(Written before the Blagojevich verdict was announced)

At about 11:00 am today came word that the jury had reached a verdict on 18 counts in the Blagojevich retrial and that its decision would be announced at 1:00 pm. Regardless of what you think of the former governor, can you imagine what those two hours of waiting would be like? Unimaginable, I would think.

Think about the times when you’ve been expecting important news–a medical diagnosis, a test result, an important letter or phone call. If you can recall what the moments were like just before the news was revealed, try multiplying that moment by two excruciating hours! My stress level would be so high, I would probably vomit–for starters.

His critics say he is narcissistic and self-delusional. But even a self-deluding narcissist isn’t immune to fear and anxiety. And when you consider the potential prison time, whose stress level wouldn’t be spiking through the roof during what would be two of the most difficult hours of anyone’s life?