Any bets? Any minute now he'll be addressing the Senate. Also, what kind of poetry will he recite? Any Shakespeare? Will he compare himself to Mother Teresa?
I would really like for him to get upset and start throwing papers and knock over the podium, but I have a feeling he'll give some BS speech about how he did nothing wrong and everyone is out to get him. Then he'll get impeached and the world will be a better place, for a little while anyways.
That's pretty much what he's doing right now. Everything he did, he did for the kids. For the working single woman. For people with funny last names. "Imagine how you would feel." "I'm not going to resign because I did nothing wrong!"
I think there are some thinly veiled threats in his speech too. "I'd like to play all the tapes, with all the players on them." "I'd like to call all the witnesses." I think there are a bunch of politicians that worry about being called to discuss their dealings with him. I think Daley was threatening Blago when Daley said. "You should think about your family, your loved ones. Think real hard about what you do and say next. Do what's right for your family." Sounds like a 'keep your mouth shut' warning from the Don to me.
Just about what I expected. Christine, you nailed it right on the head. Tell the senators to think about if they were in the same situation, to sum up, many of the politicians who will be impeaching him later this afternoon could be guilty of the SAME.....the very SAME things Blago's head on the chopping block for. Doesn't make it any less wrong, but tug on their emotions and tell them to watch their next step. It's politics, with human hearts, their own desires, and motives often trumping what is right or just. To a certain degree, politics will be crooked, power will be abused in some way, shape, or form.
Illinois has a big redeeming quality. You can travel just about anywhere and enjoy it more than home. Even like Ohio or Iowa.
I agree with you on the final two points, but you bought into what he wanted to portray to America on your first point. He could easily have defended himself and called witnesses. He chose not to. Since there is no REAL rules to these impeachment proceedings, he was citing things that weren't really truthful when on his East Coast Media Blitzkrieg. From what I have heard from news outlets here in Chicago, and they were citing senators, he could have defended himself and called witnesses. He simply chose not to be present during the impeachment trial and therefore, it was consequently his fault.
I would like to see him snap and be escorted to a nuthouse in a straight-jacket but i don't think that's going to happen. He will deny his guilt all the way out of the courthouse and will be forever a curse word in Illinois. I sure as heck hope we can get a good Governor after Blago... we haven't really had a good governor since Jim Edgar. GMMAT, he did have the opportunity to defend himself and get witnesses and whatnot, but look what he did. He elected to go on a media rampage to try and state how wrong everything was when he could have actually been at his trial trying to help himself out. The man is an idiot, and Illinois will have a long road ahead of them to recover from all the harm he caused.
Also should be stated that this was NOT a judicial trial, this was a political hearing. No different than getting an ass chewing at work. Its the federal corruption charges that will put him in the butt hutt.
I love this guy. He's the most intriguing person on the planet. He knows he's done more wrong than right.. but see's himself as a saint compared to the other Illinois politicians.. and frankly he's right! The ones who are getting away with more.. we're not even looking at yet. I agree 100% with you Christine.. that this man knows all of Illinois' inner most secrets. From mayor Daley.. to Obama.. this guy knows if he is going down.. he might just take a few with. But one thing you may have over-looked Chris.. is Daley's mob influences.. which may just help "persuade" Mr. Blago to stop talking. They should make a movie out of this stuff.:d Where does America find these people?
No, I'm with you Mike, I think Daley is the Don. That's why I think Daley was sending him a warning. Blago was a bookie for the mob (seriously) and moved up to Governor but he's not the Capo di tutti capi. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Blago ended up at the bottom of Lake Michigan if he starts to sing. GMMAT, Blago could have called some witnesses but he refused to cooperate and boycotted the proceedings until today.
Jeff, from what I have heard rumbling through news reports around here in IL is that the governor could have been present at the proceedings and he chose to not be present. He made closing statements today, by his choice, and most of the tribunal presiding over the trial would have been happy to have him present throughout the trial. In fact, many stated it was distasteful that the governor chose to go on his media blitz spewing lies about notions of what were "his rights" permitted during the trial instead of being present. Simply put, the man showed up to make closing arguments for his side of the case. What limited him to being present during the proceedings and being cross examined and to answer questions placed before him by his colleagues? Taken from the link listed below: * But the governor twisted facts or exaggerated to support his version of events. He has repeatedly said he wouldn't be allowed to call witnesses in the Senate trial, but that's not correct. Trial rules prohibit witnesses that federal prosecutors feel would interfere with their criminal case, but Blagojevich could have called other people. He has specifically mentioned wanting to call governors and senators to testify about all the good he's done. Nothing in Senate rules would have barred those witnesses. Blagojevich never asked to have them testify. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/22/blagojevich-compares-arrest-attack-pearl-harbor/
You have to remember this isn't a trial. This amounts to firing an employee who's employer is the people of the state of Illinois. VI. The Injury to the People of the State of Illinois As discussed in Section III of this Report, the purpose of impeachment is not to punish the of?ceholder. The purpose is to protect the citizens from the abuses of an of?cial. The Constitution rests the impeachment power in the people‘s representatives, the members ofthe General Assembly, who are best suited to protect the interests of their constituents. Blago had a long history of abusing his power here. It's why our government has stalled and nobody is coming to his defense. Several congressmen and senators have tried to get him recalled or impeached in the past however, the Chicago Dems blocked it. Blago's retailiation was swift and far reaching. He closed a prison in the home town of the senator who spearheaded the effort. (hundreds of jobs lost) He closed parks and historic sites in the districs of the opposing senators and congressmen. This is the way he did business here. He totally was not fit to hold the office. 59-0 is the vote. It's unanimous. No more Gov. Blago.
