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* Carol Marin praises Judge Zagel for the way he handled Rod Blagojevich yesterday…
There comes an epiphany moment, said the judge, when a defendant will take delivery of the hundreds of thousands of pages of evidence and thousands of hours of wiretaps gathered against him. Then and “only then,” said Zagel, will the accused “fully understand the jeopardy.”
“It’s way too soon” counseled the judge, for Blagojevich to jet off anywhere. “I don’t think this defendant fully understands or could fully understand” until it happens.
But I’m with Mark Brown…
Zagel’s imagination may be as misplaced as mine if he really thinks Rod Blagojevich is going to spend his days poring over boxes of paperwork turned over by the U.S. attorney’s office. That’s never going to happen short of a doctor diagnosing his attention deficit disorder and Blagojevich actually taking the medicine.
Blagojevich showed after yesterday’s hearing that his moment of clarity has not yet arrived…
“I respect the judge and his decision. I am trying to find a way to work to support my little girls and family.
“I’m fully aware of what the allegations are and I know what the truth is concerning me and I know that I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.”
* And NBC, which has milked Blagojevich for all the publicity it could get for a show that would’ve been otherwise ignored, milked him some more..
“NBC is disappointed in the court’s decision today regarding Rod Blagojevich’s participation on “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!,” but excited about the casting announcement for the show this Friday. There are no plans to move the show to a location in the United States.”
More…
Zagel denied the request even after NBC offered to hire court-selected security guards to watch Blagojevich
If he had those guards years ago, he might not be in this trouble today. Just sayin’
* Related…
* Blagojevich Can’t Go to Costa Rica
* NBC Disappointed Blagojevich Will Miss Reality Show
* Quinn has little to say about Blagojevich: Quinn said he didn’t think Illinoisans cared about the NBC reality show “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 7:20 am
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“Quinn had little to say about Blagojevich:”
Yeah, exactly the point and that is one of the reasons why Blagojevich was able to continue on for as many years as he did. Quinn lacked the guts and backbone to speak out on his fellow Democrat Blagojevich. That is the reason that Quinn will never be elected governor of illinois. Pat Quinn is a nice guy but he certainly is no leader. He showed us that by playing the role of “Morty Milktoast” when he was Lieutenant Governor. If you don’t have the guts to point out something that is so obviously wrong until it has finally been pointed out by others, then you are simply another partisan hack and gutless wonder whether you be a Republican or a Democrat.
Quinn doesn’t deserve my vote. I want somebody as my governor who is willing to say, “This is wrong and we are not going to allow it to take place while I am Governor of Illinois.”
Comment by Beowulf Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 8:02 am
==he might not be in this trouble today==
I think he still would be—from what I have read it appears he wouldn’t have kept too many people around who weren’t part of his ballgame.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 8:33 am
Why do I think this Blago/NBC alliance is step one in our society replicating the country depicted in the Governator’s “The Running Man”?
Popular criminals starring in TV shows designed to appease the masses suffering from a collapsing economy. Where is Richard Dawson when you need him?
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 8:48 am
It seems Zagel is trying to force some dignity and sobriety on Blago, maybe for his sake, maybe for ours.
Still, his reasoning is a little hard to follow. If Zagel doesn’t believe Blago is a flight risk, he should probably have let him go. A guy needs to make a buck.
In his mind, Blago has his whole defense figured out already, I’m sure. The mountain of evidence? It’s all a misunderstanding. Then, he’ll wow the jury by personally doing his closing argument.
Problem solved. Back to writing the book….
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 8:53 am
==The mountain of evidence? . . .
Back to writing the book….==
Does this mean that, not only will taxpayers be paying for his attorney, we’ll also be doing his research for him?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:12 am
This may be an inappropriate, excessively rabid or gratuitously violent comment but I was hoping one of Costa Rica’s many poisonous snakes, spiders, scorpions or plants would spare Illinoisans of the trial and Americans or the cost of incarceration….just saying.
Comment by Wishful Thinking Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:22 am
There will never be a moment of clarity for a man who believes reality is suspended if he tries hard enough. Blagojevich can be locked in a cell, and he won’t quit believing in himself. He is his own god and in his world, the sun never stops shining.
His mind has been frozen with the emotional maturity of a three year old.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:26 am
Looking forward to the NBC installment of “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” from the Metropolitan Correctional Center. That’s when I’ll tune in!
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:26 am
OH - almost forgot!
Thank you Illinois Democrats for choosing this man to be our governor - twice!
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:26 am
Instead, why not send the entire Illinois state government to Costa Rica so they can observe a stable, efficient government at work.
The weather is better as well.
Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:42 am
Just wait!
Rod’s going to teach Judge Zagel a thing or to about the L-A-W.
Comment by Cayman Islands Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:44 am
Dear Rod Blagojevich, I have some follow-up questions.
1. Are you saying you didn’t do the things alleged in the indictment?
2. Are you saying you did some or all of the things in the indictment, but that they aren’t (or shouldn’t be) illegal?
3. Are you saying that the evidence against you was illegally obtained and therefore cannot be considered by a criminal court?
