AGENDA, NTSB HEARING re: Flight 1549

NTSB HEARING re: Flight 1549

Smithsonian birdstrike Feather Identification Lab

March 3, 2009

What is Sarkozy looking at?

Quote of the day: “Obama Beach”

June 6, 2009

When will Judge Sotomayor speak re: her “poor choice of words”?

June 2, 2009

WH Press Briefing

MR GIBBS: Yes, sir.

Q    Robert, did Judge Sotomayor consent to the statements by the President and you that she would now use different words in that Latina white male statement that has been out there?

MR. GIBBS:  Again, I think the basis for what I said and the basis for what the President said were the result of conversations that had been had with the Justice — with the Judge, excuse me — and members of the team working on the confirmation.

Q Is there a possibility she would issue a statement to that effect?

MR. GIBBS:  Well, I assume that she’ll likely get this today, maybe in her meetings, and I think she’ll have a chance to talk to senators about that.  And I have no doubt that the working press will get good readouts from their senators.

No, as yet she hasn’t. Judge Sotomayor is a barry clone, which makes one wonder what it is she is hiding. Something that wasn’t important for her other confirmations but would potentially cause her trouble as a Justice. No idea.

barry says he doesn’t know her views on abortion. How much do they really expect The American People to believe. Well, I guess they’ve bought everything so far. It’s what he doesn’t say that’s more than what he does say. By saying that he doesn’t know – how considered could his choice have been since that was the major issue on his stumps? Since that was a/the major Hillary Clinton women crossed over.  It argues that she was just a big and little check box  – and just another “first. I am convinced she is pro-life because Gibbs and barry make a point of mentioning that she believes strongly in precedence and “strict adherence to precedence”.

Whatever happens, his panderment is on record. If she is pro-life it’s a check box for across the aisle. And if he is truly diabolical – he could have picked her hoping she would one day overturn Roe v Wade and it would be out of his hands.

This is the June 2nd press conference. On the 3rd, Sen Dianne Feinstein, evidently the chosen one’s chosen one – came out with a statement that “obviously it was a poor choice of words”. If it were that obvious, she would have admitted to it. She hasn’t.

So no statement except from barry, Gibbs and Sen Feinstein that it was a “poor choice of words”. None of it counts because they didn’t say the words.

No room for the Queen?

June 1, 2009

Jungle Patti, Radio Rod & kooky old Auntie Judy Baar Topinka

June 5, 2009

Well the first incidence has taken place. Milorad’s wife, Jungle Patti, brought up one of hubby’s opponents in reference to a contestant – Janice Dickinson – on ‘I’m a celebrity…Ger Me Out of Here!’ And of course blago’s female opponent (who lost the governorship) heard it and was none too pleased, so she called into The Don Wade and Roma Show (WLS -890) to defend herself after Rod admitted it was her. He is working as an “official correspondent” for ‘I’m a celebrity…’ aka Radio Rod with the Jungle Beat. He discusses Patti (who has her own jungle website in an effort to keep her there and also as a plug for the show. Strange since the radio and TV stations are competitors.

Here are their respective words. Somebody actually had a video clip. Blago’s is from WLS and Huffington Post got the Baar Topinka bit.

If I understand correctly – Patti is not in communication with anyone outside the jungle?

secrets4fun

PATTI BLAGOJEVICH:

My husband had a campaign where he was running against this woman a little bit like her [Janice Dickinson] and he thought of her like a crazy old aunt. He had to kind of like suffer and kind of like, and kind of just like, roll your eyes at. Like she’s the kooky old aunt. You had to be respectful to her because she’s your old aunt.

RADIO ROD:

Yes, it’s Judy Baar Topinka. When you’re in a campaign and you have to be with your opponent from time to time, sometimes they’ll do things to you that you think are unfair. Or they’ll twist things. I’m sure they think the same thing about you. For me, I try to get myself in a mindset where I could love my opponent and not let it get personal. To discipline myself, I tried to imagine, like a method actor might, that Judy Baar Topinka was one of my old aunts. That deep down she was a good person and when she would say the things that she would say or do the things she would do, it was more amusing than anything else. And I think that really probably is who she is. You know, crazy aunt in a good way.

Then Roma and Rod say what a good contestant she’d be. He signed off and Baar Topinka called in.

For the record – Milorad beat her and she is more than a tad off but Janice Dickinson is in her own universe.

======

=======

JUDY BAAR TOPINKA:

This is your crazy aunt in the attic!

That kooky old aunt had three terms in the Treasurer’s Office and never displaced a dollar and gave $230M of unclaimed assets back to people and made a profit. Not bad, uh, for being a kooky old aunt? Maybe Gov Blagojevich — former Gov Blagojevich — and his tarantula-eating wife might, you know, consider looking at doing the same thing or they wouldn’t be in such trouble.

Referring to the bug eating.

That’s disgusting, Roma. Frankly I don’t care what the deal is here. To send a loved one off to eat tarantulas and roaches and things like that — that’s disgusting. I wouldn’t send any of my family members like that. To me, they’re worth more than that. It’s just not right.

ROMA: Would you go?

BAAR TOPINKA: Absolutely not.

I just wouldn’t do it. I think it’s denigrating. When you hold public office — especially if you were the first lady of the State of Illinois and the former gov — my God, you’ve got a role to play here. You’re a role model. You don’t go off eating roaches. About the closest thing I ever got to roaches was in Springfield. No way do I want to be close to those things.

Honored because they respected her at least? She would never go but she sure seems up to date on what’s happening with Jungle Patii.

BAAR TOPINKA:

Well I think it’s nice that they felt they should be respectful to me. Because I’ve always been respectful to people in terms of age. The fact that they bring it up in this way just proves that they really have no respect for anything. They are shameless. They certainly have no respect for the system. They have no respect for the people of Illinois.

It’s all about them. You can’t tell me that as she sits there looking sane, with a bunch of has-beens and wannabes and goofs so she looks better by comparison. This is the same gal with the potty-mouth who was yelling on one of these transcripts of a phone message, you know, ‘Go knock these guys off the Tribune, get rid of these editorial writers if they can’t make a deal on the Cubs then  expletive deleted.’ I mean, Who is this woman? Now she’s suddenly playing Martha Washington. I mean, c’mon – alright? She knew what was going on. She’s lucky Patrick Fitzgerald isn’t on her case, too.

Who says he isn’t?

Ms Boyle: “Whistle Down the Wind”

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 6, 2009

jaqqi -

I posted all the drafts and didn’t find anything. This has to be the video you were interested in, which I found on you tube. On Anderson Cooper she sang I Dreamed a Dream. This is a somewhat strange song that Ms Boyle has to work at singing and she’s rushed because the segment is only (1:30)

Whistle Down the Wind

tealcbratac

“Susan Boyle has always come second in life”

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 5, 2009

I read this a while back and found it again in the drafts. It’s a really nice editorial was written by Chris Matyszczyk, a creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing.

It begins:

Susan Boyle has always come second in life. Second in opportunity. Second, according to those who bullied her in her dismal hometown, in intelligence. And second, one suspects, to the needs of others in her family.

By coming in second in “Britain’s Got Talent,” however, Boyle got some relief from the frivolous flickers of fame that were burning her very being.

She tossed frumpiness aside, choosing instead to wear the dress of the musical lady she always dreamed of being.

Follow this to read the rest (on CBS News site)

(Pix) Susan Boyle

Ms Boyle: “The ability to make people happy is in everybody’s blood”

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 6, 2009

There’s something very charming about Susan Boyle 1.0. Here she is having a little fun in the early days previewing her trademark “Boyler” swivel.

NewsandNature

“The ability to make people happy is in everybody’s blood”

The elephant and the dog…

June 5, 2009

Just a little something to help you smile.

