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* Michael Sneed fills us in…
Is former Gov. Rod Blagojevich actually addicted to a substance requiring a prison rehab program?
A top Blago source tells Sneed the answer is “Yes” and the substance is . . . alcohol.
“It’s not drugs,” said the source.
The backshot: “Rod can’t sleep without drinking,” the source said. “So he drinks himself into a condition to do so, and it became an addiction. Considering what he has been through for the past few years, it became a problem. He’s not addicted to sleeping pills or anything like that.”
* The result of this admission…
If the U.S. Bureau of Prisons approves and Blagojevich completes the nine-month program, he’ll knock a year off his sentence.
He’ll also be eligible to serve his last six months in a halfway house rather than federal prison.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:09 am
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Sure. Once you become a guest of the government, you have to go cold turkey on any number of medicinal stress busters. Cold turkey ain’t easy.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:13 am
If this is true then he would’ve been working off a buzz when the feds woke him up and arrested him.
Comment by ElMaya Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:18 am
If Blagojevich has a drinking problem, it’s not just to help him sleep.
Anyone who ever heard him attempt to channel Elvis knows that no one would do that sort of thing sober.
Comment by South of Sherman Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:18 am
Do I believe it, no, but do I believe he drinks … yes.
I am not sympathetic to Rod’s problems and all he has done to himself. I am sympathetic,(and it’s difficult to have any sympathy for Rod)that I believe Rod needs to have an “outlet” like drinking, but I am a bit skeptical about the levels … unless you can take a year off and 6 months out at the hafway house … Right Scotty?
Yeah … um, no.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:22 am
While some matter of substance abuse problem would go a long way to explaining some of his antics as governor, this looks more like Rod trying to game the system yet again.
Comment by so... Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:26 am
The only thing Blago is addicted to is the sound of his own voice.
This man doesn’t deserve to have a year taken off his sentence, he doesn’t deserve to get a month delay in his surrender date, yet Zagel has given him everything that he’s asked for. If it was a common citizen like most of us here, they’d have walked us out of the courtroom in cuffs.
Comment by TCB Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:28 am
I suppose it does not particulary matter whether *I* buy this or not, it’s not up to me. If he manages to get pass the procedure to ‘verify’ a need , he qualifies. If I understand correctly there is a waiting list, I’d hope receives no special placement in the wait.
For one who now suddenly wants us to feel so much sympathy that hsi girls are going to be without a father, I wonder what excuse he used to justify himself drowning in a bottle instead of spending much needed time with those daughters.
Comment by Cindy Lou Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:28 am
I have never heard anyone — ANYONE — say that Rod has a drinking problem. I never saw any evidence of it personally (although, to be fair, I never saw him much, as I worked in the Thompson Center and he rarely showed up…)
Comment by soccermom Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:29 am
Agree with “so…” A substance abuse problem with lithium might help explain his lunacy, but not alcohol. Not buying it at all.
Comment by Shemp Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:31 am
It’s certainly possible, but his mannerisms and the company he kept (Chris Kelly & Stu Levine) was into something more than alcohol.
Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:31 am
Rod is so full of it. Besides the hung jury in his first trial, I don’t know who else would believe this.
Comment by Jim Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:31 am
Can’t we just let him go away and not talk about him anymore. Maybe another story when he’s being released but he is so yesterday’s news.
Comment by Cassiopeia Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:43 am
I’ve never seen a pol that didn’t have a drinking problem
Comment by Jimbo Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:43 am
Do I believe he drinks, possibly excessively - yes. But do I believe that drinking caused him to do the things he did while in office - absolutely NOT. The time he serves should be reflective of his actions while serving as governor, not his actions while serving himself to get to sleep at night.
Comment by LTC Ombudsman Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:44 am
Eh, I think he has about as much of an alcohol problem as me and most of my friends. Probably meets the guidelines for receiving treatment, though that level is set pretty low.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:45 am
Rod is a conniver of the first order. This is only another example of how dumb he thinks people are!
Comment by Bman Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:48 am
I believe this as much as I believe everything he said at his trial.
