Talk Show Circuit Prepares For Blagojevich

(CBS)  In a case of "What's wrong with this picture?," Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich headed off to the Big Apple for a Monday chock full of national TV interviews, while in the Illinois Capitol, state senators sworn in by him two weeks ago will gather to potentially strip him of his powers, reports CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

"This issue is much larger than just me," Blagojevich said in an interview with CBS station WBBM in Chicago. "In many ways, I'm immaterial. It would be wrong for me to participate in a farce like that. That undermines the Constitution."

A farce, Blagojevich says, because of the pending criminal case against him, that he can't call as witnesses President Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, or top aide Valerie Jarrett. Witnesses, he says, can clear him of the damning charges he tried to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. The Illinois governor denied those charges, most recently on NBC's Today Show.

"Flat out completely untrue," Blagojevich said. "And when I have my day in court, I will prove that, and I will clear my name."

But that won't likely happen during the impeachment process, Bowers reports. And the case against the governor got stronger on Friday, when a judge ruled state senators can hear from select conversations wiretapped by the FBI in which Blagojevich is allegedly heard scheming to trade a gaming license for campaign contributions.

If Blagojevich is convicted by state senators, they then have the option of banning him from state elected office - for life. That's the equivalent of a political death penalty.

Over the last few days, Blagojevich has compared himself to Teddy Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela and Ghandi, Bowers reports.

But perhaps he's more like Don Quixote - tilting at windmills and playing to audiences that can do nothing to save him from losing his job in this trial - or his freedom in the next.
By Cynthia Bowers

[gomanny1]

soon you won''t have Blago to kick around anymore!!!!!!

[tincup356]

what fine people we have in all levels of government,,,,BUNCH of CORRUPT SCUM.....people wonder why we face problems....look at what we have running things....people who wish to call bribery by its political name....lobbying....but still it is bribery

[dumdnc]

Yea, he compares hiself to MLK, Ghandi, Mandela. No delusions of grandeur with this guy.
He better watch himself, he knows a lot more than he''s saying right now. ANd just why won''t the pit bull, emanuel, testify??
Gotta love Chicago politics and we''re getting right in the WH, thanks to barry.

[agabog]

This guy is so obviously insane. Great act for SNL. But sickening to watch on the real news.

[erasmus606]

The thing about deranged persons is YOU NEVER KNOW what they will say next.

Posted by repo_man_08 at 10:10 PM : Jan 25, 2009

That''s very true. hahahaha

[swingset4u]

Has anyone seen a quote from Blago in which he actually mentions MONEY? Did the "value" he referred to simply mean political favors? I''''m not defending the guy, just asking..has anyone seen anything that clearly indicates a monetary payoff?

Posted by azirine

It doesn''t have to be monetary... All it has to do is BENEFIT the BENEFACTOR (BLAGO) That in itself is considered criminal. Thats why the Obama Administration has said they WILL NOT accept gifts from ANYONE and if you lobby for something you will not be able to LOBBY for anything until TWO YEARS after his office. So, again, you failed to pull the left to the right.

[b4ucmyi]

You all are going to get sued, and or jailed for tampering with a Illinois court case. I hope all of you lose your jobs over this one.

Posted by cattieJ at 08:37 PM : Jan 25, 2009

Whoever the community organizer was in Chicago, did a p*ss-poor job.

[jgg000006]

actually, blago is brilliant. He''s going to present his case to the american people and not risk being railroaded by the chicago political system

[soldat44]

''Over the last few days, Blagojevich has compared himself to Teddy Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela and Ghandi, Bowers reports. ''

This is sad...

[surreal64]

BLAGO IS PSYCOTIC
BLAGO IS PSYCOTIC
BLAGO IS PSYCOTIC

Somebody get the straitjacket
this man is clearly mentally ill!