Rod Blagojevich (photo:Newsday)
In an article published this morning, the Associated Press offers a glimpse into what readers can expect from former Governor Rod Blagojevich in his new book, “The Governor,” slated for release on September 8. Blago reports that, on the day before his arrest, he ordered his Chief of Staff John Harris to begin the paper work on Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s appointment to Barack Obama’s senate seat out of hope that, in doing so, he would better relations with her father, House Speaker Michael Madigan.
That plan ended when he was arrested.
He writes that once arrested, he became a “political leper” and had no recourse but to appoint Roland Burris to fill the position. Blago reports that Burris turned out to be the only individual willing to take the appointment, in part, because of his extraordinarily large ego.
Blago also dishes dirt on then Congressman Rahm Emanuel by saying Emanuel asked him to appoint a temporary placeholder as his successor for the fifth congressional district. Reportedly, Emanuel’s intention was to reclaim the seat after two years of serving as White House Chief of Staff under President Obama.
Blago writes that, at the advice of his legal team, he told Emanuel that appointing a temporary placeholder was not possible as the law required a special election. No names of potential appointees were mentioned.
For Blago, this book represents a key opportunity to both state his innocence and seek retribution against his political enemies.
For Republicans, this book represents an opportunity to highlight the corruption they are campaigning against in 2010. With Blago’s trial starting next July and voting public’s seemingly growing resentment with what they see out of Springfield, Republicans stand to do well in 2010.
“Fitzgerald didn’t stop a crime spree. He stopped me from doing a lot of good for people.” writes Blago.
Whatever that “good” is, Blago’s new 264 page will, at least, give us an idea of what next year’s campaign fodder will be about.
