The just released 91-pages Proffer for the pending trial of the United States of American v. Rod Blagojevich and Robert Blagojevich offers an overview of the various extortion schemes of Illinois' former governor, his brother, and their associates. The image of Blago that comes through his raw language quotes and energetic efforts to extort campaign contributions for himself, and payoffs for his friends, in exchange for favors he dispensed as governor, is one of a greedy, power-hungry ... jerk. It isn't until page 80 that the reader gets insight into the phony self-professed motives of this man who, to this day, projects himself as a champion of the little people. The context is a recitation of his efforts to exact some financial reward from SEIU, either for himself or for his wife, in exchange for naming the union's, and Obama's, preferred candidate to replace Obama in the U.S. Senate, Valerie Jarrett.  The unnamed SEIU "Labor Union Official" was carrying water...(Read Full Post)