Responding to questions about Gov. Rod Blagojevich's claims Friday that Democratic lawmakers are trying to oust him so they can raise taxes, Mayor Richard M. Daley said the governor was "cuckoo." He noted that he has called Blagojevich "cuckoo" once before. The earlier comment came in September, when Blagojevich questioned financial statements by the head of the Chicago Transit Authority. "I've said 'cuckoo' once. I'll say it again," Daley said. He chirped another "Cuckoo!" to reporters before leaving his Friday morning news conference.
Meanwhile, Blagojevich said Friday afternoon that his choice not to attend his impeachment trial in the Illinois State Senate was "not an act of defiance," but a protest against what he again characterized as a violation of constitutional civil liberties. Blagojevich and his attorneys have said they are boycotting the impeachment trial and will not be there to participate because the rules are unfair. They restrict his calling witnesses or challenging the report prepared by at House impeachment hearings. "To participate in a process that denies fundamental due process, and to be part of a process that doesn't allow for calling of witnesses, and worse than that, doesn't allow for me or any citizen to challenge charges that are brought against me, is a fundamental violation of the constitution," Blagojevich said. "It is a trampling of the constitution."