Radio Rod a success!

March 25, 2009

Radio Rod did great. He was meant to talk - no matter where. He made sure Elvis was the lead in music.

"Good morning, this is former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and how are you?

Part 1

He starts right off with Pat Quinn raising taxes and exhorts listeners to call theor lawmakers to oppose it.

And there was the obligatory hair joke.

JOSH WEISS (Producer): Are those headphones gonna mess up you hair?

ROD: I brought my brush - I can comb it as soon as we take a break--

WENDY SNYDER: The football's here? I'm very excited.

ROD: You are, uh?

WEISS: But now you don't have anyone to carry it.

ROD: I'm not governor anymore - it's a smaller brush.

He took some calls and then spoke with Ann Compton in Washington about barry's press conference. Praise all around.

Part 2

Talked with DL Hughley, who called in from LA. They hit it off when blago was doing his media blitz and ended up swearing "I f**ked it up" on camera. It was hysterical. Here.

They talked about barry and of course blago went off on his accomplishments - healthcare for every child in Illinois, which he should be congratulated on. (Same with the Autism Bill after he was arrested.) First state in the US. He's done something barry just chats about.

Then he talked with Jay Mariotti about the Cubs and the possibility of the Cubbies moving to Sarasota. That will not go over very well, as folks moved out there in part to go to Spring Training and they already sell out HoHoKam Park. And what would Ronnie do? That would be the final blow.

He quotes "The Boys of Summer" and then brags about how well the Cubs and Sox did when he was still governor. One place he is most definitely not welcome is with Pat and Ron. Ranks right up there with Digger Phelps and Bruce Jenner.

Part 3

He started right off talking about how he was highjacked and how he didn't get to provide a defense! Quinn had a backroom deal with Michael Madigan and Cullerton and a sham impeachment process to get rid of him so they could raise the taxes!

He started ranting about Springfield like he was never there. Then he listed people who are getting double pay as part time lawmakers and have full time jobs in government and exhorts listeners to call their lawmakers to stop raising taxes. That it will only take those 17 "double dippers" to vote against it the tax increases.

Caller thanks him for what he has accomplished and she says he will be vindicated. "Your the best thing that happened to Illinois."

Then he talked with comes the guys from "Rod Blagojevich Superstar". Joey Bland plays Rod and Mike Bradecich plays Dick Mell and Patrick Fitzgerald. Rod tells Joey he's a "I gotta tell ya Joe, I think you're a very handsome young man". He really is a good sport.

Part 4

"Insights from the insides" Reads off the double dippers. And then rants about barry's regular folks.

DON WADE sent an email:

Governor Rod, this could be the most interesting 2 hours in Chicago radio history - almost enough to make me wish we weren't on vacation so we could be there. Almost. Don Wade and Roma, too.

Radio Blago makes debut tomorrow on Don Wade & Roma

March 24, 2009

(2-25) Radio Rod a success!

He's back and sure to blast new Gov Pat Quinn for raising the taxes. Blago will be filling in for Don Wade & Roma, on 3-25 from 7-9am CST on WLS 890-AM. They've had Blago on many times over the years. Blago gave his first post-impeachment interview to them, which kicked off his I wasn't given a chance media blitz. WLS had originally offered him a 2 hour Sunday slot if he would have resigned.

It will be interesting how they screen his calls. He is actually very entertaining on the radio - he's entertaining period.

The complication now is with the Olympic Committee coming to inspect Chicago for consideration for the 2016 games. Blago is set to be indicted on April 7th - his emergency 6 am handcuffed staged for the media arrest resulted in a three month extension to get barry in office and find some actual evidence - four months total. We don't have a chance in hell - though the largest US Arab-American population on the southwest side of Chicago makes a terrorist attack unlikely. The Bridgeview Mosque is where al-Qaeda and Hamas originated.

How many of you know this? How many of you know barry has contributors with connections there through the one and only Tony Rezko? How many of you know that Osama bin Laden's man was there recruiting in the 80's?

Why did Fitzgerald arrest Blago before they had the deal go down?

Answer: barry's people were directly involved including, and most notably, his campaign co-chair and Senate candidate #5, Jesse Jackson Jr.

They have been investigating Blago for years and right when he is about to commit an undeniable felony - they prematurely arrest him?

Press release from Blago's publicist, Glenn Selig:

He's done dozens of interviews since being thrust into the national spotlight--and countless more during his political days. Now, for the first time, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will ask the questions when he takes over as guest host on a top Chicago-area radio station, the PR firm that represents the former governor confirmed today.

Blagojevich will fill in Wednesday morning for the vacationing Don Wade and Roma - "the dynamic duo" on WLS 890 AM.

"He's excited about hosting," says Glenn Selig, Blagojevich's publicist and founder of The Publicity Agency. "He's ready for the challenge and promises to be a fair interviewer. He'll also be tough when he needs to be. He's a talented communicator."

"Broadcasters and the public were witness to his talent when he went national to tell his side of the story," says Selig. "He thinks fast on his feet, is energenic [sic] and knows how to speak about complicated subjects so that anyone can understand what he's saying."

Blagojevich is in the midst of writing a highly anticipated book due out in October. The former governor received a six figure advance.

Blagojevich was a guest on the "Don Wade and Roma" show March 17.

Guests for Blagojevich's fill-in show will be announced later today, Selig says.

