2008

I’m Trying to Avoid the I Told You Sos

ArchPundit December 12, 2008 No Comments

But the Tribune’s Editorial calling for Blagojevich’s impeachment is one year late.  Certainly John McCormick deserves credit and support for his withering attacks on Blagojevich as does Bruce Dold and the rest of the crew.  That said, they went for the false promise of a recall election that even if passed could not take place for another 9 – 12 months realistically.

There’s a point to impeachment and that is when the executive abuses it’s power, the legislature, being the voice of the people, may remove the executive at it’s will.  It’s not a legal process as I’ve made the point repeatedly, it’s a political process.  If the Lege Members remove an executive wrongly, they pay the electoral consequences.  However, the sovereignty of the State of Illinois lies in the Legislature and they have the very power that the Trib Editorial Board crusaded for without any changes to the Constitution. The cause for impeachment was met when Blagojevich repeatedly ignored the separation of power for the umpteenth time, but the enthusiasm did not occur until Tuesday when the level of the Governor’s corruption was made clear by Patrick Fitzgerald and his team and the FBI.

That we had to wait for Fitzgerald to move only shows the timidity of our press and our politicians, however.  A man who will disregard the Constitution of the State of Illinois will certainly disregard the law–in fact, by definition that politician already has.  It’s not something to ignore when politicians do that, it’s something to act upon and not simply with a call for a ‘reform,’ but with an action of removal that the Constitution already provides.

While I criticize the Trib’s late arrival at the conclusion impeachment should occur and occur fast, the House of Representatives isn’t even at that point yet.  Every day that man stays in power doesn’t tell is anything else about him, but it says a hell of a lot about of government.

Fritchey On Maddow

ArchPundit December 12, 2008 No Comments

If you caught the earlier part of the show, Maddow really summed up in a quite funny fashion the history of Rod Blagojevich. Maddow found it sad. I found it funny because the sadness of it lost any affect so many years ago.

All that said, other than a fading voice, Fritchey is doing the state proud in a very bad time.

That Only One Guy Is Saying It Is Part of the Problem Why Impeachment Is So Slow

ArchPundit December 12, 2008 No Comments

Way to go Kwame:

In a rare firsthand account of how Mr. Blagojevich, a two-term Democrat, went about the selection process, an Illinois state senator said in an interview that he had felt pressured to respond to the governor’s interest in him with a quid pro quo agreement and has withdrawn his name because of increasing wariness about the process.

The state senator, Kwame Raoul, who represents the South Side of Chicago, offered few details of his interaction with the governor’s office but said he received a call about a month ago confirming that he was under consideration. Soon afterward, however, Mr. Raoul said he ran head-on into another message: that the governor was looking for a candidate who offered something of tangible value to him.

“It was open knowledge among people in and around Springfield,” Mr. Raoul said. “Legislators and lobbyists alike openly talked about the fact that the governor would want to appoint somebody who would benefit him. I can firmly say that I’ve had these conversations, that I’ve spoken with both legislators and lobbyists who felt that that would be the consideration in his appointment.”

Mr. Raoul would not specifically say what the content of the conversations were, or whom they were with, except that the initial inquiry from the governor’s office was made by Victor Roberson, deputy director for intergovernmental affairs. Interest in his candidacy died on both sides, Mr. Raoul said, adding, “Obviously, the perception was that I didn’t have anything to give other than my service.”

I don’t think most of us were cynical enought to realize how craven Blagojevich was is, but these discussions were taking place about his way of operating in late 2005 and early 2006.  Kwame only took office in 2005.  He’s just delivering the message many of us thought we were delivering then.  Maybe we weren’t clear enough–I certainly thought I was at the time and I know others were.  The degree is surprising now that we see the transcripts, but state legislators, press, and even lobbyists have pointed out what was happening.

UPDATE:  Rich has more and I apparently read the article incorrectly in state of coughing fits.  But essentially Kwame is saying that everyone knew Blagojevich wanted political benefit and that was commonly known.

The Iraqi Guy

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

Upon realizing what he said–I thought it wasn’t confusion between Tony the Syrian guy, but how’s Tony And how’s the Iraqi guy (Auchi)?  Rich thought it was different, but there was a brief cutaway so I think we are talking about two different guys.  Baar, don’t go to crazy in comments please.

