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Blago: I Thought About Oprah For Senate Seat
FinkelBlog ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 01/26/2009 5:38:09 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

One of Oprah’s most famous moves was giving away a car to every member of the studio audience. With the Obama administration planning to dole out several thousand dollars in largesse for every American family, why not Winfrey for senator from Illinois? Whatever his motivation, Rod Blagojevich let it be known on GMA today that he had indeed considered Oprah for appointment to Barack Obama’s open Senate seat.

Diane Sawyer interviewed the Illinois governor, and to her credit held his feet fairly firmly to the fire. In contrast with Amy Robach’s relatively soft treatment in her NBC interview, Sawyer repeatedly cited some of the seamier excerpts from the infamous wiretape transcripts, e.g., “I’ve got this thing and it’s bleeping golden and, I’m just not giving it up for bleeping nothing.”

Sawyer was also persistent on the subject of who Blago had in mind for the seat. The guv eventually spilled the beans, but not before asking Sawyer a question worthy of middle-school girls gossiping during break, along the lines: “who did you hear I was thinking about?”

View video.

(Excerpt) Read more at finkelblog.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: barackobama; dianesawyer; oprahwinfrey; rodblagojevich

1 posted on 01/26/2009 5:38:09 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; MEG33; PGalt; ...

Oprah for Senate ping to Today show list.


2 posted on 01/26/2009 5:38:57 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Conservative criticism of the liberal media: www.finkelblog.com)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Sufficient evidence for a judge to have him committed for observation, IMHO.


3 posted on 01/26/2009 5:40:22 AM PST by George Smiley (They've gone beyond merely drinking the Kool-Aid and are now eating it straight out of the packet.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
...for a guy who runs government like a candy store, it's a wonder he didn't think of Daffy Duck for Attorney General...??????..maybe he did.. Daffy along Bugs did find
that treasure guarded by that.....oh see....Muslim, Hassan
4 posted on 01/26/2009 5:44:44 AM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Blago: I Thought About Oprah For Senate Seat

= Translation: It Ain't Much, But It's The Only Race Card I Have To Play!


5 posted on 01/26/2009 5:45:18 AM PST by MindBender26 (ATTN: Rev. Lowery: Sorry 'bout that, but I am White, and I got it Right years ago!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

does Michal Jordan live in Ill?


6 posted on 01/26/2009 5:46:48 AM PST by machogirl (not one of Rush's top-ten gal names)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I wonder if these interviews are the reason his lawyer decided to stop representing him. AFAIK it’s not usually a good idea to go on a “press tour” when one is facing federal charges of this magnitude. Just watching Blago occasionally over the last few months, and hearing the gaffes he’s already made - some which have probably NOT helped him in regards to a future jury - these interviews are probably a defense lawyer’s worst nightmare. I would’ve excused myself from the case if my client wasn’t following my advice as well...


7 posted on 01/26/2009 5:47:01 AM PST by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ Pro-Palin & NObama Gear : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: Doogle

8 posted on 01/26/2009 5:47:44 AM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Sometimes when I think about those two story outhouses (admittedly not all that frequently), I think about ‘rat “leaders” being on the first floor below me. Blago could easily be sitting there.


9 posted on 01/26/2009 5:48:29 AM PST by Paladin2 (No, pundits strongly believe that the proper solution is more dilution.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Blago: I Thought About Oprah For Senate Seat

This guy has some really SERIOUS mental problems. Yes, he is intentionally trying to poisen any jury pool...but he will still do some "hard time" eventually.

10 posted on 01/26/2009 5:50:09 AM PST by GoldenPup
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

“One of Oprah’s most famous moves was giving away a car to every member of the studio audience.”

From your link:

“The cars, priced at $28,400 fully loaded, were donated by Pontiac, according to the carmaker. Pontiac, a division of General Motors (GM: Research, Estimates), has also agreed to pay sales tax for each membr of the lucky audience.”

She gave away things she never owned, and made the donor pony up the taxes to boot. How “senatorial.”