Mayor Bloomberg on barry’s date night

June 1, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg didn’t find anything wrong with barry’s date night because the president doesn’t make that much money and, ya know, he’s on a budget, too. No kidding. He’s enamored with barry, He’s got that glazed-eyed look.

azinyc

RNC criticized the Obamas for having a night on the town while Americans are still struggling to pay bills.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG:

That criticism is so off-base, I wouldn’t even mention it, even take it seriously. I thought it was more pro forma.

We’re ecstatic to have the Obamas come here. I can’t think of anything better as an advertisement for tourism industry, for Broadway, for our restaurants, for saying that this is a safe city and an affordable city.

The President doesn’t get paid that much. He’s on a budget, too.

The fact that we have to have a large security detail is just a fact of life when the president moves.

But the president has to set an example for the rest of the country…crisis of confidence.

And the fact that the Obamas are out there, sharing in what’s wonderful about America — the theater, Broadway, freedom of travel, meeting people – I think is just great, so I would love to have the Obamas come back here as much as they want.

It does cost us a little extra in security, but given the advertising value of having the President and the First Lady come here is worth many times over that. It’s a very good deal for us.

Besides being an absolutely ludicrous statement – he may be on a budet but he didn’t foot the bill for the entire date. Tickets and maybe dinner but nothing else. And Mr Transparency’s mouthpiece Mr Gibbs refused to answer how much the date cost.

3 planes + 2 helicopters + 1 motorcade + 600 NYPD/SS = ??? K

June 1, 2009

How could barry justify that trip? It took 2 helicopters, 3 planes, (them, press, staff) 1 motorcade and 600 police/security/Secret Service and hundreds of citizens inconvenienced just for barry to go on a date. They had dinner, drinks and went to see August Wilson’s play: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone about a “man coming to terms with the history of slavery”.

BARRY: I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.

Why couldn’t he take her when he was already in New York for some other reason? It’s so irresponsibly selfish there’s really nothing to say. And he had the nerve to chastise the car executives for flying instead of driving? What’s the difference? Taxpayers are paying for both.

New York Post:

Taxpayers footed the bill for the big night on the town, which included a total of at least $24,000 for the three aircraft used to ferry the Obamas, aides and reporters to New York and back. Dinner costs and orchestra seat tickets — at $96.50 apiece — were paid by the Obamas.

And Gibbs refused to say how much it cost. (video)

Transparency?

Who can possibly take barry seriously?

Mayor Bloomberg said the president doesn’t make much and that he’s on a budget, too.

GIBBS refuses to reveal the cost of NY date

Takes me a while to get through the drafts since it appears I’ve been abandoned for good by my fellow citizens.

June 1, 2009

WH Press Briefing

Robert Gibbs is asked a routine question – about barry’s date night – that he is not prepared for so he responds as usual with sarcasm. He really is a very small, insecure person. I wonder how his children are going to feel watching dad make fun of folks as a defense while working for the highest Office in the land. And the press as usual don’t press him any further. They’re all spineless castratos – including Tapper, Henry, Martin and “Chip”. “April” and “Battleaxe Helen” are the only two willing to take him on.

Look at the way he phrases it. Why should the press allow the press secretary to decide whether to answer something? As long as they don’t make him – why would he?

MR GIBBS: Jonathan.

Q    Robert, are you going to tell us how much the President and the First Lady’s date night cost on Saturday night, and if not, why not?

MR. GIBBS:  Well, Jonathan, uh-uh-uh I think as uh-uh, as-as uh, uhm, you know, I-I-I spokespeople have spoken to this over the weekend that the President uh,uh would — had-had he or could he, based on the Secret Service, he would have taken the shuttle. Uhm, but uhm, I would say that the costs are proportionate with, uh, travel for Presidents.  And I would encourage you, uh, to look up previous coverage on travel costs, uh, because they’re analogous.

Q    But is there any President or a President and First Lady who have taken an out-of-town date night like this, not connected to an official or even a political — previously planned event?

MR. GIBBS:  You’ve-you’ve got probably, uh, more researchers than I do.

Fine — if he wants to go with the it’s no different than other presidents. Problem is barry said he was going to bring Change! and that he was going to be different than the other presidents. And one of the promises was to cut down on “wasteful government spending”. One of those researchers should add up the cost of his adoration tours to swing states and fundraisers and the flyover and the NYC date. They most definitely would not be commenserate with any other president’s travel in the first 5 months. Not even close. And when barry was in the senate his CODELs cost the most out of any senator.

The topper? Mayor Bloomberg’s reaction, which he said in all seriousness.

Mrs Obama replaces Chief of Staff

June 5, 2009

Check out the date. This was released yesterday and no one said a word until today. Why?

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                           June 4, 2009

WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES EAST WING STAFF CHANGES

Jackie Norris to Senior Advisor to Corporation for National and Community Service, Susan Sher to Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama

WASHINGTON, DC – The White House announced today that the First Lady’s Chief of Staff Jackie Norris has been appointed as Senior Advisor to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Susan Sher, a longtime colleague and friend of the First Lady’s, has been promoted to Chief of Staff. The First Lady, Mrs. Norris and Ms. Sher all released statements on the moves, included below:

Statement from Mrs. Obama:

Jackie Norris has been a colleague and friend since the earliest days of the Iowa campaign. She has built a strong organization in the East Wing and made tremendous progress on issues that are important to me and the President, particularly in the area of national service. In assuming the role as Senior Advisor to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Jackie will work closely with my office and the Administration as we move forward to implement the new Serve America Act and we will continue to count on Jackie’s leadership and passion for this cause.

Susan Sher is a trusted advisor, longtime mentor and friend dating back to my work at the City of Chicago and later the University of Chicago. Since the beginning of this Administration, Susan has served as a senior member of the East Wing and West Wing teams providing legal counsel, working as a member of the health care reform task force and leading Jewish outreach, and her transition to chief of staff will be seamless.

Statement from Jackie Norris:

I am grateful to President and Mrs. Obama for the opportunities and friendship they have given me over the last few years and I am looking forward to becoming an integral part of this Administration’s efforts to advance the cause of national and community service.

Statement from Susan Sher:

Mrs. Obama and I have worked together for many years on issues that we both care deeply about and I appreciate the opportunity to be of greater service to her and this Administration.

===================================

Ms Sher and the First Lady have a long history intertwined with Valerie Jarrett (Anyone hear from her lately?) working together with Mayor Daley and the University of Chicago Medical Center. barry couldn’t make good on the $1M payback earmark for U of C MC in gratitude for his wife’s $192,052 raise [$121,910 to $316,962] 2 months after hewas sworn in as senator so Michelle had to do it herself.

The question is why did it take so long and what was the inciting factor? And what are the chances the media is going to press for the information? I imagine not too good considering they didn’t pick up on this until today.

More info on Susan Sher from the U of C MC website. (1-9-09)

Susan S. Sher, Vice President for Legal and Governmental Affairs and General Counsel of the University of Chicago Medical Center, will be leaving her position to join the Obama administration as associate counsel to the President.

In her new position, she will work on legal issues associated with health care and will be advise First Lady Michelle Obama. Sher worked with Obama while the First Lady was Vice President for Community and External Affairs at the Medical Center.

From 1993 to 1997 she was the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, the City of Chicago’s chief lawyer; she reported to the Mayor and was responsible for representing the Mayor, city departments, boards and commissions on all legal matters. She was the first Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1989-93.

Vanity Fair’s Wolff: “Gibbs seems to be in total control of the media”

June 5, 2009

This media lovefest of denial has got to stop. Does any “reporter” or whatever they fancy themselves have integrity? Or even a semblance of a grasp on reality?

