Thank GOD for media relations pros!!

Posted By Daniel W. Drezner Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 10:36 PM Share

As the state Senate's impeachment trial for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich draws to a close, media relations pros say he might have been better off mounting a defense in the state capital rather than on the airwaves.

Wow.

I look forward to the follow-up stories:

Media relations pros suggest that Tom Cruise stop talking about Scientology,
Media relations pros suggest winning the Super Bowl is better for one's career than losing it.

Readers are encouraged to suggest other pathbreaking predictions by media relations pros.

EXPLORE:POLITICS, BLAGO, BLINDING GLIMPSES OF THE OBVIOUS, MEDIASPHERE

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PAUL81

5:38 AM ET

January 29, 2009

Media Relations Pros

Media Relations pros predict greedy states will be aggressive, while peace-seeking states will be peaceful.
(Oh wait, sorry game theorists already "proved" that)

BRETT

10:29 AM ET

January 29, 2009

Media relations pros reveal

Media relations pros reveal that drinking water will make you healthy, while drinking gasoline will eventually kill you.

Media Relations Pros reveal that pushing the gas on your car will make it go faster, while pushing on the break will stop it.

Media Relations Pros (by the way, I'm starting to think is is a fancy name for "intern") reveal that picking your nose with your finger is satisfying, while picking your nose with a screwdriver is painful.

DJ_83

7:33 PM ET

January 29, 2009

More Media Relations Pro Stuff

Media relations pros suggest that Bill Kristol should stop making predictions.

Media relations pros suggest that Gov. Spitzer should stop seeing Kristen.

Media relatiosn pros recommend that Larry Craig stop going to the bathroom.

DON S

8:42 PM ET

January 29, 2009

It's not quite that obvious, I think.....

My fundamental question about Blago is what has he actually done to deserve to be impeached?

This is a legal procedure, and I think there must be a legal crime which has actually been committed. 'Shooting off his mouth' on tape doesn't qualify. I want to see something solid; stacks of cash, bank transfers, a signed deal on paper, or even a tape recording of an illegal deal between Governor Blags and someone else.

I have a real problem with this one. If I boast to a buddy about committing a rape which never actually occurred, that makes me a (free) jerk, not a convicted rapist. Same for any other crime.

Blago is a complete jerk, but it's not clear to me (beyond the benefit of a doubt) that he's a criminal. The appropriate punishment for jerkhood lies in the ballot box 2 years hence, not in a political trial by a legislature.

BRETT

3:18 AM ET

January 30, 2009

What do you think was the

What do you think was the stuff that he was arrested for, if not the type of evidence that you've listed above as a requirement? In a way, the impeachment is just a formality, since he's going to go soon onto trial for the above, and probably find a cell next to George Ryan.

DON S

10:23 AM ET

January 30, 2009

I want to see something solid, Brett.....

I find the tactics used by prosecutor Fitzgerald questionable to say the least. There is a man sitting in jail right now for an 'offense' another man confessed to doing, but Fitzgerald put him in jail for perjury (on shaky evidence), not a crime which was actually done.

I see Blago in the same way, he's being tried on wire-tap 'evidence' which sounds extremely bad, but which amounts to shooting off his mouth - unless backed by more solid evidence which I haven't seen yet. I want to see the 'smoking gun', particularly from the likes of Fitzgerald, because I won't take his word for it.

The Illinois legislature acted too soon, before the facts were all in and Blag's guilt clearly established in the public eye. That makes the impeachment a political show trial and not a legal proceeding. Bill Clinton would have been out on his ass in 1998 if the US Senate had used such procedures. Situational justice is what we have here. Different rules for Clinton and Blago. That is just not right, no matter what a scumbag Blago is. Plenty of time to send him to jail when 12 good citizens convict him (or not).