The Verdict: McDonnells Guilty

The jury has reached a verdict in the corruption, fraud and conspiracy trial of former Virginia Republican Gov. "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell (a.k.a., "Governor Gifty") and his wife Maureen: Blowdry Bob GUILTY on 11 counts;  Maureen:  GUILTY on 9 counts:

Bob McDonnell was found guilty of 11 of 13 corruption charges against him. His wife was found guilty of nine of 13, according to the AP. 

The couple were charged in a 14-count federal indictment with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from businessman Jonnie R. Williams, Sr., who was CEO of Star Scientific Inc. until he resigned on Aug. 4. The Washington Post has an interactive graphic detailing the gifts the McDonnells and their kids received from Williams, including an engraved Rolex, plane tickets, trips, dinners and loans.

The hack Republican grifters face potentially many decades in jail (and yes, we think they'll skate by with much less than the maximums).  Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2015.  Please keep in mind that McDonnell was a living example of the prevalent ethos in the Republican Party:  that the only good reason government exists is as a means of further entitling the entitled, i.e. himself (see also Cantor, Eric); it doesn't exist for the public good, and it doesn't exist for the advancement of any ideal other than the further enrichment of those Republican hypocrites who've mistakenly been put in a position of public trust.  They'll get no sympathy from these quarters.

So, in the meantime, let's give this the musical accompaniment it merits.

BONUS:  Petula Dvorak talks about the McDonnell's trial and the hubris it laid bare (not to mention the outright tawdriness of Blowdry Bob throwing his wife under the bus in a desperate attempt to beat the charges).  Here's an excerpt:

After 24 hours on the witness stand and one of the biggest public displays of wife-shaming in memory, former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell (R) didn’t save himself. Or his wife. 

He had the chance last year to man up and spare his wife and family all this. Prosecutors offered him a single count of fraud that avoided all mention of corruption and any charges against his wife. 

But McDonnell decided to gamble. And everyone lost.

So Virginia's Not For Lovers After All?

The corruption trial of former Virginia Governor Bob "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell now hinges on whether the coin-operated former Governor can convince the jury that he and his -- uh -- materialistic wife Maureen were not enough of a couple to conspire in separating health pill magnate Jonnie Williams from his money in exchange for government favors.  The defense has been suggesting for weeks that the McDonnells were in a "broken marriage" that precluded any conspiracy between them to extract loans, gifts, etc, from Williams.

When Blowdry Bob took the stand for the first time yesterday, he portrayed a frayed marriage and a spouse beyond control in an attempt to distance himself from the gifts and loans provided by Williams.  Blowdry Bob, who was once mentioned on a short list of Republican Presidential possibilities, noted that his wife spent more time on the phone with Williams than with him, all part of an effort to distance himself from the "pay-to-play" corruption charges against him.  We'll see how the strategy works, but the prosecution will be eager to explore Blowdry Bob's direct involvement with Williams, for example his $30,000 investment in Williams' company, the $15,000 given to him to cover his daughter's catering costs, and much more.

BONUS:  Here's a teaser from Eugene Robinson's op/ed this morning on the Guv:

How far would you go to stay out of jail? Would you publicly humiliate your wife of 38 years, portraying her as some kind of shrieking harridan? Would you put the innermost secrets of your marriage on display, inviting voyeurs to rummage at will? 

For Robert McDonnell, the former Virginia governor on trial for alleged corruption, the answers appear to be: “As far as necessary,” “Hey, why not?” and “Sounds like a plan."  

Republican family values!

(photo:  "Bob, not so tight, you're choking me….Bob….Bob?"  Also, nice watch, Governor!)

Carry Me Back To Old Virginny….

…. for a couple of news items concerning the Commonwealth:

1)  Former Virginia Gov. and helmet hair icon Bob "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell heard testimony from his erstwhile gift horse, "health" pill bidnizzman Jonnie Williams, that the extreme gift-giving to the Governor and his wife "More More" Maureen McDonnell was all about advancing his business, and not the result of a flirtatious affair with More More Maureen.  That sticks a pin in the couple's defense that this wasn't about influence peddling, but about something more personal.  Tee hee.

2)  Soon-to-be-ex-Virginia Congressman and Rethug Majority Leader Eric "Cancer" Cantor (R - Tea Party Ate Me), who was defeated in a primary by an even more radical reactionary, announced he will resign from Congress on August 18, not completing his two year term.  Now he's free to join former half-term Alaska Gov. and full-time grifter Sarah "Winky" Palin to lecture the public on the "work ethic."

BONUS:  Petula Dvorak has a must-read article on the McDonnell trial.  Here's a sample:

All the lovesick melodrama about the first lady having a crush on Williams has probably been manufactured by the defense attorneys. Maybe they have some evidence to back up this story line. But when this scandal began, Bob and Maureen McDonnell showed up in court holding hands, presenting themselves as a solid, Christian couple. 

Now they are changing that narrative, walking in and out of court in separate entourages, riding different elevators, brushing past each other without even making eye contact. The staging borders on ridiculous. They are doing nothing more than selling Virginians another tale.

What pieces of work these McDonnells are.