Reid To Blago: Don't Even Think About Trying To Pick Senator
This has already gotten a bit of attention, but it's worth a quick look: Harry Reid is circulating a letter among Senate Dems today that calls on Governor Blagojevich to step down and even threatens to use the Senate's power to sink any effort Blago might make to pick a Senator.
A Senate leadership aide sends over the letter, which Reid has asked his fellow Dems to sign. Here's the key part:
Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.
It's virtually impossible to imagine that Blago would try to appoint a Senator at this point. But then again, most of the stuff in the criminal complaint against him would have been virtually impossible to imagine before yesterday morning.
Full letter after the jump.
Late Update: I should have noted this before, but HuffPo's Sam Stein deserves credit for getting the Reid letter first.
December 10, 2008
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
We write to insist that you step down as Governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment by you would raise serious questions.
It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be seated as soon as possible so that Illinois is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th Congress moves forward.
Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.
We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.
Sincerely,
Link to Young Turks: 'Blago proves Obama clean'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/blagojevich-proves-obama_b_149926.html
December 10, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
This guy takes my breath away - he's so blatant about his corruption and claims innocence - is he stupid, or that arrogant? Or both?
God knows he'd be an idiot to try to appoint someone now, but he's proven already that he's an idiot from the get go - who knows what he'll do?
December 10, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I live in a community with lots of "ich's", last name, and no offense to anyone, but truly, I have found them to be a law unto themselves. I had no idea when we moved here, but wow, full speed ahead and screw rules and consequences, at least here.
December 10, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought Texas was bad about that - we don't even make the top 3.
:)
December 10, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the guy did go to work today just as if nothing had happened, so who knows what he may be planning to do about the senate seat. He's already shown he's got the temperament to fight tooth-and-nail before relinquishing any of his gubernatorial powers.
December 10, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking, Ellen, along those lines - he claims innocence, therefore, it is still his right until proven guilty to appoint someone.
December 10, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
To be clear: I'm thinking that's what he is possibly thinking - to maintain his front of innocence, he will continue on just as if he hadn't been charged.
December 10, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. The question I have is how many of his "advisers" are still willing to stick by him and do his bidding.
December 10, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
that's a damn good question -
December 10, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, some assistant just quit today...the deputy governor...
December 10, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I haven't been home very much today = I am not up on things -
December 10, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's just for show. They're buying time trying to figure out what to do. He's got to know what evidence Fitz has on him. He's cooked and he knows it. It's just damage control time now.
December 10, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would agree with you except for Blago's arrogance over the last few years when he knew about the ongoing investigations and still acted like he was teflon. I'm not so sure he think he's "cooked".
December 10, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brain tumor, perhaps?
December 10, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blago is very arrogant and selfish. I wont be surprised if he throws the names of some prominent Illinois democratic politicians to the FBI to try and save his skin.
December 10, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Possibly, but if he still has delusions of political grandeur (e.g. running for Congress, etc.), then he may feel he's going to need those Illinois politicians in the future. Remember, He's had the spectre of an investigation looming over him for years, and he still thinks (and acts) like he's invincible.
December 10, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Love how the Democrats jump all over this...where's the outrage been for the last 7+ years?
They show spine when punishing Democrats.
And before everyone lands all over me, yes, I'm glad they're doing this. Yes, Blago richly deserves this.
December 10, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? The didn't show much spine with Lieberman.
December 11, 2008 5:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
(If this double-posts, I will reprise the [expletive] sections of the Blago tapes)
Sorry for going OT, but what's the trick with profiles here at TPM? All I wanna do is change my PW and set my user pic, but when I try to save my changes it just tells me that my Moveable Type session has ended.
I remember seeing many posts here and there ranting about the preview and profile problems, but I don't remember what the fix was (if any). Thanks for any help.
December 10, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
The fix is persistence. It works, then it doesn't, then it does. At least, that's what I have found.
