* My Sun-Times column…

Back when Rod Blagojevich was being impeached, he announced that he would refuse to testify or even put on a defense at his state Senate trial.

He said the system had been rigged against him. If the trial rules were fair, Blagojevich claimed at the time, he would’ve called White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and President Obama’s adviser Valerie Jarrett to the stand. They would, he said, testify under oath that he did nothing wrong when he was caught breaking all sorts of laws.

If the Senate’s rules were more like a federal court’s, Blagojevich added, he would be happy to put on a full, aggressive defense and testify.

His argument was bogus from the start. The state Senate’s impeachment trial rules were copied almost completely from the U.S. Senate’s rules used when President Bill Clinton was impeached. Clinton won his trial. But Blagojevich said those very same rules were unfair to him.

Countless cable TV bobbleheads nodded in agreement with Blagojevich back in those days. They thrilled at his bravado at challenging what he claimed was an illegal legislative coup d’etat. And they all believed him when he emphatically declared that when it came time for his criminal trial, he would definitely testify.

Fast-forward a year and a half, and Blagojevich and his attorneys are confirming that they had issued subpoenas to — surprise! — Rahm Emanuel, Rep. Jackson and Valerie Jarrett.

And, of course, Blagojevich was continuing to say that he couldn’t wait to testify.

“I can’t wait to get on there, swear on the holy Bible to tell the whole truth and to begin to give clarification and explanations and confront my accusers and confront those who are lying,” he said last month.

Once again, the cable TV nitwits went into overdrive, declaring that the subpoenas were a major embarrassment to the Obama administration and that Blagojevich could very well undermine the president himself. Blagojevich was even roundly cheered by some rightist types for what they were certain was his potential to bring down Obama.

What just about everyone involved in all this hype failed to see is that Rod Blagojevich is a liar. Always has been. His lies were legion and quite well-documented before he was even arrested. And he has been lying ever since that fateful morning in December 2008 when the FBI came knocking at his door.

There was no inherent bias in those Senate trial rules. He lied about wanting to call Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett or anybody else to the stand in his own defense. He was just creating a diversion that he knew the national media would fall for whenever he trotted out those names.

The FBI surveillance tapes clearly show he was furious about being left behind by his fellow Chicagoans when Obama was elected president.

“The whole world’s passing me by and I’m stuck in this f - - - - - - job as governor now. Everybody’s passing me by and I’m stuck,” he was recorded as saying.

Bringing up those names again and again was his vengeance for being passed over. Nothing more.

We now know he has been lying about testifying at his criminal trial as well. He didn’t even put on a defense. That’s because he has no defense. Trying to prove his innocence would only prove just the opposite when the prosecutors had their turn at him.

I can only hope that everyone who has enabled this clown since his arrest will learn one lesson. Don’t ever believe a word he says.

…Adding… Roundup…

* Kadner: Millions feel betrayed, but that’s just tough

* Dawson: The truth comes out: There is no defense for Rod Blagojevich

* Daily Herald: What can we learn from Blagojevich?

* Pantagraph: Blank spot in hall of governors just fine with us

* Blagojevich trial closings set for Monday

* Closing arguments set in Blagojevich trial

* Blagojevich trial: Plans laid for closing arguments; Sam Adam Jr. to close for ex-governor

* Instructions to Guide Blagojevich Jurors

* Judge weighs jurors’ privacy

* Blagojevich trial: Newspapers argue to have juror names made public; Judge to rule by Monday

* Bloggers, Jilted Voters Would Contact Jurors, Zagel Says

* Judge unlikely to budge on names of jurors

* Judge Zagel: “Unpersuaded” by motions to drop charges, but will hold off on decision

* Judge doubtful on acquittal motion, but will rule later

* Blagojevich Attorney is “Big Believer in Repetition”, Says Judge

* Judge wants closings in one day; raps Blago lawyer for ‘repetition’