Chicago Journalist Keeps Blago in the Hot Seat

As if it couldn't get any worse for Rod Blagojevich. But a new book about the hullabaloo surrounding his impeachment by Chicago journalist Elizabeth Brackett paints a pretty bad portrait of the man recently ousted from the governor's post.

According to interviews Brackett conducted for her manuscript -- to be released next month -- the ex-governor allegedly kept his staff in the dark on multiple occasions, insisted on perks like flying on a state plane between legislative sessions and was so late to a state senator's funeral that then-Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn had to take over the ceremonial coffin flag draping.

The book, aptly titled "Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption Into a National Sideshow," will detail interviews with a former senior adviser to Blago, as well as state representatives and other journalists who covered his administration. The former senior adviser tells Brackett when reporters demanded to know why Blago insisted on taking a plane between Springfield and Chicago at a reported $5,800-per-round-trip price tag, he retorted "[Bleep] it, [bleep] them. It comes with the job."

Brackett's book is available for pre-order on Amazon and retails for just over $16. The author is a correspondent for WTTW11's "Chicago Tonight" as well as "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." [NY Post]