Tag Archives: Blagojevich trial

Blagojevich trial?, Cellini Trial, Where’s Tony Rezko, What ploy to protect Obama used next?

Blagojevich trial?, Cellini Trial, Where’s Tony Rezko, What ploy to protect Obama used next?

“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren

The is jury out in the so called Blagojevich trial. I have refused to play along with the mainstream media in portraying Blagojevich’s guilt as being primarily in the selling of the senate seat, a well crafted diversion. The William Cellini trial is coming up in August. The next ploy to protect Obama and keep witnesses like Tony Rezko from testifying should be interesting.

From the Blagojevich “trial” coverage of the Chicago Tribune June 9, 2011.

“Hamilton’s narrative capped a day when prosecutors and Blagojevich’s
lawyers quizzed a last flurry of witnesses, including a pair of FBI
agents who interviewed the then-governor in 2005 about his fundraising
activities. That interview led to Blagojevich’s sole conviction last
summer on a count of lying to the FBI.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-jurors-likely-to-get-blagojevich-case-today-20110609,0,6673239,full.story

2005.  Where’s Tony Rezko?

From the first Blagojevich “trial” coverage of Fox News Chicago  June 17, 2010.

“In the Rod Blagojevich trial Thursday, Democratic Fundraiser Joseph Cari and Rezko associate Ali Ata testified about how the Friends of Blagojevich ran their fundraising and alleged pay-to-play schemes.

•Ali Ata described how Rezko dealt with him and told the jury he was named executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority after making two, $25,000 contributions to the Blagojevich campaign.
•Cari testified, “If you did not play ball the way they wanted, there would be repercussions.”   He said Stuart Levine involved him in a deal he was brokering with the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), where the company JER was supposed to hire a consultant of Levine’s choosing. Cari said when you wanted to do business with the state, you were subjected to shakedowns and he once told another individual “that’s the way it’s done in Illinois.”
•Under cross-examination, Cari did admit all threats came from Stuart Levine and not Rod Blagojevich. The defense also caught that when Cari testified at the Rezko trial, he said the “powers that be” were Kelly and Rezko, but did not mention Blagojevich as he did Thursday at this trial. On redirect, the prosecution had Cari read that he mentioned Blagojevich in reference to the same question at his grand jury testimony before the Rezko trial.
•Blagojevich tweeted ( @governorrod ) Thursday morning, “Getting ready for another day. One day at a time.”  The day before, he thanked everyone for their emails of support.
•Wednesday, the prosecution questioned Rezko associate Joseph Aramanda.  Aramanda testified about how when he owed Rezko money, Rezko had him act as a middle man for investments for the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). Aramanda said he became uncomfortable when Rezko wanted him to be involved in a deal worth tens of billions to Rezko , Lon Monk , Chris Kelly and Rod Blagojevich .”

Read more:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/rod-blagojevich-trial-fundraiser-joseph-cari-day-ten-20100617

Where’s Tony Rezko?

This is where it should get interesting. The William Cellini trial is scheduled for August. Tony Rezko is scheduled for sentencing in October. In the Cellini Indictment, Rezko and TRS, Teacher retirement System, are mentioned every other word. How are you going to keep Rezko off the witness stand. And if you have Rezko talking, you have Obama.

Stay tuned for more.

Blagojevich trial, Justice Dept controlled by Obama weakens case, Blagojevich prosecuton designed to protect Obama

Blagojevich trial, Justice Dept controlled by Obama weakens case, Blagojevich prosecuton designed to protect Obama

“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

Yesterday the Citizen Wells blog presented the latest efforts by the US Justice Department to dilute the prosecution of Rod Blagojevich and ultimately protect Obama.

“Prosecutors in the Blagojevich trial have dropped 3 counts from the indictment against him. That is approximately 15 %. That does not appear on the surface to be significant. However, counts 1 and 2 represent about half of the indictment and mention numerous Chicago corruption figures with ties to Obama. Get the picture?”

