Blagojevich Impeached
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Illinois House impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich today. Any impeachment trial will be conducted by the Illinois Senate. Blagojevich says he isn’t surprised by his impeachment, not because of the pending federal corruption investigation but because he’s been at odds with Illinois lawmakers since 2006:
“Blagojevich says his efforts to improve health care and cut property taxes for Illinois residents are related to his impeachment because members of the House resisted those moves.”
Politicians have a unique ability to create their own reality. The problem comes when they start to believe it.
Scott Jacobs has more on the impeachment at The Jury Talks Back.
– DRJ
I loved the remarks by the one legislator who opposed impeachment. He said he had no personal knowlegde of any wrongdoing by Blagojevich.
As a prosecutor, how would you like to be up against that standard of proof?
Comment by tim maguire — 1/9/2009 @ 1:15 pm
Oops, how about, how would you imagine your co-blogger, as a prosecutor, would…oh, never mind.
Comment by tim maguire — 1/9/2009 @ 1:16 pm
The radio here said legislators are considering whether Blago needs a psychological evaluation.
D’oh! Don’t they all?
I wonder whether that can be compelled, but what’s the upside for Blago?
Comment by daleyrocks — 1/9/2009 @ 1:21 pm
Blago is grasping at straws . . . it’s all he has left — deny, deny, deny. If, for some unfathomable reason, he is exonerated by the Illinois Senate, he can use that fact as ammunition in fighting the imminent federal indictment against him.
Comment by Icy Texan — 1/9/2009 @ 1:33 pm
This doesn’t rise to the level of impeachment!
They’re just trying to undo the results of the last election!
We elected him Governor, not Pope!
Hey, this is fun the second time around.
Comment by Steverino — 1/9/2009 @ 1:41 pm
Impeachment is political, the imminent federal indictment would be criminal, he may try that in public, but it certainly wouldn’t fly as a defense in court.
Comment by LarryD — 1/9/2009 @ 2:14 pm
Blago is not surprised that he was impeached? Of course he is! This was not supposed to happen this way. Burris was supposed to take center stage and remove attention from him. Just when it seemed Burris might be seated, this slaps him in the face. Bet you didn’t see that coming. Eh Blago baby! LOL.
Comment by love2008 who will now be known as Emperor7 — 1/9/2009 @ 2:26 pm
I agree with Steverino this does not rise to level of impeachment. Do u all want Blago to go down in history. If he does, it will go down because people and the news, are willing to sensationalize on anything.
What if he is innocent but impeached for the sensation of it. Man these are dark times ,indeed.
Comment by KarenLee — 1/9/2009 @ 2:52 pm
Was Blago’s press conference his impression of James Cagney?
You will never get my you dirty rats (Senate) see see! I’m on top of the world Maw!
Comment by watisupwow — 1/9/2009 @ 2:55 pm
KarenLee, you have to work a bit harder on the parody. The tone you attempted just wasn’t not quite ridiculous enough to actually be funny. Almost. You’ve almost got it.
Comment by SPQR — 1/9/2009 @ 2:56 pm
I heard a pol on the radio denouncing him. She seemed a trifle nervous, like “they’re catching on to us!”
Comment by Patricia — 1/9/2009 @ 2:57 pm
So, how can Governor Blagojevich get a fair impeachment trial, given that he actually campaigned both for and against some of the members of his jury? Clearly, this will be the most hopping of kangaroo courts!
Comment by The nit-picking Dana — 1/9/2009 @ 3:26 pm
This is the cesspool of politics that Teleprompter Jesus inhabited for eight years before moving to the U.S. Senate, but he is absolutely untouched by pay to play politics, quid pro quos, etc., etc. Just ask his developer friends who he helped out in the legislature who contributed do generously to his election campaigns and his buddy Tony Rezko.
Comment by daleyrocks — 1/9/2009 @ 3:39 pm
Big whoop- so what if he is successfully impeached? Former judge Hastings of Miami was successfully impeached and still won elction to US House of Representatives. Pelosi originally wanted him chairing Intelligence Committee. I guess Blago won’t be appointed to the Senate, but maybe he can run for the seat or Obama could give him a high post in his administration. If somehow Holder doesn’t make AJ, why not Blago?
Comment by aoibhneas — 1/9/2009 @ 3:49 pm
Is that all anyone is interested in, SPQR, being amused? Maybe they impeached Blago just because they are embarrassed.
To impeach Blago just because “the news” has made them a public spectacle is no real reason at all. What!!! has are government come to this end!
Comment by KarenLee — 1/9/2009 @ 3:53 pm
Gov Rod Blaagojevck hasn’t been proven guility
of any wrong doings. President Bush did a lot
of crimiual wrong doings. Why didn’t they empeach
him?
Comment by jean greer — 1/9/2009 @ 4:07 pm
I have never seen an impeachment rushed before. Has anyone ever asked why anyone would be afraid to be tainted as if it rubs off? Perhaps it is because they already are tainted, by there own acts.
Why is ILL legislature slow to act on other very important stuff. Are they waiting to be paid to do so?
Comment by KarenLee — 1/9/2009 @ 4:22 pm
Comment by KarenLee — 1/9/2009 @ 3:53 pm
Comment by jean greer — 1/9/2009 @ 4:07 pm
My, where do these people come from?
Comment by Paul (creator of "Staunch Brayer") — 1/9/2009 @ 4:24 pm
I dunno, but they are getting dumber…
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 1/9/2009 @ 4:34 pm
It seems that among the articles of impeachment are accusations that he misappropriated funds for the treatment (or denial of treatment) of the exhibits, err nice folks, who stood adjacent to him at the press conference today. Note that he repeatedly asserted “advice of lawyers” when he justified the decision in question.
