Gov. Rod Blagojevich Is Innocent! Here is Why...

What has happened to the good old days? You know, when delusions were limited to a white Christmas with Santa delivering lots of toys and goodies? Politics and corruption are apparently a place where the delusional can thrive. For example, if the allegations concerning Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are true, he is nothing short of delusional. Perhaps an even more powerful demonstration of his altered state of mind is his plan to return to work today, a day after his indictment on federal corruption charges. Who in their right mind would not take a sick day after such an experience? Someone who thinks they are or actually is innocent!

What is the basis of the charges? Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. He is currently out of jail on $4,500 bail. "He's sad, surprised and innocent," Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky told the press. FBI agents also arrested Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris. Ironically, Sheldon is probably right. If the charges are true, Blagojevich is probably incapable of being guilty. After all, who in their right mind believes that a governor can sell a Senate seat or a toll way. (See sale of the Indiana Toll Road by Governor Daniels.)

To begin with, did the accused really try to sell or trade President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife, Patti? All that can be said with certainty is that if the allegations are true, Gov. Rod Blagojevich would have to be totally delusional. If he is in fact totally delusional, then he is incapable of having the mens rea to commit the offense. (Lack of capacity to commit the crime.) If he made no such proposals or attempts to bribe, he is innocent. If he did do it, he had to be crazy and therefore, he did not have the mental capacity to understand that what he did was wrong. Therefore he is again innocent. So, folks, don't rush to judgment.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers are attempting to remove the governor's power to fill the vacant Senate seat. If Blagojevich won't sign the law, they will override his veto. Despite the charges, the Governor may still attempt to nominate someone for Obama's replacement. I suspect a nomination of Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. Attorney prosecuting charges against the Governor, would cement his case for an insanity defense. Somehow, I doubt that Mr. Fitzgerald would accept.

What does this do to the government's image? The federal government apparently bugged the governor's campaign office, placed a tap on his home phone and listened to the governor talk about wanting possible deals according to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
At first blush, the average citizen has got to wonder if any conversation can ever be considered private in the United States. The most incriminating statement may be when Blagojevich allegedly said of the Senate seat: "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden and uh, uh, I'm not just giving it up for [expletive] nothing." That alone tends to prove that the Governor needs to work on his linguistic skills.

Both Blagojevich and Harris face a count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and a count of solicitation of bribery. Based on what has been released to the public, it appears that at times the Governor seemed to discuss the possibly of obtaining a healthy salary for himself at a nonprofit group or an organization affiliated with labor. At other times he mentioned the possibility that his wife might be appointed to a paid corporate board position. During one conversation, Blagojevich allegedly said he needed to consider his family and that he was financially hurting. (Whose 401 K hasn't taken a beating?)

In addition, Blagojevich allegedly suggested that state assistance to the Chicago Tribune would be withheld unless members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board were fired. "Our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support," the governor allegedly said. (Keep in mind that the Tribune owns the Cubs and it has been said that they will never win a world series until h*ll freezes over. With such poor judgment in buying the Cubs, why shouldn't a few people be axed?)

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said, "I recommend to the governor to realize ... that he cannot carry out his responsibilities of office today, and he should, in my opinion, step aside." Quinn said he had not spoken to Blagojevich at length since summer 2007.
Blagojevich, 52, is in his second four-year term as Illinois governor. He served as a U.S. congressman for Illinois' 5th Congressional District from 1997 until 2003. He has two daughters.
The state's last governor, George Ryan, was convicted in April 2006 on racketeering and fraud charges. Ryan reported to a federal prison in Wisconsin in November 2007 to serve a 6½-year sentence. RYAN LEGAL PUB STORY.

UPDATE 1-26-09: Gov. Blagojevich's impeachment trial begins today. But the Governor will not be present. He plans to hit the talk shows instead. Perhaps not a bad move as he will not be under oath at the talk shows!

Update 1-30-09: Gov. Blagojevich was removed as governor by the Illinois Senate despite the governor personally giving the closing argument. The criminal trial is next...

Update 6-2-10: The trial has begun. It could take up to 4 months. Adams one of the attorneys for ex Gov. Blagojevich seems to have a good sense of humor. The judge has ruled that the jurors identity will remain unpublished until after the trial. See comments for more details.

Update 7-21-10: The defense rested without the defendant testifying. The defense did not call a single witness. (Robert Blagojevich, the former governor's brother and a co-defendant, did testify in the prosecution's case in chief.) Outside the Chicago courtroom, Blagojevich told The Chicago Tribune reporters. "Sometimes you've gotta listen to the advice of your lawyers... I've learned a lot of lessons from this whole experience and probably the biggest ... is that I talk too much..."

Update 8-5-10: It appears that the crux of the defense is that Rod Blagojevich talks too much and bullsh*ts way too much. Stupid for a governor yes, criminal no!

Update 8-18-10: After 13 days of deliberations, a federal jury deadlocked Tuesday on all but one of 24 charges against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The jury could not reach a unanimous decision as to whether the former Governor tried to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama's old Senate seat. Blagojevich was convicted on a single count of lying to federal agents. The Governor says he will likely appeal. The State claims that they will seek a retrial on the other 23 counts. Just keep in mind, we predicted this one first. Sounds like at least one juror followed the jury instructions as they all promised to do in Voire Dire.