11 posted on 01/26/2009 5:51:26 AM PST by maggief
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To: maggief

Great point!


12 posted on 01/26/2009 5:53:41 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Conservative criticism of the liberal media: www.finkelblog.com)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

innocent!


13 posted on 01/26/2009 5:54:29 AM PST by palmer (Some third party malcontents don't like Palin because she is a true conservative)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Justice Department Briefing on Blagojevich Investigation:
Patrick Fitzgerald, United States attorney general for the Northern District of Illinois [speaking to press]:
Published: December 9, 2008, New York Times

Excerpts from the transcript:

Fitzgerald: "In the governor words -- governor's words, quote, 'Fire all those bleeping people. Get them the bleep out of there. And get us some editorial support', close quote. And the bleeps are not really bleeps."

(snip)

Fitzgerald: "A month or so ago a $1.8 billion tollway project was announced. While that tollway project was being announced, Governor Blagojevich was privately seeking to have a person benefiting from that contract raise $100,000 in contributions, and privately the government (sic) said, 'I could have made a larger announcement but wanted to see how they would perform by the end of the year. If they don't perform, bleep 'em.' That's a quote. And the word 'bleep' was not the word he used."

(snip)

Fitzgerald: "The governor's own words describing the Senate seat, quote, 'It's a bleeping valuable thing -- thing. You just don't give it away for nothing', close quote."

Fitzgerald: "Another quote, 'I've got this thing, and it's bleeping golden. And I'm just not giving it up for bleeping nothing. I'm not going to do it, and I can always use it; I can parachute me there,' quote. Those are his words, not our characterization, other than with regard to the bleep."

Fitzgerald: "The tapes reveal that Governor Blagojevich wanted a number of things in exchange for making the appointment to the Senate seat -- an appointment as secretary of health and human services or an ambassadorship, an appointment to a private foundation, a higher paying job for his wife or campaign contributions."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
_________________________________________________________

Blago's wife...

"Mrs. Blago, the former Patti Mell, won the hearts of old-school thugs everywhere with her f-word-filled rants captured on FBI wiretaps, some of which were colorfully detailed in the criminal complaint against her hubby..." --Michelle Malkin, December 17, 2008

http://710knus.townhall.com/columnists/MichelleMalkin/2008/12/17/the_real_housewives_of_crook_county

_____________________________________________________


14 posted on 01/26/2009 5:56:57 AM PST by ETL (Smoking gun evidence on ALL the ObamaRat-commie connections at my newly revised FR Home/About page)
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To: maggief

Hmmm.... Just think: If GM wouldn’t have given away what, like 200 cars to all these people for free, perhaps they wouldn’t have needed so much of our tax dollars to “bail them out”.


15 posted on 01/26/2009 5:57:15 AM PST by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ Pro-Palin & NObama Gear : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Diane Sawyer interviewed the Illinois governor, and to her credit held his feet fairly firmly to the fire.

Was she sober, or did she and the The Rod share a morning hot toddy?

16 posted on 01/26/2009 5:59:37 AM PST by OldSmaj (I oppose BO. I am now TREASONOUS. To hell with Hussein.)
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To: OldSmaj

LOL, I saw that clip. Her co-workers must really not like her very much. Real friends would’ve taken her aside, or locked her in her dressing room for her own good...


17 posted on 01/26/2009 6:04:40 AM PST by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ Pro-Palin & NObama Gear : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I honestly thought this headline was from a satire site.


18 posted on 01/26/2009 6:05:42 AM PST by Tigercap
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To: MindBender26
= Translation: It Ain't Much, But It's The Only Race Card I Have To Play!

You really know how these people think.

19 posted on 01/26/2009 6:16:24 AM PST by Ben Hecks
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

20 posted on 01/26/2009 6:26:51 AM PST by shiva
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To: George Smiley

Really? If you’re selling something, you don’t shop your wears around to those who can afford it less, do you? The stupid cow has more money than god, may as well consider her if your goal is fattening your wallet.


