Blago-n-Barry

Yesterday, Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass had some interesting things to say about Governor Blagojevich's possible defense during impeachment proceedings. (The Guv did not testify this day.) In short, Kass seems to think that Blago's attitude either will or should be: "If I'm going down, others are going down too." Those others might be local...

"Let's talk about that Bottle Service Bill," the governor might begin, "You know, the bill the Rush Street guys wanted allowing Reserve and other clubs to provide bottle service, and charge the suckers $500 for a $50 bottle of vodka. I remember how it started, up in my office, and who was there, and why. So let's talk."

...and maybe not so local (note: "Nosferatu" = Blago, the walking dead):

His other problem is the federal criminal case, involving pay-to-play politics, including the charges that he tried to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. The governor wants the witnesses who may be called to testify in federal court to lock themselves into statements in the state Senate, so those statements may be later attacked.

It was the governor's loud demand to call the president's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, as a witness that made the real news. Gov. Nosferatu's criminal defense attorney was Edward Genson, whose job it was to hold the governor's hand and keep him quiet, just as Genson kept Larry Warner, the corrupt pal of former Gov. George Ryan, quiet.

But Nosferatu's demands about Emanuel forced Genson to fire himself from the case.

Emanuel had been the U.S. representative of the 5th Congressional District. The previous congressman was Blagojevich. The district is dominated by western suburban towns with long mob histories. It is politically dominated by Genson's good friend and Blagojevich's former shadow governor, state Sen. James DeLeo (D-How You Doin'?).

Surely, President Obama would not appreciate his chief of staff publicly reminding America about those earthy political allies.