Update 5-31-11: Retrial. This time, the former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich took the stand and testified that he wasn't interested in taking campaign donations in exchange for President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. (The defense was much more formalized instead of just coming right out and saying that the governor was just Bullsh!tting.)

Update 6-28-11: Yesterday a jury returned a verdict against the defendant on 17 counts. Rod Blagojevich may face up to 6 years in prison. Perhaps he should not have taken the stand...

Rep. Vito Fossella Pays the Price For DWI and Extra Marital Affair

Rep. Vito Fossella of New York made a mistake. On Monday he had to pay. Rep. Fossella was sentenced Monday to five days in jail for drunken driving. The Republican congressman was arrested on May 1 in northern Virginia. Unfortunately, he was persecuted in the media which led to his admission that he has a 3-year-old daughter from an extramarital affair.

Fossella decided not to seek re-election because of the scandal. He will leave office in January.

Sunny von Bulow Not Mrs. Clause or Faux Palin Has Passed On.

Has the final chapter on the "trial of the century" finally closed? No, this is not about O.J. Simpson who will serve at least the next 9 years in jail barring an overturning of his conviction on appeal. Nor is this about the death of Mrs. Santa Clause as my children first feared when they heard the news that Claus ex-wife had passed away. This is about a famous coma victim who after spending nearly 28 years in a coma, has now passed on. This is about the heiress and socialite Martha "Sunny" von Bulow (ex-wife of Claus) who at age 76 has now been laid to rest.

Who is Sunny von Bulow? Was she a Grace Kelly clone, Mrs. Santa Clause or a Faux Palin? Neither. She was born Martha Sharp Crawford. In 1957 she married Prince Alfred von Auerspergin her first marriage. She was thought to have inherited 75 million dollars. The couple had two children, Alexaneder and Annie Laurie. Von Bulow married Claus in 1966 and had a daughter, Cosima. She was married to Claus at the time she slipped into a coma. Keeping with the theme that the husband is always the first suspect, Claus was accused of trying to kill her with an overdose of insulin. Claus was originally convicted of making two attempts on her life, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. After a second trial, Claus was acquitted in 1985.

So what exactly happened? On December 22, 1980, family members found Martha von Bulow unconscious in the bathroom. She never regained consciousness. Approximately, a year earlier, she had been hospitalized after lapsing into a coma but recovered. She was thought to have had hypoglycemia (low blood sugar.) Prosecutors accused Claus von Bulow of twice attempting to kill his wife by injecting her with insulin. The accusations led to the movie, "Reversal of Fortune" with Actor Jeremy Irons winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Claus. Defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, successfully won the appeal that allowed Claus von Bulow a new trial. Ddershowitz has always maintained that the injection was self-induced. At the second trial, th defense team maintained that Martha von Bulow's alcohol use, among other factors, caused her coma. Martha von Bulow is survived by her children, their spouses and nine grandchildren.

Alexander von Auersperg and Ala von Auersperg Isham, filed a civil suit against their stepfather after his acquittal. The case was allegedly settled out of court in 1987. It is believed that Claus von Bulow agreed to waive his claim to his wife's money and to a divorce in exchange for the suit being dropped. Cosima, the couple's daughter, sided with her father.

Police Chief Edward Fleury Indicted For Accidental Death of Christopher Bizilj From Self Inflicted Uzi Wound.

Police are human and they make mistakes too. Unfortunately, lapses in judgment can be detrimental. Why should this come as a surprise? Hillary Clinton is critical of the GM bail out, yet she is looking for help to reduce her campaign deficit. Why expect better judgment in corporate CEOs then in politicians? Or police?

Three men, including Edward Fleury, a Pelham, Massachusetts police chief, were indicted Thursday on involuntary manslaughter counts. Charges arise from a gun-fair death of Christopher Bizilj, an 8-year-old who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi. Prosecutors claim that the boy should not have been allowed to handle the uzi. The fair had promised certified instructors in an advertisement, but District Attorney William Bennett said the child was supervised by an uncertified 15-year-old.

Edward Fleury allegedly told the gun owners that children could legally use the Uzi.
Christopher apparently lost control of the 9mm micro submachine gun as it recoiled. At the time, he was shooting at a pumpkin at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club. Pelham Police Chief Edward Fleury was charged because he owns the sponsor of the gun fair, COP Firearms & Training. Carl Guiffre of Hartford, Conn., and Domenico Spano, of New Milford, Conn., also were indicted. Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, but the term could be five years or less for someone with no prior convictions. Thomas Drechsler, an attorney for the club, extends "deepest sympathy" to the Bizilj family, but denies any wrongdoing.

All suspects are to be presumed innocent.

Update 8-16-11: In January, a Hamden Superior Court jury found Edward B. Fleury innocent of involuntary manslaughter in the death of the eight year- old boy who shot himself. If convicted, he could have faced up to 20 years in jail.