Still don't know the guests.

Blagojevich: See…I told you so

March 17, 2009

New governor Pat Quinn is set to raise taxes tomorrow…just like impeached governor Rod Blagojevich said he would. Blago’s press release from PR NEWS CHANNEL:

BLAGOJEVICH: This is exactly what I said was going to happen. It is unconscionable that the new governor, Pat Quinn, wants to raise the income tax by 50% especially at a time when people are hurting and the economy is in shambles.

When Pat Quinn and I ran as a ticket we promised the people not to raise their income taxes. For six years I kept that promise. It took him less than six weeks to break it.

Gov Quinn to Sen Burris: Resign

February 20, 2009

Governor Pat Quinn had a press conference (video) to politely request Senator Burris resign from barry’s senate seat. He said he has known Burris for 37 years and yet he hasn’t spoken to him personally. He went public. Friend? He initially said about the situation: “the more sunshine, the better.”

QUINN statements and paraphrases:

“I would ask my good friend Sen. Roland Burris…to step aside and resign from the office.”

He said he wished Burris had not taken the appointment and that it was a “big, big mistake” and that to “accept the appointment was not a wise decision” and that he “thinks Burris will do the right thing and resign.”

“There’s just too much of a cloud of controversy over the appointment process”

“At no time should our state go without full and fair representation in the United States Senate”

I know it is very hard for any human being to resign from anything but we have to focus on the common good of the people of Illinois.

If the office holder is harming the people it’s time to step aside.

Hopefully resolved within a week.

He wants a special election held - something Blagojevich agreed to but the folks who impeached him said no. Had they none of this would be happening. Wouldn’t even be a problem. But they didn’t want to risk losing the seat and Pat Quinn wanted the power to name the replacement. And yet they go on complaining and blaming blago and Burris.

Just the way folks seem to forget that Congress’ ratings were lower than Bush’s and they are just as much to blame for the economic crisis.

He also made sure to put the blame on Harry Reid who can then blame barry and barry can say it’s a senate decision.

So who is Quinn going to appoint?

He said he wouldn’t appoint someone until the law passed. And he would appoint someone who would not run for election - something Burris never committed to.

5 days after opening writ of election that in 115 days people can vote.

72 days primary

6 weeks special general election

Provision to allow the governor to appoint temporary replacement.

Saw Micheal Madigan at dinner but hadn’t spoken to Sen Cullerton.

2-19 Jason Erkes, Temporary Spokesman quits
2-20 Darrell Thompson, Interim Chief of Staff quits
2-20 Gov Pat Quinn asks Burris to resign - in public - without first talking to his “friend of 37 years”.
2-23 Bud Jackson, Former advisor severs ties

Burris: Spokeman Jason Erkes quits

February 19, 2009

Senator Burris Temporary Spokesman Jason Erkes quits. They have to save their own business I guess. One hopes thyey had the decency to notify Mr Burris first.

ERKES: I initially began helping the senator on a temporary basis because he is a long-term friend who I served several years when he was [Illinois] attorney general. It is now time for me to get back to focusing on ... my newly formed strategic communications business.

Source: CNN

2-19 Jason Erkes, Temporary Spokesman quits
2-20 Darrell Thompson, Interim Chief of Staff quits
2-20 Gov Pat Quinn asks Burris to resign - in public - without first talking to his "friend of 37 years".
2-23 Bud Jackson, Former advisor severs ties

Sen Burris' Interim Chief of Staff Darrell Thompson quits

February 20, 2009

Darrell Thompson, Sen Burris' Senate Interim Chief of Staff quit. It's not like he had any choice - he was on loan from Harry Reid.

THOMPSON: Three weeks ago I was temporarily detailed to serve as Chief of Staff to Senator Roland W. Burris. Though my tenure was relatively brief, I enjoyed and valued my time with Senator Burris, his entire staff and his other advisors.

As of today, my role as Interim Chief of Staff to Senator Burris will end. I will resume, in full, my duties as Senior Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Source: Lynn Sweet

2-19 Jason Erkes, Temporary Spokesman quits
2-20 Darrell Thompson, Interim Chief of Staff quits
2-20 Gov Pat Quinn asks Burris to resign - in public - without first talking to his "friend of 37 years".
2-23 Bud Jackson, Former advisor severs ties

Burris: Former Advisor, Bud Jackson severs ties

February 23, 2009

Another ship jumper - this time it's Senator Burris' former advisor, Bud Jackson, who had helped him get the appointment in the first place. Even though Jackson is making clear he has nothing more to do with him - and hasn't had anything to do with his recent talking and then listening tour - he stands behind him.

JACKSON: I know that he has done nothing inappropriate despite the impression that has been left.

Turns out that, because my business is political communication, I need to let folks know that I have not been involved in the decisions that have led to the public relations fiasco over the past week. In fact, I actively counseled his team to take very different actions, to no avail.

Source: CNN

He didn't do anything inappropriate - but he lied about the fact that he was approached however innocently. I must say that his behavior - although par for the course - irks me. I was behind him 100%.

2-19 Jason Erkes, Temporary Spokesman quits
2-20 Darrell Thompson, Interim Chief of Staff quits
2-20 Gov Pat Quinn asks Burris to resign - in public - without first talking to his "friend of 37 years".
2-23 Bud Jackson, Former advisor severs ties