Chicagoist: The Fall of Blago: So What's Next?

Di Urrea

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:58:54 -0600

"The Fall of Blago: So What's Next?" 1) Illinoisans will still vote with blind allegiance to party, allowing fucksticks like Blago to get re-elected. 2) This blind allegiance to party will provide Illinoisans with a continued excuse to remain ignorant about candidates' records on issues and ethics. 3) We will slide further down the tubes while states that do not support brazen corruption happily accept our residents and businesses.

natas

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:51:44 -0600

Hope that Wyma will roll, that would be a Christmas Present! Jacko is clearly not qualified, and probably does not give a rat's backside about helping people out via public service. I have no idea how he got to be Congressman anyway, his dad right? Jackson Sr.? gawd, I am depressed now.

The Bulldog

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:38:57 -0600

Here is what went down that made Jackson Senate Candidate No. 5... A few weeks back, it was reported on local television in Chicago that the Feds were tapping Blago in cooperation with uber-lobbyist John Wyma. When asked, Wyma said it was untrue and said he had not provided Feds access to his phone calls. Wyma is hooked in with both Blago and Jacko. My theory: the media was leaked by a source inside the Feds that judges had provided them the OK to wire tap. Wyma wasn't being wire-tapped, but a conversation between him and Blago was wire-tapped per the court order provided to the Feds. In that wire-tapped conversation, Wyma brought the gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Blago on Jacko's behalf. This gives Jacko's attorney, James Montgomery, the wide berth to make the claim that Jacko and Blago never had direct contact. Wyma carried Jacko's water, floated the offer out there, and Jacko was almost our United States Senator. Blago was slated this week by media sources to make the Senate announcement. Jacko brought the correct currency and the seat was his. The Feds felt the need to intervene on the Monday morning after the Sunday morning the story ran saying the pick was on the verge of being made. Jacko will be in a bind, but direct culpability will depend on whether Wyma rolls. He likely will.

natas

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:31:32 -0600

Jessie Jackson Jr. Guilty? Covering up? Anyone see his news conference? Or was he a FBI informant?

jennyblur

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:00:39 -0600

Sorry for all the posts: Also, according to the State-Journal Register, there is a question of if impeachment proceedings start before January 14th, before the new legislators are sworn in, would the new GA have to start over? http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1049851022/Impeachment-option-complicated

ThisGuy

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:48:36 -0600

Marcus/Chicagoist -- excellent coverage of this so far. The recaps and latest news have kept me from bothering to delve deeper into longer articles on major news sites. thanks

matilda

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:44:43 -0600

The legislators aren't going to give up their vacations to deal with this. Given the piss-poor record of public service by the GA and its leaders, most of whom are barely more useful than Blago, I worry that you are right.

jennyblur

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:35:37 -0600

Even if the legislature overrode the veto, Blago could still just sit on it for like 60 days, right? And it would still be subject to a challenge at the State Supreme Court. My understanding of impeachment is that the HoR has to draw up articles of impeachment and then there has to be a trial in the Senate. From what I have heard, there isn't a lot of talk about this possibility yet, as people are figuring out the best way to get the Senate seat filled. If he is impeached, I don't think he would really be out of office until at least February. The legislators aren't going to give up their vacations to deal with this.

matilda

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:24:38 -0600

Jenny: Why do you think impeachment would take months and months?

Marcus Gilmer

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:19:02 -0600

I'm still trying to figure out how they can get around the state Constitution, but, jenny, they'd have enough votes to override the veto, no?

jennyblur

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:12:48 -0600

Guess what? Any law the legislature should pass regarding a special election would fly in the face on the Illinois Constitution and no doubt be subject to a legal challenge. Also: the Gov could VETO that legislation. The only way is impeachment, which will take months and months. CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS!

mikely1

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:05:45 -0600

"who in their right mind would accept?" Exactly, I mean no one in Illinois has ever had the gall to, oh I dunno, accept a hefty pension after only working a few months ... or, um, hiding a post-stroke vegetable from the voters for months, in cynical and shameless fashion, so he can "win" re-election and immediately "appoint" his son to the post. We're (cough) above such low-road politics in Illinois.

The Curmudgeon

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:32:21 -0600

I heard a comment somewhere where G-Rod's handlers said, in effect, "no wrongdoing has taken place and nothing that's going on has anything to do with his ability to govern the state." Wait, what? Conspiring to do all this, the profanity, the looking out only for himself - that has nothing to do with how he will continue to run this state? Which step of the process is Denial?

natas

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:11:09 -0600

Yea that hair is bad. I just want to give him a coupon for a good hair stylist. Going to the corruption however, I think that the corruption is underneath the Gov. Hope that Blagovitch's actions turns on the lights how "Business as usual" in Chicago and Illinois is done. We have to get some quality public servants in there. Not people who serve themselves, but people who serve others. It take two to tango. Pay to play? There is two guilty parties. The people who demand the illegal payment, and those who want to pay to play! (Looking in Jessie Jackson Jr. direction)

Bronto

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:47:18 -0600

I won't miss that goofy haircut either.