“Most of you know by now that the US Justice Department is corrupt, as evidenced by recent whistleblowers, and that Obama and Eric Holder have no regard for the US Constitution. The manner in which the Blagojevich trial has played out, beginning with the delay of his arrest, the diversion of the selling of the senate seat, inept prosecution in the first trial and manipulation of charges, all are further proof of Obama’s usurpation and control of the Justice Dept.

Remember in 2008 I told you that Obama had to win the election to avoid prosecution.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/blagojevich-trial-update-3-counts-dropped-half-of-indictment-dropped-obama-protected-justice-dept-corruption/

Notice the following statement I made last year:

“C) Is count one too large and thus more difficult to convict him on? Was this deliberate? This count has most of the references to earlier corruption that can be linked to Obama.”

It appears that my crystal ball worked well, or is it that the Obama controlled Justice Dept. is just too predictable.

Reprinted from Citizen Wells May 16, 2010.

As many of you know, The Citizen Wells blog has presented numerous articles on Chicago corruption involving Rod Blagojevich, Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine, Barack Obama and a host of others. The first article on Blagojevich was presented in April of 2008. This blog called for the arrest and indictment of Blagojevich and Obama  long before Blagojevich was arrested.
You are probably also aware of one of my biggest concerns about the Blagojevich trial. That it was being downplayed and misrepresented by Blagojevich in concert with the mainstream media and recently affected by Google manipulating search engine results. Almost every reporting of the trial portrays it as simply as Blagojevich attempting to profit from selling Obama’s old US Senate seat.
I am currently analyzing the second superseding indictment against Blagojevich and I have some concerns about it’s content and structure. This blog has several legal experts who comment frequently, other website owners and others who pay attention and certainly care about this country. I am seeking two responses from you.
1. Read the criminal complaint from December 2008. Then read the superseding indictment and then the second superseding indictment. Here are just some of my concerns.

A) Are too many of the earlier references to Blagojevich’s ties to corruption that could link him to Obama diluted in the second superseding indictment?

B) Are there too many counts associated with the senate seat selling?

C) Is count one too large and thus more difficult to convict him on? Was this deliberate? This count has most of the references to earlier corruption that can be linked to Obama.
2. Contact as many people, entities as possible. Have them read the indictment. Counteract the Orwellian attempts to misrepresent this colossal coverup.
Here is just the “Tip of the iceberg” from the Criminal Complaint.