Then again, I haven't dared to change my profile recently.
December 10, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only admin was able to change mine.
I wouldn't touch it.
sorry-
December 10, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ack. Well, thanks anyway. I guess I'll just be...who is that...Newton? Random 17th century dude?
December 10, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would send an e-mail to the TPM people. When I've done that (I got kicked off for some inexplicable reason...and this was before the [DELETED BY MANAGEMENT] bullshit), they've responded immediately, and were very helpful.
I, for one, wish you the best of luck, because I'm tired of staring at that Newton guy, or whoever it is.
December 10, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF? Now the Senate is dictating how a state chooses officeholders? Patterson is about to appoint someone; what if a Repbulican majority in the Seante decided they had a shot at winning the seat with an election and so threatened to seat Patterson's appointment and required an election instead?
Jesus. The basic structure, here, folks, is federalism, and Senators from other states shouldn't be dictating to one state how they handle matters.
And talk about guilty until proven innocent. In this case, they are threatening not to seat someone who is yet not known and has not him or herself been accused of any wrongdoing.
WTF?
December 10, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Frankly, I don't think a refusal to seat the individual would hold up.
December 10, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
FWIW, I believe the Constitution says the Senate is the final authority as to its own membership. And it requires a 2/3 majority to unseat an elected Senator, IIRC, not a simple majority.
I take your point about Reid's shot across the bow, though. Maybe he heard something on the down-low that Blago is actually going to try to make a pick in spite of his current predicament?
December 10, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
If it's laid out in the Constitution, is that still wrong?
December 10, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a historical precedent for unseating some whom it was alleged had purchased his seat:
(But presumably whomever Blog picks now will not have purchased his or her seat - I doubt anyone would try to pull that off now, so what basis would there be for blocking the individual?)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-senate-scandal10-2008dec10,0,3736740.story
Lorimer, an immigrant from England and a dapper and popular politician, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1895 when he was 33. In 1909, after a long deadlock in the Illinois Legislature, Lorimer was chosen to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
But a year later, the Chicago Tribune reported on allegations that bribes had been paid to secure Lorimer's seat, including an admission by a state assemblyman that he had received $1,000.
Lorimer vehemently denied the charges and called for a Senate investigation. He was cleared, but a year later the Progressive Movement picked up the cause and the Senate reversed itself. Lorimer was ousted from the Senate by a 55-28 vote.
December 10, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, here's the real question: Who would be stupid enough to accept that appointment from Blogojevich?
This is all really speculative, cause I can't imagine any Democrat who wants a future would accept the seat now.
December 10, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Illinois enjoys having only one Senator for a long time. He or she will then be behind the incoming class in seniority.
December 10, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure Illinois is ever so grateful for your concern for its welfare.
December 10, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the snark for?
December 10, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your claim of Federalism. I concluded your comment was a continuation of the same argument you made above about the states and senators from one state telling another state what to do, which it turns out is the constitutional right of the Senate, but I figured you were still all worried about states' rights.
Thus my comment, which by now is stale - so nevermind.
December 10, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
So the citizens of Illinois can hold the bag?
December 10, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm inclined to think Blago's remarks are strange. I'm not sure Blago's words should be taken as they are. His "pay to play" remarks sound like he was setting something up. This is starting to sound fishy.
Anyone other than myself think this is some kind of game? None of the "pay for play" transactions were completed.
Something is up!
Read the complaint here:
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/a-readers-guide-to-the-blagojevich-complaint/?partner=rss&emc=rss
December 10, 2008 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know if something is up ... but something IS odd. I speculate the plug was pulled on Blago while his crimes were only still vapor. Better for the Dem's, Obama and everyone else involved. I speculate there is another watching dreams of easy power drift away in that blown vapor. Dreams now replaced by fear.
And I speculate that both will end up broke ... in more ways than one.
December 11, 2008 2:00 AM | Reply | Permalink