Blah blah blah says Blago
As you probably know, Illinois governor Blagojevich made a speech yesterday in which he conceded nothing and stated his intention to fight “until I take my last breath.”
He also quoted that useful old chestnut, Kipling’s “If.” He says the forces arrayed against him are a “lynch mob,” even though it seems Blagojevich himself handed them the rope, as well as the scaffold from which he could be hung.
How is it that he can continue to proclaim his innocence with a straight face? Well, it’s true that, because the sting ended early, he never actually was able to sell Obama’s seat to the highest bidder.
Never underestimate the power of denial, egotism, and narcissism, as well. And, in a rare but interesting career path for a politician, it turns out the Blogajevich is also a former boxer. Well, the fighter still remains.
Claudia Rosett has the official version of If over at PJM.
Don’t know if he won or lost many in the ring, but the hair stayed in place!
I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed Simon and Garfunkel.
Never saw them live, though I had opportunities. I was a dead head in those days.
I am somewhat mystified as to why the whole thing wasn’t left to play itself out before the cops moved in. I have the suspicion that it was because some very big fish were about to swim into the net – and there are those higher up who wanted to avoid that at any cost. When you get to that level it is rarely about what is right and wrong but rather about power. In my honest opinion unless they have a lot more than they’ve already released I think they are going to have a hard time convicting him of anything more than a severe case of potty mouth and the punishment for that it “The Ralphie” (the piquant flavor of Lifebuoy)
Innocent until proven guilty. Indictment does not mean the case is proven in a court of law. And Mr. Fitzerald is well known for his media leaks and prosecutorial misconduct. Have we forgotten the Valerie Plame case? Let it play out folks.
It is nothing more than braggadocio.
Blago got hit in the head a couple times too many…
Dane — I think the idea was that letting it “play out” would have resulted in a clearly tainted Illinois U.S. Senator as well as governor, ever more chaos, and complications that could delay trials for years, in addition to the implication of even more shadiness accruing to the new President haling from these environs and its political machine due to perception, if not actuality.
I believe dane’s take, and further input from csimon on this subject to be the most likely reasons. Not taking anything away from either of them, but it IS almost obvious. The ensuing chaos would be monumental, if not halted where it was. Who could possibly imagine Biden as president? Who now wonders why Hillary was not chosen as VP?
The financial crash had to be made to occur before Obama’s election, this incidence had to be held until after, and then halted at a certain point. The opposing groups fight it out in public, drawing everyone’s attention. Obama keeps moving right on through, smile intact.
I’m with dane. As for not letting it play out, that was Fitz putting away some IOUs which he will call quietly at some future point. Fitz is as corrupt as the rest. I am shocked, shocked that moneygrubbing like this could occur in Chicago, the cradle of the Obamanation.
I never took to that live version of “The Boxer”. The tempo and feel is all wrong – the song lost the power that made the original so good.
Sonicfrog: I am in total agreement. I listened to a bunch of versions on You Tube and all the live ones sounded that way. The choice was between one of those, or the original with still photos.
Perhaps there’s something about the arrangement of the original that can’t be captured onstage.
If there is evidence supporting the allegations in the complaint, seems to me that an “attempt” or “conspiracy” charge would stick.
But Blogo ain’t leaving . . . at least not without a few more sharp gloves laid on him!
He’s stalling for time which no one else can afford, and he knows it. No way in the world Obama wants this to continue into his Administration, nor to have questions hanging around about his incoming Chief of Staff.
BO’s team say they’ll issue a report this week that will competely clear Emanuel of any wrongdoing.
That’s nice. But how can they say that to a certainty without having had access to the tapes of all the conversations he had with Blago and Harris?
And how could they have had such access without a serious impropriety having been committed by someone in the U.S. Attorney’s Office?
They couldn’t, and you can bet that Fitz did NOT grant them such access.
But once there is an indictment, Blago will have FULL access to the tapes that played any part in his indictment. Hugh Hewitt had a good post about that last week.
Blago’s doing rope-a-dope, letting them swing themselves out of options, and out of time. The still-born “other disability” gambit by AG Lisa Madigan really made the Democrats look weak, in part because it telegraphed to Blago how much they feared impeachment.
But the only two options left are resignation or impeachment.
Blago’s got all the time in the world, unless some new charge comes up that forces his hand.
The Democrats want to be able to fill Obama’s seat, but they want NO PART of impeachment. Too many rocks flying around!
Blago already opted out of picking a successor to Obama, so that leaves a special election, which the Dems want no part of either because they might lose it at this point!
Correction: I forgot the “anger” part . . .
Sorry off topic. NYT Hit piece….
http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2008/12/21/as-expected-nyt-lays-the-blame-for-the-entire-subprime-meltdown-on-bush/
The prosecutor blew the whistle early because a senatorial appointment was about to happen that may have been tainted, and the consequences of that would have been too great for him to wait until the case was done. There’s plenty of other evidence against Blago.
Blago is delusional and apparently has been for a long time. Even with his approval ratings at 13% (BEFORE this scandal broke) he was musing about being appointed to the Cabinet, and possibly running for President. The guy lives in a world of denial. The Illlinois Legislature will impeach him and he’s going to be out on his ass in no time flat. Soon thereafter he’ll be convicted, and Illinois will get back to business as usual: former governors sitting in prison.