At the same time, if I’d been through what he’s been through, I’d probably crawl into a bottle and never come out.
Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:48 am
Rod may or may not drink, but I don’t believe someone who gets up early everyday to run drinks the night before.
He doesn’t have a substance abuse problem, but he could probably use some form of a controlled substance to help with the mental/social disability he has.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:52 am
If Rod’s gums are flapping, then lies are spewing forth. I don’t buy it for a second.
Comment by Anon Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:53 am
What…No Hot Toddies before lights out and cell check?
That would be rough, cruel and unnecessary punishment definitely requirimg some type of counseling….LOL. Give Rod another break, he needs all the help he can connive.
Comment by one day at a time Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:54 am
Is drinking probably started after his arrest. I went through a divorce and drank heavily during that time, once it was over I got back to normal. I could see Rod excessivly drinking, the stress he is under is probably incredible. If he uses it to get a year off his sentence then fine, he will still be in for a LONG LONG time.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 9:58 am
Is he for real or simply using the next excuse that comes along? He got 14 years. Thought he has to do a minimum of 80% which is 11.2 years. Knock a year off for treatment and he is still doing 10 years. That’s a chunk of time which will be about 1/6 of his life once he gets out. Not fun.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:04 am
The only substance that Rod abuses is the BS coming out of his mouth.
Comment by unspun Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:12 am
Just seems way too convenient and difficult, if not impossible, to verify. If it were pills, there would be evidence in purchases & his urine. “I get drunk at bedtime” works quite well, because it explains why there are not witnesses to the abuse.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:15 am
Do I think he has a problem? No. There has never been anything to indicate that. Do I understand why he wants into the program. Of course. Who, in his situation, wouldn’t?
Comment by Springfield Skeptic Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:16 am
I believe he has a problem with alcohol now - the question related to prior to his arrest - no I do not believe he was using alcohol to sleep and cope prior to his arrest -
Comment by sadie Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:19 am
Not a big Rod fan but I can see how at some point he had to start crawling into a bottle at night to sleep…
Comment by OneMan Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:20 am
I voted NO Blago is an addict to his own BS. Is he copping a plea sure, and I don’t blame him, to knock off a year is a big deal.
Comment by mokenavince Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:21 am
I voted “Yes.” While I don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth, this is one of the more plausible things he’s said in a while. If the feds were coming after me with everything they had and I knew they were gonna get me and go away for a long, long time, I would have trouble sleeping at night as well and could easily succumb.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:25 am
Rich, I agree. Plus, you have to kick when you go inside, whatever you’re on, at whatever level. Easier said then done.
Heck, Rosty came back from 15 months in Oxford a lean, mean, fighting machine. No daily doses of Morton’s steak and potatoes and bottles of red wine can do that for you. Probably added years to his life, for those who knew him before he went in.
For the record, after he did his time, Rosty received a pardon from President Clinton.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:36 am
I, too, voted yes. It quite surprised me that I could think it was plausible that RB is telling the truth (about anything) that he started drinking heavily after he was arrested as a means to help him cope/sleep/deny/forget. Do I believe he was doing that prior to being arrested? No. Do I think it rises to a level where he would be eligible for this program and, hence, a reduction in this sentence? No.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:36 am
Yes, I believe he probably does have a drinking problem. By day, he’s an outgoing, gregarious, witty (even if only in his own mind) person. But at night, when the demons come, and everyone in the house has gone to bed, and you’re left alone with your thoughts of everything that could have been and the life you squandered, you start drinking.
Comment by Cheswick Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:36 am
I voted “no” but I will admit that if he did have a substance abuse problem while in office that would explain a lot of things.
Comment by Just Me Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:49 am
NO. BS. No way.
I haven’t believed a thing he’s said since 2001. His whole conviction and sentence is about his inability to be honest, I am really shocked they are letting this one slide.
Comment by siriusly Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:54 am
Only the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (which still exists, www.wctu.org) would consider a few drinks before bedtime to be a substance abuse problem.
