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.

Video: Body Language Lady Confirms Obama Contempt for Netanyahu

It was obvious to all who objectively watched the recent exchange between Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office last week but it is nice to get confirmation from a body language expert. Tanya Reiman appeared on the O'Reilly Factor and left no room for doubt. In her judgment, the contempt Obama displayed for Netanyahu was undeniable, despite the words of each men. Reiman's appearances on O'Reilly are usually met with an immediate change of the channel for me because her readings are usually of people and / or exchanges with no real consequence or substance. She also usually appears to be disinterested in engaging in the political waters.

Not here. This was a very interesting read by Reiman. She didn't mince words and stated unequivocally that Obama's body language when being scolded by Netanyahu communicated more than just a dislike.

Via GWP:

Nazi Party Coming out of Closet in Egypt? No, Seriously

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt. It has been seizing control there ever since Mubarak's ouster. Its leaders aligned with Hitler during WWII. Now, go figure, the Nazi Party in Egypt, which allegedly operated in secret under Mubarak, is coming out of the proverbial closet via facebook. The leftwing media that pushed the notion of Democracy in Egypt is now conspicuously silent on this one. Because nothing says freedom and Democracy like the resurrection of Hitler's Party.

Via Jerusalem Post:

A group of Egyptian political activists have announced plans to set up a local version “of the Nazi party,” an Egyptian newspaper reported on Thursday.

Citing a leftist Egyptian news portal, the Al-Masry Al-Youm daily said that “the party’s founding deputy is a former military official,” and that the party would be aimed at bringing “together prominent figures from the Egyptian society.”

The report cited founding member Emad Abdel Sattar as saying that the unestablished party “believes in vesting all powers in the president after selecting him or her carefully,” and that “preparations are under way to choose the most competent person to represent the party.”

Almasry Alyoum added that an Egyptian Nazi party “operated secretly under former President Hosni Mubarak, whose regime prevented party leaders from carrying out their activities freely.”

The newspaper said it could not verify the report, but said it found two Facebook pages that appeared recently under the title of “the Egyptian Nazi Party,” which have so far attracted 70 followers.

Members are “increasing at an unexpected rate, and several people came to ask about the nature of the party and its plans,” the report said.

Remember how all those leftwing advocates of socialism insisted that Hitler's version of socialism was COMPLETELY different than the brand they love to champion? Go figure, those who championed the 'good' brand in Egypt helped to usher in the bad brand.

Read it all.