strategy is it to downplay the seriousness of the crimes as “minimally wrong” at the sentencing hearing? Doesn’t that send the message to the judge that the defendant does not show remorse? - truthman - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 4:41 pm: Have they no shame at all? Your best defense is he didn’t know he was breaking the law of his staff pushed him on? I say he gets 15 years and his despised Father-in-Law will raise his children. - Ex dnr - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 4:50 pm: Many people feel for his family and to some extent I do too. However, we all should remember the families that he impacted with the illegal discharges, threatening to move IDOT employees to Harrisburg, etc…. Time do pay the piper! - Dan Shields, Springfield - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 4:58 pm: Same ole Blagoof, he just doesn’t get it. Ain’t so “bleepin” golden now. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 5:17 pm: I was thinking 10 to 12 years, after this it might be 12 to 15. It’s not the government punishing Patti and the children, it’s Blagojevich. It’s sad to see him continuing to use them as victims for crimes he refuses to take responsibility for, evading rather than accepting the appropriate punishment. - Gregor - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 5:38 pm: So,today’s Defense was: “He’s not Hitler, so you should just let him go” ????? That’s just really bad strategy for high-priced lawyering. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 6:00 pm: I think 5 years solitary confinement. They would bring him out in a straight jacket. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 6:08 pm: Gregor, perfect analogy. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 6:16 pm: I suspect the judge might be thinking. A good father would have considered his family before engaging in criminal behavior. - thurber - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 6:59 pm: I feel some sympathy for the daughters, very little for Patti and none for Blago. Blago showed who he was when he had power and was surrounded by yes men. He does not deserve mercy. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 7:59 pm: Isn’t being a good role model part of being an extraordinary parent? Even putting aside the criminal conduct, the guy had zero work ethic. - Madame LeFarge - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 8:17 pm: Zagel must be made of sterner stuff than I, because the transparent pandering and such seen today would have prompted me to throw the book at him just for being such a consistently (redacted) (redacted). The guy and his wife basically used the kids as human shields more than once, I have seen it in person. Rod used them for political point-scoring and as handy excuses to obviate the need to lie about not wanting to do things or go places. Like work. Or Springfield. He’s on record as having introduced campaign contributors to his daughters as :”Uncles”. How creepy is THAT? The wife is very lucky the feds chose not to prosecute what seems like several slam-dunk cases of money laundering, because the feds, of all people, had more pity for the Blagojevich children then their own parents. (They also, probably rightly, figured that jailing the mom would poison the jury pool for Rod.) So really, the parents should thank the kids for keeping mom out of jail at this point. Rod will be a grandpa by the time he gets out, his daughters raised by “Daddy” Mel. He’s going to have to be reminded of that, every visiting day in prison. As a parent, that thought chills me to the bone. Since it apparently never phased Rod, it only confirms to me that the man is a sociopath - he does not see the world the same as you or I. Nobody would behave like this, if they did. - springpatch - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 8:39 pm: I find it appalling that Blago and team would trot out his daughter’s words, thoughts, life into the limelight to try to save his sorry behind. The daughter is an excellent student and has coped quite well with 3 years of turmoil since Blago was arrested and many years of bad press before the arrest because he was a cowardly weasel hiding from people during his tenure. This oldest daughter is to be admired for being tough as nails and succeeding in life in spite of her poor upbringing by a crimal and a foul mouthed mother. As a mother, what could Patti be thinking to let Rod go the last straw by using his child in this way. And what low lifes the defense attorneys are to throw a young kid’s life on the fire in a way all of her contemporaries will see. - thurber - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 9:54 pm: I’m not proud of this but, today I was in a retail establishment and over the in-store stereo I could hear Elvis singing “Blue Christmas”. Knowing that Rod was an Elvis fan, I thought about Rod and how he’ll be having a blue christmas…then suddenly I realized that I was smiling very broadly to myself. To the end, Rod’s antics bring out the worst in most everyone. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 7, 11 @ 8:04 am: The defense acknowledged that crimes had been committed. No appeal, then? It’s awful to drag the kids downtown to try and influence the judge. You protect your kids, you don’t put them in the line of fire. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.