January 26, 2009
BLAGOJEVICH HAS A WAY WITH ANALOGIES.... With his impeachment trial in the state Senate poised to begin, Illinois' Governor-for-now Rod Blagojevich (D) has launched something of a public-relations campaign, sitting down for chats with various news outlets. Unfortunately for Blago, the p.r. offensive is just offensive.
On Friday, Blagojevich said he believes his arrest is analogous to the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He also compared himself to a cowboy about to be lynched.
His choices for comparisons are getting worse.
Impeached Gov. Blagojevich, on the first leg of his media blitz timed to the start of his impeachment trial, in an NBC interview broadcast on The Today Show Sunday compared himself to human rights heros [sic] Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
On the press offensive, Blagojevich has lined up national interviews -- NBC, ABC, "The View" to run as his impeachment trail [sic] starts Monday before the Illinois state senate in Springfield.
As Dec. 9 unfolded, Blagojevich told NBC, "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."
He didn't appear to be kidding.
Blagojevich could be in Springfield, Ill., to present a defense -- his lawyers have already quit -- but the governor is instead launching this media tour. In addition to NBC and ABC, Blagojevich will be on CNN's "Larry King Live" this evening.
Michael Calderone noted, "Blagojevich is skipping his impeachment trial on Monday, perhaps assuming he'll have better luck in the court of public opinion." Perhaps, but it's hard to imagine how this will help him improve his political and legal standing. For one thing, the public still hates him. For another, after hearing the governor compare himself to Mandela, King, and Gandhi, voters will probably hate him more, not less.
Post Script: Blagojevich reportedly told ABC's Diane Sawyer this morning that he considered Oprah Winfrey for the Senate vacancy, but he was worried it might "look like a gimmick." Imagine that.
—Steve Benen 8:50 AM
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the governor compare himself to Mandela, King, and Gandhi,
He's more like the guy who gets fired for stealing, and wants to call witnesses to say, "As far as I know, he never stole from me."
Posted by: Danp on January 26, 2009 at 8:55 AM | PERMALINK
Honestly, I see him more like Curly of the Three Stooges. He knows he is doing something real stupid, and Moe is about to poke him in the eye for it, but he just cannot help himself.
Posted by: gttim on January 26, 2009 at 8:57 AM | PERMALINK
I can't even muster up a comment. He'll be convicted by the Senate by the end of the week. Then the only question is whether it will require state troopers to get him to leave.
Posted by: shortstop on January 26, 2009 at 9:18 AM | PERMALINK
and those cable/network outlets are all just pissing their pants in their eagerness to get blago's interview...
shoulda heard the morning joe magpies laughing and giggling at blago's nbc interview.
just the kind of fratboy news coverage the country needs as the crises grow more grave.
Posted by: linda on January 26, 2009 at 9:22 AM | PERMALINK
Well after looking in the mirror everyday was there ever anyone more qualified to know what looks like a gimmic?
Posted by: sgwhiteinfla on January 26, 2009 at 9:27 AM | PERMALINK
Ah, Charlie Chaplin, where art thou, when we need you to play Blago kicking the globe about?
But, Larry King? The beach balls will be a'flyin'.
Posted by: berttheclock on January 26, 2009 at 9:46 AM | PERMALINK
I didn't realize that Blago was really Bluto Blutarsky from Animal House.
Germans bombing Pearl Harbor, indeed.
Posted by: Former Dan on January 26, 2009 at 9:47 AM | PERMALINK
Perhaps he's laying the foundation for an insanity defense in his upcoming impeachment. Obviously, it won't work. But he seems crazy enough to think it will.
Posted by: JoeW on January 26, 2009 at 9:50 AM | PERMALINK
"Bluto Blutarsky"?
Beware. He became a US Senator.
Posted by: berttheclock on January 26, 2009 at 9:56 AM | PERMALINK
Blagojevich's media tour is a much a reflection of the media as it is of him. He's a freak show put on TV for ratings, when every minute they spend covering him is a minute they don't spend covering the issues of the day. Pathetic.