Have they always been like this? I only got involved last January and only then because of the obvious barry bias. What I would like to know is if they really believe the propaganda they write or are they doing it because they don’t have a choice. Because if they tell the truth at this point the world will see how corrupted and ridiculous they look.

It’s too late – eighteen months too late.

Here’s Michael Wolff over at Vanity Fair – something I’ve never read. And after reading his words – which made my skin crawl – I won’t ever again. He prattles on with jagged excessive words about what a genius sarcastic “I don’t know – I’ll get back to you” Robert Gibbs is. It made me wonder if he was writing it in the bathroom with only one hand on the keyboard.

I won’t even dissect the article because the tone of the words is too creepy. Here’s just a few quotes.

Under the photo illustration:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs seems to be in total control of the media.

When did this become news?

It’s been that way since at least March 3, 2008 when the obamerized press allowed barry to walk away after answering like, 8 questions, already. They were completely corrupted at that point and I argue that Gibbs had nothing to do with it. The press were willingly and knowingly entrenched in a pathological glazed-eye crush on a man they knew nothing and still don’t know anything about. He could do nothing wrong and nothing was untouchable as far as his opponents.

Imagine if the incest sketch was about barry.

The barrymedia chose to become corrupted and have remained so. Polls have proven it and the media has even admitted it – laughing all the way ha-ha-ha.

Folks like Mark Halperin and Tony Blankley, with his dismissive reference to “weird little internet sites”, went on record just to go on record. They did nothing in the heat of the battle. They did nothing when it could have mattered.

What good are their words after the fact?

The national press corps is barrymedia. MSNBC is barryTV. NEWSWEEK is the pro-barry propaganda newsletter. Kos and Huffington Post are his blogging slaves and Factcheck is completely biased – their “factchecks” ridiculously parsed – most notably the “birth certificate” that Gibbs lied about and said was online.

The mainstream media across the board have willingly chosen to embargo anything not probarry and have magnified any possible anything against his opponents/enemies/naysayers to cover up barry gaffes.

Case in point: Joe Biden made a remarkable admission to fundraisers about how the young president was going to be tested by a generated crisis and that they would need to gird their loins and hang with them no matter what the polls said. He basically said that barry was going to need help because he’s clueless and that he – Biden – already knew what the crisis was going to be and how they were going to react.

And what did the media chooses to focus on?

The wardrobe.

Mika Mommy Brzezinski declared a “Biden attack-free zone” with Scarborough saying on air that he was going to email around to see if the media was going to run with the Biden story. Dan Rather, who one would think would be incensed, sat quietly and commented that if it was Gov Palin instead of Joe Biden it would be an above the fold story.

Goebbels never had it so easy.

Historians are going to wonder what was in the water. The New York Times that Wolff mentions several times has already started admitting they willfully did not report things that could have hurt barry – surprise – like the recent ACORN revelation by Hoyt. His justification was humorous: it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

It doesn’t matter if was a completely innocuous story. They withheld the information. They made a choice to help a candidate – something the public overwhelming believed they would do and did do. They were willingly corrupted. They have lost all credibility – something they can and will never regain.

Add in NBC/CNN/NBC/Newsweek/Time…

Their corruption began early on with the story about Sen McCain. And what they did to Senator Clinton was unconscionable. And despite theirs and the rest of the daily, often hourly, barrymedia attacks – Sen Clinton got the same amount of votes. He won 11 in a row and couldn’t close. He never won anything — he was anointed by the just as intentionally corrupted DNC who had put a mechanism in place to favor him.

What if it were Michigan and Florida instead of Nevada and South Carolina?

What if Sen Clinton was the one given votes decided on behind closed doors in a state where her name was never on the ballot?

That little transaction forever illegitimized the primaries.

Even after he was anointed he needed Sen Clinton to stump for him. And this man of character intent on Change! and Uniting! Transcending Race! and Reaching Across the Aisle! couldn’t even reach across his own party. He didn’t even have enough integrity (self-confidence) to call off his attack dogs. They continued to attack both Clinton – folks he has had no problem using once he woke up in the White House and realized that he wold have to do something.

Since his very first election, winning the election was not enough. Victory to him includes the destruction of his opponents and throughout the campaign, barrymedia provided a willing assist. barry’s ego is so massive and his skill set so minimal that he couldn’t bear to talk to his democratic predecessor. Says a great deal about his insecurities and gross lack of governing skills.

barry did not “win” this election in any fashion. One-third – 8 million – eligible black voters couldn’t even be bothered to register to vote for “the first black president”. There wasn’t a “massive voter turnout” in the black community. After 8 years of Bush and with barry as the candidate only 2% more black voters turned up at the polls, which could be explained by the number of the voters now eligible to vote. And the caucuses were won in predominately white states — although Iowa got a boost from  a couple of busses of Illinois voters.

Sen Clinton’s bitter bowling alley babes, guns toters and Bible quoters, frigid feminazis, racist blue collar workers who would “never vote for a black man” and Hispanics won it for barry. Sen Clinton’s demographics. Fact. She turned them around after the convention from 58 – 85% all the while barrymedia was attacking her motives and terrorizing her for mentioning the blatantly obvious sexism, gyne envy and misogyny.

And the candidate himself?

Never once called them off.

How can folks delude themselves into believing barry is a decent and honorable man when he has been anything but and evidence abounds to prove it?

And how can the barrymedia think they are in any way ethical? Or for that matter even useful?

Candy Crowley was the only CNN correspondent to approach reality and how often was she on the in-studio panel? Not once. They sent her on the road, put her on the convention floor and limited her sound bites.

The barrymedia are a complete embarrassment to the “profession” – if one still exists. Pulitzer Prize winner Mo Dowd rips off a blogger and Bob Herbert sees phallic symbols everywhere but can’t even recognize the Washington Monument.

I don’t think true journalism exists. There is no one who can’t be bought. Tabloids pay top dollar for whatever trash folks can come up with – without regard for collateral damage to innocent parties and nothing is sacred – including psychiatric records – correspondents hide behind “unnamed sources”, factchecking involves finding two blogs with the same story, TV commenators are completely biased and neglect to inform their audience on whether what they are spewing is their opinion or actual fact and the networks care about being the first to break a story – not about getting the story right.

As for Gibbs – the White House press corps doesn’t bother to ask any questions that he isn’t ready for. And if perchance they ask something meaningful – like how much did the trip to New York cost – Gibbs’ answer is uh, uh, uh. His face gets red and forehead starts to sweat like it did when he was lying to the willing to be lied to press about why they were flown to Chicago when barry wasn’t even on the plane.

But they let Gibbs get away with: “I don’t know, I’m not sure, I haven’t talked to barry about that, I don’t have my notes with me…let me check and I’ll get back to you” because they want to be the one Gibbs calls with a scoop. They don’t dare push him because there are plenty of other sycophants he can call.

Read or just scan the transcripts of the press briefings. All you need to do is look at three and you’ll see that day after day the press is made a fool of by Gibbs – not because he has this power or because he knows anything – but because the press allows him to. Gibbs very rarely answers the question and when he gets pressed he reverts to stump lines, “I don’t think The American People…”, sarcasm and frat boy faces. I don’t know what press briefings Wolff is watching but they are entirely unprofessional. All that’s missing is a kegger, some strippers and strewn pizza crusts.

The headliner:

The Obamas may have the smartest, most finely calibrated press operation in White House history, parceling out scoops (The New York Times), partisan talking points (the Huffington Post), and First Family tidbits (the celebrity mags) to a desperate media. Just don’t ask them to admit it.

It’s not clear who he means by “they”.

Toward the end:

The balance of power has surely shifted—although you won’t get anyone in the White House to say that. Except every day you can read it in press secretary Gibbs’s cockiness and condescension.

And it’s that way because the press is too castrated to say it themselves. And what is the time frame of “has”? It’s been that way almost since the beginning.

And this:

There is too the Obama 30-point advantage—he’s got America eating out of his hand. Gibbs has, at least so far, an easy product to sell. And then there’s the personal insecurity on the part of members of the incredible shrinking press—their days are numbered and they know it.

Yo, Mr Wolffe – barry doesn’t have “America” eating out of his hand. You folks are mesmerized. The folks who are in touch with reality see right through barry. And the press is shrinking because “America” knows that the press has been corrupted and that nothing they write approximates the truth.

Why would they pay for fiction when they can find the truth on the internet from people who have no agendas other than truth?

Ok fifteen minutes is enough time wasted.

Time to find out why the “smartest, most finely calibrated press operation in White House history” had to demote the First Lady’s Chief of Staff. I’m sure it’s just Chicago payback for Ms Sher with the help of Valerie Jarrett getting Michelle Obama a job at U of C Medical Center (turning away indigents from the ER so they could make more money) and then getting her a $195,052 raise [$121,910 to $316,962] 2 months after barry was sworn in as senator. I guess since barry couldn’t come through with the $1M earmark for U of C the Mrs had to handle it herself. Just like a former Mayor Daley staffer and daughter of a precinct captain knows how to do.

Pay to play at it’s most obvious. Just like Burris buying his senate seat directly from her husband.

I hope I am still alive when the barrymedia is completely exposed.

Billboard: “Where’s the Birth Certificate?”

Ms Boyle invited to sing at Moore/Kuchar wedding anniversary?

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 5, 2009

This must buoy Ms Boyle’s spirits…if it’s true. In addition to getting an invite to the White House on the 4th of July and to headline the first Scottish Royal Variety Performance in October, Demi Moore and Ashton Kuchar have reportedly invited her to sing at their September wedding anniversary celebration according to the UK’s Daily Record. I don’t know how in stone it is – some websites claimed they were flying to see Ms Boyle sing in the BGT finals. If it’s true it’ll end up in twitterville. It also said their agent called her 10 days ago so maybe they’ve changed their minds with the subsequent developments.

Ms Boyle checks out, heads home to private location

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 5, 2009

According to TOM HAMILTON at the Daily Record, Ms Boyle has checked herself out of The Priory and has gone home to Scotland to see her precious Pebbles and get away from the media.

According to their source:

Susan was keen to leave The Priory and the doctors had no objections. It was entirely her decision and she is feeling a lot more at ease now she has not been in the spotlight. She has been keen to meet up with her family, friends and most of all her cat Pebbles.

Must be a pretty close source:

Susan was teasing Simon about her desire to make an album. She was pulling his leg that he wouldn’t get a moment’s rest until it was complete. Susan is really very positive at the moment. But Simon told her there was no rush and she would get her wish in time.

Best news of all she might not have to go on the Britain’s Got Talent tour. She doesn’t need to be around those folks to be reminded of any of it. It’s not like they had her best interests at heart and they already made enough money off her exploiting her.

Daily Record also adds that Ms Boyle has been invited to “headline the first Scottish Royal Variety Performance in aid of Edinburgh’s Royal Blind School on October 8″.

I wonder how many other offers she’s gotten. She has been invited to the White House for the 4th of July celebrations. I also read she has been invited to sing at Demi Moore and Ashton Kuchar’s anniversary party.

Ms Boyle invited to White House to sing July 4th

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 5, 2009

Folks who think Ms Boyle’s career is over don’t understand America or Americans. Just look at Britney Spears. Underdogs and comebacks are cheered on here – as opposed to in the UK where they chose to try and destroy her. I’m not sure about live performances but she will definitely become a successful recording artist. I would like to hear her sing Schubert’s Ave Maria and The Prayer with Andrea Bocelli.

Anyway, John Boyle, Susan’s 59 y/o brother (she’s the youngest of 9) said she’s been invited to the White House to sing on the 4th of July. Wonder how the British press would take her singing the National Anthem. It’s not an unexpected development since she turned barry down in May when he invited her to a dinner at the White House. His pride in this case is a good thing.

Quotes from a June 2nd article in the Daily Record by CHRIS MUSSON, who interviewed some of Susan’s siblings.

JOHN BOYLE: Susan has been invited to the celebrations at the White House with the president. So as you can see her dream is still very much alive. In fact, it’s only just starting.

[She] is exhausted, that’s all there is to it. It’s no surprise – she has gone from a small town in West Lothian to being famous around the world. She’s been battered non-stop for the last seven weeks and it has taken its toll. But she’ll be looking forward now to the Fourth of July.

She had been worried no one would want to hear her sing. She really doesn’t seem to get how popular she is. Probably because of her treatment in the UK press, which the Daily Record characterized as an “orchestrated backlash against her”.

Her oldest sister, MARY BRADY (70):

The whole family is worried sick about her and the effect her fame has had on her. Some of the things written about her in the papers have been awful.

SUSAN had told her family after being admitted:

I’m tired and a wee bit homesick. But I really hope I can still live the dream.

And she really wanted to sing before the Queen. Somehow I think that will happen, especially since barry jumped right in. Maybe he can email the Queen Ms Boyle’s performance so she can download it on to her presidential ipod. Anyone know if it had a presidential seal on it?

GERRY BOYLE (55):

She was exhausted when we spoke on Sunday but she sounds a lot better today, a bit happier and more like herself. She was a wee bit anxious yesterday and a bit fatigued. She’s also a wee bit homesick and she misses her cat, Pebbles.

She was sort of, ‘Where’s it all going and what happens now?’

But I asked her, ‘Seven weeks ago, if someone had told you that almost everyone in the world would know who you were, and you had a budding record contract and would never want for anything again, how would you have felt?’

I told her, ‘This is not the end of your career – this is the start.’ This show has just been a launchpad.

Simon Cowell has stepped in and taken care of her as far as a contract, telling her to take whatever time she needs.

GERRY: The world is waiting for Susan to release a record. I wonder how many established acts would love the opportunities she will have. [She] is coming to terms with the fact that the world wants to hear her sing. She’s just exhausted and trying to take in everything that’s happened. I think her friends in America would call this an anxiety attack.

It’s a wee bit more of an “anxiety attack”. Folks don’t get admitted under the Mental Health Act for anxiety – but it doesn’t matter. And it was a glass of water not a cellphone or a head butt or the glass itself. What city born and raised fully functioning person would have been able to handle such scrutiny? And how many would have gone out there like she did and on top of it give such an excellent performance?

GERRY: Susan has been on a tremendous rollercoaster. There’s been an enormous amount of media speculation and intense activity. She’s not used to it. She is just a normal woman who is not used to dealing with the world’s media and she’s had no management structure around her.

Susan has felt under fire and in those circumstances anyone could lose it for a while. Hopefully soon she will be able to relax and release a record so the world can enjoy her voice again. But her health and happiness come first.

Not just enjoy her voice – enjoy her.

Paul Potts was gracious enough to call her. He certainly knows what it’s like to be judged on his appearance in the press and by the audience and judges. His audition was a carbon copy of Susan’s and he rocked the crowd and was the eventual winner of BGT 2007. He also was a viral internet sensation and has gone on to be extremely successful – singing opera no less. He came to her defense when the press was making a big deal about her “makeover” and she that should be allowed to do whatever she wants.

PAUL POTTS:

When I won, it was very stressful and I had no sleep for a few days. It’s tough despite all the high points and it takes a bit of adjustment to sort yourself out. But I would say to Susan, just try to enjoy every minute. Don’t give up. I think she needs a bit of a break. She has handled the pressure incredibly well until now and with the right people looking after her she will be fine. I would say to her, I can help, please give me a call. If she wants anything at all she can get in touch.

