Illinois House Committee Approves Blago Impeachment Report
The special Illinois House impeachment committee has just voted unanimously to send their full report to the chamber as a whole, clearing the way for Rod Blagojevich to be impeached as early as tomorrow.
Assuming that House vote occurs tomorrow and is successful -- a safe bet, to say the least -- the next step will be for the state Senate to hold a full trial, which could take a few weeks. Blagojevich will probably be out of office as soon as early February, if not sooner.
Each individual member, before voting, made a short speech explaining how seriously they took the job of throwing out a legitimate, democratically-elected official -- but also how it has become necessary at this point.
The sentiment was perhaps best expressed by state Rep. Mary Flowers (D): "I would have appreciated if the governor could have just merely stepped aside, so we would not have been made the laughingstock of the country."
I think he will likely go, but they're going to have to come up with better rationale than embarrassment.
January 8, 2009 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is so funny and so true.
Will he go through the trial once he's impeached in the House or will the idiot represent himself? Why would he be still there? It reminds me of that guy, oh whatshisname, the tapper in the bathroom guy, Sn Craig! What motivates these people to hang on when all's lost?
January 8, 2009 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, its about time!
January 8, 2009 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blagojevich was arrested exactly one month ago today. Given the time of year, how much faster do you really think a recommendation of impeachment could have come through?
Surely you don't believe that the process of impeaching and convicting a legally elected official should take days, rather than weeks.
January 9, 2009 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
So they impeach and remove the guy, then the LG comes in and appoints Burress.
January 8, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can the Burress appointment be held off a full two months?
January 8, 2009 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the answer to this has legal and political elements. Despite the certainty that some indicate about how the Senate is obligated to seat Burris, Reid can drag that out for months and months. Committee referrals, inquiries, hearings, investigations, blah-blah, even if a ruling issues from Illinois courts saying he is the certified individual and the Sec. State signs the paper.
But will Reid really do that, with all of these African-American legislators lining up for this guy? Oksieoskie predicts above LG will just appoint Burris anyway (or restate support by Governor's office for appointment). Well, if LG doesn't at least indicate now that he has some other distinct preference (presumably also African-American) and give some real poltiical cover, Reid will be in an especially lonely place trying to stall this.
Plus, fairly unlikely, but Scalia and our Banana-Republic 5-4 majority may step in soon with their pro-forma demand that their Republican party's will be followed, i.e., seat Burris to embarass our new President. A related question would be, would the Senate heed another shady ruling from the debased court, or instead kindly suggest Scalia et al go practice law in South America.
January 9, 2009 2:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Reid *can* drag it out. However, it's becoming more and more likely that he won't.
First, most of the top Dems who were against his appointment have done a very public 180 on it in the last 48 hours. This is probably due to two things: the potentially disastrous precedent of undermining future gubernatorial appointments, and the offstage leverage being applied by Obama on the Senate to get this resolved and off the radar prior to the inaugural.
At this point, it's not just A-A legislators (all of whom are in the House, and therefore may not hold the same sway with the Senate Majority Leader).
Quinn's not going anywhere near this mess until he has to, which is smart on his part. Besides, even if Blagojevich is impeached and convicted, not seating Burris would probably trigger a big lawsuit from him that he would appear to have an excellent chance of winning.
SCOTUS would only embarrass itself by getting involved in what is at this point a procedural matter in the Senate.
January 9, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
The A-A legislators punch out of their weightclass and their chamber. Good point about new Pres. wanting it resolved; I hadn't factored that in, but that's typical of him.
Blago's now impeached but unless he can be got rid of by Jan. 16 (one week from today), Burris is in according to the formula you seem to lay out. You're probably quite right that Quinn wouldn't want any part of this, and hopes it isn't thrust upon him.
January 9, 2009 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
144 Yea 1 Nay on Blago.
Now, why didn't they do this a couple weeks ago. It would have made things that much easier. But no, Blago had to leave his mark.
January 9, 2009 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink