The World Through Rod Blagojevich’s Eyes

“I thought about Ghandi, Dr. King, Mandela – and just tried to put some perspective on all of this …”

That poignant quote above is from the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. It’s what he told an interviewer today was going through his mind when the FBI arrested him last month.  What a complete asshat.

Never before today in our entire fabled U.S. history has such a corrupt and delusional person been given so much air time.  Charlie Manson in his prime never had as much air time.

And he’s not even done.

Yes, I’ll tune in at 9 p.m. tonight to catch this skull fuck’s act on Larry King Barely Alive.  Since I work for a living and can’t watch the Today Show, Good Morning America, The View or Access Hollywood, I’ll have to sit through Captain Suspenders croaking, “Governor, what’s your take?”  This is a car wreck I must rubberneck.

Some folks are saying on the MSNBC tonight that Hot Rod is talking to the jury pool.  My question is who the hell are we letting on juries?  Oh, that’s right, it’s Mayor Daley’s Chicago.

Transcript: Rahm Emanuel on Meet the Press, January 18, 2009

(Source: NBC’s Meet the Press)

MR. DAVID GREGORY:  Our issues this Sunday:  the transition ceremonies are under way, and in just two days the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as our nation’s 44th president.  He’ll inherit a country in economic turmoil, an ongoing multifront war on terror and renewed violence in the Middle East. What will be his first priority?  And is he already facing his first fight on the Hill, as Democrats and Republicans clash over a proposed stimulus package?

(Videotape)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH):  Oh, my God.  I don’t even–my notes here say that I’m disappointed.  I just can’t tell you how shocked I am at what we’re seeing.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY:  Will Mr. Obama be able to find a bipartisan solution?

Plus, a bump on the road to the Cabinet; Obama’s Treasury pick admits a taxing mistake.  What could this mean for the nomination of Timothy Geithner?  This morning, an exclusive interview with the man who will be by Obama’s side in the office:  the gatekeeper of the president, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Then, Inauguration Day will be a time of great significance in this country. How will Mr. Obama capture the moment?  And will his presidency be able to live up to the high expectations?  Insights and analysis from our special roundtable:  NBC News special correspondent Tom Brokaw; columnist for The New York Times David Brooks; presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; host of PBS’ “Tavis Smiley” and PRI’s “The Tavis Smiley Show,” Tavis Smiley; and NBC News political director and chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd.

But first, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Welcome back to MEET THE PRESS.  As we look forward to an historic day, Inauguration Day and the inaugural address, the president-elect has spoken about the need to capture the moment that Americans are in.  What does he want to say on Tuesday?

MR. RAHM EMANUEL:  Well, I, I don’t–at one level, I don’t think it’s different than what you’ve heard over the campaign.  On the other hand, it’s a–the inaugural and the inaugural address is something significant in American history and its culture.  I think the–what you will hear is a time and a place in which we all have an era of responsibility, that too long there’s been a culture of anything goes, and that to do what we need to do as a country, to, to regain America’s greatness and continue to move forward and be an example around the world, that we need that culture of responsibility not just to be asked of the American people, but that its leaders must also lead by example.  And so that for–in both business, in the corporate boardroom, to in government offices, that there has been a culture of–that anything goes and is permissible, and that we want–must once again restore a values system that respects and honors a sense of responsibility, and that we all have something to give to our country and have an obligation to do that, to return it to its greatness.

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Newsclips – Blagojevich Impeached – January 9

• Guide to the impeachement process – MSNBC
• Blago Impeached, Blago goes jogging – CBS2 Chicago
• Court rebuffs Burris on signature – Chicago Tribune
• Senate won’t seat Burris without signature – Chicago Tribune
• Objections to prosecutors – Chicago Tribune
• Impeachment “No Surprise” – Chicago Sun-Times
• Lone ‘no’ in vote – Chicago Sun-Times
• What’s Next? – Chicago Sun-Times
• Blago impeached – Washington Post
• IL House impeaches Gov – New York Times

Transcript: Sen. Harry Reid on Meet the Press | Israel, Roland Burris, The Economy | Sunday, January 4

(Source: NBC’s Meet the Press)

MR. GREGORY: And here with us now, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid.

Welcome back to MEET THE PRESS and happy New Year.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): Thank you very much.

MR. GREGORY: Let me ask you about the ground invasion into Gaza.  Do you think on the part of this Israeli–of the Israelis this was offensive or defensive?

SEN. REID: I spoke to Prime Minister Olmert a couple of days ago.  He indicated that they would do the ground activities.  Let’s understand the background.  For eight years they’ve been firing rockets into Israel.  They’ve become more intense the last few months.  Israelis have been killed, maimed and injured.  Sometimes more than 200 a day coming into Israel.  If this were going on in the United States from Vancouver, Canada, into Seattle, would we react?  Course we do.  We would have to.  I think what the Israelis are doing is very important.  I think this terrorist organization, Hamas, has got to be put away.  They’ve got to come to their senses.  The Fatah group, which is–makes up part of Palestinian group, has a peace arrangement with Israel. Hamas should do the same.

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Video: Hairy Reid’s Taint

Sen. Harry Reid on Meet the Press

Still Says Burris Appt Tainted

Maybe Super Prosecutor Fitzgerald Screwed Up

Lots of hand-wringing going on today about whether or not Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s senate appointment has “standing” or whether the Illinois Secretary of State or Senate Majority Leader will derail the appointment.

The only dispassionate view to be heard was former Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson on NPR’s All Things Considered.  He points out that the Governor is still governor, he’s not been impeached and Illinois law states that he has the authority and duty to make the appointment.  Thompson also points out that the Secretary of State’s duty to certify the governor’s appointment is only administrative under law – Jesse White, the official in question, doesn’t have discretionary authority.  He’s just a pass through.  Finally, Thompson – who is an attorney – said that the U.S. Supreme Court decided decades ago that senators may only contest the seating of a new senator under questions of age, citizenship or residency.  Any attorneys or jailhouse lawyers out there can comment.

Thompson also made another point.  This January will see the 111th Congress considering legislation of greater than usual importance.  The country is in two wars and a recession.  The financial system is still in intensive care and what’s left of our manufacturing sector is a ship dead in the water.  Illinois deserves its full complement in Congress.

Unfortunately, the only way to get there is for the governor of Illinois to make the appointment.

This all got me thinking about what’s made Blago a household name outside of Oak Park and Evansville.  Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has been investigating the governor by some accounts since 2003.  Fitzgerald gets some juicy stuff on tape and makes the arrest, holds the press conference.  My question is, did Fitzgerald move too soon?

There’s a lot of unnecessary drama unfolding in Springfield and Chicago if the Illinois governor tried to sell a senate seat.  Or, does the Illinois governor just have a big, foul mouth?  Should Fitzgerald have waited for a deal to be made?  If this was a better movie, the good guys would’ve had the money exchange hands on tape and then G-Men would’ve burst through doors and swung in through the windows on ropes.

But, instead, we’ve got f-bombs on tape and one big-mouth, preening politician being himself – a douche bag.  If there was more to Fitzgerald’s case, perhaps the governor would’ve resigned by now or there would be more for the Illinois legislature to work with in impeachment proceedings.

If what they say about Roland Burris is true – that he’s an upstanding public servant not tainted by Chicago’s political cesspool – perhaps the wise thing to do is let the man take his seat unencumbered in the Senate.  Just forget that Captain Hairbrush appointed him, put it out of your mind.  The people of Illinois do deserve both of their votes in the Senate, don’t they?

Transcript: Rod Blagojevich appoints Roland Burris to U.S. Senate | With Bobby Rush | December 30, 2008

(Source: CNN)

GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH (D), ILLINOIS: Thank you very much.

Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. Happy new year. Feliz navidad y prospero ano nuevo.

The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington, D.C.

As governor, I am required to make this appointment. If I don’t make this appointment, then the people of Illinois will be deprived of their appropriate voice and vote in the United States Senate.

Therefore, I am here to announce my intention to appoint an individual who has unquestioned integrity, extensive experience, and is a wise and distinguished senior statesman of Illinois. This man actually once was an opponent of mine for governor.

(LAUGHTER)

So I’m here today to announce that I am appointing Roland Burris as the next United States senator from the Illinois.

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Video: Meet the Press | December 28 | Livni, Axelrod & Predictions from Panel

Transcript: David Axelrod on ‘Meet the Press’ | December 28, 2008

(Source: NBC’s Meet the Press)

MR. GREGORY:  And turning back home, we are now joined from Chicago by senior adviser to President-elect Obama, David Axelrod.  Welcome back to MEET THE PRESS.

