Return of the Windbag: Blagojevich Presser Brings Sense of Déjà Vu

With jury selection for his retrial set for next week, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich held a press conference yesterday outside his home that was long on rhetoric, heavy on bluster and machismo. Blagojevich once again proclaimed his innocence and demanded the prosecutors play every bit of wiretap evidence against him, suggesting that prosecutors are trying to "railroad an innocent man.” We've included the unedited video in the post; it's Blagojevich in rare form.

Federal prosecutors filed a motion Tuesday to bar Blagojevich's attorneys from arguing that playing the wiretaps — hundreds of hours of them — would prove his innocence. Judge James Zagel reminded the prosecution that it's ultimately up to him to make that decision. That was a point Blagojevich conveniently omitted from yesterday's televised pre-emptive strike. Blago also failed to mention that, should he decide to take the stand in his retrial, he has very wide control over what tapes can and cannot be played in his defense.

But that wasn't the point of yesterday's presser. In addition to serving as a forum to take the retrial out of the courtroom into the court of public opinion, it was a reminder of Blagojevich's masterful skills as a politician. Every detail of this press conference, from staging it outside his Ravenswood home, to the timing of the press conference with the 5 p.m. news cycle, to recalling his achievements as governor, to invoking the names of Mayor-elect Emanuel, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, was made specifically to remind potential jurors that Blagojevich fashions himself a champion of the people. We'll find out in short order if the seeds Blagojevich planted yesterday bear fruit.