21 posted on 01/26/2009 6:29:23 AM PST by Hegewisch Dupa
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To: GoldenPup

Is Oprah less qualified than Caroline Kennedy? I don’t think so.

He didn’t actually nominate Oprah, he just thought about it. So what? Patterson thought about Caroline Kennedy.

And actually, I think Oprah would be a better senator than Scholssberg. At least Oprah can TALK and has some experience running a communications empire.

I want everyone to lay off Blago. He’s providing a lot of headaches for Obama and the democrats and I want this to go on all year. I sort of like the guy.


22 posted on 01/26/2009 6:32:19 AM PST by Miss Marple
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Very interesting that Blago is being publicly deconstructed by the vast array of villains lined up against him and he still doesn’t get it.

Your 15 minutes of fame are just about up, Rod. Say hello to oblivion.

Nah, nah, nah, hah...hey, hey, hey...GOODBYE.


23 posted on 01/26/2009 6:42:15 AM PST by PGalt
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To: ETL

Valuable quotes, homepage. Thanks again, ETL.


24 posted on 01/26/2009 6:44:42 AM PST by PGalt
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To: Miss Marple
I sort of like the guy.

Me too...I saw him the other night saying he's not allowed to call any witnesses in his defense.

Some of the potential pillars of society he'd like to call:

Rhombo
JJ Jr.
The swimmer
Hillary (IIRC) and so many other interesting faces.

Popcorn time!! Go Blago!!

25 posted on 01/26/2009 6:54:30 AM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The tree of liberty is getting mighty dry and I already miss GWB)
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To: MindBender26

Blago: Actually she was very qualified.
Translation: She has LOTS of money to buy it.


26 posted on 01/26/2009 7:09:55 AM PST by 70th Division (I love my country but fear my government!)
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To: Las Vegas Ron
Me too...I saw him the other night saying he's not allowed to call any witnesses in his defense.

He IS allowed to call anyone he wants, just another LIE by another pathological narcissist.

Our society seems to be full of them lately!

27 posted on 01/26/2009 7:13:46 AM PST by blondee123 (I will never acknowledge a Marxist as President of the United States of America!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

She certainly has the money for it.


28 posted on 01/26/2009 7:26:22 AM PST by twigs
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To: Miss Marple
“I want everyone to lay off Blago. He’s providing a lot of headaches for Obama and the democrats and I want this to go on all year. I sort of like the guy.”

Yeah, but he's not your governor. He does seem to be not quite the typical tax & spend Democrat. In a way he is just a spend Democrat since he is not in favor of increasing the state income tax. He did, however, jack up a whole bunch of fees when he first came into office, making the business climate in Illinois a bunch worse than it had been.

29 posted on 01/26/2009 7:26:34 AM PST by Western Phil
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To: blondee123
Our society seems to be full of them lately!

No doubt, maybe it was because they weren't "letting" him call witnesses, I dunno.

It's gonna be some good entertainment though. :^)

30 posted on 01/26/2009 7:47:58 AM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The tree of liberty is getting mighty dry and I already miss GWB)
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To: Western Phil
Well, I do sympathize for your trouble, but the Lieutenant Governor would be just as crooked, if not more so. That's why I figure this should drag out as long as possible, making the democrats look bad.

I have wonderful Mitch Daniels as governor, who has been running our state so well we are only one of 6 states that isn't going to ask the feds for bailout money. I am very proud of him.

31 posted on 01/26/2009 7:51:31 AM PST by Miss Marple
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To: PGalt
Your 15 minutes of fame are just about up, Rod. Say hello to oblivion.

I really don't think so. I think he is putting himself out there, getting his name really well known for when this all blows over and the mind-numbed boob tube watchers forget what the hubbub was about. Then he'll get his own talk show on the boob tube, write a book, go on speaking tours with Slick Willie.

IOW, he's making himself into a celebrity.

32 posted on 01/26/2009 9:44:25 AM PST by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
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To: Hegewisch Dupa

wares


33 posted on 01/30/2009 5:26:27 AM PST by Hegewisch Dupa
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