Notable quotes from Blagojevich's testimony

[May 27, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Some excerpts from former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's testimony Thursday at his federal corruption retrial:

"I used to be your governor. I'm here today ... to tell you the truth. In many ways, I feel liberated."

"You can dream and not make dreams your master ... It's like anything in life, you have your ups and downs."

"I think I was the only governor of 50 who could spin a basketball on all five fingers of his right hand."

"I started shining shoes at 9 years old. ... It teaches you how to be a little more responsible in your work."

"The beautiful thing about my dad was he always had big dreams. I think I picked up my dad's propensity to dream."

"I'm a product of the disco era, when a hairbrush is an extension of your right hand."

"When I hear myself swearing like that, I'm an F-ing jerk."

"I had a man crush on Alexander Hamilton."

"It's a very mercenary business, politics."

"There's a vanity ... I have a vain quality. There's a certain narcissism."

Of his first job after completing law school, with then-Chicago Ald. Ed Vrdolyak: "I didn't do a lot of law. They didn't think much of my skills."

"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, and I've made a lot of mistakes as governor."

"Fundraising is a way to get yourself on the map."

[Associated Press]

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