"A full belly makes a dull brain."

stated Rod Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Jr. on his 38th birthday Wednesday at the federal courthouse.

He volunteered that he lost more than 30 pounds since he started working on the trial in early May.

Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune reported that Sam, Jr. and his father both skip lunch when the trial is in session and chew ice, citing the Franklin quote above as their justification.

Illlinois' Impeachment of Blagojevich

Ron Grossman, a Chicago Tribune Reporter, traces the origins of America's use of impeachment, first discussed by the Founding Fathers. Mr. Grossman describes Benjamin Franklin's view of this extraordinary power to remove the executive. Governor Blagojevich was impeached by unanimous vote of the Illinois Senate, 59-0, on Thursday, Januaary 29, 2009.