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By a vote of 114-1-1, the Illinois House has impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich. Speaker Mike Madigan adjourned the House until Monday.
CBS 2 is reporting Blagojevich told reporters outside his home, "I will see you at 2." It's confirmed some sort of press conference will be held at the Governor's office at the Thompson Center at 2 p.m.
According to the Trib: "Rep. Milt Patterson (D-Chicago) was the lone vote against impeaching the governor. Patterson, from Chicago's Southwest Side, said after the roll call that he didn't feel it was his job to vote to impeach the governor. He declined comment on whether he approved of the job Blagojevich is doing."
Rep. Elga Jefferies (D-Chicago) voted "present."
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HUZZAH!!
Who was the one against?
Not sure, trying to find that out. Madigan called for the vote, announced the result, and adjourned. He didn't even do a celebration dance.
Updated
My guess is that Milt is buddies with Burris and feels like sticking with the guy who appointed his buddy.
I may run upstairs and see if he's in his office today. My first guess is no.
The presser is at 2 from the Thompson center.
Are we looking at a Budd Dwyer situation here?
http://www.nndb.com/people/204/000102895/
When that subject came up amongst the writers back in December, of course i looked up the video. I really really wish I hadn't.
I don't think so.
Blago is too arrogant to accept this. He believes he will win this thing in the Senate.
Yeah, you can't "unsee" that. I watched it in a media class back in college thanks to some bastard art major who thought we needed to be "exposed to the darkness" or some other emo nonsense.
I think, when he's in jail, or even simply out of office, we're going to find out he's on some kind of chemicals. Whether it's "prescription" or otherwise, I think he's high on something.
Okay, now since you and Marcus were talking about it, I went and watched it. You're both right. That's a shudder or two.
Seriously, if you haven't watched it, DON'T. Just wikipedia the name. Shocked that I was old enough to have remembered this story but don't. I can vividly remember the Challenger disaster, but not this, which happened a year later.
Still, in all seriousness, I just don't see Blago pulling something that dramatic. And - to be honest, given our state gov't and the fact he's got Genson - he might have an actual thread of hope.
No way. He's toast by mid-Feb. No way he has that much support in the Senate, not with the public demanding his head.
Yeah, really DON'T LOOK.
I know that just makes people more curious, but at least you're warned.
Marcus, this will only make you feel older, but it was something of a different time for news. Less outlets, less information overload/over-punditing and even among the "it bleeds it leads" crowd a sense that you just don't put a guy blowing his head off on the 10pm news.
Today, fuck. I'm shocked at how little we DON'T see. These days CNN and Fox News would be re-running the footage in slow-mo with Madden-style graphics. "See, right here, you can see, you can see his hope...yeah...hope dying."
he may be arrogant, but he's also unstable.. if the Senate brings down the hammer, i would look for a suicide watch.
Is there anything that Blago has done so far to indicated he would throw in the towel by killing himself? Yes, I think the guy has mental problems, but he's been punching back as hard as possible (see: Burris appointment for starters), suggesting that the "suicide watch" theme is out of touch with factual reality so far.
If only we in this state were so lucky that Blago has a sense of honor similar to, say, Japanese generals toward the end of WWII, but we aren't so lucky. For one to commit suicide, I think one needs a sense of morality and guilt, for starters. Blago seems to have neither.
Thus ends my attempt at being Dr Phil.
Is there any doubt? I mean, who in the senate is going to say "Oh no, he's clearly done nothing wrong."
He's burned every bridge time and time again. Outside of a few bloviators making minute points of law,
What's up with Milt Patterson? Not "his job"?
Totally agree! what the hell is his job then? i am going to try that line at work today and see how far it gets me. I bet I get fired and Milt will probably get re-elected.
Upon reading this news,the joy in my heart could only have been greater if the political machinations leading to impeachment had been more swift. Patterson's lone vote and his reasoning behind it begs the question: What other official duties of his office does he feel disinclined to perform?
You need a subhead:
"Clusterfuck moves on to Senate"
matilda is right, he probably doesn't have suicide on the brain right now.
He's a narcissist and I have some personal experience with that mental state as I was married to one. They are the victims and everyone else is wrong. So, at this point he thinks he has righteousness on his side.
If he's facing jail time, however, things could change. There is nothing a narcissist hates worse than being rejected and alone. If he feels desperate enough, he could pull the trigger. Or he might be more likely to use carbon monoxide from his car in the garage as he wouldn't want a bullet to muss his hair with brain matter and blood.
I'm offended that you assume the man has a brain.
I don't want to be morbid, he's an ass and a fool and a nogoodnik who has abused the public trust, but I don't wish death on him. The man does have kids.
I hope he just resigns today, focuses on his upcoming trial and we can get on with running the goddamn state. Let him fade-out like a bad odor.
The man clearly has some sort of brain, and a tremendous will. Underestimating the creature that is Blago has lead to a lot of trouble for this state, don't you think?
Fuck the kids. Nearly every asshole in the world has kids. For me, the kids don't even enter the moral equation when it comes to real and would-be tyrants, whether they are kings, dictators or governors. Life is never 100% fair, and the kids usually suffer. The only time I think about the kids is when I hope they don't take too much after their worthless, dishonorable parents. Yeah, this is extremely hateful, but what Blago (among others) has done to this state is unforgivable, and though I don't wish the kids any direct harm (they are already suffering indirect harm, I am sure), that's about as much as I care about his family. I cannot find any sympathy or empathy in this matter, none at all. The abuse has been too deep, and any chance for mercy is long gone.
I think you're giving him too much credit. He's survived this month almost entirely because of scheduling. The holidays gave him 2 more weeks than he would have. He's not cagey to me at all. He tried to ebay the US Senate seat when EVERYONE was talking about his imminent arrest. The fine line between brilliant and stupid has been crossed.
As for his kids, sorry, even with all my exasperation and moral turpitude, I can't help but feel bad for the kids. I've been in a prison "family visiting center". Honestly, I can barely imagine a sadder place for a kid.
But the only person to blame for that is our impeached Governor.
Milt Patterson must not want to be a state rep anymore. Talk about political suicide -- even a modestly competent opponent would hammer the nay vote for impeachment down the voters' throats.
Patterson had already decided not to run for reelection so he is in his final days as a representative. I wonder if Burris has offered him a job?
Why yes he has...polishing his gigantic gravestone and keeping the grounds!
If my interpretation is correct (I hope it's not) you're taking a pretty cold view here. Sure, he is a corrupt scumbag and needs to be visibly and forcibly removed. But for the sake of his kids, we hope he doesn't commit suicide. Umm, right?
Dear Rod:
How do you like that, MOTHERFUCKER?
Hugs and Kisses,
One Who Did Not Vote For You!
114-1? bwahahahah
In the light of the recent Blago scandal and being it the second governor scandal I would expect to see some special comittees formed in the Illinois house and senate to investigate the administration and uproot corruption. I would expect to see demands for government transparency and for government watchdog groups having more access to government's daily operations. But no, this is Illinois so it is business as usual,everyone just hoping that the corruption will go away by itself.. Scared sheep....
Are you still surprised the nation takes Blago scandal as an opportunity to make fun of Illinois, the "land of hardworking, friendly, down to earth and honest people" where governors routinely go from overseeing the prison system to inhabiting it? How about the most gullible state in the nation?