Blago fallout for IL Dems, Obama

The Retrial of Blagojevich during the height of the Fall Political Campaigns in September and October is Not going to help the Democrats. Governor Pat Quinn and Alexi Gianoulias, already in very difficult races, are going to get hurt by this. Poor Quinn, who is already falling further beyond his Republican opponent, is in the wrong place at the wrong time and will probably feel the negative backlash from the Blago Scandal. And Gianoulias, who already has problems from his family failed bank, is surely not going to be helped by this in his tight race with Congressman Mark Kirk. There is a good chance that Illinois will elect a Republican U.S. Senator and Governor in November.

It isn't just corruption that will doom the IL Dems (and the corrupt includes Mike Madigan, John Cullerton, et al), but what they have done to this state and the voters. Nearly bankrupt, sky-high unemployment rates, sky-high taxes, business fleeing the state in droves and overall incompetence are the main reasons the Dem's days are nearly over.

It's amusing to hear the republicans and others cry and whine about the Blago circus trial. Everyone from the twirpy DonWade (WLS FM) to Joe Birkett, Kirk Dillard, shady Bill Brady, Judy Boy Topinka, and others in the peanut gallery have their undies in a tight knot. In order to save Illinois taxpayers $25,000,000.00, which a retrial would cost, lets have Blago retried pro bono by rookies to show their mettle.
It was sort of commical to watch Fitzgerald high tail it out of the Federal building yesterday afternoon after only answering a few questions. Mr. Fitzgerald you are a 1st class idiot. HAHA.

The Blago and trial and subsequent fallout has little to do with the Gov. election. A distraction at best, Illinoisans should know the truth about Bill Brady and the giant steps back he wants to take as Governor. Brady is living in a different time, especially in terms of how he feels about women's rights, and those working families trying to make a living on minimum wage. We need to be reminded that the only thing we know about Brady is how extreme he is!! This isnt just Bloomington anymore, this is a whole state we have to be concerned with.

DJ, Yeah, well.....

I doubt the Adams team will represent Blagojevich in any retrial.

Which means the judge will have to give substitute defense attys some time to get up to speed.

So a re trial will be in Spring.....

The fact that a jury could NOT decide this case should make it doubtful what the political "fallout" is.

Because voters actually are a lot like jurors. My guess is a lot of voters might conclude this case was over the top, just like the press conference where the US Atty said Lincoln was spining in his grave. and the FBI agent in charge of Chicago made disparaging comments about the people of Illinois.

We're dumb. We're corrupt.

Not smart, Mr. G man.

In fact, one of the dumber statements any public official has made in recent memory in a press conference.

You forgot that the jurors are picked from the same community.....

Blagojevich could very well walk away from a re-trial with a similar mistrial.

Because it was a weak case.

Fitz jumped the gun. Had he waited, maybe--MAYBE--there might have been some exchange of a quid pro quo for something. Without that, the case is weak.

And Sam Adam Sr., the old fox of defense lawyers, was right: not worth another $20 million of taxpayer money.

Ornery, you are right - Fitz jumped the gun, he could have had a two-fer.

basically he caught Blagotalking about fishing, baiting the hook, putting the baited hook in the water, but not waiting for him to catch any fish. So legally, was Blago fishing? Are you fishing if you don't catch fish or are you just putting a piece of string with a hook and worm on it in the water?

I do like the part where Madigan and Cullerton try to come out pure as the driven snow.

Doogie,

The cost of the trial is bore by the feds since it is a federal case. The cost of the retrial can just be deducted off the food stamp allotment like they did withe the teachers handouts.

