Blagojevich Takes the Stand, Crickets Chirp

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich took the stand during his re-trial and it went virtually unnoticed by media outlets. A day earlier, Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson, Jr. testified and that too was practically ignored. Blago's decision to testify was likely rooted in desperation as the prosecution greatly scaled back the circus atmosphere of the first trial. As for his testimony, reports suggest that Blago did his best to play the sympathy card; at this point, it's really all he's got left. Based on the reports, it appears that the gravity of what the former Governor is facing is starting to set in.

Via Chicago Sun-Times:

With all eyes on him, Rod Blagojevich stood up, buttoned his suit-coat, pecked his wife on the cheek, then made the walk across a federal courtroom.

After years of false promises and of making statements only in front of television cameras, the former governor of Illinois on Thursday raised his right hand and took an oath before sitting in the witness chair.

“I’m Rod Blagojevich,” he said to jurors with a hint of nervousness. “I used to be your governor, and I’m here today to tell you the truth.”

And over the next few hours he told them quite a bit.

He admitted his salty language on secret FBI tapes made him “an effin’ jerk,” confessed to having “a man crush” on Alexander Hamilton, then showed a video of himself and Jesse Jackson Jr. hugging it out.

Rod Blagojevich even choked up when talking about meeting his wife.

In the first trial, the prosecution's tactics almost seemed to benefit Blago while embarrassing the Obama administration. The second trial appears to be doing the exact opposite. Again, perhaps the biggest mistake Blago made was deciding not to put up a defense in the first trial. He might have been able to capitalize on the local media frenzy and gotten the trial even more attention. He didn't and the second trial has garnered virtually ZERO interest, even with his testimony.

Read it all.