* Oh, this is rich. The Illinois Republican Party apparently thinks that Rod Blagojevich is a trustworthy source. Why else would the state party use Blagojevich to blast away at its favorite target, Speaker Madigan? Sheesh…

As I’ve written time and time again, this goofy Blagojevich fantasy about appointing Lisa Madigan to the US Senate was an alibi, not a plan.

* Blagojevich trial roundup…

* Judge warns Blagojevich on media comments

* Former Blago lawyer: jurors pay attention to media coverage

* Blago accuses feds of leaking Jackson Jr. affair

* Blago: Axelrod asked him to mull pres. run

* Blagojevich claims Axelrod spoke to him about running for president: Asked about Blagojevich’s claim, Axelrod said he stood by comments he made April 8 before the City Club of Chicago. Axelrod, who ran Blagojevich’s 1996 campaign for Congress, told the audience he declined to help Blagojevich run for governor because he “did not see in him the qualities for executive leadership.”

* Blagojevich Says Feds Are ‘Criminalizing Conference Calls‘

* Rod Blagojevich acknowledges ‘moments of fear‘ late at night

* Blagojevich Sister-in-Law: “Violated” by Federal Wiretaps

* Let the Fun Begin: Fed Prosecutor Calls Blago a “Liar” As Retrial Nears

* Jury foreperson: Defense put on a circus, prosecution confused us

* Blago holdout worries about next jury - With jury selection set to begin for retrial, panelist from first trial has no regrets

* Tactics shift in retrial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

* Blagojevich retrial begins with juror questionnaires

* Mixed Feelings for Blagojevich Retrial, None of Them Happy

* Opinion…

* SJ-R Opinion: A different story this time around

* Brown: I can’t deny it: I’ve missed ‘The Rod Show’

* Pantagraph: Blagojevich retrial needed as a reminder

* Marin: Ready or not, here’s Blago round 2

* Cameron: Blago needs to convince jury he’s ‘goofy’

* NW Herald: Blagojevich retrial must bring closure

* Meanwhile, I will give the state Republican Party credit for this quite amusing anti-Madigan video. Heh…