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Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appears on Greta Van Susteren's TV show to promote his new book.
"I have been lied about," he said, saying that portions of taped conversations were used "out of context." "The truth has been mutilated," Blagojevich says, adding, "I profess that I used profanity in those private conversations."
Also, Greta suggests that in his book, Blago goes after his own father-in-law.
I love this guy; my favorite corrupt, liberal Chicago politician.
Blago filled in on The BIG 89, WLS! Blagojevich fills in for the vacationing Don Wade & Roma in the morning on The Big 89 WLS, Chicago. (WLSAM.com - 890AM).
He's a natural! Hopefully he can get his own radio show when he's in prison!
Yeah, perhaps it was theater of the weird, but it was pretty entertaining.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appeared on WLS radio today in Chicago.
No big deal, right? The only person who gets more media time is that other guy from Chicago.
Morning Drive
Here’s the difference. Blago was the host. For two hours this morning, the ex-gov did all the things that morning drive air personalities do. He took calls from listeners, bantered with high profile guests, joked with the news and weather staff, and kept welcoming Chicagoans to the show.
Like him or not (probably not, as his approval rating was four percent in December), he was good. He was really good. Perhaps radio is where he should hang his hat (if one could fit over his head) after he gets out of prison or whatever happens to him.
Book
We found out a lot this morning. When talking to CNN host and comedian DL Hughley, Blago said he was working hard on his forthcoming book. He’s already up to page three, he said.
“You’re probably four pages further than George Bush is on his,” Hughley countered.
Enemies
He spent a sizable amount of time going after the lawmakers who impeached him a couple months ago following his arrest on federal corruption charges.
“They had a sham impeachment process,” he said. “I was hijacked from office. I didn’t have a chance to prove I did nothing wrong. I wasn’t allowed to call witnesses. This was a backroom deal.”
Hair
Sadly, there was only one mention of Blago’s giant hair. When he announced to his team that he was ready to take some calls, the concerned newsman asked if the headphones were going to mess up his hair.
“I brought my brush,” Blago said.
“You brought the football?” the traffic reporter asked, alluding to the nickname the ex-governor gave to his ever-present Paul Mitchell.
“I’m not governor anymore, it is a smaller brush,” he replied.
Highlight
But the highlight of the show was when two actors who are performing in “Rod Blagojevich Superstar” – the spoof musical put on by the Second City theater group – joined him in the studio.
You could say the interview brought him face to face with himself, as one of the guys plays Blagojevich in the show.
“I feel like Laurence Olivier meeting Hamlet,” the actor said.
Job
Telling Blago that he’s “good for tickets” because the show keeps selling out, they asked the real Rod to join the cast. And not necessarily to play himself. They offered him any role.
“I’d like to play the US Attorney and I’d be real nice to the governor,” Blago joked.
Kids
Perhaps wanting to bring his family, Blago asked if the show was kid friendly.
“Yes,” one actor replied. “Kids who want to grow up fast. And kids who have horrible parents.”
We attempted to live blog the show. You can read the transcript here.
Sen. Roland Burris appeared to have a possible unmet fund-raising commitment with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign three weeks before landing a controversial appointment to the U.S. Senate, an internal Blagojevich fund-raising document obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times shows.
The list of potential donors, dated Dec. 3, contains an entry targeting Burris for up to $10,000 and indicates Burris intended to "call back with a date," presumably concerning fund-raising.
The Burris entry, which itself is not dated, raises new questions about the former attorney general's claim in a sworn affidavit last month that he shut down any discussion of raising money for or contributing to the scandal-tainted governor in a November discussion with Blagojevich's brother Robert. Robert Blagojevich chaired Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund.
The entry was on a spreadsheet that included a "low goal" of $5,000 from Burris and a high fund-raising goal of $10,000. Entries of other potential donors reflected updates in November or early December.
I was thinking my favorite punching bag, Roland Burris was old news considering the Obama Recession!
Now, Sangamon County, Illinois State's Attorney John Schmidt is seeking FBI wire taps to decide if perjury charges are warranted against "Senator" Burris.
CHICAGO -A county prosecutor exploring the possibility of perjury charges against U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has asked federal officials for FBI tapes of phone conversations between Burris and ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich's brother, an individual with knowledge of the case said Friday.
Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt wants to compare the taped conversations with what Burris said under oath before the House committee that voted to impeach Blagojevich, said the individual, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter could come before a grand jury.
Schmidt's request, first reported in Friday editions of the Chicago Sun-Times, comes after Burris repeatedly changed his story about his contact with Blagojevich's friends and aides in advance of being appointed.
