My favorite quote of the entire Blagojevich scandal goes to Illinois State Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago: “We have this thing called impeachment and it’s bleeping golden and we’ve used it the right way.”
That’s some high-quality snark, my friends.
Rod Blagojevich is no longer the Governor of Illinois, thanks to a unanimous, 59-0 vote in the State Senate. He was also barred from running for public office in Illinois, though I assume that’s a formality, as Blagojevich polls just below pond scum in popularity.
I was born in Illinois, and spent the first six years of my life there; as my dad likes to say, it’s a good state to be from, as that means you’re not there anymore. While Blagojevich’s scandal was brazen and bizarre, it’s not unusual. As Gov. Pat Quinn now takes the reins, he knows that if history is any guide, he’s got a fifty-fifty chance of ending his term in jail. Three of the previous eight governors did, and Blagojevich appears likely to be the fourth. Illinois politics is built on the patched-up foundation of the Daley Machine, a cancerous, Superfund-worthy lot of patronage and corruption. And it’s not just on the Democratic side; the most recent Governor to go to jail was Republican George Ryan, who was also, until about 5 p.m. this afternoon, the most recent ex-governor.
That doesn’t mean that all, or even most, politicians in Illinois are corrupt. As in most states, most politicians are there for basically the right reasons, doing what they can to help their constituents. Those men and women now need to assert themselves — demand clarity and openness, demand that the men and women to serve in the state house are men and women of moral clarity. And the citizens have to demand it as well.
Oh, great. In the midst of an economic crisis, what are these politicians doing? Throwing yet one more guy out of work!
Otto Kerner (bribery), Daniel Walker (savings and loan fraud, for crimes committed after he was Governor) and George Ryan (corruption). And I fully expect Rod Blagojevich to join Ryan in jail.
He was also barred from running for public office in Illinois, though I assume that’s a formality, as Blagojevich polls just below pond scum in popularity.
He still has his supporters. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that he could get elected back to the House of Representatives in some majority-minority districts. But his upcoming felony convictions should spike that. I’m not sure if his impeachment covers Federal office or not.
Considering who said this, it should make you puke. He’s no friend of most of you here:
I’ve been to the House of Hope. That’s where my Diocese’s latest Bishop was consecrated. I wonder if he knew this history when they set up the ceremony.
Yes, there are clean politicians in Illinois politics. But I liked John Kass’ phrase – watching the Illinois Senate condemn Rod Blagojevich was like watching a bunch of flies condemn a brother fly for having dirty feet.
Interesting how long history perpetuates itself. What I thought was funniest was the way he seemed to think he was being impeached for using the f-word on the phone…and he wasn’t even talking to a woman!