Word: blagojevich
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...ridicule that the state of Illinois has suffered since the corruption scandal of its governor was first revealed, for all the jokes made at the expense of the Land of Lincoln's long, sordid history of graft, there is one thing that is often overlooked: Rod Blagojevich is the first governor of the state to be impeached...
...Today's start of the feisty Chicago native's state senate trial, which will determine whether he is thrown out of office, is therefore a historic occasion. And like any media-savvy politician, Blagojevich isn't about to let history pass...
...Sure, technically he won't be in attendance, and the betting is he could be ousted within a week. Blagojevich has made no secret of his disdain for the proceedings, calling the trial (which is separate from the ongoing federal criminal probe) the equivalent of a lynching and his inability to call witnesses a "trampling of the Constitution." But his outrageous media appearances and unpredictable moves have kept Blagojevich the unrivaled star of his own reality show, making the jury of his peers in state government look feckless by comparison. (See a gallery of politicians caught in scandals...
...fact, Blagojevich's circus-like behavior since he was charged has angered and dismayed his colleagues in Springfield almost as much as the acts he is accused of committing, most notably trying to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. Not only did he refuse to go quietly by resigning, but he has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, accusing legislators of plotting to overthrow him so they can push through tax hikes and generally bully all future governors. Blagojevich then surprised all observers by going ahead with an appointment to replace Obama; his choice of Roland Burris, a veteran African...
...Blagojevich followed the same kamikaze strategy on Monday, appearing on Good Morning America (where he said he had briefly considered appointing Oprah Winfrey to Obama's Senate seat) and The View. In a pretaped interview for NBC's Today Show, he tossed out names like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr., saying they gave him "perspective" in the storm that has erupted around...