It was not clear whether federal officials would give tapes to Schmidt, but the U.S. Attorney's office did release four FBI wiretaps of Blagojevich conversations — edited to delete information the government considered too sensitive — to state lawmakers who ultimately removed Blagojevich from office in January.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich could not be reached for comment because I do not have his phone number.
Yet, considering Blago's affinity for the media, I might be able to score an interview on of these days!
Lynn Sweet, guru-ess of all things Blago, writes in her column "Burris in the bunker. Cancels Thursday schedule. Durbin frosty Burris statement":
WASHINGTON--Embattled Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) is cancelling his Thursday schedule, where he was to have met with Rockford area civic, elected and religious leaders as Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent out a very frosty statement, saying Burris failed to disclose under oath the nature of his relationship with former Gov. Blagojevich.
Durbin is traveling in Athens on Wednesday; in the evening his office issued this statement: "When we met with Roland Burris in January, we made it clear that in order for him to be seated in the U.S. Senate he needed to meet two requirements - first, that he submit the proper paperwork certifying his appointment, and second, that he appear before the General Assembly's Impeachment Committee to testify openly, honestly and completely about the nature of his relationship with the former governor, his associates and the circumstances surrounding this appointment."
"We asked him to testify in the impeachment proceedings, not to embarrass Roland Burris, but to give him an opportunity to clear the air regarding this appointment from a tainted governor. Our hope was that he would use that opportunity to assure the people of Illinois and the other members of the United States Senate that he was not involved in any wrongdoing."
"Now the accuracy and completeness of his testimony and affidavits have been called into serious question. Every day there are more and more revelations about contacts with Blagojevich advisors, efforts at fundraising and omissions from his list of lobbying clients. This was not the full disclosure under oath that we asked for."
"These news reports and the public statements by Roland Burris himself are troubling and raise serious questions which need to be looked at very carefully," Durbin said.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – U.S. Sen. Roland Burris now acknowledges attempting to raise money for ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich — an explosive twist in his ever-changing story on how he landed a coveted Senate appointment from the man accused of trying to sell the seat.
Burris made the admission to reporters on Monday, after releasing an affidavit over the weekend saying he had more contact with Blagojevich aides about the Senate seat than he had described under oath to the state House panel that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment. The Democrat also said in the affidavit, but not before the panel, that the governor's brother asked him for fundraising help.
Though Burris insists he never raised money for Blagojevich while the governor was considering whom to appoint to the seat President Barack Obama vacated, the revelation that he had attempted to do so is likely to increase calls for Burris' resignation and an investigation into whether he committed perjury before the panel. Illinois Democrats have forwarded documents related to Burris' testimony to a county prosecutor for review.
The news broke yesterday that Sen. Roland Burris, who was appointed by impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, may have committed perjury in testimony before the Illinois House of Representatives.
This just gets stranger each day. Scroll down for Time's Soap Opera details.
An Illinois Republican leader says the state's freshman U.S. senator should resign over contradictory statements regarding Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.
State Rep. Jim Durkin told reporters Sunday that Democrat Roland Burris should resign over an affidavit contradicting statements he made earlier to a House committee.
Durkin also wants Burris investigated for possible perjury. Gov. Pat Quinn also says Burris owes a full explanation. Burris plans a news conference later Sunday.
Time ponders whether Burris is a Liar or a Fool as it gives the full history of the Blago/Burris Soap Opera.
The other possibility, that Burris intentionally misled lawmakers or lied under oath, is not one that can be determined from the known facts. But state lawmakers are calling for a criminal investigation, so hopefully this information comes out eventually. In the meantime, Burris's reputation for candor has suffered a serious blow. His statements will, for the foreseeable future, be read with some suspicion, since we now know that what he leaves unsaid, even when under oath, is sometimes far more important that what he chooses to say.
Michelle Malkin has more, including how the press literally laughed at Burris for trying to explain his way out of this one!
Indeed, Blago has, in fact, rubbed his proverbial "taint" on Washington!
Why am I not surprised? Yes, Rod Blagojevich is a tad flaky and, frankly, nuts. But Roland Burris did not act in a completely sane manner by accepting the Senate nod either.
Piece by piece, this entire cluster f*ck will reveal its true colors. Others are involved. Other "high-level officials" from Illinois (ahem) know more than they have said so far.
I'm pretty sure no honest politician has worked in Illinois for years.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's brother solicited U.S. Sen. Roland Burris for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Blagojevich named Burris to the coveted post -- something Burris initially failed to disclose under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel, records and interviews show.
Burris (D-Ill.) acknowledges being hit up for the money in a new affidavit he has sent to the head of the House committee that recommended Blagojevich be removed from office.
The affidavit is dated Feb. 5 -- three weeks after Burris was sworn in to replace President Obama in the Senate.