[Many thanks to CHRIS MUSSEN for the article. It restores faith in the decency of the UK press. Unfortuately I couldn't locate her/his email to thank her/him personally.]

Simon Cowell publicist Max Clifford re: Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 3, 2009

According to Gerry Boyle, Susan’s brotherm Simon Cowell has already signed her to a contract and has told her she can take all the time she needs. One of her main concerns is whether people will still want to hear here sing.

From Aceshowbiz

Simon Cowell’s publicist, MAX CLIFFORD (6-2):

Provided she’s given a few days and then allowed to be as normal as possible, she should be fine. All she wants to do is sing.

She’s going to have potentially huge album sales, particularly in America. Americans absolutely love her. Everyone wants her on their show singing. That gives her massive potential, and Simon will make sure she has the best songs and the best productions.

And Cowell better use some of his nastiness to protect her against paparazzi and the British press who has shown themselves to be shockingly brutal. Something good comes out of their country and they make a concerted effort to knock it down. Piers saying it’s a British tradition is pretty sad.

Today Show: Piers Morgan re: Ms Boyle

[Yes - takes me a while to post all these]

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 1, 2009

Piers Morgan was on the Today Show this morning talking to Kathie Lee Gifford and Heda Kotb via satellite from London. He talked about runner up Susan Boyle and how she’s doing – even though he hadn’t talked to her since she was admitted to the mental health facility, The Priory.

Piers concerning Ms Boyle as of June 1st.

• completely exhausted
• most extraordianrry roller coaster rides
• gone from anonymity to the global super stardom in 7 weeks
• end of her tether…needs a break…needs to and be with friends and family
• needs to get away from media glare – just
• cumulative effect not a single episode
• chill out a bit
• incident that led to her going to clinic wasn’t dramatic
• 90% of 7 weeks was shown on British TV and viral internet
• able to handle it with remarkable confidence
• after semifinal got negative press – headlines about behavior
• arguments with journalists
• began to boil up during the week
• everyone expecting her to win -
• beginning to feel pressure during the week
• wasn’t sleeping and eating and was physically ill
• my heart goes out to her
• ordinary woman from Scotland
• gone through incredible period
• needs a bit of rest calm things down
• work on album – what she really wants to do
• thinks it would be the biggest seller of the year
• told Piers: “I need a rest”
• crying, wasn’t sleeping and physically sick throughout
• some said she should have been pulled her off the show
• told her to nail that song the whole world will be reminded of her audition
• “boy did she sing that song well” under all that pressure
• “absolutely ripped the roof off”
• [was amazing considering what was going on and where she ended up hours later]
• why she didn’t win — too big a favorite
• Susan very happy to lose to Diversity – thinks they’re terrific role models
• Susan and Diversity restored some pride in our country
• losing did not cause her problem — nor did taking part in the show
• she felt utterly blessed to be on the show – living her dream
• relentless global media attention freaked her out a bit

Larry King: Radio Rod Blagojevich

June 4, 2009

Radio Rod was on Larry King. Came across as sincere and loving of his wife and girls. Talked too much and too repetitively about how he was wronged and what was done to him. He needs to stick to he’s looking forward to his day in court. Surprised he didn’t mention his gig on the Don Wade and Roma Show as the official correspondent for “I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE!’ aka Radio Rod with the Jungle Beat.

Summary: his hair “product of the disco era”, discussed how his wife, Jungle Patti, is doing on the show, says it’s tough to watch her do those these, admits he never realized how much moms do and how hard a job it is, how the kids are handling things, she’s very popular and coming across well, Patti’s getting paid as much as he would have been, wouldn’t disclose how much – “very generous”, 3 reasons Patti went on show: felt an obligation to NBC – thanks them, to support the family and to make money for their charity — the original charity refused because Rod threatened to withhold money from Children’s Memorial Hospital.

He’s still working on his book, not giving up, wants the truth to come out, wouldn’t comment on Burris, says he anxious for the trial to vindicate himself, says the word truth 19 times, he’s innocent, a great injustice has been done to him and his family, there’s meaning in this, mentions that other folks are out of a job — specifically the Michigan autoworkers — and slipped in that Gov Quinn went back on his promise not to raise taxes.

Brings up TONY REZKO who really must have talked as a “central figure in this whole case that both President Obama and I had a close relationship with.” and that  “He sent a letter to a federal judge saying that neither president, then Senator Obama, or me were involved in any wrongdoing with him. Now suddenly he emerges in this case in a different light.”

Quotes: MLK, Rudyard Kipling, Teddy Roosevelt and Greek historian by the name of Edith Hamilton.

===================

CNN Transcript

KING: All right, Rod, welcome. You were just watching your wife on the show a minute ago. How — how is she doing?

ROD BLAGOJEVICH, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS: Well, you know, Larry, these are the sorts of things that happen sometimes when you’ve been knocked down and you’re trying to rebuild and pick yourself up. You know, I was originally the one who was going to do that show and I wish I could have done it, because I sure would have liked to have been the one to have to do some of the things that, unfortunately, Patti has to do.

It’s, you know, with mixed feelings that I watch that. It’s difficult to see her have to do something like this.

But it’s a way for us to make a living as we rebuild our lives, keep our kids in the same school that they’re in, stay in the same home that they’ve lived in since — for the past eight years — and try to keep as much of a normal life for our children as possible, even though we have this short period of time in the month of June that their mom is gone. And she’s making a sacrifice because she loves her kids. And eating that tarantula like she had to is an act of love. It’s a sign that this is a mother who loves her children.

KING: More with Rod Blagojevich on very serious matters after the break. Stick around.
================
===============

KING: As we said, Rod, your wife, Patti, is in Costa Rica. She’s on NBC’s “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” In the first episode, some of her fellow reality contestants brought up your troubles. Watch.

=====BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM “I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE!,” COURTESY NBC==========
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is your husband facing jail time? What happened?

P. BLAGOJEVICH: I can’t really get into it too much, except that, yes, they made a big hoopla out of something that wasn’t even the truth. My husband was governor for six years. Twice voted by the people and, you know, was always about doing the right thing for people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just so you know, when I met him, I was like this is who I would have voted for the president of United States of America.

P. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, I appreciate that.
=============END VIDEO CLIP===============

KING: OK, Rod, the judge presiding over the corruption involving you says the trial is going to be probably in the spring of 2010. Why so far away?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, I don’t know. The judge sets the schedule. And he’s the boss, as he should be. And so that’s just another obstacle that those of us who would like to move this forward have to deal with. I’m eager for my day in court. I’m eager to vindicate myself. I’m eager for the truth to come out. I’ve been wronged. These are false accusations. And I’m looking forward for the whole story to come out. And I would like very much to be able to get this whole process moving sooner rather than later.

But it’s going to go of its own accord and there’s a — a complicated legal process that necessarily will occur. But I fully expect a fair trial. And I know what the truth is and I know the truth will be one that will vindicate me and put in perspective what’s happened to not only me, but to Patti and our family.

KING: Do you believe, Rod, that nobody is going to work out a plea here, there will definitely be a trial?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: No. There’s definitely going to be a trial. I‘ve done absolutely nothing wrong. I have been wronged. I can’t talk about the case, as you know, Larry. It’s not appropriate. But, you know, I — again, I’m looking forward to my opportunity to finally be able to get all the information out and let people see what the truth is.

You know, there’s a — there are some lines from a poem that Rudyard Kipling wrote that reads: “If you bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools and see the things you gave your life to broken and stoop and build them up with worn out tools.”

Now, they’ve made accusations. People have lied about me. I’m dealing with that. I’m not giving up. I’m picking myself up and I’m dusting myself off, as my wife is, as well. We’re rebuilding our lives. And we’re stooping down with worn out tools to do that. But, ultimately, the truth will be what it is. And the truth will, as the — it’s written in the Bible, set me free, because the truth is that I’ve done nothing wrong.