“b. Corruption of the Planning Board
35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy Hospital, which
sought permission from the Planning Board to build a hospital in Illinois, received that
permission through Rezko’s exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was
promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign contribution to ROD
BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the Planning Board that Mercy Hospital
received the permit because ROD BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the
permit.
36. Levine’s criminal activities included his abuse of his position on the Planning
Board to enrich both himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The Planning Board was a
commission of the State of Illinois, established by statute, whose members were appointed
by the Governor of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning Board
consisted of nine individuals. State law required an entity seeking to build a hospital,
medical office building, or other medical facility in Illinois to obtain a permit, known as a
“Certificate of Need” (“CON”), from the Planning Board prior to beginning construction.
37. Levine, as well as Planning Board members Thomas Beck and Imad
Almanaseer, testified under oath at the Rezko Trial.9 Beck testified that he asked Rezko to
reappoint him to the Planning Board and that Beck thereafter followed Rezko’s directions
regarding which CON applications Rezko wanted approved. Beck testified that it was his
job to communicate Rezko’s interest in particular CONs to other members of the Planning
Board, including Almanaseer, who were loyal to Rezko. Beck testified that he understood
that Rezko spoke for the Blagojevich administration when Rezko spoke to Beck about
particular CONs. Almanaseer testified that Beck instructed him that Rezko wanted
Almanaseer to vote a particular way and that Almanaseer should follow Levine’s lead in
voting on CONs. Almanaseer testified that before certain Planning Board meetings, he
received notecards from Beck indicating how to vote on certain CON applications. Beck
testified he provided these notecards to Almanaseer and certain other members of the
Planning Board to communicate Rezko’s directions about certain CON applications.
9 Beck and Almanaseer testified pursuant to immunity orders.
38. During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the Planning
Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan centered on an entity
commonly known as Mercy Hospital (“Mercy”) that was attempting to obtain a CON to build
a new hospital in Illinois. Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In
approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine checked with Rezko to
determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain its CON. Rezko informed Levine that
Mercy was not going to receive its CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it
would matter to Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and Levine
and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Levine testified that Rezko
indicated that such an arrangement would change his view on the Mercy CON.10
39. Levine’s testimony regarding Rezko’s actions to change the Planning Board
decision concerning Mercy’s application for a CON based on contributions for ROD
BLAGOJEVICH is confirmed by attorney Steven Loren. Loren testified at Rezko’s criminal
trial and, before that, in the grand jury.11 According to Loren, in approximately December
2003, Levine informed Loren that Rezko was against the Mercy CON. According to Loren,
10 manipulated the Mercy vote based on Mercy’s
agreement to make a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, which agreement he states was
communicated to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, but denies that Levine offered a personal bribe to
Rezko as well.
11 In connection with this investigation, Steven Loren pled guilty to interfering with
the due administration of the Internal Revenue Service. In exchange for his continued and
truthful cooperation, the government has agreed to move the Court for a 5K1.1 departure and
his counsel is free to seek any sentence, including probation. Loren has no other criminal
history. Pursuant to his cooperation agreement, Loren testified at the Rezko Trial.
Levine relayed to Loren a conversation between Rezko and Levine during which Levine
asked Rezko whether a political contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH would make a
difference for Mercy’s CON, and Rezko responded to Levine that such a contribution might
make a difference.

40. Thereafter, and confirmed by the testimony of Levine, Beck, and Almanaseer,
as well as recorded conversations, Rezko switched his directions to Beck and informed Beck
that Mercy was to receive its CON. According to Almanaseer, although he previously had
been told by Beck that Rezko did not want Mercy to receive its CON, he was later told that
there had been a change and that Rezko now wanted Mercy to receive its CON.
41. Mercy received its CON as a result of a controversial and irregular vote at a
public Planning Board meeting.12 The vote brought significant publicity to the Planning
Board and ultimately led to the disbanding of the Planning Board. Almanaseer testified
under oath in the grand jury that not long after the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON he
saw Rezko at a fundraiser. According to Almanaseer, he was still embarrassed about what
had occurred at the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON and Rezko’s role in the vote.
Almanaseer testified that he asked Rezko why Rezko had switched the vote on the Mercy
CON. According to Almanaseer, Rezko stated: “The Governor wanted it to pass.”

12 There was extensive testimony regarding the irregularity of the vote at the Planning
Board meeting. In summary, during the vote, Levine got up from his seat and went to speak
to Beck and to Almanaseer. After these discussions, Almanaseer then changed his vote to
be in favor of Mercy receiving its CON. Beck then voted in favor as well and by a vote of
5 to 4, Mercy’s application for a CON passed.
Almanaseer understood the reference to “Governor” to be a reference to ROD
BLAGOJEVICH.”
Read more:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01a.pdf
Superceding indictment.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2009/pr0402_01a.pdf
Second superceding indictment.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2010/pr0204_02a.pdf
I know that some of you may not understand my passion for staying focused on this. However, I consider it crucial, perhaps almost as important as changing congress in the 2010 elections. This is something we can work on now. I promise you, the spectre of the general public finding out about this scares the hell out of the Obama camp. Just recently, Google has tried to hide my articles. Do not let the Orwellian Obama thugs win!

