The indicted governor’s message to voters: “[Expletive] all of you.”
John Fund
The Wall Street Journal
7/10/2010
The corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich descended into farce yesterday, as witnesses testified to just how bizarre the behavior of the loudmouth pol was. If Hollywood turns the story into a reality TV show, it would be called “Diary of a Mad Governor.”
First up was former Deputy Governor Robert Greenlee, who described how disengaged Mr. Blagojevich was during his six-year tenure. The governor would spend only two to eight hours a week in the office, refused to make decisions and would hide from his staff in the bathroom so as to avoid dealing with budget issues. Mr. Greenlee testified that he once had to go to dinner with the governor and his family at a bowling alley because that was the only way he could have time with Mr. Blagojevich to discuss pressing legislation.
After a court recess, the jury returned to hear surveillance recordings made of Mr. Blagojevich by federal agents. Prosecutors claim they will prove the governor was trying to sell an appointment to Barrack Obama’s soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. On a December 2008 tape, the governor identifies Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. as someone who would give “tangible political support” in return for the Senate seat. “Specific amounts and everything,” Mr. Blagojevich says on the tape. He adds: “There is some of it up front.”
The rest is at the WSJ