Roskam’s Interested

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

Via Progress Illinois.
The Politico reports:

In Illinois, all eyes are on GOP Rep. Mark Kirk, who is considering running for the Senate seat in a special election. He would give Republicans a battle-tested candidate with no ties to the tainted Chicago and Springfield machines. He might otherwise have been unlikely to run statewide, since as a moderate Republican he could be vulnerable in a primary where conservative voters would hold sway.

Kirk isn’t the only credible Illinois Republican mulling a Senate bid. A source close to Rep. Peter J. Roskam said the second-term congressman is also “very interested” in running for the Senate seat and wouldn’t automatically defer to Kirk. Roskam has a more conservative voting record than Kirk and has won election to a suburban Chicago seat during two rough election cycles for the GOP.

My view is that in a one-on-one Senate primary, Roskam takes it and loses the general to just about anyone not named Blagojevich.  Clearly the party will try and clear the field for someone, but it’s important to remember that doesn’t mean Kirk.  Roskam has lots of movement conservative support and even if they do try to clear him from the field, he’s not shy about taking on other Republicans having challenged Biggert years ago.

Fine Moments in Blagorgeous Land

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

Dan Conley:

Then again, it wasn’t much of an interview … for over two hours, Blagojevich regaled  us with tales of America’s Founding Fathers, especially his favorite, Alexander Hamilton.  Blago saw himself in Hamilton’s story — born to immigrant parents without wealth, Hamilton built a political career and a tidy personal fortune.  In Blago’s eyes, Hamilton was evidence that crony capitalism works.

He asked me a few things about working for Mayor Daley, then exclaimed “that’s the way I want to govern — just like Daley.”  Of course, Daley on his worst day would never be so dumb as to hatch a Coen Brothers like plot to sell to a U.S. Senate seat, but I couldn’t know then just what Blago had in mind.

Read the whole thing.

Deep Thought

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

I wonder if Oberweis Dairy is prepping a new ad campaign.

It’s Not Complicated

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

Steve Brown’s points about the problems of a quick impeachment as conveyed to Rich:

* From today’s Daily Herald, we get this comment about impeachment…

“It can’t be a slapdash kind of thing. That’s not how (House Speaker) Mike Madigan operates,” said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown. “It would take some time. I don’t know how much more quickly we’d get a resolution than a federal case.” [Emphasis added]

Really? As slow as a federal case? That means years and years of waiting.

* I asked Brown about this comment today. His response was threefold…

1) The impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice James Heiple took six weeks, and there’s every reason to believe this would take longer.

2) There are worries that Senate President Emil Jones may not convene a trial even if the House does impeach.

3) The evidence contained in the federal complaint against Blagojevich might not be held up by Chief Justice Fitzgerald, who would preside over the trial.

What the hell is wrong with these people? Have they read the Illinois Constitution? It’s not that hard.

1)  There is NO reason to believe this would take longer.  In the case of Heiple a more deliberative process was used because there was no significant problem day to day.  In this case, we have evidence of a Governor selling off state resources/benefits. The degree of deliberation is a function of the will of the Chamber. The only reason it would take six weeks is because Speaker Madigan made it take six weeks.

2) Jones has no choice at this point.  Oh, he could try and not have it, but he’s not that stupid and everyone understands the problem at this point.

3)  Chief Justice Fitzgerald is there to preside. He does not set the rules or anything else.  He’s there to enforce Senate rules and processes.ave it, but he’s not that stupid and everyone understands the problem at this point.  If I’m wrong, put him on the spot.

This is not a legal process–it is a political process and the Speaker’s office should understand that. Everyday they delay, people get angry at him and that backfires on Lisa.

Schakowksy Announces She’ll Run if There is a Special

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

I generally think she would be a decent candidate, but….

Given the current situation and Bob Creamer’s conviction a few years ago I have to think it’s not that good of an idea.  Creamer’s conviction was on check kiting and while it didn’t involve Jan at all, the current environment makes that a significant liability.  A Democratic candidate is going to have to be squeaky clean including family.

Daily Dolt: Etiquette Experts

ArchPundit December 11, 2008 No Comments

Perhaps the stupidest article in some time is in the Tribune quoting etiquette experts who are very dismayed that a politician might use foul language.

Certainly Blagojevich’s language was overshadowed by the criminal accusations against him. But many say a public official, even in supposedly private conversations, should be held to a higher standard of discourse.

“You expect more from a governor,” said Barbara Pachter, an expert on business etiquette. “You don’t always get it, but you expect more. This is just lousy behavior. We don’t want our governors to be drunken sailors.”

Because the Lege is also full of people who use pristine language.