Judge nixes Costa Rica trip for ex-Ill. governor (denied Reality show stint in Costa Rica)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 4/21/09 | Mike Robinson - ap

[NormsRevenge]

CHICAGO – A federal judge dashed indicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's reality TV dream Tuesday, refusing to give the ousted Democrat permission to travel to Costa Rica to tape a show in the jungle. U.S. District Judge James Zagel refused to modify terms of Blagojevich's bail to allow him to leave the United States, saying he needs to remain in the country to help his attorneys formulate a strategy for his defense.

The judge said that would give Blagojevich a better sense of the gravity of the legal problems he faces — including allegations he tried to auction off President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

"I don't think this defendant fully understands and I don't think he could understand ... the position he finds himself in," Zagel sat during Tuesday's the hearing.

[NormsRevenge]

He wanted to appear on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" — a program similar to "Survivor."

[NormsRevenge]

Blago’s lamp extinguished

[Pessimist]

It’s almost hard to believe this isn’t satire!

Our founding fathers are spinning in their grraves...

[Badeye]

I love it when reality bites.

[NormsRevenge]

The Blago Saga continues

Illinois must be real proud.

[NormsRevenge]

Reagan appointee

Zagel, James Block

Born 1941 in Chicago, IL

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Nominated by Ronald Reagan on February 2, 1987, to a seat vacated by Frank J. McGarr; Confirmed by the Senate on April 21, 1987, and received commission on April 22, 1987.

Education:
University of Chicago, B.A., 1962

University of Chicago, M.A., 1962

Harvard Law School, J.D., 1965

Professional Career:
Assistant state’s attorney, Cook County, Illinois, 1965-1969
Assistant attorney general, State of Illinois, 1969-1977
Deputy chief, Criminal Justice Division, 1969-1970
Chief, Criminal Justice Division, 1970-1977
Chief prosecuting attorney, Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, 1973-1975
Chief assistant attorney general, State of Arizona, 1975
Executive director, Illinois Law Enforcement Commision, 1977-1979
Director, Department of Revenue, State of Illinois, 1979-1980
Chairman, Governor’s Advisory Counsel on Criminal Justice Legislation, 1980-1987
Director of state police, State of Illinois, 1980-1987

[BipolarBob]

It’s almost hard to believe this isn’t satire!

Future generations will laugh their arse off over some of the headlines and news in our time.

[colorado tanker]

Survivor: Blago??

He'd do great, he's been down with the cockroaches his whole life.

[NormsRevenge]

‘New Direction’ Reality TV?

—

NBC: Disappointed but not moving show for fmr. gov

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090421/ap_en_ot/us_blagojevich_reality_tv

CHICAGO – NBC says it’s disappointed indicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich can’t go to Costa Rica to tape a reality TV show but it isn’t moving the show to the U.S. to accommodate him.

A federal judge in Chicago has denied the ousted governor’s request to leave the country to tape NBC’s “I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!”

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to a host of federal corruption charges. His bond doesn’t let him leave the country.

[NormsRevenge]

What channel is Trump on?

Yur FiRed!

[colorado tanker]

Well, they could move it to the U.S. and do it in a prison, with the “celebrities” playing prisoners. Or would that be a little too much “reality” for Blags? Caged Whore?

[Don Corleone]

Shoot it in a studio...like they did the Twin Towers incident or the moon landing. /sarc