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It’s Not Defiance

ArchPundit January 9, 2009 No Comments

It’s just Delusional

Via Rich:

“Today’s vote was not a surprise. The outcome was a foregone conclusion especially when you consider the committee released its report hours before wrapping up testimony. The Governor believes that the impeachment proceedings were flawed, biased and did not follow the rules of law. His team was not allowed to subpoena witnesses, they were never allowed to cross examine people and never given the chance to put on any kind of defense. In all, the Governor’s rights to due process were deprived.

“When the case moves to the Senate, an actual judge will preside over the hearings, and the Governor believes the outcome will be much different.”

The judge is only there to rule on Senate rules, not a large question of legal merit in a trial. This is over, and has been over, other than the actual votes. The Governor can choose to be responsible and leave on his own, or behave just as he has for the last six years.  I expect the latter was the choice made many months ago by Rod Blagojevich in the mistaken notion that he can talk himself out of anything.

Unanimous Vote In Impeachment Committee

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

21-0

Burris Admits He Reached Out To Blago Adviser Named In Criminal Complaint

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

HuffPo picks up on the part of the hearing that should be getting attention.

Moreover, in a sworn affidavit filed January 5, Burris swore that, before he was asked by Blagojevich staff if he was interested in the position, “there was not any contact between myself or any of my representatives with Governor Blagojevich or any of his representatives regarding my appointment to the United States Senate.”

During Thursday’s hearing, Burris insisted that the conversation with Monk was innocent, saying that he merely wanted to let the governor’s people know that he was interested in the post and believed he was qualified for it.

“He said, ‘I think you are too,'” Burris said of his conversation, emphasizing that he did not talk to Monk or anyone else on the governor’s staff after Blagojevich’s arrest.

Nevertheless, the revelation casts something of a shadow over the behind-the-scenes process by which Burris obtained Blagojevich’s favor. Burris claimed that he was not aware of a quid pro quo to get the Senate appointment. He added that he wouldn’t have accepted the post if it had been offered in such a matter. But his conversation with Monk puts him in direct contact with one of the key players in Blagojevich’s scheme.

What’s Next?

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

I’d say the fix was largely in here.  While Durkin did some decent work, it was pretty clear that the panel wants to kick this to be DC’s problem and DC wants it to be Springfield’s problem and that probably means it’s the people of Illinois’ problem with Roland Burris likely to become the next US Senator from Illinois unless the US Senate decides to get a backbone and refuse to seat him.

I largely find even the cursory information in this hearing enough to support refusing to seat Burris, but if Illinois politicians aren’t willing to put themselves out for a position with 52% opposing Burris’ appointment and 72 % wanting a special election or an appointment by Quinn, it’s hard to argue that the national politicians should put their clout behind it–other than it’s the right thing to do.

That Burris was asking a lobbyist such as Monk for excess business, asking the same lobbyist for consideration for the US Senate seat, and has an outstanding ‘loan’ of $1.2 million from a campaign contributor is certainly enough be concerned about Burris’ participation in the pay to play culture and given the current circumstances that’s enough to deny him a seat in the US Senate.

That probably won’t happen from what I saw today.

No One Even Followed Up on the Lon Monk Lobbyist Bit

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

Durkin was the only one to touch on it much and then everyone dropped it.  That was an amazing admission and even after Burris tried to clarify it by saying he was going to Monk to see if he had any excess work, the obvious issue was that Monk’s entire practice is built around having the Governor’s ear.

It’s not just that someone went to a lobbyist who was tight with the Governor, no one even thought it was strange.

Why Isn’t There Outrage

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

About the contact with a lobbyist who was acting as a gatekeeper to the Governor for state contracts and potentially an appointment to the US Senate.  Why would Roland even think that was anything close to appropriate?

I know it’s Illinois people, but c’mon.  Durkin didn’t even follow up on this.  What the hell.

More on Lon Monk

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

Roland describes the situation as having run into Lon–apparently trying to drum up state business, and saying to Lon that Roland didn’t know what would be happening, but that Roland would be qualified to fill the Senate seat and Lon agreed.

While trying to drum up state business from a fricken’ lobbyist.

Let me repeat, Roland Burris, went to a lobbyist, who used to work for the Blagojevich Administration, while asking about state work Burris’ firm might be able to get and asked a lobbyist about an appointment to the US Senate if Obama won the Presidential race.  We have a problem here.

And then he blathered on about how he was approached by so many people…..

Fritchey Is Largely Right

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

He’s taking some flack on comment threads and such, but the point of most of his comments is to corral the discussion to the impeachment hearing and interactions with the Governor.  These things tend to sprawl all over and this would never end if you didn’t restrict the scope somewhat.  Currie is pretty loose with questioning though so it’s not hurting anything anyway other than to get colleagues to think about what they are asking.

Cringeworthy

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

Roland just said he cannot remember who all of his clients are and suggested going to the state database to get the information and that if the Lege did they would know better than he.

He Asked Lon Monk for Consideration

ArchPundit January 8, 2009 No Comments

He might have mentioned that before–given Lon is the lobbyist in the criminal complaint.

Oh wait, he didn’t read the complaint.