January 23, 2009
Governor Blagojevich is out defending himself now that he can't screw up barry's big day. He likes the attention - no matter the nature of it. During his introduction of Roland Burris as barry's senate replacement, he said "I've enjoyed the limelight". The blago bouffant tops a strange affect which covers a clever brain. His appointment got sworn in, didn't he? That was more than a taped eff you. It was an eff you that will go down as one of the best in Illinois political history. Wonder why they want to get him out of there? Not a single politician saw that coming - least of all barry. The Boss, Daley Sr is probably still chuckling even though his son thinks blago's cuckoo.
He was on WLS AM radio in Chicago this morning - the station that offered him his own show if he resigned. He gave his first interview since his arrest and impeachment - 40 or so minutes of pressured speech with occasional grandiosity and fun (his mental state) mixed with clear sadness when he talked about his friends and allies abandoning him. No poetry or quotes, but he mentioned Pearl Harbor and Frank Capra movies and said sincerely about his fellow politician "Barack Obama will make a great president."
He has been attacked and convicted before he has even been charged with anything, even though he has an allegedly questionable past. And he's done some good work even after he was arrested: 22 pardons, passing the Autism Bill and, of course, appointing Senator Burris, who has his own funny way of speaking and an unusual final resting place.
Where is blago going to get a fair trial? Amish country?
WLS-AM Don Wade & Roma Show
In studio pix
Part 1
He knows them well and has been interviewed by them before. Blago wants his 6th Amendment constitutionally-guaranteed right to bring in witnesses in including: Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett, Jesse Jackson, Jr, Govs Doyle and , Sens Kennedy and McCain.
Just let me bring my witnesses in to show people and to have them under oath testify before the Senate that I have not done anything wrong and I've done most things right.
If they let him, blago will show up on Monday for the trial. But that they can't prove he did anything because the US attorney won't let them and he can't bring any witnesses in refute the evidence. Listen to the change in cadence.
I've done nothing wrong. I'm not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing. I'll have my day in court. I look forward to that day, where I'll have a chance to clear my name, prove my innocence, and vindicate myself....I can't talk about the specifics of some of the things that I'm-that have been alleged. That would be inappropriate. But I will say that when the whole truth comes out, uhm, I think you'll see that, uh, what I did and what I was doing and, all the rest, was in the best interest of the people. And it was, uh it-it-it was of course, uh, part of a political process that-that uhm is not that inconsistent with uh, uh the way the process works.
He says what he was doing was for the best of the people and that it's just a plot to raise taxes! Good tactic because they are going up no matter what. But if he's out of office he can say, See?
They want to get me out fast so they could put a huge income-tax increase on the people of Illinois. It's either going be a 66 percent income-tax increase or a 33 percent income-tax increase. And, they want to raise the sales tax on gas...They know I'm against those things, and I veto them. If I'm out of the way, they can quietly push this through.
Other selected quotes:
If I had a radio show, like you, I'd be able to talk about some of the real things that happen in government, and how the people get screwed.
Mark my words: If I am removed from office, you're going to see a huge income tax increase and a sales tax increase.
...prove my innocence and show that I did things right.
Then there's an audio clip of Asst Majority Leader Ricky Hendon (whose legislation on mandatory police interrogation videotape Emil Jones gave to barry) using a metaphor about Texas justice, a guy, a jail cell, hammering, gallows and checking the rope.
The fix is in. They've even put a date where the trial is going to end. How can you do that if you're going to be fair?
...They've decided, again, make it quick, make it fast, pretend like, to the best of your ability, there's some fairness to it...And then, Pat Quinn's the governor, and they start raising taxes on you guys. That's what's going to happen.
DON: What do you think of Jesse Jackson, Jr?
I like Jesse Jackson, Jr.
ROMA: Ok, what about John Wyman?...Do you fell betrayed by the people, by friends--people that you considered friends?
Without going into details or specifics, this, uh, experience is, uhm, it's uh, it's, you know, an experience in the human condition in a highly-pressurized environment with big stakes involved. And, uh, you know I'm a grown up. And I've, chosen to be in this profession. And I've read enough history to know how these things can happen.
But, uh, there's uh, there's several elements to an experience like this that's painful, and very unfortunate, and sad. And, the silence of some of your friends, uh, the silence of political allies, who, the day before all of this came down--which what we call our personal Pearl Harbor day--uhm, were just in your office asking for things, and, you know, enjoying the benefits of what the governor can do for them. And then, you know, these things happen. And uh, of course I-I-I'm deeply hurt by some friends who perhaps may have done some things.
Roma talks about how his fellow politicians have treated him like a pariah and questioned his mental state and then she asks: "How's your mental state?"
I feel my mental state's, uh, where it's always been. You can judge whether thats a good place or bad place. (Laughs goodnaturedly.)
He then talks about suffering people in the Bible and truth, Harry Reid, Dick Durbin and the senate seat. And then he drops a bomb about other political leaders making a deal for the seat once Pat Quinn became governor. Pregnant pause.
Part 2: Danny Davis, wiretap, apologizes for profanity, why doesn't he just testify in impeachment trial, The View instead of testifying, rant about what a new governor will do, Samuel Adam lawsuit, fundraising policy, recounts his accomplishments as governor, what would have done differently (taken a 2 month vacation), will he still be governor in 2 week (sounds like he is going to resign), his immigrant parents, politicians.
Part 3: Why people are leaving Illinois, Todd Stroger's sales tax increase, back to the taxes and special interest groups, rush to judgment, kangaroo court, pronouncing his name, his name becoming a verb, he didn't see SNL, his fighting on is not defiance - it's an act of innocence, he mentions his daughter and his reputation, Richard Nixon, FDR, Lincoln, Truman, Reagan (voted for him twice - great leader), Clinton (toughness and concern for people), Obama, thinks himself as more a Teddy Roosevelt (I think he quoted somebody), he was a boxer (might explain the affect) because he read about Teddy, back to it "not being about him", will he call Sen Cullerton, doing something later today (press conference).
Final selected quotes:
If I did something wrong, I would've resigned - that would've been my responsibility to the people. But I didn't.
It isn't defiant, I don't believe, to stand up for what the truth is and what's right.
I did nothing wrong, except fight for the people.
I think Barack Obama's going to turn out to be a great president. (Said sincerely.)
DON WADE: There will only one Rod Blagojevich. You are one of a kind, and you're special.
I appreciate that.
Roma says he's welcome to come back next back during the impeachment proceedings and take calls.
I might take you up on that.
His final statement:
I equate my story here - and when all the facts come out, and the final chapter of this is written - this is a 21st Century Frank Capra movie...how the good guy was up against the establishment, and yet they tried to made him look like he violated the rules, but he stood firm for the people...that's what this story is. The only difference is some of the language in some of the those calls the people were listening to you wouldn't hear in a movie the 1930's.
One of a kind is right.
More scheduled blago appearances: Press conference 2pm at Thompson Center and an interview on WVON-AM. And The View on Monday...? He needs cash bad since his wife got fired.