Hey ornery, Terry,
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This little shindig isn't over yet. A mistrial doesn't mean that Blago gets away with a conviction on the one count. Double jeopardy does not prevent re-trial on the counts on which the jury hung. The prosecution has the option of trying the case again, and the second time around always works a little better for the prosecution. In other words: It may be true that the prosecution put on a weak case, but that doesn't mean it was the best case he had. The feds get to fine tune their case and call more witnesses and different testimony if they have it. Let's all stay tuned.
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PS - I still think it was a terrible mistake for Blago's lawyer to promise Blago's testimony in his opening statement and then not have Blago testify. If he was unsure of Blago's testimony, it would have been better never to have mentioned it. That, I think, hurt defense counsel's credibility and cast doubt on the defense. We'll see if he tries that neat trick again.

T, in your fishing analogy, I guess the way the federal criminal law on conspiracy developed (except, of course, for corporate defendants), the subject would be guilty of conspiracy to fish--overt acts in furtherance, like baiting the hook.

In this case, in all the coverage of the trial, including the excellent coverage on Channel 11, I still didn't get a fix on what the "overt acts" really were supposed to be.

A Google search?

An ambiguous phone call?

Also, those "advisors" in the entourage: their real job (if they want to keep it) is to sit and listen to Blago bloviate, and when he runs out of breath, interject "Yes, Governor".

They are "yes men". That also takes away from a finding of conspiracy.

Also, Dana Kozlov makes a very good point: Blagojevich may NOW be viewed as something of a folk hero....

Govt. case is still weak because no hidden camera shots of cash changing hands....

Just talk talk talk with yes men

I'm a Republcan and I'm pleased with the outcome of the trial at least so far. The Daley machine has run things far too long. Just maybe the people of Illinois will
finally wise up. Although I kind of doubt it. With crime so rampant in the city along with the drug problems it seems as Daley has been impotent. Last but not least with the property taxes and sales taxes what they are, people should be fed up with the Dems.

JW

Sam Adam, Sr and Jr, just gave the 500 lawyer US Atty office in Chicago a shellacking they won't soon forget.

Out foxed them in every conceivable way.

G was holding back some evidence for "rebuttal", so the defense pulled the rug out from under them by resting without calling any witnesses.

I guess the jury had to agree with Sam that Govt failed to prove their case.

I'd be very careful before criticizing the way Adams handled this trial.

There are a lot of sore ---holes in the US Atty office in Chicago this week.

I think U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald should be relieved of duty. He should take a vacation and go back to law school. All of his theatrics and rhetorical bullying in the press, did't get him what he wanted: Former Governor Blagojevich in jail.
Of course, Governor Blagojevich will be a millstone around the Democrats' neck, just as Governor Ryan will be, around the Republicans' neck. The only real fly in the ointment, would be if Governor Blagojevich appealed his only conviction and had that decision reversed. That is why it is imperative for U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald to re-try. If he does't, he's got " s##t on a shingle " and that isn't any good, especially, after eating steaks !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

Patrick Fitzgerald did his job. But Blago was very lucky that one Far Left Wing Juror with a Political Agenda stopped this jury from reaching a verdict. It seems her mind was already set even she set foot in that jury room and heard any of the evidence. Blago should be retried. If he is not it will send a message that Illinois condones political corruption. And remember regardless what Blago and his Lawyers say in front of the television cameras Blago was Not acquitted of any of the charges. He was convicted of lying to the FBI which and can serve up to 5 years in jail. And the Illinois House Impeached Blago and the Illinois Senate by a Unanimous Vote found him guilty. And that legislature has large Democratic Party majorities. Even Blago's own Party found him guilty of charges and removed him from office. Blago and his escapes has brought disgrace on the State of Illinois and made it the laughing stock of the country.

Don, you know, there was a strange air of resentment right after Barack was elected,

amongst very ambitious guys like Fitz, on the one hand, and Blago, on the other.....

They looked at Barack, and thought "I could do things like that...." I.e., go from state senate to White House in 4 years. As if.....

And then started doing over the top stuff....

Each in his own way....

Nov-Dec 2008 time period, when Barack was President Elect.

DJ,

It was not just one woman juror.

