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Rod Blagojevich cross-examination live blog

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Illinois
Blagojevich Trial

* If you’re using a BlackBerry, click here. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the show. The usual start time is around 9:30…

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 9:28 am

Comments

In the words of Flounder: “Oh boy, is this great?”

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 10:35 am
The prosecution is roasting him slow and steady this morning - every “Yes” from Blago should be hammering home to the jury that Blago was indeed breaking the law.

Comment by Hunterdon Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 11:02 am
Does that “temporary” appointment discussion for Emanuel’s seat make any sense at all?

U.S. Constitution:

–When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.–

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 11:20 am
If the ” I’m a Cub Fan ” defense works , then , order World Series tickets.

Comment by x ace Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 11:22 am
Not content to be convicted only on the current charges of illegally selling official government acts in exchange for personal benefits, Rod is now going for perjury too.

If I’m not mistaken, the judge can take his lack of honesty into account at sentencing. It may not have mattered, but if leniency was ever on the table, it’s probably back in the drawer now.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 11:25 am
” I am caught in a trap, I cant get out”

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 11:53 am
Excellent theme music OneMan,

Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
When you don’t believe a word I say?

We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 12:03 pm
The song of the day should be EMF’s ‘Unbelievable”

……………………
You burden me with your questions
You’d have me tell no lies
You’re always asking what it’s all about
But don’t listen to my replies
You say to me I don’t talk enough
But when I do I’m a fool
These times I’ve spent, I’ve realized
I’m going to shoot through
And leave you

The things, you say
Your purple prose just gives you away
The things, you say
You’re unbelievable

Comment by Newsclown Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 12:48 pm
What even more unbelievable is how Patti Blagojevich can just sit there and allow her husband (life partner) go down in flames. It just doesn’t make sense for a spouse to allow their partner to worsen their already dire situation. WOW!
Unless she’s already cooked up some plans for herself once this is over.

Comment by Loving It Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 12:52 pm
==What even more unbelievable is how Patti Blagojevich can just sit there and allow her husband (life partner) go down in flames. It just doesn’t make sense for a spouse to allow their partner to worsen their already dire situation. WOW!==

I’m kind of curious what you think she can/should do about it? I mean, this is Rod we’re talking about. And they’re in a courtroom. What is the action you think she should take?

Comment by Responsa Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 2:43 pm
What’s with the Trib stuff?

I get the battle over “lay-off.” The prosecution is saying Blago said “lay-off me, or you won’t get your Cubs money,” while Blago is saying “lay-off” as in “fire those people who are saying impeach me, or you won’t get your Cubs money.”

There’s a subtle distinction there, but either scenario would have been of benefit to Blago, correct? Either way, it doesn’t seem relevant to any of the charges against him.

The prosecution seems to be taking the long way around the barn, losing focus.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 2:49 pm
Why stop at “Suspicious Mind” when mining for appropriate lyrics from the Elvis catalog?

How the web was woven
In my soul, don’t you know
How the web was woven
Can’t get loose, can’t let go
Like the weave of a spider
Wound around my heart
I’m no longer free
At last I’m where you want me
Don’t you know, that’s where I want to be?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 3:24 pm
It’s a lonely man
Who wanders all around
It’s a lonely man
Who roams from town to town
Searchin’, always searchin’
For something he can’t find
Hopin’, always hopin’
That some day fate will be kind

It’s a lonely man
Who travels all alone
When he has no one
That he can call his own

Always so unhappy
Taking shelter where he can
Here I am
Come meet a lonely, lonely man
————————–

I said flip flop and fly I don’t care if I die
I said flip flop and fly I don’t care if I die
I won’t ever leave .. Don’t ever say goodbye

—————————

Tell me where, where does a fool go when there’s no-one left to listen
To a story without meaning that nobody wants to hear
Tell me where, where does a fool go when he knows there’s something missing
Tell me where, where will I go from here
Where will I go from here

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 3:37 pm
Rod is eating this guy for lunch. There’s gonna be more than one holdout juror this time.

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 3:45 pm
Thanks Bill from reporting for ‘lala’ land. Rod is getting taken to the cleaners.

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 4:13 pm
Rod is eating this guy for lunch. There’s gonna be more than one holdout juror this time.

That’s a heck of a goal, this time two people out of 12 who heard all the evidence did not think we was guilty

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 4:23 pm
One man - that is not entirely fair….several of the original counts were dismissed by far more than a single holdout.

Comment by Johnston Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 4:31 pm
dismissed = hung in the above post. My bad.

Comment by Johnston Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 4:32 pm
If Rod wants to make people happy, he should enter a Guilty plea.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 4:56 pm
OneMan,
I’d take two or even one but of course the feds with unlimited millions to waste would probably just keep trying.

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:10 pm
Yes, Bill, they will. A tiny ray of reality has finally drilled its way through that notoriously thick skull of yours, eh? lol Must’ve been a diamond bit.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:11 pm
OK, Miller,you’re banned for life for that gratuitous insult.

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:18 pm
Bill, you have no idea how relieved I am to finally receive this punishment. Au revoir, mon capitaine.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:20 pm
lol

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:22 pm
I think my friend Bill is ON the jury. He rarely posts during court sessions.

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:33 pm
I hope that on any counts on which the jury is hung (and I believe there will be some) Zagel doesn’t allow the US Attorney a third bite at the apple. We have our pound of flesh, let it go.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:35 pm
Okay, it it really hard to parse the sense of the room just from live tweets, but my impression of today was that the prosecution was successful in dismantling Blago’s credibility a piece at a time, making it obvious that this guy with the phenomenal trick memory gets unexplainably fuzzy when confronted with his own perjury. Time after time, he says one thing, then Schar confronts him with contradictory facts. I don’t think this is lost on the jury.

Comment by Gregor Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:38 pm
steve, I’m not sure Zagel could stop another trial.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 5:40 pm
@ wordslinger

Rod bought up the Tribune stuff during his testimony.

Comment by Leave a light on George Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 8:12 pm
Awwww…Bill’s back. Hello, Bill!

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 6, 11 @ 11:45 pm