* I’m working on the final details of a major announcement for the blog. Stay tuned. I’ll update this post shortly.
*** UPDATE *** OK, it’s done. I’d hoped to have this completed last night, but it took some extra negotiations. Here is the agreed statement…
Rich Miller and The Publicity Agency are very pleased to announced that former Governor Rod Blagojevich will be a special guest blogger at The Capitol Fax Blog throughout the month of April.
The opportunity will give Blagojevich a chance to display his considerable wit and widely known expertise on state politics and government.
“I’ve really missed the guy,” said Miller. “Revenues have been down a little since Rod left office, so I’m sure this will help my business while performing a great public service. It’s a win-win proposition.”
“Rich’s blog is the go-to site for Illinois political junkies, so this is a natural fit,” Blagojevich said. “I’m also really looking forward to ‘mixing it up’ with his commenters.”
I’m expecting his first post on Thursday, which could be an interesting day indictment-wise.
- Seeker of Truth - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:29 am:
April Fools
- Levois - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:29 am:
April fools? Please?
- Concerned Observer - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:30 am:
Oh Rich. You’re just too much. How does this conflict with his future scheduled appearances with Don and Roma? :)
- George - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:31 am:
What Rich doesn’t tell you is that it was a “6-figure” deal. Just which direction….
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:33 am:
And I thought the April fools gag was KFC fixing the pot holes-who knew.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:33 am:
NICE APRIL FOOLS Rich. You couldn’t handle him for a month.
- Jechislo - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:33 am:
And, with this announcement, revenues again fell sharply……….
- HoBoSkillet - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:33 am:
LoL ….. Good one.
- Just Because - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:33 am:
I really wish this was real. It has to be a joke because i dont think the EX GOV can read. Remember his SAT scores? Lower then a High school student.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:35 am:
LOL. I almost forgot it was April 1st.
- Rob_N - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:35 am:
Rich “Uni/abomber” Miller,
I wonder if Fran Eaton + Co will go ballistic again this year….
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:36 am:
What’s his blog name going to be? Or are you making that the QOTD — choose an appropriate blog name for Blago? :-)
- Justice - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:36 am:
“I’ve really missed the guy,”
Or it could have read….”Bite me”, Miller said. I like the second version better!! Enjoy April fools day….a great day for indictments, but tomorrow will do as well. Actually any day will do!
- casual observer - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:37 am:
= performing a great public service =
That was the clue this was a hoax.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:40 am:
April fools — funny.
- Scott/Chicago - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:41 am:
Rich, please install Google’s new autoreply feature they announced today. This would save time responding to Rod.
Their example response to an email from Nigeria could work as is - just change “accept the $25 million” to “provide the $25,000″… “Your Majesty, It is an honor to receive your attentions. I will do everything in my power to aid you and accept the $25 million. Please find my bank account numbers, as well as my SSN and mother’s maiden name.”
More info at http://mail.google.com/mail/help/autopilot/index.html
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:42 am:
The real joke would be having a reverse-impeachment and putting him back in office.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:43 am:
It has the best part of an April Fool’s joke, it is in fact plausible…
- Brock Berlin's Clipboard - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:45 am:
He’s already familiar with the blog, after years of posting as VanillaMan.
- Anonymous45 - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:47 am:
So APRIL FOOLS! Thanks Rich…:)
- vise77 - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:47 am:
Nice one, Rich.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:49 am:
I thought Bill was the gov.
For a split second I vowed not to take part in this obscene money grab.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:53 am:
Happy April Fool’s, Rich.
- bored now - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 9:56 am:
while i do suspect that it’s too early to know whether “revenues are down,” i’d be willing to bet that eyeballs are down since rod left office. i’d expect revenues to be steady, though, given the anticipation of a wild ride through the 2010 election cycle.
i’m with the several who hope this is an april fool’s joke…
- What planet is he from again? - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:00 am:
“It has the best part of an April Fool’s joke, it is in fact plausible…”
which is why there was no mention of the Cubs winning the World Series.
- jimd - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:04 am:
April Fools right? RIGHT???? Don’t do this to me Rich
- Dan S, a Voter, Taxpayer and Cubs Fan - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:10 am:
Happy April Fool’s Day to you also Rich.
- Skeptic Cal - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:10 am:
Rich, I think you should make this a reality and invite him to log on confirming that it is really him and keep this dedicated to his responses to questions for a full day.
It would be interesting, and he just might take you up on it.
BIG HEADLINES would be yours for this exclusive.
Hey EVERYONE, tell Rich to make the offer. Really, it could be fun.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:11 am:
DARN!
Consider the possibilities!
Blogging with Bill’s hero would be so cool, even if it would be like blogging with Gary Busey.
