BLAGO TRIAL SET TO GET VERY INTERESTING THIS WEEK

The corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich started off slow but it gained significant momentum this past week with the testimony of former Blagojevich Chief of Staff, John Harris. Harris can be heard consulting with Blago on numerous tapes of phone conversations between the two after the 2008 election, strategizing about how to deal with Obama's request that Valerie Jarrett be appointed to Obama's soon-to-be vacated Senate seat. During Harris' testimony, he said that he had no doubt Obama knew that Blago wanted something in return for the appointment.

Phone calls between Harris and Blagojevich appear to back that up - a time when both were being honest with each other. Tom Balanoff, an official with SEIU at the time, spoke with Blagojevich according to the phone conversations as well. In one of the conversations, recorded on November 5th, 2008, Blago discusses his meeting with Balanoff about what he wants in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the seat - the HHS Secretary gig. Balanoff is also expected to testify in the trial.

While Harris is expected to take the stand on June 28th for a fifth day, another interesting development is percolating. It involves current Democratic candidate for that Senate seat in November - Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias is finding himself in a tough spot as a result of another phone conversation played for the jury this past week. It too was between Blago and Harris. In it, Harris can be heard telling Blago that "Alexi" called him, wanting to talk about the Senate seat, presumably to help push for Jarrett. Blago tells Harris not to engage Giannoulias.

This is particularly curious because Giannoulias has maintained that it was Blagojevich's team that reached out to him during the period in question. For a year and a half, he has withheld any information about this phone call.

Now we learn that Mr. Giannoulias has been subpoenaed to testify. Via the AP:

CHICAGO — U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias said Sunday that he has been subpoenaed to testify at the corruption trial of ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The first-term Illinois treasurer, a Democrat who's locked in a contentious race for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat with Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, told The Associated Press that he was subpoenaed by Blagojevich's defense team.

Giannoulias' name was mentioned briefly last week during Blagojevich's trial. Former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris was heard on federal wiretaps mentioning that Giannoulias had called about Obama's old seat on behalf of someone else.

Interestingly, the Chicago Tribune reported back in December, 2008 that Giannoulias claimed that it was Blagojevich's team that reached out to him.

Giannoulias also said that staff within Blagojevich's office have "reached out" to him as a possible candidate to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, though a Blagojevich spokesman said the governor has not contacted Giannoulias directly.

Perhaps this contradiction between what Giannoulias said in 2008 juxtaposed with what was revealed on the tape of the phone conversation has a little something to do with his being subpoenaed? As you'll hear in the tape, not only was it Giannoulias that reached out to Harris but Blago tells Harris not to speak to Giannoulias.

Yep, this is going to be interesting, regardless of the Mainstream media's refusal to cover it.

h/t to Blago Files

AUDIO: CASS SUNSTEIN OUTLINES HIS INTERNET PLAN

While appearing on WBZ in Boston, MA in 2001, Obama's Regulatory czar Cass Sunstein went on a virtually incoherent rant about how people who use the internet don't know what's best for them and if they don't voluntarily follow his agenda, they should be forced to do so by Congressional mandate. Mind you, he's allegedly advocating that everyone should have access to opposing views. Lost on him is that there are opposing views to his.

This guy has several screws loose. Intellectualism requires a willingness to consider others lesser human beings who can't think for themselves when they don't agree with you.

Sickness on display.



h/t to Naked Emperor

VIDEO: ANOTHER WOMAN MAKING MORE MEN LOOK LIKE GIRLS

Liz Cheney does it again, talking tougher than so many men who are supposed to actually be tough. We continue to witness more courage, in very large numbers, being demonstrated by political women than by their male counterparts. Exceptions when talking about the latter include but are not limited to Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R). Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Jan Brewer, and New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez are just a few of the increasingly large number of women out there who are showing guts.

Liz Cheney needs to be on the list as well - if she wasn't already.

Here, on Fox News Sunday, she identifies Obama's economic policies as a threat to national security. You'd think, at some point, the girlie men would get a little embarrassed.



h/t to Gateway Pundit

VIDEO: BIDEN RIPS CUSTARD STORE MANAGER

When V.P. Joe Biden entered Kopps' Frozen Custard store in Greenfield, Wisconsin while campaigning with Russ Feingold, he asked for ice cream. The employees rightfully took issue with his ignorance of their product and informed him in unison that he was in a custard store. It went down hill from there as Biden was told by the manager that he didn't have to pay for his portion but instead, the manager wanted him to lower their taxes. Biden obviously, blatantly, and rudely ignored the comment. After thinking about it, Biden apparently decided to give the manager a piece of his mind.

Not many people can say they were called a "Smart A**" by the Vice President of the United States but this Kopps' manager now has that distinction.

Just to recap: Biden goes into a renowned frozen custard store and asks for ice cream; he is then corrected by proud employees and patrons; this is followed by his being told he doesn't have to pay for his custard - it's on the house; he proceeds to call the manager a "smart a**". What I find rather ironic is that Biden may have been sent to Wisconsin to help support Feingold's re-election because Obama is becoming radioactive for Democrats. Uh, mission failed.

UPDATE: One other thought here. Notice that Biden implies that this manager is "always" a "smart a**". I think it's right to assume this is the first time the two met so how would Joe know? The answer was obvious. The American people are getting to these politicians and Biden lashed out at what he viewed as the face of them.

via Weasel Zippers: