He gave a passionate, positive and heartfelt statement. I felt like I was watching a victory speech on election night.
I said yesterday I thought he would come across as strong for the sake of his daughters, and he did. He said this was the toughest thing he's ever done, but he'll do it. It's the law.
He never once intimated he was treated unfairly. There was no "woe is me", no playing the victim card. "This is a time of adversity, but through adversity comes strength." They will get through this. Many families are going through times much harder.
He expressed his thanks and gratitude to those who supported their family throughout. He's proud of what he's accomplished as governor.
"Maybe I could have had more humility." As to the criminal case, "I take full responsibility for the things I said." He thought his actions were on the right side of the law.
He recounts the legislative achievements while he was governor, stressing medical care. He says he took on special interests.
He recounted the blessings he's had in life. He talked about how he won't be able to provide for his daughters the way his parents provided for him and he won't be able to protect them as a father should protect them.
He talked about what you say to your kids at a time like this. He said sometimes he can't even bring himself to think about where's he going tomorrow.
He thanked and praised Patti over and over. Said she's an incredible mother who has stood tall through all this.
He discussed his hope of prevailing on appeal, but you could tell he isn't banking on it, even though at the end he said "This isn't over."
He ended with "I'll see you around."
My thoughts: This was incredible to watch. The idea that we are going to imprison this man for 11 to 12 years, ripping him out of the lives of his young daughters until they are grown women is absurd.
He was found to have broken the law, he has to be sentenced. I can see making him him do some time, but not this much. Federal law requires judges to "impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary" to fulfill the purposes of sentencing. I don't see the accomplishment of any purpose in a 14 year sentence.
A good photo gallery is here and here's a summary of his statement.
Update: The themes of Blago's statement today are very similar to what he said after his sentencing in December:
"Rudyard Kipling, among the things he wrote was, 'If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same: Patti and I - and especially me -- this is a time to be strong and this is a time fight through adversity. This is a time for me to be strong for my children. To be strong for Patti. This is also a time for Patti and me to go home so we can explain to our kids, to our babies, Amy and Annie, what happened, what all this means, and where we're going from here. We're going to keep fighting on, through this adversity. We'll see you soon."
Update: FCI Englewood will be a media circus tomorrow. The local news in Denver is giving this tremendous play -- and has all week. The inmates watch TV. I wonder if part of his statement -- his comments about how he championed the poor -- wasn't aimed towards them to create a favorable impression.
A photogallery of FCI Englewood is here. You can see the whole complex, with downtown Denver in the background, about 15 miles away, here.