- babs - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:12 am:
You got me! Congrats and have a great day!!!
- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:13 am:
heh. good one.
- Amy - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:17 am:
ah, we can dream…. thanks for making us laugh.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:18 am:
I think this is no joke. Looking forward to sparring with the ex-gov on the 2nd.
- Disgusted in Chi Boogie - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:23 am:
I almost plotzed! Very good, very bad April Fool’s joke.
- Quinn T. Sential F/K/A Blago Sphere "TM" - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:27 am:
Why kind of April Fools do you take us for?
In anticipation of just such non-sense by the former Governor however, I have applied for registration of the trademark Blago Sphere “TM” with the USPTO.
As a consequence, let this serve as constructive notice to both the former Governor,to CAPFAX and the general public that:
I have a claim of ownership of the mark; Blago Sphere
There shall be a legal presumption of the my ownership of the mark and my exclusive right to use the mark nationwide on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed my pending registration;
By registering the Blago Sphere “TM” trademark, I have retained the right to bring an action concerning the mark in Federal court;
In the event that the former Governor, CAPFAX, or anyone in the gemneral public might have designs on making use of the Blago Sphere “TM” abroad, be forewarned that I am making use of the U.S. registration as a basis to obtain registration in foreign countries as well.
He who laughs last; laughs best!
- Nort'sider - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:36 am:
Pretty good, but will it crack the Museum of Hoaxes’ Top 100 April Fool’s Day Hoaxes of All Time list?
- Anonny - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:37 am:
Great one! You had me reaching for the flamethrower after one sentence!
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:38 am:
Good one Rich. I just wish it were true. Will your system be able to handle the traffic for a month? What will happen though is we will be able to read only Blago’s postings. He will become “El-Deleto” when he becomes uncomfortable with 99% of the replies.
- Say WHAT? - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:38 am:
Rich,
I have some great land for sale in Arizona. It has an ocean front view.
- scoot - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:41 am:
Lol thats pretty good!
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:43 am:
the second paragraph made me realize this was a joke…”considerable wit” and “expertise” was a giveaway.
I checked uspto.gov and ‘blago sphere’ is still available…
- consulthammer - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:44 am:
Just in time for the indictment, ey! Knock on wood.
Read an excerpt from “One Hundred Percent Guilty,” @ http://consulthammer.com/page8.html
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Where the heck is “Bill”? He could lay this sinister rumor to rest!
- Jake from ? - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:51 am:
Who’s to say that Blago isn’t participating in the discussions on this blog on a day to day basis using a codename. Come to think of it, that would be a decent QOTD. Happy 4/1 to our own impeached fool!
- Bill - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 11:16 am:
Great!
What time is Roid, I mean Rod, coming on?
What’s so funny?
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 11:24 am:
To former governor Blagojevich:
Please stop pointing out the kitty.
- JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 11:30 am:
Hardy har har.
- make it so - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 11:42 am:
Rich, You’re too funny! Too bad it’s 4/1, I’d love to see what Blago would right - and unlike radio, no way to weed out those that disagree.
- L.S. - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 12:39 pm:
For the sake of human decency, I hope this is April Fools.
“widely known expertise on state politics and government.” ???
Better be a joke.
- Ahem - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 12:40 pm:
Ah, good one, Rich. Actually, Blago’s an expert on everything, didn’t you know?
- South of I-80 - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 1:02 pm:
Great Idea! And that way Former G-Rod could blog during Fritz’s news conference tommorrow!!
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 1:06 pm:
I’m sure you’re not doing this for free, so be sure to get the money up front. Better yet, get a retainer in the half-million-dollar range in case he wants to back out after only a few hours or minutes or however long his attention span is.
And don’t take any 3d-party checks he wants to indorse over to you, ESPECIALLY if they are for $25,000.
- Macoupin County Kid - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 1:08 pm:
How much did you have to donate to his re-election campaign fund, Rich….
- Ghost - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 1:16 pm:
You should have announced it as new bus trip around with the Gov .
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 1:19 pm:
Ghost, I did that two years ago on April 1st. I try not to get stale here. lol
- Kevin Fanning - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 1:30 pm:
It would have been a lot funnier if Don and Roma were joking too….
- Captain America - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 3:13 pm:
Blago’s first post-indictment comment on Capitol Fax with audio/video: (Blago singing, running his hands through his hair, and hips undulating)
“I’m just a soul who’s intentions were good. Oh lawd, Oh lawd, don’t let me be misunderstood.”
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 4:04 pm:
We should have an official indictment countdown clock running at this site… only 18, maybe 20 hours left to go at most.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 10:20 pm:
Good one, Rich! But what are you going to do if he heard about this, can’t sleep during the wee hours of tomorrow morning, and tries to start posting?!!!