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Radar Online claims Blagojevich scoop

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Illinois

* Radar Online, a celebrity gossip site, claims to have obtained exclusive photos of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich…

The publication also claims that Blagojevich has suffered some sort of “breakdown” in prison, constantly mutters about President Obama, mostly keeps to himself and is somehow being protected by a Texas gang.

Weird stuff. Take it all with a grain of salt, but that pic sure does look like him.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:30 am

Comments

Wow!

Comment by Stones Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:38 am
How timely since you know who is doin’ some very similar stuff….just sayin’

Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:40 am
Horrible. It makes me think of all those incarcerated, not just the white collar people. Crime does not pay.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:41 am
I wonder if he has carved “#ThanksObama” into the wall of his cell. Inquiring minds want to know!

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:43 am
He’s paying for his crime. This is an invasion. In horrible taste. Sickening really.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:46 am
He received all that he deserved. Justice is being done.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:47 am
I tried to navigate that Radar website to read what it had to say and found it completely unusable. We may have actually found a website that is worse than the Sun-Times.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:48 am
I just finished the book “Golden” about Blago. Interesting and quick read.

A lot of the info came out during the two trials. However, some interesting tidbits on Blago’s working style, etc.

It’s still amazing to realize that this guy never lost an election.

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:49 am
Question: What about his appeal? The federal appellate court heard oral argument in early December 2013… yes 16 months ago. And it appeared that they were troubled by the government case. Is he remaining in prison while there is a chance that some of the judgment will be reversed? Everything about him is weird.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:49 am
It is sad, but not unexpected. This guy always seemed to be out of touch with reality and a big “Thank you” to Dick Mell for promoting him beyond his level of competence repeatedly.

Blagojevich is radioactive. It is amusing to see how many politicians who used to push to get photo opportunities with him (Emanuel and Obama included) now have amnesia as to ever having associated with him. Emanuel really spent lots of time with him when he entered politics as a Congressional candidate and they cooperated on the goofy plan to cut prescription drug costs by importing discounted (government subsidized) drugs from Canada.

I am surprised that Blagojevich has an office at his disposal in prison. He admired Nixon, so maybe he can rant like the former president in the “Final Days.”

I am somewhat amazed that Blagojevich’s appeal of his conviction is taking so long. The transcript is still not ready after so many months?

Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:52 am
I still want to hear the missing tapes. They are hiding something.

Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:02 am
Justice is one thing. He is serving. This is gross. He has children. Is the purpose for us to “spike the ball” ? I know I should be too young to start the ” Good ole day’s” but there was something nice about not SO much information…. Especially for this purpose. I never thought I could have sympathy for Blago. Congrats Radar Online… Gross.

Comment by Walter Mitty Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:02 am
I’m no fan of the guy. And, frankly, I am not a particularly “good” person, so this isn’t coming from a lofty perch of judgement, but taking pleasure in the likely mental and physical deterioration of someone who is incarcerated is probably not reflective of any of our best and highest possible selves.

He’s a criminal, he’s serving his time, he’s going to come out of prison a dessicated husk of his former self, none of it will have any impact on us anymore. Wanting to see pictures of that process is unseemly.

Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:02 am
It looks like his “Oxxford suit” has a tear in it.

Comment by The Colossus of Roads Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:04 am
No love lost for Blago, but what does this photo serve? That he’s in prison, and quite possibly be suffering some mental issues as a result?

Prison isn’t a fun place. He’s been punished. Let him serve his sentence and be done with it.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:04 am
texas gang? in a minimal security facility???

Comment by bored now Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:11 am
With that white hair, all he needs to do is grow a mustache and beard, change his name and run for office again!!!

Comment by Apocalypse Now Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:14 am
May a bolt of lightning or two strike me, but as a die hard Republican I can’t quite believe what I am going to say next: He actually looks pretty good with white hair. The rest of the ’stuff’ quoted in that article seems pure conjecture and speculation. National Enquire crap.

Now, everyone stand back for your own personal protection!

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:15 am
What happened to the phone tapes?

Watching someone suffer is sadistic.

Comment by gg Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:24 am
Come on…this is Radar Online. It’s the same as TMZ or Perez Hilton. ‘Nuff said.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:24 am
I’m not one of these people who throw around the word “sociopath.” But from my experience, Rod more than qualifies. I don’t quite see how this is a huge invasion of his privacy. He has white hair now - big deal. If he’s suffering now, it’s because of the wrong things he did as Governor. He earned this.

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:27 am
Another reminder to encourage our politicians to stay on the straight and narrow path.
There’s no such thing as a “country club” prison.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 11:31 am
If this photo is current (and I am skeptical that it’s not an doctored earlier photo), I’m guessing whoever snapped it tried shopping it around and Radar Online is the only one who would bite.

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 12:07 pm
I doubt those pants are Bureau of Prisons. Do inmates get personal coffee cups?

Comment by G. Ryann Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 12:11 pm
Soccermom,

You don’t see how surreptitiously taken photographs of someone in federal custody are an invasion of privacy? If they were mugshots or standard inmate ID photos it would be a different thing and I’d agree, white hair big deal. It would be something that comes with the territory.

Bad guy. Deserves his punishment, but part of the deal when you’re incarcerated is you get some protection too.

Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Did he used to dye his hair?

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 12:32 pm
@Boone
=Did he used to dye his hair?=

Absolutely! The problem is that they don’t allow you to dye your hair in prison (too easy to disguise yourself in an escape attempt). It must’ve looked pretty funky when he was growing out for the first few months in the slammer.

