Blago College Bud Saw Some of This Coming

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»

Ex-gov finds lighter side as he exits

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich—now the former governor of Illinois—spent his last day in office in characteristic fashion: a stew of gallows humor, bitter recrimination, and concern about how he looked (literally and figuratively). A New York Times reporter flew with him from Chicago to Springfield and back, as he lurched from one emotion to the next. "I wonder if we’ll have to hitchhike home," he wondered before his plane landed; "maybe we could take the bus." (He didn't.) More»

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich remained unapologetic after the Illinois Senate added him to the ranks of the unemployed today, MSNBC reports. "I'm obviously saddened and disappointed by what's happened, but not surprised," said the impeached governor. "It's a very dangerous precedent to set because a whole bunch of politicians have their own agenda." He vowed to clear his name. "I love the people of Illinois today more than I ever have before," he said. More»

(NEWSER) - The Illinois Senate voted unanimously today to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich and remove him from office, the Chicago Tribune reports. Senators also barred him from holding any future office in the state. Blagojevich, accused of essentially putting a Senate seat up for sale, appeared before the body earlier in the day to assert his innocence. "You haven't proved a crime, and you can't because it didn't happen," he said. More»

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich will show up at his own impeachment trial after all. The Illinois governor will appear before the state Senate tomorrow, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich won't take questions but will deliver a closing argument on his own behalf. State senators could vote to remove him from office later in the day. More»