Comment by Lakeview Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:57 am
Given the facts:
1. He hated his job.
2. He knew the Feds were investigating him.
3. The Feds indicted him.
4. He was impeached and removed from his position.
5. He was tried twice and finally convicted.
Yeah – I believe it is not only plausible but most likely probable that he took to drinking heavily and is now addicted to alcohol. What I don’t understand is how this should take one hour off of the time to which he was sentenced.
Comment by Kerfuffle Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 10:59 am
If the truth were a substance, Rod would be an abuser. It isn’t. I voted no.
Comment by aufjunk Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:04 am
“…What I don’t understand is how this should take one hour off of the time to which he was sentenced.”
Exactly right. I think he is lying (again) but really do not care, he should serve his full prison term.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:10 am
If Zagel buys it, so do I.
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:12 am
I wouldn’t worry that this will take a year off of Rod’s time. Zagel sentenced him, and he’s been around the block enough to know that this request was coming. It was factored into the sentence.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:13 am
I don’t believe it. Just another example of the “Manipulator” Blagojevich.
Also some folks have said they they could understand if he did because of what he has been through. I truly believe any stress he felt only came during the last couple of days before sentencing. It was then I believe he finally began to realize reality. Before that he was living in “Blago-land” where he was god and everyone loved him.
Also this drinking issue seems to contradict the loving father image he painted to gain the judges sympathy. If he was drinking himself into a stupor so he could sleep, then what about the wonderful Leave it to Beaver, evenings he spent with the girls reading to them and watching movies?
It’s all a sham and another example of how he will say what is necessary to get what he wants.
Comment by Irish Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:22 am
i voted yes. we know he is a narcissist and an incurable liar. his pride and ego would not let him admit to a drinking problem during the trials bec he was hoping for an impossible “win”. but i voted yes bec i can see him sitting at home feeling sorry for himself and hitting the sauce…more and more. he did look a little puffy and bleary eyed during the last trial. zagel has more information, so if he bought it, i do too.
Comment by langhorne Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:31 am
His addiction to hair products is very serious. As their financial situation worsened and he could no longer afford the best care for his hair the only thing he could do is drown his sorrows in cheap vodka. Imagine the pain of switching to Suave shampoo. Its enough to make me cry.
Comment by AC Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:33 am
AC - Too funny, thanks for the laugh!
Comment by Kerfuffle Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:53 am
I had an alcohol problem 32 years ago. Young Republicans will do that to you. I also have had trouble sleeping most of my life. I recently discovered that one or two Benadryl will knock me out for 6-7 hours. There are safer ways to sleep than alcohol, especially when you have children in the house.
I don’t believe him and I know alcoholics that don’t either. How is going to drug treatment going to help him sleep?
Comment by PPHS Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:58 am
So if this is true, every morning TV appearance he would have been hung over, every radio appearance he’d have been hung over. His desire to go to the jungle to support his family would require a supply of alcohol. The man would have been hung over testifying at his own trial. He lies, lies, and lies again. Worried about Patti and the kids yet wants to go to Colorado since it would be more comfortable rather than a closer fed prison. He’s a lying, self centered scam artist and thinks he’s found a loophole to cut his time down. Don’t believe him for a second and even if this one time he’s telling the truth, he’s got several weeks to go to rehab and get his problem under control now rather than worrying about selling a house his finance degree holding wife could more than handle.
Comment by OurMagician Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 11:59 am
If George Ryan had said that he was hooked on alcohol, I guess he would be out of prison, by now.
Comment by PPHS Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 12:04 pm
OoooH, the ol’ “Bottle of Scapegoat”!! I should think if Rod does have a problem, cold turkey ~ of which his soon-to-be-new friends would be more than willing to help him through his withdrawal process with a crying towel ~ would be the key. “Hanging out to dry” certainly has a wonderful new meaning now.
Any consultation/re-hab should “add” time to his new place of residency!
Comment by SouthernIL Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 12:09 pm
==Zagel sentenced him, and he’s been around the block enough to know that this request was coming. It was factored into the sentence.==
Exactly.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 12:17 pm
I worked with him and never saw any sign of alcohol around the Residence. Never even saw him take a drink at formal parties. I do not believe it.