And to think the people of Illinois elected this guy over Paul Vallas and Judy Barr Topinka. TWICE!

Comment by Rapscallion Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 12:45 pm
Looks like another “up day” to me.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 12:49 pm
Yes, it’s invasive, but information about Blago’s current state is useful for one reason.

“Remember Brucie, Thou art mortal”

Comment by Graduated College Student Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 1:03 pm
GCS, is that moronic comment meant to curry favor with the Mensas on this site? Hard to believe anyone with that quip graduated from anything. No comparison between the two. Nobody’s daddy got our current Governor where he is. He didn’t shake anyone down for campaign cash. Ryan and Blago both went to jail. They couldn’t be more different from one another, but yet, same result. Rauner ain’t Blago. Not even close. The only people who say that are the one’s who comfort themselves reading this trash about another person’s tragedy. It makes them feel better. Yet, false remains false.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 1:26 pm
As someone who once worked for a State agency that Blagdo ruined with his crony appointments - I say it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

Comment by Waldi Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 1:52 pm
He doesn’t deserve any sympathy.

Comment by flea Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 1:57 pm
===Rauner ain’t Blago.===

Sure has a lot Blago when he goes “Sonny”…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:01 pm
suffered some sort of “breakdown” in prison, constantly mutters about President Obama

That describes fully half of my relatives…

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Leave the guy alone, he is doing his time.

Comment by Just an Old Guy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:11 pm
I have no sympathy for Rod. but let’s imagine if this were some other average prisoner and this was the treatment. some group might be all over it for some privacy violation. just because most of us find his behavior loathsome does not mean this kind of rag story is fine.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:12 pm
Agree, it’s not right, but not an ounce of sympathy here.

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:24 pm
Rich - I will take it with a grain of salt, because it looks like Rod has plenty of salt to give!!! Pew Pew!!!

Comment by My FiNgErS HuRt Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:38 pm
Guy, your harrumphing outrage at GCS is misplaced, as you obviously don’t recognize or understand his reference.

Any governor anywhere would do well to remember that fame and power are fleeting, and that the rules all have to follow apply to them as well.

It’s good advice. GCS said a nice thing.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:39 pm
Liz Phair, you’re probably right. It’s just I have no warm heart where he’s concerned. And I think he would have been the first person to chortle over these kinds of photos if they had been of someone else. There aren’t many people in this world that I ill-wish, but Rod is one of them.

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 2:42 pm
Fair enough, Soccermom.

Like I said, I’m far from a good person and can find humor and entertainment in some pretty deplorable stuff, but this feels gross.

If it was him posing with a visitor or something it would be fair game.

Bigger picture, I hope there’s some accountability at FCI Englewood.

Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:16 pm
suffered some sort of “breakdown” in prison, constantly mutters about President Obama.

I think the breakdown happened long before prison. Other than that he’s gone from screaming about Obama to muttering. Well, prison will do that to you.

Comment by pundent Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:28 pm
Not to mention, that if this was taken ‘in prison’ that it was likely taken with a cell phone. Which is in and of itself is a crime.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:29 pm
==It’s good advice. GCS said a nice thing.===

Lookie there Sling, he pleased one of the more prominent resident Mensas.

He said a nice thing. Yeah. Governors focus on things other than going to jail. The one thing Blago and Ryan did have in common is that they were both intimidated by money (ala Nixon). I don’t think it crosses the minds of Governors that jail is an ending place. Illinois is pretty unique there with few other places and eras.

The remark was moronic and cliche. I guess that works with some guys. It doesn’t with me. Nobody comes here wanting to get dumber. That’s dumb food.

In the meantime, just keep beating on the pathetic mess in jail. It’s not like he and his family include any human beings. How’s that for harrumph? Explain how that isn’t hurtful to other folks who did nothing wrong. You’ll probably take a stab at it.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:42 pm
I often wonder how he and Elvis are doing. When he’s through serving time he should have a job on Joe Walsh’s station.

Comment by mokenavince Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 4:04 pm
Standing with Louis G Atsaves on this one. Let the lightning show begin.

The photo looks pretty good, and his surroundings look about what is expected in such a facility. Just had a bfriend get out of such a place last week. He’ll make it out a changed human being, better if he spent his crushing, disheartening, and boring unfree time well. He will be able to make a new and different life for himself hopefully.

The hearsay about his behavior is nonsense to be ignored.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 5:53 pm
Way to drag this thread into the gutter by comparing Blago to Rauner.

You have an unhealthy obsession and sound as if you have a Rauner voodoo doll next to your computer

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 6:48 pm
Guy, you have problems with comprehension — comprehending what others write and writing what others can comprehend.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 6:58 pm
The downfall of the IL Dems…but no one talks about it…

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 7:14 pm
Let’s not forget Fitz. He pulled the wiretaps and shut down all the pending cases once he got Blago.

Comment by Weltschmerz Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 7:27 pm
Sorry, no sympathy for Blagojevich. He got his just desserts.

Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 8:05 pm
I’m glad no daily newspaper or TV station paid for the inevitable photo of Blago in prison with grey hair. I hope the federal employee who shot this photo and discussed mental state gets clobbered for the rules violation and invasion of privacy.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:12 pm
Looks like pretty easy time, Bubba must be on a break.

Comment by Tollway Ivory Tower Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 11:01 am
I do believe old Rod is sportin’ some man boobs.

Comment by Northside Bunker Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 5:34 pm