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So begins our second week in the wake of the arrest of Governor Rod Blagojevich.
- The Illinois legislature reconvenes in Springfield today with hopes to somehow remove Blagojevich from power - be it impeachment or otherwise - and prevent him from naming a new senator to replace President-Elect Barack Obama. This being Springfield, though, nothing is easy and clear-cut so we imagine the Governor isn't sweating too hard.
- Lieutenant Governor Pat "The Mighty" Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan appeared yesterday on NBC's Meet The Press where Madigan refused to talk about her interest in the senate seat or any other elected office in 2010 and Quinn came up with his third proposed idea of what to do. This new plan involves a temporary appointment for the Senate seat so there's someone in place until a special election can be held. Of course, a new rivalry is emerging as Quinn seems more and more interested in running for Governor in 2010 - at which point we
assumehope he will be running as the sitting governor. Speculation is now on Quinn possibly appointing Madigan to the senate seat in hopes of removing her as an obstacle for that 2010 election. And while it wasn't Meet The Press, incoming State Senate President John Cullerton spoke with WGN's John Williams on the matter. - Speaking of special elections, as Blagojevich disputes reports that he will resign sometime very soon, it seems the embattled governor is beginning to like the idea of a special election for the senate seat, especially as he prepares to face legislation that would strip him of the power to appoint the new senator.
- NBC 5 collects reactions from Blagojevich's motherland, Serbia, including claims that Blago was framed.
- Time Magazine looks at how the Blagojevich scandal could reach down to Mayor Daley. After all, John Harris was a former budget director at City Hall who was caught up in the Hired Trucks scandal. Daley, meanwhile, hasn't been saying that much on the whole matter, though he did ask Blago to "look really deep in his heart and in his soul to figure out what is good for his family and the people of Illinois."
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Here is some "Audacity of Hope" for you. Richie wearing an Orange Jump Suit shoveling snow in Terra Haute, IN next to George "16627-424" Ryan
Man, that hair's looking a little more mussed than usual. Might things be getting to him... finally?
Hmm ... I thought my "It'll never happen" vote in the Blago death pool was way off, but now I'm not so sure. Yeah, the guy got arrested, but I'm growing less and less confident that the legislature is going to figure out anything to do about it. I'm starting to wonder if he just might finish his term.
Nice to see him in his "Off to jail" sweats.
Shameless bastard. The only upside is, after all the strum and drang, a night is fast approaching when Blago will be laying on a bunk, looking up a concrete ceiling and knowing that for all the power he once wielded, he's locked in for keeps.
The FBI suggests that they stopped the investigation and arrested Blagojevich because they were afraid he was about to appoint the new Senator, presumably after making a deal.
That makes no sense. It's like a police drug unit stopped someone from making a drug purchase. Heck, otherwise, they might have to throw more people in jail.
The FBI should have ALLOWED Jesse Jackson, Jr. to purchase the Senate seat, and THEN arrested everyone.
What was the FBI afraid of? A backlash? An accusation of "racism?" Why didn't they let the deal go through?
What the fuck do the Serbs have to do with this?
What was the FBI afraid of? A backlash? An accusation of "racism?" Why didn't they let the deal go through?
My guess is that it would have just been a total mess.
They stopped because they have enough of a case to charge Blago without having him appoint anyone to the Senate and make the situation 1000x worse than it already is.
backlash, racism, fear? where do you get this stuff?
Slaphappy - Blagojevich = first generation American son of Serbian immigrants unless I have my Blago Bio wrong.
In the case of a murder-for-hire investigation, do you a) let the hit go through for the sake of arresting everyone involved for murder in the first degree b) make the arrest when enough evidence has been gathered for substantial conspiracy charges
what the FBI did was akin to this scenario. They had enough evidence for conspiracy and extortion charges and by making the arrest when they did, they prevented a crime from taking place.
Law enforcement should be in the business of preventing crimes, not allowing crimes to happen for political reasons.
That's nothing. There's a photo of him on page 9 of today's Red Eye where it looks like he's desperately pleading with Patti for just one more hit of meth.
I'm restating, I sincerely fear, yes fear, that he'd take his own life.
This isn't like Ryan, whose guilt wasn't confirmed by tape. Blago was blatant, gauche, even by Illinois standards.
He's looking down the barrel of a long-prison term. A pardon? Ha! He's lucky if Rahm Emmanuael isn't trying to get him a LONGER sentence.
@Ward,
Yes, I was wondering why they halted the investigation when they did. It doesn't make sense. What was the reason?
I'm also surprised that there is nothing in the Illinois Constitution for impeachment of Governor procedure. If there is protocol to follow for presidential impeachment, why not for governor as well?
Or is that just Illinois?
I already explained the most possible reason.
@ward/Ingrid:
Gawker seems to suggest today that the investigation was stopped because the Trib broke the story...element of surprise was gone?
I am sure the feds would have LOVED to get the sale of a Senate seat on tape.
But, as of now, there is no evidence he actually did anything wrong. It isn't illegal to speculate on what might happen if he sold the Senate seat, and he hasn't been indicted. If I were him right now, I would hold on as well because every player in this story from Madigan to Quinn have something very tangible to gain if he leaves office. NO ONE IS CLEAN.
The FBI claims that the fact that the Trib's report about secret taping was NOT the reason that the FBI stopped the investigation.
The Trib-blabbing would be a good excuse for the FBI to use, but they are not using it.
Can't they nail him for conspiracy?
Why has it taken this long for somebody to start making the Daley/Blago connection?!?!
Patronage in Illinois was perfected by the Daleys!