According to debriefing interviews with jurors, on some counts the vote was 9 to 3 IN FAVOR OF acquittal.

So, you're wrong. Not just 1 woman "wing nut" juror.

Not at all.

I agree with you, " ornery " and I hope you are as outraged as I was, and many other voters across America, to see constitutional rights trampled on and civic and political decorum and proportionality, so totally disregarded. The citizens of the State of Illinois lost some of their constitutional rights in this " bloodless coup ", for purely political expediency. As former U.S. Attorney Sullivan commented, on TV, yesterday, political horse-trading is not a crime, as The Supreme Court had ruled.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

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Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 19, 2010 10:56 AM
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Earth to Don Fitzgerald of Illinois:
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There is no question that Blago is going to jail. Or did you fail to notice that the jury convicted Blago for lying to the FBI? (And, yes, that’s kind of a BS charge getting him the way they got Martha Stewart.) So if sending Blago to jail is what Assistant U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald wanted, he’s going to get his wish. In fact, if AUSA Fitzgerald wants Blago in jail by Christmas, he could simply forego retrial and proceed to sentencing.
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But AUSA Fitzgerald gets another crack at Blago on the remaining counts for which the jury could not reach a verdict. The second time around, he has the benefit of already knowing the defense strategy, of being able to marshal and present more evidence, and to review the transcripts and shore up any holes in his case. And just remember: The jury hung 11 to 1 in favor of convicting Blago on some of the most serious charges in the case. In which case, Blago could face after re-trial a longer term in the slammer than the one he is already facing from his one conviction.

" John W ", before you get all bunched-up, check out my first post. Otherwise, you may need a new prescription for your glasses!! It's either that, or you missed the Giant Head's last transmission. Stay tuned, I'm sure they will resend your instructions.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

JW, what do you think about paring down the indictment? I think throwing the kitchen sink at him (24 counts?) detracts from their stronger charges and leads to confusion of the jury.
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Don Fitz, my compliments. When no one in the country would back Blago, you did. Now you will see people come out of the woodwork and claim they were there too. Keep the faith. Free Blago!

Of late, it is seeming like a bit of a vendetta against Blago.

Unseemly.

Yes, perhaps outrageous.

Bush shredded the Constitution. So perhaps we should get used to vendettas.

They want to shred the First Amendment again in NYC in that ridiculous community center/mosque ugliness....

Maybe the jury's verdict was as much a verdict on the Govt. as on Blagojevich.

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Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 19, 2010 4:17 PM
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Don:
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Read your last post. You said Fitzgerald didn't get what he wanted: to see Blago go to jail. Well, guess what? Blago's going to jail. That was the point of my last post.
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'The point of this post is to illustrate how little thought you actually put into the stuff that you write. You, yoursef, need to think more before writng.
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I'm not the one bunched up here, Don; and I don't need a new prescription for my glasses; I don't need to read your first post again; and I don't get transmissions from a "Giant Head." Between the two of us, YOU are the one who doesn't think for himself.

Of late, it is seeming like a bit of a vendetta against Blago.

Unseemly.

Yes, perhaps outrageous.

Bush shredded the Constitution. So perhaps we should get used to vendettas.

They want to shred the First Amendment again in NYC in that ridiculous community center/mosque ugliness....

Maybe the jury's verdict was as much a verdict on the Govt. as on Blagojevich.

Ornery,

Blago is a folk hero, ask PFUTZ.

Also, there was a holdout on some of the counts that had an 11-1 vote. A former state worker, go figure.

JW,

I am waiting for sequel. Hope it starts about October 1st.

Never vigilant, " John W ".
How did I " fail to notice...", when I stated in my first post, that Fitzgerald has to watch for an appeal that could reverse that conviction? "John W ", take your old-timers medication, so you don't miss out on all of my observations.
Also, at this moment, " John W ", is former Governor Blagojevich in jail? What does your crystal ball say, by January!!?
Fitzgerald must re-try or Rod will fly!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.