Wells

Blagojevich Obama Emanuel, Blagojevich trial, Obama 2012 headquarters, Emanuel defense subpoena

Blagojevich Obama Emanuel, Blagojevich trial, Obama 2012 headquarters, Emanuel defense subpoena

“Why has Obama, for over 2 years, employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

“Why was the arrest of Rod Blagojevich delayed until after the 2008 elections?”…Citizen Wells

From the Chicago Tribune January 20, 2011.

“President Barack Obama, as expected, has chosen Chicago as the headquarters for his 2012 re-election campaign.

An Obama campaign official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the headquarters will open this spring.

The news came as senior adviser David Axelrod prepares to leave the White House and return to Chicago soon after the president’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday in order to spearhead the re-election bid.

As recently as late last month, White House officials said Obama had not decided where to locate his re-election headquarters. Observers, though, expected him to pick Chicago.
The decision bucks recent history. Every two-term president in the last 30 years — George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan — set up his re-election campaign offices near the White House or in suburban Virginia.”

“A Chicago base offers plenty of advantages: The city is loaded with longtime loyalists, many with fundraising muscle.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-obama-campaign-chicago-0121-20110120,0,5353123.story

Maybe, maybe not.

From the Chicago Sun-Times Jan 17, 2011.

“Rahm Emanuel may have retained his spot on the mayoral ballot, but he’s also kept a spot in another, less desirable place — a federal subpoena.

An attorney for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Emanuel remains under defense subpoena for the upcoming retrial, scheduled for April 20.

“It’s certainly possible we would call Rahm Emanuel as a witness,” Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky said.

Sorosky said at the direction of U.S. District Judge James Zagel, all the subpoenas issued in last summer’s first Blagojevich trial would be still valid in the second trial.

Emanuel, who was captured on tape in conversations with Blagojevich and his staff, was not called as a witness in the first trial where Blagojevich was convicted on just one of 24 counts.

But Sorosky said if the government opens the door in this go-around, Emanuel could take the stand.

“We’d have to see just what evidence the government presents,” Sorosky said.

Defense lawyers have said that Emanuel would be of interest to them because they believe he would testify that nothing nefarious took place in his conversations with Blagojevich or his staff in late 2008. Emanuel is not accused of wrongdoing.

While Emanuel was captured on some recordings made in the course of the investigation into Blagojevich, none were played at trial.

In one of those recordings, Emanuel appears to be asking Blagojevich for a favor involving Emanuel’s soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reported in 2009. Emanuel, who was working as President Obama’s chief of staff, would not answer questions at the time.”

Read more:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/3345611-505/blagojevich-emanuel-staff-trial-gov.html

Rezko sentencing delayed indefinitely, Blagojevich trial, Cellini trial, Obama trial?

Rezko sentencing delayed indefinitely, Blagojevich trial, Cellini trial, Obama trial?

“Why has Obama, for over 2 years, employed numerous private and government attorneys to avoid presenting a legitimate birth certificate and college records?”…Citizen Wells and millions of concerned Americans

Ghosts of Christmas past.

From the Chicago Tribune January 6, 2011.

“Rezko sentencing delayed indefinitely
Former top fundraiser for Blagojevich could still be called as federal witness

With the agreement of lawyers on both sides, a federal judge on Thursday indefinitely postponed the sentencing of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, keeping open the possibility that the government could call the former top fundraiser for Rod Blagojevich at the former governor’s retrial.

Prosecutors didn’t call Rezko at Blagojevich’s trial last year, but the government could be re-evaluating that since the jury deadlocked on all but one count against the former governor. He was convicted of lying to the FBI.

Rezko began to cooperate with investigators after a federal jury convicted him in 2008 of extorting millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. He was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28. He also faces sentencing for a separate conviction stemming from a fraudulent loan scheme.”

“Prosecutors gave no indication if Rezko would be called to testify in the Blagojevich retrial or the trial of co-defendant William Cellini, a Springfield powerbroker, in August.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-tony-rezko-status-20110106,0,6737640.story

Obama and Blagojevich are still haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past.

From Citizen Wells January 6, 2011.

