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* 2:54 pm - So, in summation, lies, obfuscation, conspiracy theories, blaming the House for all ills, refusal to take any responsibility for anything.
Come to think of it, just about every press event Rod Blagojevich has had for the past 6 years has been exactly like this. The only change has been the situation.
* 2:47 pm - Republican Sen. Matt Murphy is speaking to reporters now. Watch it live. 2:50: He’s finished now.
* 2:43 pm - This part was just loaded with irony, considering that he’s accused of attempting to bribe Tribune owner Sam Zell into firing a member of his paper’s editorial board…
Blagojevich is also asking the state’s newspaper editorial boards to urge the state Senate to change the rules of his impeachment trial.
Speaking at a news conference in Chicago Friday, Blagojevich said he’s “mostly'’ done the right thing for the people of Illinois and he called on newspapers to “get involved.'’
* 2:40 pm - Tribune…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich today likened his Monday impeachment trial to a “hanging” of the 12 million people of Illinois.
The governor used an Old West analogy, citing an example where a cowboy accused of stealing a horse would get a fair trial before they hung him.
“Under these rules, I’m not getting a fair trial. They’re just hanging me,” Blagojevich said at the James R. Thompson Center. […]
“If they can do this to a governor, they can do this to any citizen in Illinois.”
Um, excuse me, but how many citizens of Illinois are governors who have been arrested after they were caught on FBI surveillance tapes apparently attempting to sell Barack Obama’s US Senate seat?
Yeah, I didn’t think there was more than one.
* 2:36 pm - End. At least he took a few questions this time. Not that he really answered any of them truthfully, but it’s a start, I suppose. Then again, the end is near.
* 2:34 pm - Now comes the tax hike tinfoil hat conspiracy again. He’s being asked about this “almost a conspiracy” between Quinn, Madigan and others to boot him out of office in order to raise taxes.
“I’m saying what I just said,” the governor explained. “It’s not a conspiracy, they have said it.”
Even the Republicans are in on it, the governor explained, because “they want the campaign issue” of a tax hike to use against the Democrats in the next election.
* 2:31 pm - The governor dodged quetions about filing a lawsuit to stop the Senate trial by saying that the issue is under discussion by his legal team.
* 2:30 pm - He’s now repeating many of the same lines from his Don & Roma appearance this morning. I debunked pretty much every argument here and here.
* 2:25 pm - The governor asked the Senate President to “just change those two rules,” [8(b) and 15(f), see below] and allow him to call witnesses. He listed a large number of politicians, including Sen. John McCain, whom he’d like to call to bolster his argument that, for instance, the drug importation program was the right thing to do. But as noted below, he had the opportunity to call those witnesses and refused to participate in the trial. He also never attempted to contact the Senate about the rules through his attorneys.
* 2:24 pm - Oh, this is rich. He’s calling on newspaper editorial boards to come to his defense.
* 2:17 pm - And away we go…
Says he’s “impatient” to “call witnesses.” However… under the current rules, they’re not allowing me to participate in that process… denies fundamental fairness, fundamental due process… doesn’t allow me or any citizen to challenge charges… it’s a trampling of the constitution.”
He’s complaining now about Senate trial rule 15 (f), which prohibits him from calling people who are on US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s “do not call” list…
15(f) It is never in order to request a subpoena for the testimony of any person or for the production of documents or other materials from that person if the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois has indicated that the person’s testimony, or inquiry into the subject matter of that person’s testimony, could compromise the U.S. Attorney’s criminal investigation of Rod R. Blagojevich…unless the U.S. Attorney subsequently indicates otherwise.
8(b) is…
No objection, however, may be made against all or any part of the House impeachment record filed by the House Prosecutor with the Secretary.
But he could’ve objected to the sufficiency of the article of impeachemnt under rule 14…
Any motion to dismiss or challenge the sufficiency of articles of impeachment must be submitted, in writing, to the Chief Justice on the day set for the commencement of the trial on the articles or as permitted by resolution adopted by the Senate
* 2:14 pm - And another two minute warning.
* 2:03 pm - Two minute warning.
* 1:55 pm - Lots of rumors flying around, including a pretty high-level one that the guv may announce he’s stepping aside and handing over power to Pat Quinn. That was a plan concocted and then discarded, but it was to be done in conjunction with a lawsuit blocking the Senate impeachment trial. The bottom line is, he could change his mind before he starts and just do hand-stands for 20 minutes.
Let’s keep this thread clear until the presser starts except for links to live Intertube broadcasts. At this moment, I don’t know who is carrying the show live, but here are a few links…
* CBS2
* ABC7
* NBC5
* Chicago Public Radio
* WBBM Radio
* Tribune
* WLS Radio
* CNN
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