Comments for Report from Chicago

Comment on The do-over by Cody Jarrett

Cody Jarrett — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:50:57 +0000

I’ve really enjoyed reading your work and I’m sorry it didn’t develop the audience it deserved. I chalk it up to the dumbing down of America. People want sound bites that echo what they already believe. Shades of grey don’t play well these days and you tried to paint a true picture of the evidence without picking a side. Advocacy is what’s hip with the kids today.

I hope to see you back for round two. Take it easy, but take it.

Comment on The do-over by Melinda

Melinda — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:06:02 +0000

Phil, I loved your work on the trial, and hope you do return for the do-over. Have a great rest of your summer.

Melinda

Comment on The do-over by stephen

stephen — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:31:54 +0000

Great job Phil…I’ll look forward to your next project, no matter what it is. We need more of your style of in-depth journalism…

best, Stephen

Comment on What’s taking so long & the aftermath by Melinda

Melinda — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:56:37 +0000

Phil, welcome back. Time spent around Traverse City is always envigorating. The Falls and Sleeping Bear are well worth a few days away from Chicago, but we surely did miss your point of view.

Comment on Odds & ends on the eve of Closing Arguments by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:53:19 +0000

What happened to the closing arguments? Are you going to finish your postings? You have a following here.

Comment on Odds & ends on the eve of Closing Arguments by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:39:33 +0000

Thanks very much for this.

I would be interested in your predictions.

Comment on Odds & ends on the eve of Closing Arguments by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:49:45 +0000

Hope you are ok. Worried that you have not added any thoughts or analysis since before the closings. Miss ya and your thoughts. You have done great work and hope all is well.

Comment on The many hats of Rod Blagojevich by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:14:17 +0000

sorry, should have been millions also from the campaign fund NOW paying his lawyers defending him in court. Guess the charged lies also don’t count either since the proof is pretty clear campaign fund raising was about the only thing Blago cared about and could do–with intensity. Indeed, that he could raise more that Gov Ryan in a 40 year career in just his two elections, speaks volumes to his campaign fundraising “talents”. Note as well, the lies also add to the proof of the conspiracy and RICO charges, directly and circumstantially.

Comment on The many hats of Rod Blagojevich by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:06:44 +0000

Cody, please. So there is testimony that there is a scheme by blago, kelly, monk and rezko to share money from using official actions, and low and behold both monk and blago are pulling money out of the schemes (monk in cash that we know of by his own admission… blago too? But no evidence of that to date apparently). But the clear evidence is that blago started getting the money through Patti Blagojevich as a front through real estate fees that testimony shows was not earned. Once Resko/Levine and others convicted and the back channel funding stream dries up to support the Blagojevich’s lavish spending, their bills start to pile up and the pressure to support their apparently illegally funded lifestyle increases. It is both direct and circumstantial evidence of the conspiracy and payoffs to the gov. Not even getting into the other criminal acts of using the governmental postion to obtain campaign contributions (not incidentally, a campaign account used to spend millions on lawyers for advice pre-indictment and the lawyers not defending him in court). Expect a Patti B indictment if she really takes the stand.

Comment on The many hats of Rod Blagojevich by Cody Jarrett

Cody Jarrett — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:18:56 +0000

“And this is not to imply that his guilt is assured in a court of law, but only that it is clear he was flailing about from scheme to scheme. And through it all, he only came up empty, wearing the sad hat that he deftly rolls down his arm and exchanges for the populist hat.”

With two sentences you have essentially summed up what the Blagogevich legacy in Illinois will be. Perhaps the ideal title for your book would simply be “Schemer”.

Whatever illegal acts Blago may have committed it’s pretty clear he was never able to profit in any way from those acts.

I’m not convinced of the illegality of Blago’s actions. Or more correctly I don’t think there is a politician alive who could withstand the scrutiny that the Fed’s put on him. I think if Fitgerald went after Daley, or Madigan, or Pelosi, or Boehner, or even Obama, he would have no problem finding similar, or worse, activities taking place. In an earlier trial it was called “criminalizing politics”.

I have no problem with them doing it, but I feel there are far bigger fish out there to fry.

Love your blog Phil, can’t wait for the book. Keep fighting the good fight.