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* UPDATED x1 - Cross examination begins * Rod Blagojevich trial live-blogging

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*** 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…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:29 am

Comments

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?

Comment by tubbfan Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:32 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.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:46 am
Ah, Bill. It’s so good to have you back. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:49 am
If appointing Bill comes up during either direct or cross I will be a happy man

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 9:59 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.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:01 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.

Comment by Anonymous 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.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:17 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!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:36 am
Just wanted to say that the Blackberry option for the live feed works great - thanks!

Comment by TwoFeetThick Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:47 am
TwoFeetThick, sorry it took me so long to figure it out. Wish I had known this during session.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 10:49 am
Wonder how many doors Rod has opened up to rebuttal witnesses/more tapes with his testimony?

Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 11:04 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.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 11:07 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.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 11:54 am
How about the “It was Madigan” defense? That’s playing now. If only MJM had played along this would not have happened.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 12:22 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?

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 12:29 pm
How the heck did Jerry Reinsdorf get dragged into this now?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 12:35 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

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 1:01 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.

Comment by Loving It Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 1:03 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).

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 1:26 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.

Comment by la la land Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:02 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.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:08 pm
His testimony could easily become a drinking game.

Comment by Scott217 Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:16 pm
Hard to decide who was the bigger liar on the stand, JJJ or Rod,

Comment by Because I say so Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:25 pm
Scott217–careful, no alcohol poisoning, please.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:27 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.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 2:40 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.

Comment by la la land Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 3:08 pm
Said he considered 34 people for the seat over the October - December 2008

Was one of them Bill?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 3:52 pm
My prediction for the first question on cross…

Seriously?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 3:57 pm
OneMan, I think they did you one better.

“You are a convicted liar, correct?”

Hilarious.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:02 pm
No, first question was a ringer. “Rod, you are a convicted liar?’- Rod “yes”.

Oh Snap! This is going to be good.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:03 pm
Yes, yes they did…

I think I could hear the ‘oh snap’ at my desk on the other side of the loop

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:05 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.

Comment by Nearly Normal 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!

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:16 pm
Perhaps we can buy transcripts and put a play on at Gorilla Tango or something…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:17 pm
Go get ‘im, Reid! I’ve waited a looong time for this!

Comment by Hunterdon Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:22 pm
A courtroom meltdown, 140 characters at a time.

Comment by B-non Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:31 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.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:32 pm
I’m seriously waiting for a ‘YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH” moment. It’s coming.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:33 pm
Me thinks Blago will not be sleeping too well this weekend.

Comment by Bluefish Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:34 pm
As their client falls apart, watch the defense ask for a mistrial.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:38 pm
“and good for me” exchange: “That’s what I like about that,” sums up his narcissism quite succinctly. Unbelievable–no, believable.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 4:57 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!”

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 5:30 pm
Well, we all know which word will be floating around in the jury’s minds. Liar!

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 5:38 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”.

Comment by Gregor Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 6:08 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.

Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 7:10 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 ????

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 2, 11 @ 8:17 pm