Was Gabriele Markert's Attempt to Steal Christmas in Manchester, Maryland Foiled By Top Notch Detective Work?

This could be a great return to Mayberry Christmas tale starring the Don Knotts and the Grinch. But this is not fiction. The county sheriff's office in Manchester, Maryland told Fox News that51-year-old Gabriele Markert is accused of stealing her neighbors Christmas decorations. Apparently, three area homes were affected by her confiscations. Apparently, around 4:30 a.m., a woman reported a loud noise and discovered her 4-foot-tall Santa and snowman had been taken from her yard. Not wanting Christmas to be ruined, deputies went to the victim's home. At the scene, another neighbor who was walking her dog, allegedly told deputies that she too had been targeted by a thief set out to steal Christmas spirit.

Markert was apparently named a suspect after a deputy observed a four foot plastic Santa and a snowmn apparently being held against their will in Markert's home. She is currently awaiting a bail review hearing which is scheduled for Monday. Markert is charged with misdemeanor theft. While Markert is entitled to a presumption of innocence, the county sheriff's office said that Makert was found in her Manchester home with decorations from at least three area homes. Apparently the plastic Santa and Snowman were not injured. Now, if Gabriele Markert is innocent, this will make for one heck of a "Christmas Story."

Sexism is Alive And Well As Illustrated By Gov. Ed Rendell's Inappropriate Remark ~ by Blond Bombshell

Sexism is alive and well in America. On Tuesday, the lectern mic at the National Governors Conference picked up Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's inappropriate remark. Offering an opinion about President-elect Barack Obama's choice for heading Homeland Security he said about Janet Napolitano: "Janet's perfect for that job. Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day to it."

This would never be said about a man! Current Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is married with two grown children. His predecessor, Tom Ridge, also was a family man. Just when we start to think this country is making progress toward ending sexism and racism, idiotic comments like those of Gov. Rendell bring us back to reality. ~Shell

P.S. A Girl Scout leader and her husband may not be setting the best example for young girls either. Michael Schumacker and his wife were arrested after an emaciated, terrified and nearly naked 17-year-old showed up at a gym with a chain locked to his ankle. The boy claims Schumacher and his wife had held him captive. Tracy Police Department is investigating the allegations of torture.

34-year-old Michael Schumacher and Pam Lau (believed to be his wife) have been charged with torture and other counts. Police were also seeking the boy's aunt (Caren Ramirez) concerning an outstanding felony warrant for an earlier alleged assault against the teen. Ramirez had become the boy's guardian after child welfare removed him from the home of his allegedly abusive father.

According to the Troy teen, he had been held captive for nearly a year. Police arrested Kelly Layne Lau, 30, and Michael Schumacher, 34. Charges of torture, kidnapping and child abuse are now pending. The couple are being held at San Joaquin County jail in lieu of bail in the amount of $1.2 million each.

Lau has been a local Girl Scout leader since September according to Pam Saltenberger, chief executive of Girl Scouts Heart of Central California.
On her MySpace Web page, Lau describes herself as a stay-at-home mom and says her husband worked as a contractor. She posted photos of her family, friends and pets. Maybe Gov. Rendell is right, perhaps Lau would not make a good Homeland Security head... there simply are not enough ankle chains.

~Shell

"All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty," says Legal Pub.

Was Lois K. Feldman Unjustly Terminated Because Of Metrodome Sex With Ross Walsh?

Football can be very exciting. Especially this time of year, when each game has significant bowl implications. Unfortunately, the implications of games are not limited to what happens on the football field. Lois K. Feldman, 38 of Carroll Iowa, allegedly had sex with Ross Walsh in the handicapped stall at the Metrodome during a college football team. She recently said that the incident ruined her life. She claims that she was so drunk on wine that she did not remember hooking up with Ross Walsh. (Does that sound like she lacked the ability to consent or does it sound like an excuse?)

Who is Lois K. Feldman? Feldman is an attractive married woman who is the mother of three. She apparently is a good church going mom by most accounts. Feldman told a newspaper that she was fired from her job as an administrator at an assisted living center because of the incident. If Feldman's next statements are true, her termination is very troublesome.
“I don’t know what happened... “But I don’t deny that it did happen, because, obviously, there are police reports.”

Feldman says that said she had never met Walsh prior to this incident. Yet, how could she not know what was happening when she was cheered on by a crowd of football fans during the sex?
Walsh was not married; however, he did have a girlfriend at the game. Is he proud of nailing an older, hot woman if she was so drunk that she can't even remember having the sex? Was she so drunk that he should have known that she was not capable of consenting to sex. Or is this just a fib by Feldman to make her sound less culpable for the incident? If it is any indication of what the police think, they have closed the investigation.

In the day of the internet, it is possible to learn more than by conventional means. Ross Walsh has an accessible Myspace. Is Ross a stud? Was he a good listener who swept the hot MILF off her feet with his sensitivity? Or was Ross a bad boy who was just irresistable? Or was Ross a real bad boy who should have known better? In any event, the Hawkeyes won the game and that in and of itself may heal the debates on this restroom topic among the Hawkeye faithful.