The jury in the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been deliberating for 11 days now. This afternoon, there is increased activity around the courthouse, according to reporters on the scene in Chicago. It’s not clear whether a verdict is in or whether a note from jury, the first in a week, indicates a deadlock, or whether something else entirely is afoot. Stay tuned …
Late Update: So here’s the deal: The note from the jury said they were deadlocked on some of the charges. The judge ordered them to continue deliberating.
Minnesota Republicans tear into newly nominated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton with a slew of less than flattering press clippings from his days in the Senate.
Remember Randy “Duke” Cunningham? The guy who sort of kicked off the late, baroque scandal-era of the GOP ascendency with his boffo corruption scandal (he had actually prepared a menu for what contracts he might offer in exchange for which bribes) in mid-2005? Well, it sounds like half a decade in the can has turned Cunningham into something of a prison reform activist. Says Cunningham …
The USA has more prisoners than any other nation, including Russian & China. The US Attorneys win 98% of their cases and if you do not plead in which 80-90% is not true they threaten your wife children etc with prison time … Maybe that’s why God put me here to bring about much needed prison reform. Millions of prisoners but 4x that in families are harmed.”
Never much of a grammarian. But prison seems to have changed the guy.
The Imam at the center of the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ controversy was recruited by the Bush administration to travel abroad as an example of pluralist, moderate Islam as practiced in the United States.
NY pols at the highest levels turnout big time for Charlie Rangel’s combo 80th birthday party and fundraiser.
Some reader reactions to The Dukester’s conversion to prison reformer.
TPM Reader JH:
Well, you folks have certainly heard most political cliches, but I got this one from a friend from Alabama: “There’s no Democrat like a Republican that’s been to prison.”
Duke seems to be living it. Hopefully not too large.
Jeb Bush on GOP Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposed entitlement-slashing, deficit-exploding budget “plan”:
He’s not saying the world’s going to be full of butterscotch sundaes. He’s saying: “Eat your broccoli. And then maybe you don’t get to eat at all for a few days. You don’t get steak — ever.”
That’s the spirit!
Jon Stewart: John Boehner’s stance on the economy is “profoundly retarded.” Watch.
