Rachel Maddow Show - Blago interview, Part 4. Rachel asks, "Are you mad?"

[BlueJessamine]

Run time: 06:03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpOSVArt9jo   Posted on YouTube: January 28, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 28, 2009 By DU Member: BlueJessamine Views on DU: 1190

 
Transcript via MSNBC:

RACHEL MADDOW:
You-- have become a national figure in a way that I'm sure was not the way that
you wanted to become a national figure. Are you mad?

BLAGOJEVICH:
I-- I'm not mad. I-- I'm philosophical about it. Dr. King had a quote. Said
that, "In the end, you remember not the words of your enemies, but the silence
of your friends." And when something like this happens to you it's-- it becomes
very lonely. And people who were in your office just the day before, people who
were calling constantly 'cause they had needs and wants, and were excessively
obsequious, and if this was a private conversation I'd have another way to say
it. Kissing-- you know, once this happened, you know, they're nowhere to be
found. And-- and-- and if you try to call them they wouldn't call back, so you
know you don't even bother calling them. But I-- that's kind of part of this
business. And I-- I-- I understand a lot of it. That's why Harry Truman said
if, in Washington it applied to politics, and if you want a friend get a dog.
And that's why you-- you find comfort with your family. And, for us, my wife
and I, the most difficult part is, our two daughters. Our little girls. And
my-- our 12 year old especially, who is a lot more aware of what's happening.
And our little five year old. And-- and that's another reason why, you know,
I'm simply not gonna-- I'm not gonna acknowledge things that aren't true, or say
that I did something wrong when I didn't. Because I don't want to shame my
children. And-- much better for their father to fight to the very end for
principles that are bigger than him, and this one is the office of the governor.
And the right to be able to show he didn't do anything wrong (UNINTEL) taken
away from the people of Illinois than to simply accept something and-- and
somehow look like you did something wrong when you didn't. So-- you know, the
chances are I'll be looking for work in the next several days. But we'll get
on. And I'll vindicate myself. The truth will come out.

More of the transcript is here:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/01/blagojevich_on_msnbcs_rachel_m.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Mad, MAD? or mad, "Just wait there. I have to get my shot gun" mad? or

ubaaubba guubabababab EEEK EEEK EEEK craunchity crunaaplty biddleleebeep, Mad?

[Piewhacket]

6. more like if he was skipper of a starship....

"Captoon! Captoon! My engines cant take any more!.
We just haaen goot the poower!"

AaaaaaoooOOOOGGGGGAAAAA Klang Klang Klang !
AaaaaaoooOOOOGGGGGAAAAA Klang Klang Klang !
weeeeeeeoooooooot! weeeeeeeeooooooot!

"This is the computer speaking: Self-Destruct initiated.
Abandon ship, dears! All hands... abandon ship!"

[rosesaylavee]

2. He has become completely ineffectual as our state leader.

He needs to resign.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Now that you've seen all four parts of the interview, go to Rachel's site and watch

. . . her summation of the interview in terms of what was new in it and her discussion with former prosecutor Scott Mendeloff about the legal implications for Blagojevich. See Did Blagojevich slip?

It's not good news for Blago.

[BlueJessamine]

4. Thanks Jack Rabbit!

Afraid your link isn't working, so here is this one:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#28882609

[Bette Noir]

5. Rachel was bleeping awesome.

She may have supplanted Jon Stewart as the best political interviewer working today.

[earcandle]

7. After watching all four of these, and listening to Rachel just now, I am sad to say

Rachel is not paying attention to the bigger picture here.

Doesn't she realize that anyone who can balance politics with the rule of law wins. There are people who want to block those processes. And there are others, in federal government, that will help the people. That is their job, and they are eager when the governors need help. Politics and Law are two different perspectives with almost equal power, but the truth is that politics only legally rules in election processes. After that, law rules. Some peeps don't want to follow the rule of law, because they have more power in their political networks, except it is illegal to overlook the law. Blago doesn't overlook the law, he communicates to those over him, his superiors to find out how to get around the blockades to find what his constituents need.

Rachel is now blind, if she cannot see this is an American Hero standing for the rule of law, being lynched by the likes of politicians who don't want him using the law to go around them. This started because he told Bank of America that they couldn't do business in Chicago if they didn't give those workers their legal benefits at termination. Bank of America caved, he was right. He followed the rule of law. Now he is being punished. If she really did her job, she could investigate what happened there. I am dissappointed in this petty coercion to appeal to the politics of Illinois, instead of democracy.

Blago displayed sincerity with character, intelligence, and goodwill! Rachel set him up well and I think he came through. She is naive if she thinks conversations aren't on those tapes with even Obama himself talking money and position and negotiation....

If we want to address a system that is complex and difficult to navigate in any sensible form without scapegoating anyone in the process, lets find a way to learn why this is happening to him. Play devils advocate. See what real investigative reporting can conjure up. If not, this is a set up, and I bet if Rod was not angry at the interview, she sure set out to make him angry now.