MR. DAVID AXELROD:  Thanks, David.  Good to be here.

MR. GREGORY:  What is the president-elect’s position on this offensive against Gaza by Israel?

MR. AXELROD:  Well, obviously, it’s a very serious situation.  He spent some time on the phone with Secretary Rice yesterday, and he is monitoring the situation.  But we’ve said repeatedly through this transition period that we–there’s only one president at a time, and President Bush speaks for the United States of America until January 20th, and we’re going to honor that moving forward.

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Obama Transition Team Investigates Themselves: Surprise! Everything’s Cool

• Obama Report: No improper contact with Governor – New York Times
• Obama team releases report on Blago contacts – Washington Post
• Obama review clears staff - Reuters

Full Text: Obama Transition Office Report on Contacts with Blagojevich

Click Here for PDF of the Obama Transition Team’s Report

Marc Dann – Our Own Little Slice of Blagojevich

What more can be said about Marc Dann that hasn’t already crossed someone’s lips or  illuminated some pixels on a screen or stained black a piece of newsprint?

Well, they can’t call him a douche bag in the newspaper, but I’m sure someone has in the Ohio blogosphere.  You gotta love the blogs – we can say how we really feel.

I heard someone on Cap Square utter “fucktard” in reference to Dann.  I was going to pull that one out myself tonight to try to say something that hadn’t already been said, but someone said it – I heard ‘em.

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Text: Rod Blagojevich Statement to the Media | December 19

(Source: Chicago Tribune)

“Thank you very much. I’m here to tell you right off the bat that I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing, that I intend to stay on the job and I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight. Until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong.   “And I’m not going to quit a job the people hired me to do, because of false accusations and a political lynch mob. Now that’s what I’m going to do. Let me tell you what I’m not going to do. I’m not going to do what my accusers and political enemies have been doing. And that is talk about this case in 30 second sound bites on ‘Meet the Press’ or on the TV news. Now I’m dying to answer these charges, I am dying to show you how innocent I am. And I want to assure everyone who is here and everyone who’s listening that I intend to answer every allegation that comes my way. However, I intend to answer them in the appropriate forum, in a court of law, and when I do, I am absolutely certain that I will be vindicated.

“Rudyard Kipling wrote, if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, and make allowance for their doubting too, if you can wait, and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, or being hated, don’t give way to hating. Now I know there are some powerful forces arrayed against me. It’s kind of lonely right now. But I have on my side the most powerful ally there is, and it’s the truth. And besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong. To the people of Illinois, I ask that they wait and be patient. Sit back and take a deep breath. And please reserve judgment. Afford me the same rights that you and your children have. The presumption of innocence. The right to defend yourself. The right to your day in court. The same rights that you would expect for yourselves.

“And one last thing. To all of those, to those of you who have expressed your support of Patti and me during this difficult time, I’d like to thank you for your thoughts, I’d like to thank you for your prayers and I’d like to thank you for your good  wishes. Patti and I cannot express to you how grateful we are for your kindness. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.”

Tell Your Quirky Politician Stories!

One of these Paul Mitchell hairbrushes is a favorite of Blago

Blago Calls His Hairbrush “The Football” – Aides Know It Should Always Be Close

This paragraph from a New York Times story this afternoon is priceless:

And yet, Mr. Blagojevich, 52, rarely turns up for work at his official state office in Chicago, former employees say, is unapologetically late to almost everything, and can treat employees with disdain, cursing and erupting in fury for failings as mundane as neglecting to have at hand at all times his preferred black Paul Mitchell hairbrush. He calls the brush “the football,” an allusion to the “nuclear football,” or the bomb codes never to be out of reach of a president.

My question is, do you know a politician with a hair trigger?  Do you have a good story about a particular pol’s self-important silliness?  We want to hear!  Use the comments section of this post …

What Did Rahm Emanuel Get Caught Saying on Tapes? Probably Nothing.

News reports this morning are saying that President-Elect Barack Obama’s chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel’s voice was captured during wire taps of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Surprise, surprise.

The speculation in the media will begin about what Emanuel said to Blagojevich or his staff, and it may border on hysterics.  Ultimately, I don’t think they’ll find Emanuel did anything wrong. Read more

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