Illinois Politics

[cassiesmom]

Gov. Blagojevich made an appointment for Obama's senate seat this afternoon, Roland Burris. He is a former Illinois attorney general and comptroller. The afternoon news is saying that he won't be approved by the Senate democratic caucus. I wish they would just look at whether or not the appointee is qualified rather than who is doing the appointing.

[Lady's Human]

At this point, how can you separate who is doing the appointing from the appointee? If you look at the makeup of the Senate, qualifications are pretty much a moot point.

[cassiesmom]

At this point, how can you separate who is doing the appointing from the appointee? If you look at the makeup of the Senate, qualifications are pretty much a moot point.

That seems to be the problem from what they are saying on the news today. Anyone Blago picks, no matter how qualified, is going to have their appointment tainted by him. But he isn't inclined to resign, and the governor does get to make the appointment, so I don't know how this will be worked out. The African-American Democratic leaders in Chicago are saying the replacement should also be someone African-American.

[cassiesmom]

Guess what? Blago was actually down in Springfield today, swearing in the Illinois senate. I saw a little clip of it on the evening news, and it was strange to watch him trying to conduct state business like nothing is wrong.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/090113/w011387A.html

[cassiesmom]

Lynn Sweet's article in today's on-line Chicago Sun-Times. How dare Blago compare himself to Mandela, Dr. King or Gandhi.

"Impeached Gov. Blagojevich, on the first leg of his media blitz timed to the start of his impeachment trial, in an NBC interview broadcast on The Today Show Sunday compared himself to human rights heros Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.

"On the press offensive, Blagojevich has lined up national interviews--NBC, ABC, "The View" to run as his impeachment trail starts Monday before the Illinois state senate in Springfield.

"Blagojevich, wearing a blue ivy league shirt, told NBC's Amy Robach that he has not prepared mentally for possibly going to prison. The impeachment was triggered by Blagojevich's Dec. 9 arrest on criminal charges, including trying to auction off President Obama's vacant senate seat.

"As Dec. 9 unfolded, Blagojevich told NBC, "I thought about Mandela, Dr. King and Gandhi and tried to put some perspective to all this and that is what I am doing now."

"Blagojevich is not going to participate in his defense because he says the rules are rigged against him. He will not be in Springfield for his trial; instead he will be doing nationally televised interviews.

"The governor told NBC that the state Senate trial will be so unfair, he could bring in "15 angels and 20 saints led by Mother Theresa" to testify on his behalf and "it wouldn't matter." "

[lizbud]

Did you see his news speech where he talked about cowboys & the
old West?

[Edwina's Secretary]

I spoke with my family in Illinois this weekend. They are so embarrassed.

I think it interesting...there was one desenting vote -- against impeachment.

It was Blagovich's sister-in-law -- sister of his wife!