KING: All right…

R. BLAGOJEVICH: …and did the best I could for the people of Illinois and got a lot of real results done for the average ordinary citizen of my state.

KING: Legal analysts say that anything your wife says could be held against you or her in court. Does any of that worry you?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: No. And I understand lawyers and legal analysts, you know, parse things and are concerned about how some things can be taken out of context and twisted. I’m a living example of how things can be taken out of context and twisted and used against you in an unfair way — and the consequences that go along with that. But, no. I think when you’re in a position like the one I’m in, you have to embrace the truth and ride it and know that, at the end of the day, if you have that on your side, this is America and my fellow citizens will have a chance — who I’ve always trusted and have always mostly, I think, trusted me — they’ll decide what the truth is. And I know what it is with regard to me and my behavior and my actions and my intentions. And, again, I’m confident that I’ll have my opportunity to clear my name.

KING: All right…

R. BLAGOJEVICH: And in the interim, both Patti and I have our lives to live. We’ve got to rebuild our lives. We have our daughters to raise. And we just need to be mindful that as long as we tell the truth, whatever somebody wants to say, it won’t come back and hurt you.

KING: NBC originally wanted you to do the show, naturally. A judge barred you from going to Costa Rica, having seen some episodes — the primitive setting and everything. What do you make of it? Do you think you — you’d want to do that?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, when I knew that I was offered this and we discovered what this was, I — I didn’t want to do it then. I said yes because it was a way to earn a living and — and be able to afford our mortgage and keep our kids in the same school that they’re going in. And it was a very generous offer by NBC. So in spite of what they wanted me to do, I was willing to do it, because you have to sacrifice sometimes for your children and your family. You should always. And, so, unfortunately, the judge made a decision — and I respect his decision — that I shouldn’t go. And Patti chose, instead, to take my place. And again, as I said, it’s with mixed feelings that I watch her on this program because, on the one hand, I want her to do well; on the other hand, we’d like to have her home and my kids — my little 6- year-old…

KING: Yes, jeez…

R. BLAGOJEVICH: …and my 12-year-old, my girls, they miss their mother. She’s never been away from them and — you know, and I’m now Mr. Mom, basically handling these things.

KING: She’s also very…

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Yes, Larry. I’m sorry.

KING: She’s also very popular. We’re going to take a break. And when we come back, we’ll talk about the aspect of that program — who was supposed to get paid, what about charity.

================
=====BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM “I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE!,” COURTESY NBC============
P. BLAGOJEVICH: My husband is Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois. And the last few months of our lives, it’s been pretty difficult. So, I — you know, in some ways, I’m going to cry. But after that, the jungle doesn’t sound so scary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Patti! Patti, get up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There’s a tarantula on Patti’s leg.
==========END VIDEO CLIP==============

KING: Participants in “I’m A Celebrity…” Can raise money for a charity of their choice. The Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation was approached to be your wife’s charity. Their response is this: “We declined the opportunity because her husband, former Governor Blagojevich, faces federal charges, which include an alleged extortion of our partner, Children’s Memorial Hospital. We wish the show and Mrs. Blagojevich the best of luck.” A couple of questions relating to that, Rod. You said you were doing — you would do it for the need for money. I thought the money goes to charity.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, there’s — there’s two parts to this. There’s a salary that you get paid to do…

KING: Oh.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: …the program and participate as a contestant. And then there’s the charity of your choice. And so, for those who vote for Patti to stay on the program, they have the option to then make a donation to the charity of our choice. We chose Bear Necessities because children’s health care has — was the central part of what I was about as the governor of Illinois. We became the first state in America that gave all our kids health care. Again, there’s an accusation against me that’s false with regard to what you just suggested. Kids with pediatric cancer is a cause both Patti and I believe deeply and want to be helpful on.

They turned us down and I certainly respect that. It’s not surprising. We chose a children’s cancer center in Tampa, Florida, that I understand you’re familiar with, Larry, because your son lives in Tampa. They are affiliated with the Moffett Cancer Center, have a great reputation, and it’s a way for people who want to help kids with cancer, their families, whether it’s money for research, or kids having opportunities to do things they otherwise couldn’t do because their parents can’t afford to help them — this is a way to help those kids. I hope people participate and make a donation.

KING: Your wife has said making money to support the family is the reason she’s doing this. Can you tell us what the salary is?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: I’m not permitted to do that. NBC has a contract with Patti. They have had a contract with me. I should say that we’re grateful to NBC for their confidence in us and the opportunity. Patti — among the reason why she chose to take my place was she felt, as I did, that we had an obligation to meet a commitment to NBC that was willing to give me an opportunity in this process, as we begin to rebuild our lives.  So she’s doing this because it’s a way to earn some income. But also because we felt an obligation to NBC, and, of course, we had a component where we could help kids with cancer.

KING: Is she getting the same you would have gotten?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: She is. I can say that she’s doing a heck of a lot better than I could ever do.

KING: She’s very popular.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: I hope that’s the case. Those of us who know and love Patti know her to be the best person that we know. And I think her contestants, or fellow contestants, are getting to know her. And I think they kind of appreciate her good qualities. She’s just a great person.  Again, the fact that she’s willing to do something like this is all about loving her children and making sure we can keep things as normal for our kids as possible. Albeit this is an unusual way of doing it.

KING: Here’s another clip of Patti on the show. Watch.

============(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)============
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear heavenly father, we just pray over Patti. We pray over her family. We pray over her husband and everything that’s going on, lord. You know the truth. You know that everything that’s happened. I pray the truth will be revealed. I pray that he will triumph in your name, Lord Jesus. I pray that you bless him. They will be delivered from this evil and oppression, Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
P. BLAGOJEVICH: Beautiful, beautiful.
==========END VIDEO CLIP==========

KING: Rod, your wife has not been charged with any crime, but she was referenced in the federal indictment against you. She was heard cursing on audiotape. Chicago newspapers characterize her as Lady Macbeth. Do you think doing this reality show will help her image? What do you think that image is?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, the media and newspapers like to twist things and sensationalize. Yes, she said a bad word because she was angry about the treatment of her husband. And that’s not an unusual thing. She doesn’t speak like that most of the time. They just caught her in a private conversation, when her telephone at home was wire tapped and bugged.  Again, I think people have a chance to see her for what she is on that program. Those of us who know her and love her are blessed to have her in our lives.

If I can just say again, the truth will win out in this. I’m looking forward to being vindicated. As we work through this process as a family, we’re not unlike a lot of other families across America. Millions of people have lost their jobs, are being dislocated during these hard times. There are laid off auto workers in Michigan who are rebuilding their lives, retraining as nurses. They’re an inspiration to Patti and me. I’m going to stand tall and I’m fighting this all the way. We’re going to prevail because the truth is on our side. A huge wrong has been done to me and my family.  I want people to know they can be underdogs and fight a system that unfairly treated them. They can prevail and survive. And in the meantime, as you work your way through, stand tall.

KING: Rod, without being repetitive, do you think you, at all — you, yourself — made some mistakes in this that led to this? Whether they are legally enough to convict you, were there some parts where you made mistakes?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: You know, again, Larry, I –

KING: Without elaborating.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Yes, I could say over the years, have I made some mistakes in judgment? Have I put some confidence and faith and reliance on people who ultimately turned out to be people I didn’t know or know to be what they were? There’s a central figure in this whole case that both President Obama and I had a close relationship with. He sent a letter to a federal judge saying that neither president, then Senator Obama, or me were involved in any wrongdoing with him. Now suddenly he emerges in this case in a different light. Is he the person I thought he was?

