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Guv tries to appear normal

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Illinois

* Reporters are following him everywhere…

Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich is headed to work again as he continues to ignore calls for his resignation.

Blagojevich told reporters Monday that he was going to the office to sign a bill to give tax credits to film makers if they come to Illinois. […]

The governor also was asked if he saw “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, where there was a parody about him. Blagojevich said he hadn’t seen the show.

You can use this as a breaking news open thread, as well as comments on this story.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 9:19 am

Comments

Normal? If this was normal Rod would be working from home. From my time in the JRTC I know normal is Rod working from home. LOL

Comment by wndycty Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 9:24 am
The irony, of course, is that heading to work every day is not the least bit normal for him.

Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 9:24 am
So…which filmmakers were willing to pony up? Did they pay him off before or after last Tuesday? Did the money go into the campaign fund or straight to the lawyers? Will Patty get a SAG card and a walk-on part?

Since all of his actions can now be questioned, just like this, he needs to step aside.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 9:25 am
I gotta wonder if all this — this attention, the negatively positive publicity, the focus on “Rod Blagojevich” — if all this was — in some weird, twisted way — the plan from the get-go.

I mean, sure, he’s bored with the governor when it’s just the normal negative publicity. But this abnormal stuff is what he’s been waiting for. It’s energizing.

This is what it means for “Rod Blagojevich” to be governor.

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:19 am
==Guv tries to appear normal==

Blagojevich has tried to appear as a leader, a reformer, a health care advocate, a tax cutter, a tax raiser, a teacher, a union leader, a party elder, a charasmatic politician, a Cubs fan, bipartisan, a family man, an ethical champion, a champion bull judge, a TV star, a future president, a humorist, and so on.

Normal? Sure, give that one a try - and see how far short he fails trying to do that too.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:27 am
Anyone pick up on Rod placing a big red suitcase in the state’s big black SUV this morning?
Is he planning on taking a trip?
Is there a sleep over somewhere?

Comment by iMAGINE Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:28 am
This headline may be the funniest phrase associated with Illinois politics since the cancellation of the MSNBC talk show “Alan Keyes is Making Sense.”

Comment by Boone Logan Square Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:50 am
As for the suitcase, either they have the sense to get the kids out of that house for a while, or Rod’s trying to get the incriminating documents out.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:51 am
What I really do-not understand, is that in most positions (employment) with the State of IL. if you are arrested, or charged with a crime, you are locked out of your position, excused of your duties, and suspended sometimes without pay! what and why is this different than any other time or employee with the state? Is this just business as usual with Blago?
This state is just unbelievable! it makes me sick!

Comment by Big W Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:53 am
The Gov. used to wear a suit to the office and now it’s an array of jogging suits. Kinda abnormal, is you ask me.

And today he is spotted toting a large red suitcase. Where is he going with that? And what is in the suitcase? Very strange.

Comment by Mo Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:54 am
Maybe the suitcase was full of hair products?

Comment by Downtrodden Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:54 am
The New York Governor took a pretty hard on SNL also.
The Lincoln wedding ring was too much.
Patty wanting to be on the NASA board. Think she wants a trip to the moon with hubby?

Comment by downstate reader Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:55 am
I was just watching CNN and their reporter who’s on the 2nd floor around the rail. They are running a crawl that the legislature will be in session at 4 Eastern Time, as if something significant will happen then. Today, the country gets to see how slowly our legislature moves. It should be a different dynamic with all those national reporters roaming around.

Comment by newsy Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 11:12 am
Since he’s trying to appear normal, maybe the suitcase was for his overnight trip to the Executive Mansion. Where Governors stay when the GA is in session.

Comment by Crafty Girl Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 11:15 am
MSNBC says MJM scheduled a presser at 1:00 eastern. That should be rich!

Comment by Bill Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 11:28 am
Anybody else see the photo on the Tribune web site yesterday of Governor and Mrs. B kissing? The expression on the Governor’s face was way creepy. He looked unhinged.

And you have to believe he wanted that photo taken, why else stage it in front of the assembled media horde. It’s like the Ramsey house on Sunnyside, with every national news outlet on the scene, and he decides to appear “normal” and fails completely.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 11:42 am
A great line from a very knowledgeable insider:

Hey! Who knew it only took being charged with multiple felonies to get the Governor to go to work?

Comment by walter sobchak Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 11:42 am
Here’s a link to a speech from 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGjOZtvWvrE&feature=related

Comment by Cranky Old Man Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 1:00 pm
Yeah, the jogging suits are a little crazy. Also, what governor would put his own suitcase in his own security vehicle instead of one of the troopers doing it for him? Maybe Jimmy Hoffa is in the suitcase or worse, more than likely some incriminating evidence? The Feds have raided the campaign headquarters but they haven’t been to the house yet. I’d advise that they get their rears in gear and get to the house quickly.

So he didn’t watch SNL? That would be my answer too. You bet he watched it just like most of the rest of us did. I’m more curious about how Patti reacted to her little cameo spot on the segment.

Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 1:15 pm
“So he didn’t watch SNL? That would be my answer too. You bet he watched it just like most of the rest of us did.”

Maybe he watched Shawshank Redemption instead…

Comment by Macoupin County Kid Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 2:35 pm
From Martin Mull:
Why don’t you and I get normal/
we don’t have to be that formal/
we’ll sit and watch TV like other do/
we’ll eat meat and mashed potatuhs/
Cut our hair so folks don’t hate us/
Life is nuts enough just livin’ here with you . . .

Comment by Captain Flume Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 3:19 pm
The red suitcase facinated me this morning. I can only wonder if he was taking new short drawers to Mr. Rezko at the MCC….

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 3:29 pm
There is nothing normal about this man….

Comment by Anon Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 3:45 pm
Regarding the jogging suits:

Is he about to try his version the Vincent “The Chin” Gigante (wandered around NYC in a bathrobe pretending to be crazy) defense strategy?

Comment by Suburban Republican Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 4:02 pm
The jogging suits will look fab out on the yard.

Comment by Anon Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 4:13 pm
The Washington Times (yeah, I know) today looked at Rod’s contributions for the first half of 2008 and found half came from firms and individuals that have state contracts.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/15/blagojevich-gave-big-contracts-to-donors/

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 4:28 pm
Wordslinger, don’t ya just love watching the national news play catch up to what we in Illinois have known for years? Rod’s been taking contributions from firms and individuals that have state contracts - DUH.

Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 5:09 pm
This just in - Obama to name Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education.

Comment by ZC Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 5:40 pm
Channel 7 just had a weird, breathless “sources tell us” story that Jesse Jackson Jr. (Trips) has been working with the U.S. Attorney for two years on an investigation into Blago and Rezko trying to pack the Peotone Airport Board for some reason.

Buried in the unsourced story, it’s also said that Trips told the feds that Sandi Jackson was in line to be head of the Illinois Lottery, but didn’t get the job after he refused to give Blago a $25,000 contribution.

When the anchorchick asked the reporter (Charles Roberts?) why the U.S. Attorney just didn’t tell the public that Trips had been working with the office on the other investigation, he said:

“They don’t do that. Remember when Scott Lassar did that with George Ryan?”

Huh? Lassar gave Ryan a clean bill of health before the election, right (thank you very much)? There was no talk about him working with the U.S. Attorney, was there?

Anyway the story has no comment from Jackson, Blago or the U.S. Attorney. Gee, I wonder who those “sources” are!

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 10:19 pm
Kent Redfield on Cnn.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/15/redfield.illinois/index.html

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 8:35 am