“Mercy Health System wants to build a 128-bed hospital in Crystal Lake, less than 10 miles from where a similar-sized facility has been proposed in Huntley, raising the question of how many beds are needed in McHenry County.”

“Mercy’s original proposal for 70 beds was shot down by the state board in 2003. Mercy tried again in April 2004 and was awarded a certificate of need as board members became the target of a federal corruption investigation.

A few months later, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state lawmakers revamped the board. The Tribune reported in June 2005 that then-board Vice Chairman Stuart Levine planned to split a $1.5 million kickback with former Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko from contractor Jacob Kiferbaum, who was to build the hospital.”

This is important and links Obama, who was chairman of the IL Senate committee that changed the number of board members from 15 to 9, to the board rigging.

“Rod Blagojevich and state lawmakers revamped the board.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/mercy-health-system-haunts-obama-and-blagojevich-illinois-health-facilities-and-services-review-board-board-rigged-obama-guilty/

Obama Rezko Blagojevich, Rezko sentencing, Blagojevich trial, US Justice Dept, Citizen Wells open thread, November 6, 2010

Obama Rezko Blagojevich, Rezko sentencing, Blagojevich trial, US Justice Dept

Reported on Citizen News November 5, 2010.

“Tony Rezko, longtime corruption crony of Rod Blagojevich and Barack Obama, who was convicted of multiple counts of corruption in 2008, will be sentenced on January 28, 2011, prior to the Blagojevich trial.”

“Rezko has agreed to cooperate against Blagojevich but wasn’t called to testify at the former governor’s trial last summer. With Blagojevich’s retrial set to begin in April, Rezko’s sentencing months before could signal he is unlikely to be called again. Defendants usually aren’t sentencing until after their cooperation has been completed.

A sentencing date was not set today for Rezko’s co-defendants, Stuart Levine, Joseph Cari and Steven Loren, who will next return to federal court for a status hearing in March.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.com/2010/11/05/rezko-sentencing-january-28-2011-rezko-witness-at-blagojevich-trial-rezko-agreed-to-cooperate/

This raises many questions.

Will Tony Rezko testify at the Blagojevich Trial?

If not, will Stuart Levine, the key witness in the Rezko Trial, testify?

Will the sentence of Rezko reveal his level of cooperation?

Will the spectre of Republican investigations influence the Justice Dept.?

Will the US Justice Department conduct a proper prosecution against Blagojevich in 2011?

Will more involvement by Barack Obama in Chicago and Illinois corruption be revealed?

Blagojevich trial, Retrial hearing, Citizen Wells open thread, October 22, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Retrial hearing, October 22, 2010

The Chicago Tribune reports.

“Prosecutors and defense attorneys are scheduled to appear in federal court as the sides prepare for retrial in the corruption case against ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Friday’s status hearing comes a week after prosecutors filed a response to defense claims that multiple legal errors led to Blagojevich’s conviction for lying to the FBI.

The government countered that it was overwhelming evidence that led to the conviction in the first trial and that allegations of prosecutorial misconduct are baseless.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il–blagojevichtrial,0,891472.story

For more information on Blagojevich and events leading up to the trial:

https://citizenwells.com/2010/05/21/blagojevich-trial-complete-coverage-from-citizen-wells/

Blagojevich wiretap November 7, 2008, Blagojevich trial evidence

Blagojevich trial, Day 11 of jury deliberations, Citizen Wells open thread, August 11, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Day 11 of jury deliberations

Today, August 11, 2010, is day 11 of jury deliberations in the Rod Blagojevich trial. What will the verdict be? That’s anybody’s guess. What is the real verdict? The US Justice Department is corrupt and the fix was in many months ago. Remember folks, regardless of the verdict, it can be appealed.

Blagojevich trial, Sam Adam Jr threatened with contempt, Key witnesses not called, Rezko Levine Quinlan, Judge James Zagel

Blagojevich trial, Sam Adam Jr threatened with contempt, Key witnesses not called

I am not certain if this is part of some preordained script but I agree with Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Jr., the government should have called Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine to the witness stand.

