Quote of the Day

"It's such a cynical business, and most of the people in the business are full of shit and phonies, but I was real, man -- and am real. This guy, he was catapulted in on hope and change, what we hope the guy is. What the fuck? Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter. I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up."

Rod Blagojevich, bragging about his (imaginary) superior blackness

My favorite Blagojevich moment is him introducing a Fabio impersonator and singing an Elvis song.

The Question Charlie Crist Won't Answer

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich claimed he held himself to a higher ethically standard than Gov. Charlie Crist, with his Senate appointment of Roland Burris.

"I could have named my wife if I wanted to. Look at what Gov. Crist did in Florida — he put his chief of staff in there to hold the seat warm for him so he could run for the U.S. Senate. I didn’t do any of those things."

The Governor's press corp asked Crist of asked about Blagojevich's criticism. The look on Crist's face is priceless.

Quote of the Day

"I could have named my wife if I wanted to. Look at what Gov. Crist did in Florida — he put his chief of staff in there to hold the seat warm for him so he could run for the U.S. Senate. I didn’t do any of those things."

Rod Blagojevich, on Fox News.

Ouch. It is bad when Crist get dissed by an indicted Blagojevich.

Weird Video of the Day

Disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich does a very bad Elvis Presley impersonation. Politics isn't about accountablity, serious discussions about policy or moral principles. Politics solely exist to be a merger of reality television and surreal screaming matches. Which explains why Blagojevich is onstage with Fabio.

Fabio can not believe margarine is not butter. Why can't you not believe politicians are suppose to sing Elvis songs and say whatever they please? Words don't have to equate to reality, if there is no reality.

The Heart of Blagojevich Darkness

David Letterman and former governor Rod Blagojevich had this weird exchange.

Letterman: "Why exactly are you here? Honest to God..."

Blagojevich: "Well, you know, I've been wanting to be on your show in the worst way for the longest..."

Letterman: "Well, you're on in the worst way."

Bye Bye Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office.

In a historic Illinois Senate vote, former Illinois Gov. Blagojevich was removed from office with 59 votes against 0.

Blagojevich delivered his own closing remarks. He used the time to play the martyr.

But how can you throw a governor out of office on a criminal complaint, and you haven't been able to show or prove any criminal activity? How can you throw a governor, elected twice by the people, out of office when the rules don't even require that you prove up elements of criminal allegations?


And more than that, how can you throw a governor out of office who is clamoring and begging and pleading with you to give him a chance to bring witnesses in to prove his innocence, to do more than just ask for a presumption of innocence? Don't even give me that. Let me make my case, let me bring my witnesses in, let me show you that I'm innocent and I didn't do anything wrong.

The most appalling part was Blagojevich portraying himself as a champion for low-income people. "Now, how is it an impeachable offense to protect low-income parents from losing their health care?" Blagojevich asked. "How is it an impeachable offense to keep those families in a position to be able to see their doctors?"

It is impeachable to do Quid pro quo shakedowns for Barack Obama's seat.

It is impeachable to run a gambling operation for organized crime.

It is impeachable to ask a horse-racing track owner for campaign contributions, in return for a bill signing.

It is impeachable for Blagojevich to extort the Tribune Company, in an attempt to fire editorial writers.

Blagojevich is many things. A champion for the common man is not one of them.

Update: Pat Quinn is officially Governor.

Gov. Jesus Christ Pose

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's defense attorney Edward Genson has resigned.

"I never require a client to do what I say, but I do require them to at least listen," Edward Genson said. "I intend to withdraw as counsel in this case."

Genson told AP Blagojevich is not informing him on his legal actions. Genson still has to finalize the official paperwork with the court, to make his withdrawal official. According to Blagojevich, he did not know his own lawyer was dropping him.

Blagojevich is becoming increasingly delusional. Blagojevich compared his legal woes to Pearl Harbor and his personal suffering to the sacrifices made by Martin Luther King Gandhi. Blagojevich believes he is a martyr.

