The four-day impeachment trial of Rod Blagojevich has ended with the Illinois governor joining the ranks of the unemployed. He’s the first U.S. governor to be impeached in more than 20 years (since Arizona’s Evan Mecham). By the way, during his rambling 47-minute closing argument to the Illinois Senate today, he defended his legally challenged effort to import Canadian drugs by saying, “If you’re impeaching me, then we need to impeach to governors of Wisconsin, of Kansas, of Vermont,” because Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and others were involved in the drug plan, too. But there was a lot more behind the 59-0 vote than imported medicines. “We have this thing called impeachment and it’s bleeping golden and we’ve used it the right way,” said Democratic state Sen. James Meeks of Chicago, mocking the governor’s wiretapped words.
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15 Comments
Let’s try at the top of this thread to realize the difference between impeachment and criminal prosecution.
Impeachment is nothing more than a political procedure.
I remain unconvinced so far that Blagojevich actually committed a crime. But the poor dude most certainly rendered himself politically impotent and irrelevant.
I’m not sure the Illinois constitution spells out “high crimes or misdemeanors” but the bottom line of any impeachment procedure is political, not judicial.
A 59-0 vote is about as bipartisan as it gets. And it seems to indicate “Lightning” Rod has proven himself to be incompetent to govern a state of the union. Dunno anyone who’d argue with that, given his behavior over the past couple of months.
You don’t have to be a crook to be unfit for office. Consider George WMD Bush.
(Okay. Bad example. I’m just sayin’…)
ahh yes…mh is once again true to his blinders. I swear a Democrat could be caught in the act of murder, and mh would find nothing wrong with it.
guilty as charged, kicked out of office. Regardless of party, I am happy to see another crooked politician get the boot.
Turn out the lights, the party’s over …
Now if he walks from prosecution, the legislature is going to have egg all over their face.
Blago, don’t give our ding dongs anymore ideas!
Illinois is certainly an interesting state.
They don’t let their Governors term expire, they impeach them first.
Great cost cutting plan though…
He didn’t do anything Sarah Palin wasn’t being ENCOURAGED to do. But if she had been able to use her position as Governor to make herself a Senator, why the cons would have marveled at her political acumen!
I say it is past time trying to play nice with the not nice cons.
“Now if he walks from prosecution, the legislature is going to have egg all over their face.” — Phantom
———
I don’t think so, I agree with Monkeyhawk that he was unfit for office. And I don’t think there’s any state healthy enough to weather a governor who is defending himself on criminal charges. He’ll now have ample time to devote to that, and the state will have a governor who can devote his time to state business.
“I remain unconvinced so far that Blagojevich actually committed a crime.”
I am sure he did, but, as I understand it, it looks a little “kangaroo”. No witnesses allowed to be called? Is that right? I haven’t heard the tapes, but Blago is sure going the extra mile (on the TV show circuit).
A man as guilty as he looks is really trying to change the perception.
I do look forward to the “real” trial. This impeachment trial doesn’t look so real.
As to witnesses on his behalf it is my understanding that he failed to provide a list of witnesses by the allotted time. Then came up with the list and claimed he was refused.
I never thought I’d endorse a repub senator for Commerce position. Guess that bi-partisan thing is getting to me!
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama is considering picking Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire as commerce secretary, a Democratic source said on Thursday.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the selection process, said Obama and his aides “are definitely looking at Gregg. It’s not a done deal, but they’re asking key senators if he would be acceptable.”
Gregg was mum on whether he was being considered for the post, telling Reuters, “I have no comment.”
White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said no decision had been made on the commerce job. “We’re not playing the name game,” he said.
Just last week, Silicon Valley executive John Thompson had been the leading contender, but the Obama selection team apparently backed off in favor of Gregg, the source said.
If Gregg left the Senate, the state’s Democratic governor, John Lynch, could name a Democrat to replace him. If that occurred and Al Franken survives a court challenge to his apparent narrow victory in Minnesota, the Democrats would have a majority of 60 seats in the Senate, enough to prevent procedural roadblocks to legislation.
Seems that Blago is probably the only person on seven continents and a bunch of desert islands who didn’t see this coming from the day of his arrest. Assuming the FBI didn’t doctor those tapes (and that’s a possibility, if somewhat unlikely), Rodboy managed to screw himself almost as bad as he screwed the people of Illinois and deserves a mean cellmate, although the federal prison system may have its work cut out for them finding one meaner that that wife of his!
“…and deserves a mean cellmate, although the federal prison system may have its work cut out for them finding one meaner that that wife of his!”
I’d like to nominate either one of the following:
a.) Wacko ex-Politico James Traficant of Ohio.
b.) Everyone’s favorite bomb-making nutcase, Lucas Helder.
Both of these gentlemen are currently ensconced in the Federal Medical Center, Rochester, Minn. I figure that between Traficant ranting about his innocence, and Helder yammering-on about astral projection, Blogman should at least be entertained. If he isn’t driven totally nuts first.
Phantom,
I got a good laugh out of what The Votemaster had to say on the possibility of Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire as commerce secretary.
“The NY Times is reporting that President Obama is considering offering the vacant post of Secretary of Commerce to Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH). If he does offer it and Judd takes it, it would be a twofer. First, Gov. John Lynch (D-NH) would appoint a Democrat to Gregg’s seat, giving the Democrats either 60 or 59 seats, depending on what happens in Minnesota. Second, by giving business a Republican as their representative in the cabinet, Obama would be strengthening his credentials with business and his general claim to be post partisan. Causing Mitch McConnell to have a conniption is not an official benefit of this idea, but merely an extra added attraction for Obama. It is not known if Gregg would take the job if offered, but he knows he is facing a hugely difficult reelection fight in 2010 in what has suddenly become a very blue state, something it wasn’t in 2004.”
http://www.electoral-vote.com/index.html
Blagojevich wanted to call Kathleen Sebelius as a character witness…..Like the guy on the Titanic said “follow the rats”…..