Distasteful in a new world order that wants to show respect for the rule of law and each of our rights to be tried fair and square and not be subject to popular swindles.

[provis99]

8. How's that cynicism bong working out for you?

[earcandle]

11. I guess it is a matter of perspective.

I didn't think my statement was cynical at all. 

What happened to objective reporting?

Rachel was like a black panther hovering over her mouse the
whole time, her face all screwed up in disbelief, waiting to
place a good attack line.  Blago, on the other hand, was
enjoying himself and felt this was a sincere opportunity to
tell his story, which I think he did well.  Is he lying?  Like
he says, we haven't heard the tapes, and I don't think we will
because Fritz did not get his extention to indict after 30
days.  We have rules.  Blago is trusting the rule of law, as
he watches the world of politics attempt to bring him down.  I
hope he wins yet again. 

BTW, Rachel should know that in this country it takes actual
criminal cause, not hearsay, to be indicted and tried.  
Rachel, it is true, you cannot be indicted on what you say. 
And those FBI tapes cannot be used because we are not allowed
to spy on people in their own homes in America.  And if those
tapes are heard, then more people than Blago will be
"tainted", if you believe the concept that one
cannot unload untoward baggage to feed one's animal in the
privacy of one's own home.  

Rachel.. saying something and actually doing something are
distinctly different: one is an idea, the other is an action. 
Actionable cause, if illegal, is a crime.  Not fantasies
spoken, and getting things off your chest in the privacy of
your own home.  How would you like to be taped at home and
have those things you cannot say aloud at work be revealed and
treated like conspiring to commit a crime?  

I am enraged at this mostly because I remember paying $85 per
hour in Palo Alto back in the eighties to learn how to take my
inner rage to a pillow with a whiffle bat to feed my inner
animal and get over it, so that I did not take my rage outside
and get myself hurt in the dinosaur mentality taking over the
land.  In the Quadrinity Process, also offered at the
exclusive Esalen in Carmel,  one of the processes include that
you go out on the beach in public and kill your parents, one
at a time, to end and release the emotional rage harbored from
all of the inner child issues, with that same whiffle bat and
pillow.  In public, you air your laundry, so that your inner
child is finally free of the "Good/Bad" imprinting. 
Has both a catabolic and anabolic effect so that you are done
with these issues after this, which is very healing and ends
up being an act of forgiveness.  But, according to Rachel, if
I were wire tapped, and anyone heard me beating my pillow,
yelling at my demons, that could be miscontrued to mean that I
committed some crime, and people would be looking for the body
while I am languishing in jail.  Dumb shit. Grade B movie
material. 

Look at Cheney talking about his approval of torture.  Any
indictment going on there?  He committed real war crimes. Is
she serious?  This idea of hearsay as crime, if it carries any
weight, does so because we have just suffered 30 years of
tainted governing that used these tactics to kill off
activists.  I know she is a very smart so why is she taking
this stand?  What is in it for her?  Rubbing shoulders with
those who want him out?  I guess that means something for her
job.  Politics. 

Also that bit about Burris being tainted.  Give me a fucking
break!  What is she trying to stir up?  Is she a racist?  Did
we go after Bush like this?  No.  This is an easy fight and
easy political capital for her to to bring in the rat for the
judge.  But it isn't that simple, Rachel. Its makes you look
way to eager over something so stupid. 

I still believe in the rule of law and in Blago working things
out for himself, despite the maddening chorus in the crusade
against a man who cares about the poor.  

Go Joan of Arc?  I don't think so.  Head of Lynch Mob?  She
wants that place, I guess.  She has the platform.  I, for one,
am disappointed in her position.  But I am happy she gave him
a chance to have the interview, though.  He is quite composed
and accepting of what he needs to do and what is happening to
him.  And I appreciate him sharing his process.  I hope he has
quiet friends in high places.  

Let us see how this new America treats him.  I don't think
we'll be seeing him, his wife, and kids committing suicide for
the crowds.  I think they have more self esteem than that. No
thanks to those trying to lynch him though. Sad. 

[DUlover2909]

9. Blago was the one that offered himself up against his lawyer's advice.

All Rachel did was ask good questions. He's the one that hung himself by offering too much information.

[ProfessorPlum]

10. Blago's Bank of America move was a cynical move on his part

a red herring to throw up dust and make him look sympathetic, when he knew he was screwed.

[ExPatLeftist]

12. He has become a poster-child charicature of all Democrats for the Right Wing

He is doing immense damage to the party and needs to resign and move far, far away ad keep his mouth shut.

His self-centeredness and ego are monumental.

[cynthia]

13. Rachel brought up all the talking points

to give him an opportunity to rebut - an excellent interview!

[earcandle]

14. I respect the power of a collective mind. I am willing to be wrong. Can we wait and see?

In the meantime, enjoy this nice song called Unexpected Impact. It's lo-fi Americana, just like this issue.