Posted: 12/30/2008 11:58:47 PM EDT
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is he really that dumb? I hope some day he writes a memoir.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/illinois_governor_senate_letter It is truly regrettable that despite warning from all 50 Democratic senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety. We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris's ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.
Next week we will start one of the most important debates of the year outlining an economic recovery plan to create jobs and invest in America. And in the coming weeks, we will be working to protect homeowners and consumers, make America more energy independent, strengthen our national security, and improve health care and educational opportunities. There is much work to do and a lot at stake. It is thus critical that Illinois and every other state have two seated senators without delay. We again urge Gov. Blagojevich to not make this appointment. It is unfair to Mr. Burris, it is unfair to the people of Illinois and it will ultimately not stand. The governor must put the interests of the people of Illinois and all Americans first by stepping aside now and letting his successor appoint someone who we will seat. |
It wasn't imprudent at all on Blago's part.....but it was very imprudent of Burris to take it, however. Blago pissed in the Wheaties™ of the IL Democrat Party, the Senate Democrats, and Obama all at the same time. He's clearly intent on making them pay as high a price as possible for trying to throw him under the bus. Madigan shouldn't have tried to duck out of a special election. 
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Gutsy? Nuts? Knows the law? Chicago style politics.
This guy and his savvy lawyers know the law. He is innocent until proven guilty. So other than getting tossed in the slammer and handcuffed, this guy is innocent under our criminal justice system. Therefore, he is still the governor with all the power that it entails. Like I said in another post, he controls the executive branch and also controls the ISP and can order up the national guard if he wants to. 
Thus, his appointment is not truly newsworthy - its expected. It's been nearly a month and they can't even get an impeachment going, they failed to call for snap elections, all that and the democrats are in the majority. So he was left with a legal duty which, if he failed to act could have given the Madigan's AG's Office a chance to charge him with official misconduct. And so he acted to hilarious effect. It's called a "No S**T Sherlock" moment. It's like leaving Iran with the ability to produce nukes and then being taken aback, surprised and shocked when they actually use one - then with everyone claiming that they tried to shame Iran into not producing a nuke, with no substantive action...No S**T Sherlock. 
Welcome to the Banana Republic, er..I mean Illinois. 
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It looks like Mr. Burris is more of the same old hypocritical politician that the people of Illinois have come to know and love. From the Trib:
But logic has never been his strong suit. A longtime advocate of a national handgun ban, Burris organized Chicago's first Gun Turn-in Day in 1993. But when he ran for governor the following year, he admitted that he owned a handgun ("for protection,") and did not hand it over to police as he urged others to do.
Also, I read somewhere that it has been revealed that Mr. Burris contributed something like $30,000 to Blago's camp, and received something like $290,000 in state contracts. I can remember where I read that though. Mike F |
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The burris thing has got me so pissed off that i have to not think about it.
Burris was a key player in the Nicarico/Cruz trial fiasco, which was a complete goatscrew. The Nicarico's deserved far far far better than the treatment they got, and even though he was a complete douchebag, rolando cruz's death sentence served less than nothing. Brian Dugan STILL hasn't been charged, even though they have his Q$#% dna. Prosecutors AND investigators quit their jobs over this case. Burris' current firm Burris & Lebed Consuling. I sent my $.02 email, but I'd have been better served by pissing on my shoes. Burris' is a piece of crap, his moral compass points only at himself... grrr. 
Just think... if jack ryan would have been satisfied to have sex with Jeri Ryan in the privacy of his own home, _none_ of this would be happening. 
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Goodbye!
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) –– An Illinois legislative committee Thursday unanimously recommended impeaching embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich amid corruption allegations. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may face federal corruption charges. Blagojevich was arrested last month after federal prosecutors alleged, among other things, that he tried to sell the Senate seat President-elect Barack Obama vacated. The issue will now be taken up by the full Illinois state House of Representatives. "Today is the day that we begin to give back democracy to the people of the state of Illinois," Democratic Rep. Jack Franks said as he cast his "aye" vote. Blagojevich "has been AWOL and derelict of his duties. He has abused his powers, and he has brought shame to this great state," Franks said. "I believe that Rod Blagojevich is a liar, and I believe he is a thief," Franks said. "He has stolen the trust of the people." The committee heard testimony Thursday afternoon from Roland Burris, the man Blagojevich appointed to succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Burris denied any quid pro quo with Blagojevich for his appointment to the U.S. Senate. Burris, former attorney general for Illinois, is not accused of engaging in "pay-to-play" politics with Blagojevich. Blagojevich denies any wrongdoing and has rejected calls for his resignation. Don't Miss Burris denies quid pro quo for Senate appointment Illinois GOP wants closer look at Burris, Blagojevich ties Democrat: Blagojevich 'called our bluff' "I would have appreciated it if he had stepped aside, and we would not have been made the laughing stock of the country," said Rep. Mary Flowers, another Democrat. She noted, however, that the governor is "innocent until proven guilty." The 21-member committee looked into Blagojevich's actions on a number of issues beyond the federal allegations, including an allegation he withheld state money from a children's hospital until he received a $50,000 campaign donation. Rep. Chapin Rose, a Republican, called the alleged behavior "repugnant." "The report speaks for itself and contains many, many, many acts that I find, and most of my colleagues find, to be impeachable," Rose said. "The evidence is overwhelmingly damning, and with that I vote aye," he said. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald initiated a criminal complaint against Blagojevich after listening to wiretaps of the governor's phone conversations. Blagojevich was arrested December 9, but has not been indicted. A federal judge in Chicago told Fitzgerald he has until April 7 to decide whether to charge the Illinois governor. The committee's report says it found the government's allegations against Blagojevich "shocking" and believes the information in the federal complaint "is sufficiently credible to demonstrate an abuse of office" that was "inconsistent with the governor's constitutional oath." If the full House votes to impeach the governor, the action moves to the state Senate, which would try the case and decide whether to remove him from office. The Illinois committee's report points out that Blagojevich does not need to be found guilty of a crime for the House to impeach him. "An impeachment inquiry is not a criminal proceeding and its purpose is not punitive. Rather, impeachment is a remedial proceeding to protect the public from an officer who has abused his position of trust," the report says. The committee points out that the criminal complaint against Blagojevich alleges he was secretly taped saying he would not appoint anyone to Obama's seat without some form of compensation. iReport.com: Do you trust your political leaders? "The governor repeatedly demonstrated that his decision to appoint a senator would not be based on merits of the candidate or on public policy, but rather on how that appointment could benefit him personally," the report says. "The governor directed various individuals to conduct inquiries on his behalf to negotiate deals for the Senate appointment, affirmatively setting into action a plot to trade the Senate appointment for something of value to the governor," it said. Blagojevich declined the committee's offer to testify on his own behalf, the report says. |