Reporting with Natasha Korecki
Rod Blagojevich and John Harris are floating names for the U.S. Senate seat on the next tape. Blago suggests Oprah Winfrey.
"That's crazy," Harris says.
"That's where you're wrong," Blago replies.
Blagojevich is increasingly out of breath while he's talking; the sound of weights clanging is audible in the background. It sounds like he is working out at home while discussing the appointment.
Rod: "She made Obama ... she's a Democrat."
Harris: "You're looking for a celebrity to be your friend?"
Rod: "She's so up there, so high ..."
Later, Rod keeps brainstorming: "Maybe a black Albert Einstein," he suggests. At that, one African American juror gently shakes her head.
Blagojevich is insistent that they "bolster the list" of potential candidates -- even if it means looking outside of Illinois.
"Who outside of Illinois might fit the bill?" he is heard asking Harris. He mentions Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example.
Harris tries to talk him out of it.
"Picking somebody outside of Illinois has a whole host of problems," Harris tells him. "(They'll say), 'There are 13 million residents (in Illinois), Rod hates them all.'"
Why is it when a politician does something wrong or if something goes wrong in the government - it is always Obama's fault??? Can't people be responsible for their own actions anymore - they always have to find a fall guy. Not right. Blago has to take responsibility for his own mess ups. As far as Oprah, yes she wanted Obama in there - whats the difference between that and the people to petitioned for Bush and look at the mess ups he made.
Thank you Rod for verifying what we thought---Oprah made Obama, so all problems in the Gulf, the Econonmy and the War now lay directly at the steps of Harpo Studios. That shameful whale is right to be leaving Chicago and Harpo, she knows she screwed up once Michelle dissed her at the White House early in the term.
Thanks Orca, for all you've done. Steadman was right, Chicago dont respect you.