Blago's a Clown, and That's Not Funny

Ex-gov bashes his trial, his successor; jokes about hair and lack of progress on book

(NEWSER) - Morning drive-time radio could be the future for Rod Blagojevich, if the impeached Illinois’ governor’s fill-in stint today on Chicago’s WLS-AM is anything to go by, Jimmy Orr writes in live-blogging the show for the Christian Science Monitor. Amid Elvis theme music and complaints about his successor’s proposed tax hike, the “natural radio host” responded to jokes about his hair and the book he’s writing. More»

Replacement denies deal to keep him on as 'incapacitated governor'

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich said today that shortly after his December arrest by federal authorities, he was approached by “leading senators” who offered him a chance to stay on as an “incapacitated governor,” the Chicago Tribune reports. The deal, which the now-impeached governor rejected, would have been contingent on him not appointing a replacement to Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. More»

Chicago power broker says daughter's hubby hoped to avoid ouster

(NEWSER) - Illinois' newest ex-governor wanted to jump before he was pushed, Rod Blagojevich's estranged father-in-law tells the Chicago Sun-Times. Richard Mell, a powerful Chicago alderman credited with launching Blago's career, says his son-in-law, despite his denials, wanted to avoid being ousted "but he didn't reach out to anybody" in state government. More»

Rebuttal of governor's speech comes as impeachment trial nears conclusion

(NEWSER) - The Illinois House prosecutor gave a forceful rebuttal today to Rod Blagojevich’s closing speech, in the last act of the governor’s impeachment trial before the state Senate deliberates on his fate, the Chicago Tribune reports. “He doesn’t have a constitutional right to be governor,” David Ellis said. “It is a privilege. And he has forfeit that privilege.” More»

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich gave a passionate defense of himself at his Illinois Senate impeachment trial today, saying he had done “absolutely nothing wrong,” and reiterating his grievances—that he wasn’t allowed to bring witnesses, and that there is no real evidence against him, save for the infamous wiretap recordings. “There was no criminal activity on those four tapes,” Blagojevich argued. “Those four tapes speak for themselves.” More»