David Mendell's account of Rod Blagojevich's life post-impeachment is now behind a paywall, but for Blago fans like us it's essential reading. Mendell paints a portrait of a man who, though he is undoubtedly a gold-plated buffoon (how the hell was he allowed to run anything, let alone an entire state?) is impressively immune to self-doubt. He seems as chipper as ever, has his own radio show, and is convinced that his ongoing trial on corruption charges - "a bunch of bullshit" - will somehow be the (re)making of him.
Blago, of course, knew Obama was when he was a lowly state senator, and always resented his swift rise to national prominence. Which bring us to my favourite paragraph in the piece:
Leaving his radio show the next weekend, Blagojevich was greeted in the lobby by an autograph-seeker, a deeply tanned man wearing lipstick, a strawberry-blonde wig, and a dress. The cross-dresser handed Blagojevich a photograph to sign: a picture of Blagojevich and Obama sitting together at a Democratic Party event several years ago. He scrawled in black cursive, "Here are two guys whose careers have gone in opposite directions. Best, Rod Blagojevich."
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