KING: Who is that?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: A fellow by the name of Tony Rezko. Again, without going into all the details, sure, I probably put the wrong trust in some people. But in terms of my intentions, what I was trying to do, with regard to the Senate seat, when the truth comes out, I think the American people will find this to be a remarkable story. And again, it’s a story that I think will have historic implications.

KING: Let me get a break. The governor used to be a very busy guy. How is he spending time these days? We’ll ask after the break.

========(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)==========
R. BLAGOJEVICH: I think there’s nothing but sunshine hanging over me.  I prefer to be compared to people like Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and others in history. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath.
========(END VIDEO CLIP)=========

KING: Rod, before we ask how you’re spending your time, how are the girls dealing with this?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Thank you, Larry, I appreciate you asking. We have two little girls, our six-year-old — she just turned six on April 5th — and our daughter Amy is going to be 13 on August 3rd. She is 12 now. They’re different ages. So it is different for both of them. Our older one, obviously, is more aware of the circumstances, and the gravity of it and magnitude of it. It’s affected her more, in a more complicated way. She’s dealing with different issues. But I think for the most part pretty good. Patti, again, has done a great job making sure our kids live as normal a life as possible. They do their routines. Amy skates, goes to school. She plays the oboe and is very active. Our little one is six. She’s dealing with it in her own way as well.

KING: Does the 12-year-old ask you about it?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Not that much. She talks to her mother more about it. We’ve assured her — we’ve talked to her in a broad sense about some of this. And the part of what’s happened is part of this political process today, in the 21st century, that I did nothing wrong, and that, ultimately, I’ll have a chance, with my fellow citizens, to determine what the truth of things are.

KING: How are you spending —

R. BLAGOJEVICH: How am I spending my time, Larry? I’m writing a book.

KING: The governor is pretty busy. Now you’re a former governor. You have no occupation. What are you doing?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: That’s a good question. You know, somebody asked that the other day. I guess I’m technically an author. I’m writing a book. I have a publisher, and we’re working on a book. I’m actively involved in that. It’s hard, because I’m writing about a lot of this stuff. Some of it is painful to even think about, much less write about. In the short run, more immediate period, while Patti is in the jungle, I’m now discovering how difficult her life has been on a day- to-day basis, since I’m the primary care-giver with our two little girls. It’s amazing how sometimes we take for granted what moms do and parents who care for their kids on a day to day basis.

KING: Can the book come out before the trial, if you’re writing openly about everything that happened?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: That’s the intention. Yes, of course. Again –

KING: If the book can come out before the trial, why can’t you discuss other aspects now?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, I — because there’s a court proceeding that needs to be respected. And the book will write about things that will be done in such a way that respects that court proceeding. And you’ll have to wait and see ultimately what’s in it, and how it comes out. It’s still a work in progress.  But I wish I could talk about everything I know. I wish I could tell you about the accusations and answers –

KING: I assume you will in your book, though.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, I’ll talk a lot about a lot of stuff.

KING: You want people to buy the book?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Well, I wanted to write about the truth. Whether they buy it — I hope they do. I think there’s a lot of interesting things I can talk about. Again, there will be an opportunity in a court of law, with sworn testimony and sworn witnesses.

KING: OK. I got you. We’ll be right back. Former governor — you want to add something? Go ahead quickly.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Again, I just want to say, I wish I could tell you what I know. I wish I could answer these questions. It’s very difficult when you’re in a position like I’m in, where people have said things about you, falsely accused you, and the media has decided to rush to judgment and, all of a sudden, the presumption of innocence that we thought was a fundamental right of all of us as citizens was stripped away from you. And then you’re taken from your office that people elected you twice by cynical politicians who have their own motives, who wouldn’t allow you to bring evidence in to prove you did nothing wrong, wouldn’t allow you to bring in taped telephone conversations, every one of them, and let you hear them in a proceeding. And then you’re ripped out of that job and the people are left with a governor who breaks a promise that I made not to raise taxes. The first thing he does is –

KING: I got to take a break.

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Yes, sir.

KING: We’ll have more on the former governor.

(CROSS TALK)

KING: That’s OK. I understand. I’d be emotional too. Our remarkable question of the night is 60 seconds away. Don’t go away.

==================
==================
KING: We have a call for Rod Blagojevich from Toronto. Hello.

CALLER: Hi, Larry.
KING: Hi.

CALLER: I just wanted to ask Rod how is he going to deal with the fact that Patti has become so popular and he’s used to being the celebrity. I watched Patti the last couple nights. I found her to be a really down Earth mom. It was really nice to see. How is he going to deal with her being the nice one and him being the bad guy?

R. BLAGOJEVICH: Thank you for that. I think great. I love Patti more than I love myself. I would literally die for my wife, of course, my children. You know, it’s true, she’s — I’ve been the governor and the politician and the elected official, and that’s kind of where the spotlight is. I have absolutely no problem seeing her pursue her dreams or being the more successful one, or, in this case, the one that is better liked. And if in fact she is better liked, which I think she surely should be, that’s the right place to be. She’s the better person between the two of us.

KING: We have an e-mail question from Nicole in Bloomington, Indiana. “If you are legally cleared in your lifetime, what would be the appropriate recompense for what you’ve gone through?”

R. BLAGOJEVICH: You know, when you go through something like this, and you know that you’ve done nothing wrong, and you’re shocked that so many of these things have happened the way they have, and you’ve been fighting through them, you spend time, when you have the time, as I’ve had, to reflect a little bit and to think through some of this. You can choose to be bitter and you can be angry and you can choose to just give up and lose perspective. Or you can choose to try to find wisdom in all of this.

I’ve had a chance to do a little bit of reading during this period of time. And I’ve read a Greek historian by the name of Edith Hamilton. She wrote a poet named Eschylus during the golden age of Athens, who wrote about suffering and pain. And he said, “even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart. And in our despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us through the awful grace of god.”

I believe there’s a purpose for this. Both Patti and I have a deep faith in God. And we’ve been blessed by the good wishes of people across America who are — who have sent their best to us. And I have to believe that there’s a reason why this has happened the way it has, and that there’s still a purpose for both of us, but certainly for me to do things where I can continue to serve people. All of my adult life has been about serving people. And I still think there’s a role for me when this is over, where I can play a role to help the average little guy, the way I did when I was governor.

KING: A couple more important things to cover when we come back. Don’t go away.

==========
==============
KING:  Governor, federal officials secretly recorded a phone conversation between Roland Burris, the current senator, and your brother, Robert, back in mid-November. The tape was released late last month. Let’s listen to a brief excerpt and then get your comment.

===========(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)==========
ROBERT BLAGOJEVICH, BROTHER: If you guys can just write checks, that’d be fine, if we can’t find a way to tie in.
SEN. ROLAND BURRIS (D), ILLINOIS: OK, OK. Well, we — I will personally do something, OK.
ROB. BLAGOJEVICH: All right, Roland.
BURRIS: And it will be done before the 15th of December.
ROB. BLAGOJEVICH: OK.
BURRIS: All right.
ROB. BLAGOJEVICH: You’re a good friend. I’ll pass on your message.
BURRIS: Please do. Tell Rod to keep me in mind for that seat. Would you?
ROB. BLAGOJEVICH: I’ll let him know.
========(END VIDEO CLIP)=========

KING: Governor, Senator Burris maintains that that recording is proof he didn’t take part in any pay to play scheme to get the United States Senate appointment. What are your thoughts on all of that?

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: Well, you know, I think that tape speaks for itself. It’s a fund-raising call. I understand that Roland didn’t make a contribution. He had helped in the past. That’s a normal part of the process. He’s raising money now, presumably, for his re- election, as are all the senators. They do it all the time, all the Congressman. He said no.  I made him a United States senator. It’s just the opposite of what’s being alleged. Again, I can’t wait for all the truth to come out about that Senate seat and the decisions I made and the actions I took regarding doing what was right for the people of our state. Yes, Larry?

