Have to hand it to him.  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich may be an amoral heel… but he is one hell of a politician.  It is pretty clear now that he doesn’t expect to keep his Governor’s seat, but I’m beginning to wonder if he doesn’t already have a grander future in mind.

I started to think that Blago may have a trick or two up his sleeve when he failed to produce a witness list within the designated timeframe — one of several rather important deadlines to meet, if one wishes to defend himself in an impeachment proceeding.  A few days later, Governor Rod proved my suspicions when he began telling the (evidently very forgetful) public, via the media, that he was not being allowed to produce witnesses.

As he continues to take his proclaimed innocence to the public, Blago further distances himself from the impeachment proceedings by refusing to show up, and saying the hearing is rigged.  His strategy appears to be to impugn the integrity of the hearing itself, as a distraction to what he is sure will be his ouster from office.

Now, you would be accurate in saying it takes either sheer insanity or a monumental set of cajones to try pulling something like this off — refusing to file paperwork contesting the charges, missing the witness and evidence deadline, etc., and then claiming a denial of “due process” — but that is exactly what Blago is doing.  And you know… I think it may just be working.  As media outlets form “The View” to “Larry King” host “exclusive” interviews with Rod, he is starting to gain a small measure sympathy, at least from media types.

He is setting himself up as a victim to a constituency too lazy to do any fact-checking (for proof, see Obama’s vast popularity in Chicago) in the Illinois liberal demographic.  And let’s face it, liberals love them some victims.

And now, in another sly move, Blago has let the information (of dubious importance) out that he very nearly chose Oprah to replace Obama in the Senate.  And seriously, who the hell cares about backroom political dealings, when faced with the idea that there was almost a Senator Oprah?!

Blagojevich is indeed slicker than snot.  And time will tell if it works for him.  I predict it will.  Not only will he not be found guilty (see O.J.), but I see a national run in his very near future.