And Another Illinois Governor Is Going to Prison
It’s a rainy day here in the Windy City, but perhaps rainier than most for Governor (and so-to-be-felon) Rod Blagojevich.
I think this text from my mother sums it up best:
Feds nabbed Blago this am. News conference at 11.
Among the pay-to-play allegations is that Blago may have also offered up a union-preferred candidate for Obama’s Senate seat in exchange for a (cheerfully unelected) spot in the Obama administration.
Oh Blago, is there nothing from which you won’t try to personally profit? How about lemonade stands in the Manor? Getting your kickback, Governor?
And this comes just a week after our last remaining Senator, Dick Durbin, asked President Bush for clemency on behalf of George Ryan, our previous (and officially felonious) governor.
Apparently being old gets you out of prison, even after ten years of widespread corruption and a complete lack of remorse for said activities. I’m sure all the old people in prison on lame drug charges, etc. will be very pleased.
Oh, you mean it only counts if you’re politically connected? Bummer.
Anyway, now no one knows what to do about Obama Senate seat because Blago still gets to appoint unless he resigns (ha!). Whether any of the people currently in the running want to be associated with this hot mess remains to be seen. Trying to run for reelection in two years with your name firmly attached to Blago? Might as well run for governor.
In schendenfreude news, the governor’s birthday is tomorrow.
In kind of tacky news, his kids were probably home when he was arrested. I agree that he might have hit the road if he knew the feds were coming, but wait til the kids go to school, Fitzy.
Update: We made the BBC’s News Hour! The presenter’s pronunciation of Blagojevich was amusing.
Update II: Fitzgerald’s press release is pretty damning. And the criminal complaint is up as well. [h/t Chicago Tribune]
Update III: In the press conference, Grant makes it clear that they went to the house early to avoid the media and waking the kids up.
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December 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I caught the BBC pronunciation, too; “Bla-go-yay-vitch.”
This probably sinks the Ryan pardon, unless pardoning a republican will go unnoticed since a Dem is about to be kicked out of office.
Blago definitely doesn’t get to appoint anyone, now. For one, he’s going to be impeach or resign in the next month. Secondly, no one would accept it from him (your point).
I look forward to Gov Quinn’s indictment in 2-4 years.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I was just talking about the Ryan commutation - Bush would have to have some fairly large cojones himself to let another IL governor off.
I say Blago appoints himself to the Senate seat. I think the Senate would have to keep him until he’s convicted. Right? I mean maybe they could censure him, but I don’t know if they could remove him.
Failing that, I don’t think he’ll resign. He’s going to need the money for his trial.
I just saw Pat Quinn talk, as well. He said he prayed for the people of IL this morning, but I think he did a happy dance in his kitchen.
The spittle seems to gather at the corners of his mouth. I find it unappealing - and a little stomach-turny.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I don’t see him appointing himself. What does two years in Washington get him? It’s not like he would be re-elected, even if, say, all the charges were dropped or he was acquitted. And the Senate would expel him in a heartbeat upon conviction (perhaps before). Do you think Durbin or Obama want him polluting their work? Reid doesn’t want a criminal in his caucus.
Assuming Blago leaves office through resignation or impeachment: Quinn gets a chance to look like a knight in shining armor, which is, I surmise, a role he will relish. I think Madigan is the big winner in this. Her biggest rival just got cut off at the knees. The ILGOP still doesn’t have any big names. When this shakes out, she and Quinn are the most powerful Dems in the state. Jones is leaving the Senate leadership spot, his replacement gets the #3 spot on that roster.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
And yet the complaint contains nuggets like this:
ROD BLAGOJEVICH later stated, “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.” Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”
If he doesn’t resign, the only thing they can do is impeachment. Is Madigan going to go for that if it’s going to make Quinn stronger for 2010? I dunno.
December 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I have no comment other than I took a dump in Blago’s toilet today. Literally.
December 9th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
That is awesome.