Blagoje-Watch 2008: Day 7
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 15, 2008 4:38PM
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
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."