Comment by Anon JRTC Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 12:25 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v46plhmxXU4
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 12:28 pm
A repeat of the post I made last night, after people had signed off mostly—–
A few years ago in this blog, I suggested that then-Governor Blagoejevich’s behavior was consistent with the psychological symptoms associated with steroid abuse. Not only were the symptoms consistent with that, but that would explain why his behavior as Governor was so different from what was expected by people who had known him well before he became Governor. The psychological symptoms of steroid abuse are aggressiveness, unrealistic visions of one’s own power, illusion that one is indestructible. On the physical side, steroids boost strength and endurance, but also cause sleep disorders which he might have been medicating with alcohol.
I don’t know if this is what in fact happened, but it is consistent with the publicly known facts.
Comment by jake Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:07 pm
Does anyone know if Rod read this blog ?
Comment by FIre & Ice Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:12 pm
–On the physical side, steroids boost strength and endurance, but also cause sleep disorders which he might have been medicating with alcohol.–
They shrink the old Testicular Virility, too.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:12 pm
===Does anyone know if Rod read this blog ? ===
One of the FBI tapes has Rod talking about comments on the blog for several minutes as they are posted. The comments were related to the US Senate appointment, if memory serves.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:17 pm
I feel better believing, as word asserts, that Zagel factored in the anticipated request. RB is going to do a long stretch. Anything over 10 years is hard time IMO.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:24 pm
I don’t believe it, further if he’s making it up, is that lying to a federal agent?
Comment by Spring Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:44 pm
===One of the FBI tapes has Rod talking about comments on the blog for several minutes as they are posted. The comments were related to the US Senate appointment, if memory serves.===
Well, if that isn’t a ringing endorsement that this site is the site EVERYONE goes to … then I dunno what more you can do, Rich.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:46 pm
I believe that Sneed probably reported it right. I don’t know if I believe anything Rod said about it.
Comment by walkinfool Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:48 pm
Cincy, that is perfect.
Comment by soccermom Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:48 pm
11 years, 9 months becomes 10 years, 3 months, factoring in 85% of the 14 years, minus a year for rehab and 6 months at the halfway house …
Ten years is a LONG time … long. You do anything for 10 years, its long. Now imagine incarceration. Still think Rod is working it, like Scotty, but 10 years, still a bite in the pants.
Also, it’s not like the kids are going to get their dad back in time for any teen or young adult milestones. They will graduate High School, College, likely they may marry … long time … ten years.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:55 pm
The timing is just terrible - he requested drug help right after Fawell starts running his mouth about how it’s a great way to shave time off of a sentence. So I think Blago’s alcohol “problem” is probably not much of a problem. But it does sound like the criteria to get into treatment are rather low and many defendants use this tactic, so the people who are saying that Zagel factored this into the sentence are probably right.
Comment by TheLowlyScrivener Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 1:59 pm
soccermon,
;-{)>
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 2:34 pm
Cincy - made my day!
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 3:00 pm
I voted “no” Its the perfect “substance abuse” problem to claim here. There is no test for it and very few witnesses. How can anyone prove him right or wrong? While I agree that Zagel may have expected this to come from Blago, it seems unlikely that a federal judge would preemptively add on 1.5 years to blunt the impact of the claim; he could just deny any claim by Blago instead.
Comment by Red Ranger Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 3:00 pm
Cincy –
*
ho ho ho
Comment by soccermom Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 3:17 pm
Okay, it just ate my awesome santa emoticon. I will try again.
*
Comment by soccermom Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 3:18 pm
Riiiiiiiichhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by soccermom Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 3:18 pm
At 4:30 the no’s are trouncing ths yes’s. 80% to 20% a real landslide.
Comment by mokenavince Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 4:33 pm
Doesn’t matter what the votes look like mokenavince, the judge bought it so “it’s an up day”
Comment by siriusly Friday, Dec 16, 11 @ 4:57 pm