I’m sitting here at my desk at home working on miscellaneous TPM stuff and like every few minutes some cable network flack sends me a new rush transcript of some interview Blagojevich did today. First, Campbell Brown. Now here’s one from Rachel Maddow. I mean the dude is an interview machine. And it’s not like he didn’t do something like 50 interviews yesterday. If Bill Buckley were still alive I’d expect to see him soon on Firing Line. And when does he go on Charlie Rose?
On the other hand, exchanges like this do make me wonder …
RACHEL MADDOW:
When– when you– again, this is from the wiretapped calls, and I realize you’re not gonna testify to their veracity. But they are out there, and the transcripts are there, and some of them were played today in the senate. Speaking about Barack Obama’s advisors, “They’re not willing to give me anything but appreciation in exchange for the senate seat. Bleep them.” What would you want other than appreciation? What– what could be kosher to exchange for a senate seat?BLAGOJEVICH:
Well, how about helping us pass healthcare and a jobs bill? And helping the people of Illinois. Don’t just leave Illinois now. And–RACHEL MADDOW:
I will appoint person X instead of person Y unless you do this (UNINTEL) favor for me?BLAGOJEVICH:
No, no, the– no, the one– for the other is not– that– that’s not what I’m saying. I’m simply saying– I’m in a political business. When Barack Obama agrees to raise $10 million for Hillary Clinton to get out of the race that’s the natural political sort of thing that happens in this business. It’s appropriate. Nothing that you– improper about it. Again, in the full context, discussions and the explorations of ideas and thoughts and whether you could or couldn’t do something– you– you should be able to do that in a free country that guarantees the right of free speech. Especially when you’re doing it in what you think is the sanctity of your home, and you want to do it out of your home phone, because you don’t want any interconnection with the government’s lines, so somebody thinks you’re talking politics on a government phone. Again, when the whole story is– is heard, and put in the proper context, I think you’ll see a process that ultimately– ultimately would– would lead in the right place.
I’ve got no brief for this guy. I’ve said several times, he often strikes me as genuinely clinical. But it’s not clear to me how strong a case they’ve got against this guy.