As to not answering the selling of the senate seat, only a total fool would outline a defense, or risk mis-speaking about such at a press conference. It seems to me this was about as good as Blago could have done - fight some specifics by invoking cancer treatments as justification. He raises doubt as to those charges, and he deflects the focus, at least a tad, from the senate seat sale.
I would have voted for impeachment, but were I an Illinois senator, I would not be ready to convict just yet.
Comment by Ed — 1/9/2009 @ 4:36 pm
My father retired with a high rank in the US Air Force. He said the common practice is to sacrifice a pigeon who did very little wrong to cover up for those who did a lot wrong. This could be the case. Is everyone really wanting to condemn a man for just words that he said?
Comment by KarenLee — 1/9/2009 @ 4:52 pm
This could be the case.
Hardly.
Comment by Paul (creator of "Staunch Brayer") — 1/9/2009 @ 4:59 pm
Rod? is that you in drag? (21)
Comment by kimsch — 1/9/2009 @ 5:11 pm
“I agree with Steverino this does not rise to level of impeachment.”
Huh? He solicited a bribe, a clear abuse of power, and he was caught red-handed — not to mention the other pay-to-play schemes he has been alleged to be part of and which were the reason the wiretap was placed in the first place. True, he hasn’t been convicted in a court of law, but impeachment is not a criminal proceeding and does not require the same standard of proof.
Comment by Sean P — 1/9/2009 @ 5:18 pm
It all depends on the definition of “very little” and the scale that is applied. Perhaps Blago did “very little” wrong in comparison to Chu or Clinton or the other Clinton or FALN or The Weather Underground or or or or. Perhaps if a half-full/half-empty glass has very little in it.
And what is this “rushed into it” business? How long has this been in the news? How long has Blago been wire-tapped? (2 years) How is that “rushing into things?”
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/9/2009 @ 5:26 pm
And as has been alluded to, Impeachment is for all intents and purposes the political mechanism of indictment. He’s only been “charged,” and will get his day in “court” in the Senate. It is the Senate who will now have to decide, upon hearing both sides, whether to remove Blago from office. This isn’t done yet.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/9/2009 @ 5:29 pm
I love watching this guy drown, he’s a snake.
Put him in jail with the rest of the crooks like Ryan, Rezko and OJ they can all rot in hell.
Comment by tommyj — 1/9/2009 @ 5:33 pm
#24
Do I understand that it could be the case that Blago is a pigeon?
Could Blago get the bird flu?
Comment by SteveG — 1/9/2009 @ 5:39 pm
Those tapes excerpts sounded more like he “accepted bribes” not sure I heard any soliciting. Best case scenario “he thought they were only favors people offered him. From his conversation with Jesse Jackson Jr. He seemed very careful not to actually solicit.
Also he’s human as governor’s are apt to be. With the TIMES it sounded like he was outraged so started shooting off his mouth ’cause they asked him for a favor, when they had been slandering him. Just because a person say’s something in anger does not mean they actually meant anything by it.
Can u really condemned someone for what they say in heated anger or when under pressure Example= “This seat is gold I’m not just giving it away for nothing” when everyone is hollering “pick me”
When someone say’s ‘gold’ they might not actually mean money and such. It could mean requirements, such as “What have u done for people of Illinois, are u a go getter or politically active?”.
This just makes me wonder about those willing to condemn for that.
Also, “if I don’t find anyone good I might give to myself”, might have been a joke after all he did not give it to himself did he? As for who I am check out my website which has been around awhile.
Comment by KarenLee — 1/9/2009 @ 7:02 pm
You are serious, KarenLee? Good lord, I’m so embarrassed. I thought no one could possibly believe what you wrote, you must be trying to make a joke.
Shows what I know. P.T. Barnum got it right.
Comment by SPQR — 1/9/2009 @ 7:05 pm
Guys, seriously, did you check out “KarenLee’s” website? It’s an ebay link to a book:
That must be some heavy paper - it’s $12 for the book, $13 to ship all 150 softcover pages to Chicago. Maybe KarenLee is spamming for UPS?
Comment by carlitos — 1/9/2009 @ 7:34 pm
The overwhelming majority of politicians believe their own reality. Just listen to them speak, or ask their PR folks. I’d like to think there are some who don’t, which is why I didn’t suggest the all of them do.
Comment by Horatio — 1/9/2009 @ 7:34 pm
It is possible that Blogo will not be convicted. If that result comes home, will the Illinois Senate really want to have removed a sitting Governor later found “not guilty” by a jury of peers? Blogo is stupid like a fox.
Too bad all this stupidity has been directed toward the lining of his own pockets. Such political savvy might accomplish much on behalf of the people. Republicans should grow a pair so large.
Comment by exdeadhead — 1/10/2009 @ 1:06 am
Yes… If only they were are brazenly corrupt as Blago.
Oh to dream.
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 1/10/2009 @ 4:20 am
Let’s judge him from his actions. If Blagojevich is jogging in the mist of a political chaos, then he is either preparing for a long fight or he might need the strenght to ran as far away as possible.
Comment by George, Toronto — 1/10/2009 @ 10:12 am
My, where do these people come from?
Comment by Paul (creator of “Staunch Brayer”) — 1/9/2009 @ 4:24 pm
Public Ed!
Comment by AD — 1/10/2009 @ 10:41 am
I’m proud to say I home schooled my daughter 4 grades in 3 years before sticking her in 5th grade in public ed. And then, she was bored silly with all the “I already know this junk” education she got. Yup, teh public ejumakashun sisstum werks grate! Thay all coem out larnded dummycrats.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/10/2009 @ 10:47 am