Blagojevich to visit David Letterman's 'Late Show'

Chicago Tribune ^ | Feb.2 2009 | Phil Rosenthal

[malkee]

Rod Blagojevich, less than a week removed from his removal as governor of Illinois, is booked to visit CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" on Tuesday night.

The Illinois senate on Thursday voted 59-0 to remove Blagojevich from office. Arrested in December by federal agents, Blagojevich has been accused by U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald of trying to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Preseident Barack Obama, among other crimes.

Blagojevich's "Late Show" appearance, set for 10:35 p.m. Tuesday on WBBM-Ch. 2, is being promoted by CBS as the former governor's first late-night talk-show visit since his ouster.

It marks a return to New York City, where Blagojevich launched a national media blitz on Monday and Tuesday of last week as the senate began its impeachment proceedings against him. "The View," "Today," "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," "Nightline" and other TV shows all got their own versions of his talking points, which centered on the idea that conversations he is said to have been taped having are being used out of context and that the impeachment proceedings denied him due process.

Just last week, while Blagojevich was making the media rounds in New York to distract everyone from his impeachment trial, Letterman offered a Top 10 list of "Ways Rod Blagojevich Can Improve His Image":

[malkee]

What next?

[Darkwolf377]

Dave’s gonna set him up with Mrs. David Letterman.

[LukeL]

Doesn’t this guy still have to worry about a criminal trial? Since he is a lawyer he knows anything he says in public can be entered into evidence at his trial, be it criminal or civil.

[WheresMyBailout]

Do you know what I would have done if I were Rod Blagojevich, threaten to pardon everybody. Everybody incarcerated, death row inmates, people on probation, people with traffic tickets (so they could get their money back possibly), ex-felons not out in the community, sex offenders ... everybody.

That is unless the state House guaranteed to me it would not impeach. Of course, the House could impeach and the Senate convict me overnight without me knowing, but that would require a lot of coordination with the legislature and the Chief Justice. I guarantee you my approval would be 0% after I made such a threat, but I would get to stay in office and get my salary until I was thrown in the Fed Pen for 30 years.

I highly doubt the Legislature would want to play that game of chicken.

BTW, George Ryan did play this game of chicken in 2003 when he pardoned everybody off of death row.

[max americana]

There’s not a lefty Dem that Dave didn’t like as his guest.

[malkee]

BTW, George Ryan did play this game of chicken in 2003 when he pardoned everybody off of death row

I think it was before 2003

[Aria]

If you give a ton of money to a Presidential candidate you get an ambassadorship or maybe a cabinet post. If you give a ton of $ to a president you can get a pardon. If you give a ton of money to a congressman, or even a state representative you get special favors. Lobbyists make a business of this. Rich people do this every day as do corporations.

Blogo has a point when he says he did nothing wrong. I suppose the problem for him was a lack of finesse.

[malkee]

Yup.

[Bobalu]

[ChiMark]

Sorry, Blago is incredibly guilty. He coerced “donations”.
Don’t tell me he used these monies for paying down the debt.

The everybody does it argument is weak. Defining deviancy down.

[cydcharisse]

This guy’s going to earn more money now than he ever dreamed of whilst trying to sell Obama’s seat.

[Impy]

I don’t watch Letterman, he’s not funny.

But I’ll tune in to see this farce!

[Bird Jenkins]

By the end of all this, MSNBC will give this clown his own show...

[BallyBill]

I believe that Letterman didn't get the memo about not exposing Democrat corruption. I guess if they never mention his party it can be OK.

[Thunder90]

He has to worry about not only the Federal trial, but a State of Illinois indictment too.

[RichInOC]

One Midwestern idiot deserves another.

[WheresMyBailout]

It was January 11, 2003.