KING: Are you recommending to the people that they re-elect Senator Burris?

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: I’m not going to interject myself in that. I don’t know that I would be doing him any favors if I were to make a suggestion at this point. Again, let me simply say, what’s happened to me is wrong. And I did nothing wrong. The truth will come out, and this will be –

KING: I don’t want you to be repetitive.

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: I’m not trying to be repetitive. I just want to point out, no one needs to feel sorry for us or feel that somehow Patti and I are giving up. We’ve had opportunities to rebuild our lives. And this opportunity on “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here” by NBC is very unique. All of these workers who have lost their jobs across America today, very few of them are given those rare opportunities that Patti and I have been given.

So, in many ways, we’ve been very lucky. Everybody goes through valleys in their lives. That’s what the journey of life is. And sometimes how you deal with your valleys suggests whether or not you’ll ever be on a peak again. In my life experience, because life is filled with ups and downs, when you’re knocked down, you pick yourself up; you dust yourself off’ you don’t complain. You don’t have hate in your heart. You have love in your heart. And you move and look to the future. And you do what Teddy Roosevelt said, which is black hair never catches a rider whose pace is fast enough. You keep moving forward.

KING: By the way, you’re not going to believe this, but a lot of Tweets today on our Twitter thing about your hair. They tell me thousands of people want to know who cuts it, how much money would it take to get you to shave it off?

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: I want to plug my barber. His name is Peter, Mr. Barber on Oak. He’s a great guy. He cuts Lou Pinella’s hair and Mick Jagger actually went to his barber shop when he was here for a concert. I know people make fun of it. Whatever they say, it is what it is.

KING: You like it?

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: I comb it enough. But thank you. I’m a product of the disco era.

KING: San Diego, hello.

CALLER: Yes. Governor, your wife said she was fired from her non-profit job as a result of your alleged acts and behaviors. Are you considering a wrongful termination suit based on this?

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: Thank you for that. There’s been discussion of that. We have decided so far not to do it, because it’s an organization that helps the homeless. But that’s exactly what happened to Patti after the allegations were leveled against me. The not-for-profit organization that she was working at had a one-year contract to help feed the homeless. She was doing an exceptional job. Everybody was saying that, up until the time of my arrest. Then they decided to terminate her. And I imagine they have their own political reasons and others why they did it. It had nothing to do with her work product at all. At this stage, it’s not something we’re pursuing. And we’re moving on. Again, politics is a rough and tumble business.

Dr. King said that when there are difficult times, it’s not the words of your enemies that you remember, it’s the silence of your friends. And when something like what happened to me happens, people run away. And people don’t want any of what you have in their neighborhood. So I think in the respect to Patti’s job and the not- for profit that she worked with, they probably felt that they didn’t want the headache of some of the baggage that went along with Patti being my wife.

KING: Rod, thank you so much for being with us. We’ll be calling on you again. Keep in touch.

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: Thanks. Thanks for having me, Larry. Appreciate it.

Pix of the day: barryglyph

June 4, 2009

barry goes to Egypt and not only becomes a Muslim he places himself in a royal tomb.

BARRY: That looks like me – look at those ears.

Harry Reid don’t know nothing ’bout Judge Sotomayor

June 4, 2009

There is something shocking about Sen Harry Reid’s pronouncement that I can’t articulate. Why would the Senate Majority Leader a) not ever have read Judge Sotomayor’s rulings; b) be proud of the fact that he hasn’t; and c) hope to never have to? What good are senate confirmation hearings if the confirmers don’t know, don’t care, and have no plans of finding out what the potential confirmee believes in? But it does put his endorsement of barry in proper perspective.

stixflix2008

HARRY REID: I understand that during her career, she’s written hundreds and hundreds of opinions. I haven’t read a single one of them. And if I’m fortunate before we end this, I won’t have to read one of them.

Egyptian lops off own penis to spite family

June 1, 2004

A very rare male casualty in the mad, mad world of arranged marriages and caste systems.

25 y/o rich boy wants to marry beautiful lower class girl, petitions father for two years, father says no, boy heats up knife and shows dad who’s boss by cutting off his own.

Hospital unable to re-attach beheaded bit.

Source: AOL

cowardly barry calls Bill Clinton a liar

June 2, 2009

Ben Smith actually has something worthwhile to read…because they’re not his own words. Transplanted Brit Richard Wolffe in his book Renegade quotes barry calling President Clinton a liar.

We had to figure out how to deal with a former president who was just lying, engaging in bald-faced lies.

Their new strategy? Same as the old – race card and sexist attacks – with an assist by the ever-enamored dickie.

barry has lied since day one about his Iraq fairy tale and it took till February when it came out of his own mouth. He lied all the way to the White House with an (ongoing) assist from Politico and Newsweek’s Evan Thomas, Howie Fineman and jonjon “DISABLED INFANT” alter.

Who is going to write the book that details how each one of the barrymedia were used? How barry manipulated their manlove feelings toward him to write ridiculous stories like the one about barry going to Pakistan on spring break.

The first sentence will be:

We had to figure out how to deal with a president who was just lying, engaging in bald-faced lies….ones that we had sold our souls to perpetuate…ones that had our wives wondering our manhood…

Radaronline: Gerry Boyle update (6-3)

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

June 3, 2009

Here’s a really nice interview done by Radaronline.com without all the drama! and alleged $@#* tirades and conjecture??? or anything else. Just a chat with her brother Gerry, who I think is around 55. Susan’s the baby of 9.

GERRY BOYLE:

I just spoke with Susan where she is still being treated at The Priory Clinic and she is doing a lot better. She will get out sooner than expected and she can’t wait to come over to America to perform because she really appreciates how well the American public reacted to her story.

Simon Cowell didn’t protect Ms Boyle before the final but since has stepped up and guaranteed her a deal at her own pace.

GERRY:

Simon Cowell reached out to her and told her that she should have no worries about her career in the future. A management team has been put in place and Susan will work with them under Simon’s guidance to make sure she makes the right decisions and goes at the correct pace.

I wasn’t aware there is a Britain’s Got Talent tour, which is most likely the last thing she needs. Look at what a week away from her own bed (and Pebbles) did.

GERRY:

Once Susan is feeling 100 percent I don’t see any reason why she couldn’t do the tour and also go across to America too. There are a lot of offers on the table and it would be a matter of setting out priorities for her . She realizes that Britain’s Got Talent as a competition is over and she is really concentrating on her future and is ready to embrace that.

Excellent. Prioirities do not include BGT. They clearly never had her best interests at heart.

GERRY:

Even when she was feeling down she really appreciated the support that she received from people around the world especially from America. When she did Larry King and Oprah she loved all the fans and she relates to the ‘can do’ attitude that America has to offer.

He’s quite an operator.

She told me that she can’t wait to get home and cuddle-up with her cat Pebbles, who is now probably the most famous cat in the world!

Thank you radaronline for some facts and for the video.

Radio Rod with the Jungle Beat!

June 3, 2009

Can’t keep a good man (or career politician) down for too long. He’s not in the Costa Rican jungle, but he’s found a way for his fans to keep his wife there just so they can hear him on the radio.

Rather ingenious.

Don Wade and Roma Show WLS -890AM has hired him to be their official ‘I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here!’ Correspondent.

That’s right.

It’s Radio Rod with the Jungle Beat!

Rad Rod will do a live interview in the morning, updating listeners as to how his wife, Jungle Patti, is doing on the show. He did a great job filling in for them back in March, which kicked off his media blitz.

If the money wasn’t going to keep their daughters’ parents out of jail, it would be funny.