Posted by: CJ on January 26, 2009 at 10:12 AM | PERMALINK
RE: Oprah
It's pretty obvious he's lying, isn't it?
Posted by: Grumpy on January 26, 2009 at 10:49 AM | PERMALINK
Blago is happily playing Look At Me I'm batshit crazy gimme 15 more minutes! And the retard grade school media keeps running after him. I blame OJ- it all really started going hill from then.
Posted by: John Kanaka on January 26, 2009 at 10:54 AM | PERMALINK
What's wrong with picking someone for Senator who is intelligent, has HUGE name recognition, a huge fan base of Democrats. It doesn't hurt that she's female... Just because she's never held any public office even at the local level the pick is a "gimmick?"
Give Patterson a break! I mean, seriously!
What's that?
Really?
Oh, nevermind.
Posted by: toowearyforoutrage on January 26, 2009 at 11:36 AM | PERMALINK
If I were Blago, I would go straight "One man Holocaust" on their asses!
That is where this is going right?
Posted by: TBonet on January 26, 2009 at 11:41 AM | PERMALINK
For anyone interested, I just nominated Blagojevich for Nihilist of the Day at the American Nihilist blog, the newest blog for liberal nihilists who hate stuff.
I totally recommend it.
Posted by: Doctor Biobrain on January 26, 2009 at 12:50 PM | PERMALINK
The question is really: will he do the same for his criminal trial?
Posted by: ogmb on January 26, 2009 at 12:59 PM | PERMALINK
The governor is cleverly building up to his new career as a Netflix spokesperson. Hey, can you still get deliveries while in prison? Awesome!
Posted by: justaguy2 on January 26, 2009 at 5:01 PM | PERMALINK
For me Blagojevich is innocent until proven guilty. But he is proving something to me. Some should think about the basics in the Juris Prudence currently under way. Is it really law for the citizen or are we witness to “Media Prudence”? Plain old power abuse. For sure…You bet it is and media biased to big screen widowed manipulations, for what ever reason the media makes it. Pretty cool huh? No, it isn’t the media MSNBC, CNN, or FOX have crossed the line a long time ago with hate radio and Limbaugh’s help.
What in the hell am I talking about. What is Jurisprudence? It is about the law. Some cool stuff here they explain it better. For those who want to bridge across and make a leap into fair government will see the argument to make here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurisprudence
For me an interest was about the Illinois Senate rules just dreamed up and where are they? You think any of these cable networks would give a Google address to find it? No, of course not. Perhaps all along America has just been media impeaching who ever it wants for what ever reason it wants is alarming and counter constitutional for decades.
Pretty sure Blago is over whelmed to figure out that’s what he needs to do is post the rules. Basically from what one will read is an impeachment is not a legal court anyway, it was not meant to be. In Blago’s case it just might be that eureka moment. That is the kicker it does not have to be a real judge and jury or court. I almost fell off my chair to understand a bunch of people we call them Representatives and Senators can get together and just say NAH, NAH, NA, NA, NA, go way Blago you can’t play here any more! Or anyone else in the system. Now you see where I am going with this? Play hard ball or your out.
For me there will be a point when the only place an American will find truth and goodness will be on the Internet in its transparency because of its honesty and much of the cable system will appear to be talking wildly, or in tongues.
“”Many people inaccurately define speaking in tongues as "speaking gibberish" or "talking nonsense."
“”The truth is, speaking in tongues is the most intelligent, perfect language in the universe. It is God's language.””
Tom Brown ministries
Wikipedia “but unintelligible utterances, often as part of religious practice”. Mental illness.
Now that is a gift to understand someone might be mentally dysfunctional yet capable and admirable at the same time.
For me this is one boxing match I hope Blago can stay in the ring because it appears to be a real “Rocky” event.
Posted by: Megalomania on January 26, 2009 at 6:13 PM | PERMALINK