Burris -- who did not give money to the Blagojevich campaign fund in response to the previously undisclosed solicitation -- provided a copy of the sworn statement to the Chicago Sun-Times Friday in response to questions about his contacts with the Blagojevich camp about fund-raising.
Burris acknowledged having three conversations with Robert Blagojevich, who headed the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund -- and one of those was likely recorded by the FBI.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois House Republicans say they want U.S. Sen. Roland Burris investigated for perjury.
State Rep. Jim Durkin told The Associated Press he and GOP leader Tom Cross will ask for an outside investigation into whether Burris perjured himself before a House committee investigating former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.
(Soon to be ex-) Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said he believes the real impetus for his impeachment is the prescription drug program and that lawmakers should “demand that President Obama fire Rahm Emanuel” because he too favored the bill.
Blagojevich also named the Governors of Wisconsin, Kansas and Vermont as well as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) as lawmakers who should be “indicted as co-conspirators” if he is removed from office.
"I have done nothing wrong." Blago says if he did anything illegal he would have resigned in December.
"How can you throw a governor out of office, and you haven't been able to show or prove any criminal wrongdoing?" he said. "How can you throw a governor out of office who is clamoring and begging to bring witnesses in?"
"She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way to become president," Blagojevich said. Blagojevich added that "she had a much broader bully pulpit than a lot of senators."
"Would she take the call of the governor of Illinois because Oprah is Oprah and I'm only the governor of Illinois."
On ABC's "The View," an insistent Barbara Walters recounted a transcript of a covert recording of Blagojevich obtained by federal agents who allege he sought to sell Obama's Senate seat for personal or political profit."
"I've got this thing and it's (expletive) golden," Blagojevich is quoted in the transcript, "and I'm just not giving it up for (expletive) nothing. I'm not gonna do it."
Walters, appearing from Los Angeles, spoke to Blagojevich in the show's New York studio. She appeared frustrated in repeatedly asking Blagojevich about the comment but the governor dodged and weaved until he said, "I can't confirm or deny anything when I haven't had the chance to hear all the tapes."
"Whatever the tapes are, they will speak for themselves," he said. "I was working to try to make the right decision for the people of Illinois."
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet blogged about how the interview played out. Funny Stuff.
Oprah Winfrey said she was surprised to learn Wednesday from her best friend Gayle King that Governor Blagojevich was considering her for Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Blagojevich confirmed on Good Morning America that he was considering Winfrey. She said she was meditating when she got the news.
"If I had been watching from the treadmill I probably would have fallen off the treadmill," Winfrey told King on King' Sirius satellite radio program.
So what have we learned? Blago feels his constitutional rights are being stepped on and Oprah meditates on a treadmill?
Everyone covered the "Cuckoo" Blago press conference on Friday, and everyone knows that Governor Blagojevich will be on The View on Monday, but who is talking about this on the news?
A veritable "who's who" of Obama staffers, surrogates and affiliates were among those served with subpoenas. Put simply, within one week of President Barack Obama's administration taking office, it is already under significant legal scrutiny that will -- at a minimum -- take precious time away from dealing with the country's monumental economic and foreign policy challenges.
And, once again, the mainstream media is AWOL, unwilling to report on this very newsworthy story.
Among those served with subpoenas were:
David Axelrod, Obama's "Karl Rove" and the biggest surprise on the list. Obama's team issued a report in December that said his staff had no "inappropriate contact" with Blago, so the inclusion of Axelrod is a bit of a shock.
Valerie Jarrett, Blago's "Senate Candidate 1", a real estate management executive and political hack of the first order. Her ties to failed and fraudulent real estate deals in Chicago were the subject of numerous investigations and should have instantly disqualified her for any public office.
We'll say it again! Why do you suppose Blago keeps mentioning these people in all of his public appearances? Is he "Cuckoo" or is there method to his madness?
On Friday, Blagojevich voiced two specific complaints, the first being that the trial rules deny him an opportunity to challenge the charges against him or the documents on which the charges are based.
This is not true.
The governor cannot block the introduction of evidence that he may object to, such as an unsigned letter or a newspaper article; but Rule 14 of the Senate’s trial proceedings lays out exactly how he can challenge the “sufficiency” of such evidence. This evidence — if his argument carried the day — then would be set aside by the Senate.
Unfortunately, the governor’s attorneys blew off Friday’s deadline for making “sufficiency” challenges.
The governor’s second specific complaint is that he cannot call witnesses in his defense.
Again, this is not true.
Under Rule 15 of the impeachment trial proceedings, the governor will, in fact, be able to call witnesses, although only in each case with the Senate’s approval. The same restriction — the Senate must approve — also holds true for prosecution witnesses.
We have to wonder why Blago keeps mentioning Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett and Jesse Jackson, Jr.
