# Go, Blago, go! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974 "2008-12-19T20:55:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/121 "2009-01-28T15:24:57Z")
He was on Larry King. ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/122 "2009-01-28T16:53:52Z")
All I can think about is that he’s following George Carlin’s “POLITICIAN TALK #2 - Trouble on the Hill” from “When will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?”. [See the bottom of page 69.](http://www.scribd.com/doc/6524114/George-Carlin-When-Will-Jesus-Bring-the-Pork-Chops-v12) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/123 "2009-01-28T17:53:16Z")
I don’t think he did himself any good on Maddow. He certainly showed that he expected favors of some form for his efforts. Whether or not it was criminal or even just “politics as usual” I think that a lot of the public sees it as unethical. I do wish that Maddow hadn’t spent the second half of the show congratulating herself on the interview, though. That part just bugged. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/124 "2009-01-28T18:19:37Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > Sorry, I’m having trouble with the idea of someone who’s Orthodox throwing a Hail Mary Pass. > The explanations of that line will add at least two pages to this thread. GOLD! I think the press is all over this guy for many reasons, mainly, he is flaming out in a way that all newspapers love…in public before rolling cameras. I think he will _find Jesus_ in his heart ( The True Christian Jesus ™, not the Serbian/Blago Jesus.) and renounce his evil ways. Too bad someone doesn’t do a Judge Crater on him. Where’s Blago would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/125 "2009-01-28T18:44:31Z")
Thing with the Maddow interview though, self congratulatory second half or not, she was right, he went past the line of self incrimination. There were chunks where he just went completely speechless as he was realizing the things he just said. Was anyone else reminded of Jerry Lundegaard? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/126 "2009-01-28T19:42:01Z")
I loved Olberman’s take on it (focusing on GEraldo catching up w/him in the parking lot of the View). Yea, his attorney’s got to be having kittens about all this. Regarding the actual criminal case, isn’t it Fitzgerald, the federal guy who was on the Valerie Plame case? If so, I believe he’s got the goods. Remember the outing of the tapes came pretty instantaneous. If so - my scenario is: Federal prosecutor has mountains of evidence proving all sorts of criminal behavior, is systematically setting it up, getting it all purty and stuff, then comes some tapes suggesting that the guy he’s investigating is going to sell a Senate seat to the highest bidder. What do you do (not shoot the hostage)? You’re not ready for the big criminal case, but you can’t let this bozo sell of public office, you’ve got to stop that from happening - leak the tape. Shit storm ensues. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/127 "2009-01-28T20:36:51Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > **I** didn’t say Illinois. This is a man of the world. He will run for President, possibly President of the World! Now here’s an idea: Blago at the top of the ticket, and Sarah Palin for veep. Or maybe the other way around. Leaving aside the obvious huge ideological differences, it would make for some _fabulous_ TV. Almost as good as the Keyes/Obama debates. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/128 "2009-01-28T21:02:36Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > So as I understand it he’s not participating in his trial, how can he do that? I understand he can’t speak and he can’t call witnesses, but how can he just decide not to show up? There’s two (potentially three) different “trials” going on here. First, the criminal trial, where it’s Blago vs. The State of Illinois (or maybe the USofA, I’m unclear if there are Federal charges here as well, but I think there are.) Anyhow, he \*will \* be subpoenaed and have to show up for the criminal trial, where there will be a judge and jury and lawyers and witnesses and everything else you see on Law and Order. If he’s found guilty at that trial, he’ll serve jail time. In the meantime, the House of Illinois has decided to impeach his ass. As near as I can tell (and I’m sure the legal dopers will correct me here), the House meets, discusses the situation and more or less says, “We think you’re a slimeball and probably did illegal things, but we don’t need to prove it, buh-bye.” If they do that, called impeachment, THEN the whole thing moves over to the Senate, where they…do more talking or something. I’m unclear on that point, but the Senate, not the House, are the folks who CONVICT him, not in a criminal trial, but in an impeachment trial. No jail time from them, but he can lose his job as governor if the House impeaches him \*and \*the Senate convicts him. Anyway, because the House impeachment “trial” isn’t a criminal trial, he doesn’t have to show up if he don’t wanna. And he don’t wanna. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/129 "2009-01-28T23:30:54Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > There’s two (potentially three) different “trials” going on here. First, the criminal trial, where it’s Blago vs. The State of Illinois (or maybe the USofA, I’m unclear if there are Federal charges here as well, but I think there are.) Anyhow, he \*will \* be subpoenaed and have to show up for the criminal trial, where there will be a judge and jury and lawyers and witnesses and everything else you see on Law and Order. If he’s found guilty at that trial, he’ll serve jail time. > > In the meantime, the House of Illinois has decided to impeach his ass. As near as I can tell (and I’m sure the legal dopers will correct me here), the House meets, discusses the situation and more or less says, “We think you’re a slimeball and probably did illegal things, but we don’t need to prove it, buh-bye.” If they do that, called impeachment, THEN the whole thing moves over to the Senate, where they…do more talking or something. I’m unclear on that point, but the Senate, not the House, are the folks who CONVICT him, not in a criminal trial, but in an impeachment trial. No jail time from them, but he can lose his job as governor if the House impeaches him \*and \*the Senate convicts him. > > Anyway, because the House impeachment “trial” isn’t a criminal trial, he doesn’t have to show up if he don’t wanna. And he don’t wanna. Actually, it’s the feds that arrested him and will be prosecuting him, and the Illinois House already impeached him (by a vote of 114-1). It’s his Senate trial that’s now going on. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/130 "2009-01-28T23:49:53Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Actually, it’s the feds that arrested him and will be prosecuting him, and the Illinois House already impeached him (by a vote of 114-1). It’s his Senate trial that’s now going on. Thanks; I thought it was something like that. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/131 "2009-01-29T00:23:07Z")
> [@wring](#): > > I loved Olberman’s take on it :smack: Jon Stewert, not Keith ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/132 "2009-01-29T00:34:39Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > There’s two (potentially three) different “trials” going on here. First, the criminal trial, where it’s Blago vs. The State of Illinois (or maybe the USofA, I’m unclear if there are Federal charges here as well, but I think there are.) Anyhow, he \*will \* be subpoenaed and have to show up for the criminal trial, where there will be a judge and jury and lawyers and witnesses and everything else you see on Law and Order. If he’s found guilty at that trial, he’ll serve jail time. > > In the meantime, the House of Illinois has decided to impeach his ass. As near as I can tell (and I’m sure the legal dopers will correct me here), the House meets, discusses the situation and more or less says, “We think you’re a slimeball and probably did illegal things, but we don’t need to prove it, buh-bye.” If they do that, called impeachment, THEN the whole thing moves over to the Senate, where they…do more talking or something. I’m unclear on that point, but the Senate, not the House, are the folks who CONVICT him, not in a criminal trial, but in an impeachment trial. No jail time from them, but he can lose his job as governor if the House impeaches him \*and \*the Senate convicts him. > > Anyway, because the House impeachment “trial” isn’t a criminal trial, he doesn’t have to show up if he don’t wanna. And he don’t wanna. I read this and heard it in my head with the “I’m Just A Bill” voice ([Jack Sheldon!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Sheldon))from Schoolhouse Rock. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/133 "2009-01-29T02:33:52Z")
> [@Discordia](#): > > He was on Larry King. So much for that theory (unless this says something about his opinion of Larry King). **Shirley** : I’m not complaining (it’s always flattering to have one’s quips noticed), but that has to be the slowest reaction (five-and-a-half weeks) I’ve ever seen. Must be getting obtuse in my old age. I know. I know. You just discovered the thread. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/134 "2009-01-29T15:05:57Z")
Heard on NPR that today Blagojevich will finally show up at his own trial, just to make a statement. (He will then be issued a blindfold and cigarette . . .) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/135 "2009-01-29T15:27:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Heard on NPR that today Blagojevich will finally show up at his own trial, just to make a statement. Yep, he’s going to deliver at least part of his own argument at 11:00 CST. (He has 90 minutes for argument, and I’m not sure if even Blago can fill that up by himself.) There’s some speculation that he’ll resign, just to deny the senators the satisfaction of voting him out. If he doesn’t, after they break for lunch, the prosecution has 30 minutes for rebuttal, and then the case goes to the senators. I’m not sure how much time they’ll allow for debate. If every senator speaks for 15 minutes, debate will take 15 hours. :eek: After the debate, they’ll vote on the single article, on the indivisible question of conviction and removal. If convicted, he’s out, and a separate vote will follow on the “political death penalty”. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/136 "2009-01-29T17:39:39Z")
I’m listening to his arguments now. He’s reiterating that not only that there is no evidence against him, but that the witnesses he hasn’t been allowed to bring forth would further prove this lack of evidence. He says the most he’s guilty of is “pushing and prodding too much.” He’s a good talker. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/137 "2009-01-29T18:00:22Z")
Got to admire the audacity of his plan though. You aren’t allowing me to defend myself during the impeachment, because you aren’t abiding by the rule of law. And when he gets to courts and is convicted, he’ll say the trail was poisoned because of the impeachment! Serious sack. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/138 "2009-01-29T18:41:49Z")
“All I did was try to help people!” Yeah, right. Mostly the person he tried to help was himself. Senatorial statements will be limited to five minutes, so we should have a verdict by early evening. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/139 "2009-01-29T18:58:25Z")
They’re going to impeach him. Admittedly though, some of the things he did (i.e. drugs from Canada) I agreed with. Still, he needs to go, the hold-up of funding for Childrens Memorial really pushed me over the edge with this tool. I can’t wait for the criminal trial. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974/140 "2009-01-29T19:07:19Z")
My boss just heard on the radio that as soon as he was done with his speech, he flew home, because Pat Quinn said that the state plane that Blago’s been using to fly back and forth while he’s been in office would no longer be available to him if he was removed from office, and he’d have to find his own way home. I would have LOVED to see him have to hop on the Amtrak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-blago-go/477974.md?page=8)