Merely saying you’re innocent without responding in some manner to the allegations causes some people to discredit what you have to say. Some of these people are even laughing at you.
So, if you could explain what you mean when you say you are innocent it would help smack down your detractors.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 10:14 am
Does anybody else think Judge Zagel should do less editorializing?
If there is a presumption of innocence, what’s unreasonable about Blagojevich’s claims of innocence?
If Blagojevich was innocent, he’d have the headache of a federal trial to deal with, but he would ultimately be vindicated (hopefully). So Zagel making statements about the big consequences for Blagojevich makes it sound like Zagel has pre-judged the case.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 10:17 am
I loved the bit where RodB was asked if he was going to be involved closely in his defense. He replied. “Yes, I will. I know alot about myself”. That’s good stuff. I wonder about the stuff he doesn’t know.
Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 10:20 am
So what American politician has ever said he/she was sorry for doing something wrong before he/she was convicted of it? How many people admit guilt before they go to trial? The news and entertainment media keep him afloat and fodder for discussion. I really don’t question Blagojevich’s sanity, but I do suspect he has no sense of dignity.
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 10:40 am
Pretty funny stuff.
The Cavity Search
Bruce Elliott, has decided to place another politician in an awkward situation. His subject– Governor Rod Blagojevich from Illinois.
Elliott’s recent painting, which is already receiving press in Chicago, depicts a nervous Governor Rod Blagojevich (Democrat) with a prison jumpsuit pulled down to his knees. In the painting Blagojevich is positioned as if he is looking at the viewer as a guard stands near wearing a rubber glove.
The painting, titled “The Cavity Search”, pokes fun at Blagojevich‘s potential future if he is found guilty of attempting to sell Barack Obama‘s former seat in Illinois. The Governor from Illinois is currently caught in the throws of scandal over the issue.
The artist has stated that he created the painting because the criminal complaint against Blagojevich “stunned” him.
Comment by Chillout Cafe' Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 10:53 am
Where is Richard Dawson when you need him?
He lives in Beverly Hills, CA and is semi-retired.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206241/bio
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 11:06 am
So NBC just adjusts and rolls on: Coming Monday morning, NBC announces a new reality series based in the United States “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of My Situation!”. Celebrities face various situations as they travel around the country. Danny Bonaduce has signed on as host with Elliot Spitzer as commentator. Last one left is the loser.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 11:15 am
Blago couldn’t survive in East St. Louis on his own, let alone Costa Rica. The courts are just trying to keep him alive.
Comment by PPHS Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 2:30 pm
I predicted in a comment a few days ago that the judge would deny Blago his TV moment and tell him to focus on his defense. The Costa Rico trip would have forced delays in the trial due to the defendant not being around to consult with his defense team.
But I agree with those who say that the judge appears to be presuming guilt. He should have just said “stick around and prepare your defense, to avoid trial postponements”, and not referred to post-trial consequences of a finding of guilt.
On another issue - why has Quinn left so many Blago people in their posts. The reality is that Blago only cared about himself, and left others to run state government. So let almost state employees and executives who were merely doing their jobs, even in the Governor’s office and as agency heads, stay where they are unless they were involved in the indictment related activities. Almost all were not.
Comment by Capitol View Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 2:31 pm
{That’s never going to happen short of a doctor diagnosing his attention deficit disorder and Blagojevich actually taking the medicine.}
How do you know that this has happened already, and the issue now only revolves around an increase in dosage?
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 3:10 pm
I don’t think Zagel is presuming guilt. I think he is trying to tell the Governor that, given the American system of justice, the feds didn’t just make this ALL stuff up and to have come so far they clearly believe they have strong evidence of his guilt. Not bad advice, I think.
Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 3:13 pm
A more appropriate reality show for Rod would be Fox Reality Channel’s - Busted & Disgusted.
He wouldn’t have leave home.
Looks like the agency he hired let him down.
Do they have an “Aldi Store” in Ravenwood? There’s a good dose of reality.
Comment by Chillout Cafe' Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 8:09 pm
I wouldn’t be interested in watching the reality show with Blago. But I’d sure pay to watch the out takes of the same program showing Blago whining about the situation he suddenly found himself in. It would be the ultimate smackdown for the producers to tell him to grow a pair, be a player on the program, earn his $80K per segment, or go home. Blago’s not kidding anyone. He doesn’t have the testicular virility to be on a reality program like this.
Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Apr 22, 09 @ 9:41 pm
Hey Chillout Cafe’–
I don’t know if there is an Aldi’s in Ravenswood, but there are Aldi’s on the South Side of Chicago. I have gotten many good treats over the years at Aldi’s, but admittedly I’m not fond of their milk or canned goods. You should try the “Fruits of the Forest” strudels (all flavors), or the cream cakes that they just had last month, and they have some delicious mussels in garlic butter that are approx. $2.50 for an 8-10 oz. box.
I would be willing to bet that if you told Blago of all the low- and middle-income voters that go to Aldi’s, he would hang out in the parking lot there as an attempt to taint the jury pool and get free publicity.
Comment by Lynn S Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 12:12 am