You don't suppose that the Rezko-familiar Blago has some dirt on these people... and The President, do you? Hmmm....
The following is an email sent from the Rob Jesmer, Executive Director of The National Republican Senatorial Committee. (The post-script at the bottom is pretty hilarious.)
Friend --
After pledging NOT to accept any appointee from disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich, Harry Reid reversed course today by officially seating Roland Burris as the next U.S. Senator from Illinois.
With this flip-flop, Reid has forced upon the people of Illinois a Senator with a controversial and questionable background.
Make no mistake, this could have been avoided if Harry Reid had followed Dick Durbin's lead and called for a special election last month. Instead, he wanted to play Kingmaker and now the people of Illinois are paying the price.
Roland Burris has endured his own ethical lapses, including allegations of "pay to play" -- one of the more grievous accusations facing Blagojevich -- during his 1998 gubernatorial campaign.
In fact, in early 2006, despite Blagojevich's mounting legal issues and ongoing FBI investigation, Burris said Blagojevich was doing a "helluva job," all the while Burris' consulting firm contributed nearly $11,000 to Blagojevich's campaigns.
Burris' political positions are far to the left of mainstream Illinois voters. As Illinois attorney general, Burris supported funding $100 million of slavery reparations from the state funds. Burris also supported a national ban on handguns, and then in a stunning admission of hypocrisy, waited ten years before turning in his OWN gun.
Harry Reid is hoping that the people of Illinois will forgive him for accepting the Blagojevich nominee when they could have had a special election.
After initially promising to hold a special election in the aftermath of the Blagojevich scandal, Democrats quickly backtracked, realizing that a Republican could emerge victorious.
The American people deserve more than political posturing from their elected representatives in Washington.
Rob Jesmer Executive Director, National Republican Senatorial Committee
P.S. Roland Burris, long-consumed with political power, called the governorship of Illinois his "destiny," and has described himself as a "visionary." Burris has gone to the extraordinary length of constructing a mausoleum for himself in Chicago, inscribed with the words "TRAIL BLAZER," along with a list of his accomplishments.
WASHINGTON – Roland Burris took his place as Barack Obama's successor in the Senate on Thursday, ending a standoff that embarrassed the president-elect and fellow Democrats who initially resisted the appointment by scandal-scarred Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"I do," Burris said with a grin as Vice President Dick Cheney administered the oath of office to the former Illinois attorney general who takes Obama's place as the Senate's only black member.
More than a week after his colleagues were sworn in, Burris was seated without objection or a roll call vote, even though Majority Leader Harry Reid had said senators would have their voices heard on whether to accept his appointment.
Remember way back when... Obama, Harry Reid and others said that there was no way anyone appointed by Blago would be seated in The Senate!
Were they just kidding? Or just another example that the politicians do not really have any sort of understanding of the laws?
Rep. Jose Serrano thinks Barack Obama will be such a great President, that we'll never need another one. Anyone tell Bill Clinton about this? On the positive side, he also wants to make it easier to Cubans to play Major League Baseball...
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 6, 2009
Mr. SERRANO introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
‘Article–
'The twenty-second article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.’
A fun fact about Rep. Serrano, his top campaign donor is Service Employees International Union.... wait, didn't we hear about them before.... with Blago Scandal?!?!?
For more interesting bills proposed so far by the new 111th Congress, click here.
Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich presided over the swearing in of a new Senate that will decide in a matter of weeks whether to throw him out of office.
All Guts! All Glory! Go Blago Go! Innocent Until Proven Guilty!
A Maryland grand jury on Friday indicted Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon on 12 criminal counts, including theft and perjury, for alleged official misconduct beginning when she was a councilwoman.
In addition, the Maryland prosecutor's office charged that for four years Ms. Dixon misused holiday gift cards that were intended to be distributed to needy families. Prosecutors say she gave them to members of her staff and used them to buy herself electronics and clothing.
The mayor and her chief of staff, Demaune Millard, traveled to Chicago yesterday evening and will meet with senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. Dixon "is very excited that she gets to sit at the table and help shape what an economic stimulus blueprint could look like," said Ian Brennan, Dixon's spokesman. The mayor was invited because of her work on the urban policy work group for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
You get it yet? Is anyone connecting the dots? Has anyone realized yet that Barack Obama has a poor choice in friends? Blago...Jeremiah Wright...Tony Rezko...Rahm Emanuel...Father Flager...Michelle Obama...Louis Farrakhan...Bill Richardson...Iran....Hamas...Harry Reid...Bill Clinton...Hillary Clinton...Nancy Pelosi...Barney Frank...Valerie Jarrett...Karl Marx....
Yawn! 60 Million Strong voted for this guy! Good Luck! Hope we don't have to say "I told you so"!
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