Notes on the trial and "conviction" of Ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich

By Jack Brummet
Ethics and Social Mores Editor

What to do when you're facing dozens of charges of criminal corruption (including racketeering, conspiracy, and wire fraud)?  Well, you might appear on a reality TV show like The Apprentice.  Blagojevich was fired by Donald Trump after mismanaging a project (due to his inability to communicate...he cannot use a computer or send text messages, which left his team in the dark).  When reality TV didn't work out, he would make numerous appearances as an Elvis impersonator.  

Voir dire - Everyone seems to be wondering if the attorneys for the prosecution fell down during Voir dire.  "In the United States, it now generally refers to the process by which prospective jurors are questioned about their backgrounds and potential biases before being chosen to sit on a jury." [Wikipedia].  The holdout juror doesn't appear to be a nutcase or fruitcake. . .she seems to have honestly believed that the government had not proved its case except the one count of lying to the FBI.  She would have easily slipped through the voir dire process.  It happens.  It's why we require unanimous verdicts. . .a little insurance for the possibility of reasonable doubt.  Clearly the government will reprosecute this one, perhaps with a less complicated case, and becoming a little more serious about jury selection.

It is Chicago, so some of us wonder if the fix was in with the hold-out jury member?  Or was she mobbed up?  Again, on the surface, she seems legit.  She simply didn't buy the government's case.  And it does look like the prosecution may have cut some corners due to overconfidence in their case. Who can really blame them--he was practically caught with his hand wedged in the cookie jar.



If you're Rod Blagojevich, after you are convicted on one count, and the prosecution announces it's intention to refile on the other 23 cases where the jury hung. . .what then?  Well, The Ex-Gov has mounted a bizarre counterstrike in the media. 

Blagojevich appears to be broke again, and is pondering a return to reality TV as he awaits The Blago Corruption Trial:  The Sequel.
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Gov. Blagojevich considered naming Oprah to fill Obama's Senate seat. Did "O" fail to cough up the requisite $$$?

By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the soon to be ex-Illinois governor, in the middle of an impeachment trial told ABC's "Good Morning America" that the idea of nominating Oprah Winfrey came to him as he looked at candidates for the job he is now accused of trying to sell to the highest bidder.

"She seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become President," he said. "She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators."

The governor dropped the idea, 'though, because he felt it would look like a gimmick; he also thought that she would not accept the position. Of course, it's also quite possible she was unwilling to cough up the cash he required for the slot. . .
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Artist Brude Elliott follows up naked Sarah Palin painting with nude Rod Blagojevich

Click Governor Palin to enlarge


Brude Elliott with his Governor Palin painting - click to enlarge

Brude Elliott, the Chicago artist who had fifteen minutes of fame following his nude painting of Sarah Palin is about to finish a new painting featuring a naked Rod Blagojevich. Rod's portrait will hang next to the Palin painting (sorry folks...we have been unable to uncover an uncensored version of either painting).

In Palin's painting, the governor wears her alternate swept back 'do, and holds an automatic rifle while standing naked on a bear-skin rug."I don't see how she could be offended by this," Elliott said. "I made her into a sex figure." [ed's note: You might have had a little help, Brude! And truth be told, she's homelier in your painting than in real life. . .your painting of Rod, however, seems flattering. ]


Click Governor Blagojevich to enlarge

Elliott's nude portrait of Blagojevich is nearly complete and will hang on the wall of Elliott's wife's bar, the Old Town Ale House, next to his nude Sarah Palin.

The Chicago artist who drew crowds, and notoriety to his wife's bar with his nude painting has begun referring to the paintings as a series, the "nude governor series."

Blagojevich nude painting Video
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