Notable quotes from Blagojevich's testimony
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."