The Illinois State Senate Thursday convicted Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on a sprawling article of impeachment that charged him with abusing his power. The vote prompted the governor’s immediate and permanent ouster and ended nearly two months of political spectacle in which he sought unsuccessfully to salvage his reputation and career here and across the country.
Overdue.
#17, Dan,
… a trial would have brought out things about Obama that would have crippled him as President.
Not quite. A defendant in a trial is only allowed to present evidence that pertains to the charges itself. The only evidence Blagojevich will be able to present about Obama is if Obama offered a bribe for the Senate seat.
I think that he will probably end up beating the charge simply because there was no agreement to exchange something of value for the seat. Asking for consideration is not necessarily a crime. It might be reprehensible, but I think Fitzpatrick jumped the gun.
Follow the money. The reason they kicked him out is a clause in HR1 (the Stimulus Bill) that prevents Illinois from getting any funds if he is still governor.
It’s not about crimes or misconduct. It’s about money.
That’s the Chicago way.
Dan
PS Here’s the text…
None of the funds provided by this Act may be made available to the State of Illinois, or any agency of the State, unless (1) the use of such funds by the State is approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois.The preceding sentence shall not apply to any funds provided directly to a unit of local government (1) by a Federal department or agency, or (2) by an established formula from the State.
#21 Yep. Just read that one. BTW, anyone actually read the new Pork Bill?
paddy-hoe
explain pork…and I know it isn’t pig related
#23
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel
thanks
# 25 jimbo said, “thanks”
No prob. What country are you from?
Jimbo, here’s a link to the bill passed by the House:
http://rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr1_text.pdf
Open pdf and just search for $. You can skim quickly that way.
#24, Cow-Paddy,
You mean what the Republicans have done for the previous 8 years?
# 28 Mr. Fusion said, “You mean what the Republicans have done for the previous 8 years?”
Nope. The amount of pork in this bill dwarfs by many times the amount of pork for the last 8+ years.
Nice try but, all I can say is read the bill. It is an unprecedented waste of $ in US History.
Change you can be screwed by. ROFL
#29, Cow-Paddy,
So that infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” and the $39 million spent on the “Bridge To Nowhere Access Road to Nowhere” didn’t happen?
Oh my.
#30 What ARE you babbling about? $39 mil = $89 bil?
So, have you read through the bill yet, or are you just babbling?
#31, Cow-Paddy,
I’m trying to keep the discussion on topic.
Blaggy should have went to Iraq and become an insurgent so he could get sent to Club Gitmo. He would have had more rights and a fairer trial.
# 32 Mr. Fusion said, “I’m trying to keep the discussion on topic.”
Oh, I thought you were trying to talk about bridges…
http://comics.com/robert_ariail/2009-01-30/
Former Gov Blogo signs contract to become political pundit in rebuttal on Fox TV. I predicted it first here.
In Chicago politics there are only two kinds of people: Those caught by the cops, and those tipped off by the cops before the cops show up.
A good portion of the people voting on impeachment would fall into the later category.