From the Chicago Tribune July 26, 2010.

“Following his dispute with the trial judge, Blagojevich’s lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., walked over to the former governor and shook his hand in a way that suggested to reporters he was done representing him.
Adam then walked out of Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, leaving it in doubt whether he will return tomorrow to deliver the closing argument for the former governor.

Asked by reporters if he would be back for the closings, Adam responded, “I don’t know yet.”

Adam announced to U.S. District Judge James Zagel that he wouldn’t follow the judge’s order barring him from arguing that the government didn’t call some key witnesses to point the finger at the former governor. Adam wants to be able to tell the jury that they weren’t called because they would have been helpful to Blagojevich.

Zagel threatened to hold him in contempt of court if he proceeded, and Adam said he would take that risk.

“I’m willing to go to jail for this, your honor,” Adam said loudly. “I cannot follow your order on this.”

Having that door closed makes it impossible for him to effectively represent Blagojevich, Adam said. He said he should be able to argue that the government could have called witnesses such as fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, political insider Stuart Levine and Blagojevich’s general counsel, William Quinlan.”

Read more:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/blagojevich-on-trial/2010/07/blagojevichs-lawyer-sam-adam-jr-will-not-be-arguing-today-to-the-jury-after-all-following-a-tiff-with-the-judgeadam-ann.html

Blagojevich trial, Justice Dept, Obama eligibility, World turned upside down, Citizen Wells open thread, July 23, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Justice Dept, Obama eligibility, World turned upside down

We truly do live in a “World Turned Upside Down.”

The ballad  “The world turned upside down” was first published in 1643.

In 1649 after King Charles the First was beheaded, people declared “the world turned upside down.”

It is believed that the British played this tune when they surrendered at Yorktown.

From American Thinker.

“We truly do live in a world upside-down — whether we see it in the world of science, on the airwaves of Britain, or in the streets of America. An inversion has occurred: Ideology takes precedence over facts and lies trump truth. Even religion has undergone a radical change — and Phillips takes a brief foray into the world of “exotic” religions that seem to be proliferating at a rapid clip. But this points out the fundamental cause, as Ms. Phillips sees it, of why the world flipped around.
Judeo-Christian religions, based on the core values of Judaism, have been downgraded in our lives. The precepts that other generations have lived by have been cast aside, or perhaps cast onto the junk heap. These values are what provided a foundation for the scientific method and of rationality. Now they are disparaged by many (church attendance is almost non-existent in England). When that foundation was removed, what moved into the moral vacuum? Feelings and ideology, with a big slug of irrationality.
Paul Johnson, the English historian, wrote a fine epitaph of the final years of the 20th century that also served as a prophecy for how the 21st century would devolve:
One of the keys to understanding the twentieth century is to identify the beneficiaries of the decline in formal religion. The religious impulse — with all the excesses of zealotry and intolerance it can produce — remains powerful, but expresses itself in secular substitutes.
These are the zealots who control much of our world now and who are driving us down very perilous roads. These are the zealots that Melanie Phillips has done a superb job identifying and battling in her superb new book.”

Read more:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/the_world_turned_upside_down.html

“The world turned upside down” sound and lyrics:

http://www.contemplator.com/england/worldtur.html

Blagojevich trial, Judge James Zagel to rule on Thursday on throwing out some charges, Citizen Wells open thread, July 22, 2010

Blagojevich trial, Judge James Zagel to rule on Thursday on throwing out some charges

From the Chicago Tribune July 21, 2010.

“The presiding judge in Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial is considering whether to throw out some or all of the charges against the former Illinois governor or his co-defendant brother.

Speaking hours after prosecutors and defense attorneys both rested their cases Wednesday, Judge James B. Zagel told attorneys he’d rule on Thursday.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-blagojevichtrial-,0,2339978.story

Nothing would surprise me at this point.