Rod Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, John Harris, is back on the stand today, for the former Illinois Gov’s corruption trial. There was possibly damaging testimony today as tapes were played of phone conversations (secretly recorded by the Feds) in which Blago seemed to be trying to use Barack Obama’s senate seat as a bargaining tool.  The “f” word was thrown around a lot, as Blago talked about his hope/plan for Obama to trade a political post for an appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the senate seat.  ”Something big, a big position” Blago said he wanted from the president.  Apparently Blago really wanted a way out of the Governorship “now”, which would’ve been 2008, but was worried about his “life after Governor”, about getting a job that would “ensure the economic security” of his family, to which the prosecutor had Harris explain meant “his personal economic security” and not that of the State of Illinois.  There was even talk of leaking a false rumor to the media that the governor was thinking about appointing someone else to the senate seat, with the idea that the rumor might push Obama’s people and Jarrett to move forward with Blago’s plan to find him a big job.  Blago wanted an ambassadorship or cabinet post, but if he couldn’t get a political position, maybe he’d get a top, highly paid job with a charitable foundation.  ”What about the private sector, how important would that be?” Blago asked.   The discussion centered around the former Gov running social service agencies, such as The Red Cross “like Elizabeth Dole” or The Salvation Army.  ”Oh that’d be sweet but you have to wear a uniform, forget that” Blago said on the call, laughing.   Another option for Blago, a post with a union, such as SEIU, which would have advantages for his future political ambitions.  Blago and his aides thought it could be a good barter option, but if negotiations didn’t turn out the way he wanted, his “ace in the hole” was the ability to appoint himself to the senate seat.

Unlike last week, this morning there was nobody waiting outside the courthouse for autographs from the reality show star, as he entered the building…although inside, members of the public have been showing up everyday at 7:30am, for a ticket to a seat in the public area of the courtroom.  Many of them have been here since the trial began, diligently taking notes.  ”Give ‘em hell Sam!” yelled one woman, as defense attorney Sam Adam junior walked by.  One woman, Zakiyyah Muhammad, who called herself “a supporter” told me “he is the only governor who has embraced the black community, who put resources into our community…that’s why I’m here”.