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Opinion

Commentary: Blago's last stand

The Belleville News-Democrat

January 30, 2009 03:05 PM

This editorial appeared in The Belleville News-Democrat.

Boy, we sure hope Rod Blagojevich doesn't plan to fall back on his skill as a lawyer.

What we heard Thursday sounded more like high school debate team – and we mean the freshmen – than reason to perpetuate the national embarrassment our shake-down, for-sale governor created. Fervor in lieu of facts did not cut it.

He played the jilted boyfriend trying to convince the state Senate that there were good times, rough spots sure, but wasn't it worth it, hon?

Then he invoked the American Dream, with an immigrant father who survived a Nazi prison camp to come to America and work steel to make a life for little Rod who grew up to become governor. "Hard to believe, I'm the governor of Illinois."

Was.

Never heard him explain how we misinterpreted the FBI wiretap in which he tried to sell President Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat: "I've got this thing and it's (bleeping) golden!"

No explanation of shaking down a children's hospital. Never heard why it wasn't really extortion on the Wrigley Field sale.

We did hear his efforts to illegally import $2.6 million worth of flu vaccine, which has now expired, was bending rules for the good of our kids and old folks.

It was the Bart Simpson defense: "I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, there's no way you can prove anything!"

To read the complete editorial, visit The Belleville News-Democrat.

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