Nixon could not face the truth of the tapes. The wiretap conversations will force Blagojevich back to reality. Blagojevich can live in denial until his trial. The Governor will sit in front of a grand jury and listen to profanity-laced discussions about money shakedowns. The grand jury will not see the second coming of Gandhi or MLK.

Quote of the Day

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"I thought about Mandela, Dr. King and Gandhi and tried to put some perspective to all this and that is what I am doing now."

Rod Blagojevich, putting perspective on his indictment and impeachment.

Quote of the Day

"Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States. It was a complete surprise, completely unexpected. And just like the United States prevailed in that, we'll prevail in this."

Rod Blagojevich, showing his fighting spiriting by ducking his impeachment trial.

Write A Caption: Rod Blagojevich Edition

Words fail me.

Hat tip to Gina.

Rod Blagojevich Impeached

The Illinois House voted to impeach Rod Blagojevich. The Illinois legislature will put Blagojevich on trial.

Blagojevich told the media he has been impeached because he wants to provide better health care to Illinois residents.

So the House's action today and the causes of the impeachment are because I've done things to fight for families who are with me here today. And I'm going to talk about some of the examples that I'd like you -- to share with all of you, and some of the counts that the House is actually choosing to impeach me on.

For example, the I Save Prescription Drug Program is among the things the House said I should be removed from office for.

The reason Blagojevich was impeached was because of a federal indictment. Blagojevich attempted to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. That has nothing to do with the I Save Prescription Drug Program

Rod Blagojevich Jumps the Couch

The Rod blagojevich has delved into self-parody.

Illinois Gov. Blagojevich accuses House of impeaching him because of his initiatives to help families; says he did nothing wrong.

I don't even need to write a punchline.

Impeachment Is On

I just got word that Rod Blagojevich will be impeached Friday. Earlier in the day, a New York Times article outlined how impeach would happen. The only major question left is if the infamous tapes will be heard.

“The tapes would be helpful but not necessary,” said Representative Louis Lang, a Democratic committee member.

Blagojevich is done. The Illinois legislature doesn't have a reason to keep him around.

Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Candidate 5

"I've done nothing wrong."

Jesse Jackson Jr.

The Associated Press and Politico both confirmed that Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is the infamous Senate Candidate 5. A lawyer for Jackson confirmed media speculation.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevish reportedly asked Jackson to raise $500,000 in exchange for President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. Blagojevish was recorded as describing his conversation a "pay-to-play" deal.

Jackson's attorney's held a press conference. Patrick Fitzgerald's office informed Jackson that he was a target before Blogojevish's arrest.

The Rod Blagojevich Numbers Game

It is no secret that Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrest for attempting to sell Barack Obama's seat for the highest bidder. The potential buyers were list by number. Adam Serwer has a break down of who these people might be. I follow Florida politics. Illinois is not my beat. I'm not going to venture to guess.

Update: the New York Times has a profile on U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzerald.

Word Is Obama Asked Rahm Emanuel to Be His Chief of Staff

The AP reports Barack Obama approached Rahm Emanuel about being his Chief of Staff. Marc Ambinder doesn't see it happening.

Emanuel has been a regular behind-the-scenes adviser to Obama, knows everyone in Washington, is one of the better communicators in the party, and certainly is qualified for the post. But he's ... got a very strong personality that doesn't exactly jibe with the tone Obama likes to set for his endeavors. (David Plouffe and Rahm Emanuel could not be more different in temperament.) He also has a young family, and he has not moved them to Washington, and his hours as chief of staff would be hellish.

I don't see it happening because Nancy Pelosi is pushing to have Emanuel fill Obama's Senate seat. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been lobbying to fill the vacancy. Emanuel has more political capital within the party to make Governor Rod Blagojevich appoint him. Emanuel is fairly young and his star is rising. Chief of Staff would be a career dead end.