Fuckin Golden. Colorado.
March 14, 2012 1:57 PM Subscribe
At 5:00 PM central, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will make his last official statement to the press, before reporting to Federal prison tomorrow. Love him or hate him, it should be noteworthy.
Live coverage here, here, here, and bestest here.
Previously.
This post was deleted for the following reason: A post with four links to news stations that will not be showing live coverage in a few hours is maybe not the best way to present this. Maybe try again or possibly someone else can? -- jessamyn
I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate the guy, but man, what a massive embarrassment he is. And that's saying something around these parts.
posted by heyho at 2:04 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by heyho at 2:04 PM on March 14, 2012
Also embarassing: the local media's "Blagojevich Countdown Coverage" they've (practically) been doing this week. It's been a fucking clusterfuck of everything that is wrong with television news covering everything that is wrong with Chicago/Illinois politics all in one incredibly hard to swallow bite.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:06 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:06 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
If he is "a massive embarrassment" it is only because the really good ones don't get caught!
posted by three blind mice at 2:06 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by three blind mice at 2:06 PM on March 14, 2012
He shall be dissed.
posted by hal9k at 2:12 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by hal9k at 2:12 PM on March 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
If he is "a massive embarrassment" it is only because the really good ones don't get caught!
Even the barely competent ones don't get caught. Blago didn't get nailed because he was exceptionally corrupt, but because he was mind-bogglingly stupid.
posted by theodolite at 2:14 PM on March 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Even the barely competent ones don't get caught. Blago didn't get nailed because he was exceptionally corrupt, but because he was mind-bogglingly stupid.
posted by theodolite at 2:14 PM on March 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Wow, I was thinking that he would get out within 24 months, but he will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence in prison.
Federal crime, federal time.
posted by Talez at 2:30 PM on March 14, 2012
Federal crime, federal time.
posted by Talez at 2:30 PM on March 14, 2012
So, he is in there for at least close to 12 years. Wonder what he will be like when he gets out.
posted by edgeways at 2:31 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by edgeways at 2:31 PM on March 14, 2012
That (the media sucks for its whole lead-up-to-prison, slobbering-on-every-word-and-detail coverage) said, I'm headed out so I can get home/to a bar I know that will be watching it before the 5:02 statement starts because as much as I bitch, I'm not missing this latest episode either.
MCMikeNamara - Part of Problem, Not Solution Since 1974
* Conveniently scheduled by Blagojevich so it can be carried live on all the major local news casts (but still have time for their openings) and replayed at 6:00 as well. So smart about some things, so dumb about others.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:31 PM on March 14, 2012
MCMikeNamara - Part of Problem, Not Solution Since 1974
* Conveniently scheduled by Blagojevich so it can be carried live on all the major local news casts (but still have time for their openings) and replayed at 6:00 as well. So smart about some things, so dumb about others.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:31 PM on March 14, 2012
Rod got nailed... And I have this on very solid, inside his staff sources, because he stupidly made an enemy if everyone on either side of the aisle, including the head of his party. When you do that, people are only too happy to talk when a Fed with ambition comes nosing around.
posted by spicynuts at 2:32 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by spicynuts at 2:32 PM on March 14, 2012
Chicagoist presents street art inspired by Blago. (I've seen many of these myself.)
posted by shakespeherian at 2:37 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by shakespeherian at 2:37 PM on March 14, 2012
"What a far fall."
From Illinois governor to prison? Dude, that's what we DO with governors 'round these parts. It's not a fall, it's the standard route.
(After all, it's Illinois: Where our governors make our license plates.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:38 PM on March 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
From Illinois governor to prison? Dude, that's what we DO with governors 'round these parts. It's not a fall, it's the standard route.
(After all, it's Illinois: Where our governors make our license plates.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:38 PM on March 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
True fact: The conviction rate in Illinois is much higher for governors than it is for murderers.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:39 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by shakespeherian at 2:39 PM on March 14, 2012
Honest question: is there anyone who loves him?
I like the current language of the scandal and conviction of Otto Kerner, Jr.:
posted by filthy light thief at 2:42 PM on March 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
I like the current language of the scandal and conviction of Otto Kerner, Jr.:
In 1969, Marge Lindheimer Everett, manager of Arlington Park and Washington Park race tracks, admitted bribing then-Governor Kerner and his Finance Director, Ted Isaacs, to gain choice racing dates and to get two expressway exits for her Arlington Park racetrack. The bribes were in the form of stock. The scandal came to light because Everett had deducted the value of the stock on her federal income tax returns in the belief that bribery was an ordinary and necessary business expense in Illinois.Emphasis mine, of course.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:42 PM on March 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
This sounds like a god damn campaign speech
posted by theodolite at 3:08 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by theodolite at 3:08 PM on March 14, 2012
Someone just came up behind him and draped a huge american flag over his shoulders. "Get this off me" -- Rod Blagojevich
posted by theodolite at 3:13 PM on March 14, 2012
posted by theodolite at 3:13 PM on March 14, 2012
"We also believe, you know, God has a purpose for all of us, and we trust in that, and ultimately that's gonna take us wherever it takes us, but I believe it will be a happy place."
Yeah, I'm not so sure about that last part; seems a bit optimistic.
posted by heyho at 3:31 PM on March 14, 2012
Yeah, I'm not so sure about that last part; seems a bit optimistic.
posted by heyho at 3:31 PM on March 14, 2012
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posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:00 PM on March 14, 2012