Blagojevich Ousted

US NewsJanuary 2009 • Views: 1,720

To no one’s surprise, the Illinois State Senate has voted 59-0 to throw Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich out of office…

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81 comments

Chicken Kiev Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:32:11pm

But he said he was innocent.

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:32:36pm

Couldn't have happened to a more deserved guy.

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:33:25pm

re: #2 FurryOldGuyJeans

Couldn't have happened to a more ~~deserved~~ deserving guy.

PIMF, blah, blah, blah. *sigh*

Dustyvet Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:33:29pm

Laughing my socks off...

GoIllini Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:33:42pm

Blago a-go-go.

Shr_Nfr Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:33:43pm

Out with the old thread in with the new thread. I'm outa here now.

Nevergiveup Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:33:59pm

Now who is shep going to talk over?

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:34:11pm

re: #1 Chicken Kiev

But he said he was innocent.

He certainly had no taint of respectability and clean government.

JammieWearingFool Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:34:14pm

Looks like MSNBC has the perfect host for that third hour of primetime sitting there as a free agent.

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:35:01pm

re: #9 JammieWearingFool

Looks like MSNBC has the perfect host for that third hour of primetime sitting there as a free agent.

Wow, an audience of 3 people, impressive.

Shug Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:35:15pm

58 yes
1 absolutely

Not unanimous!
/

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:35:20pm

re: #7 Nevergiveup

Now who is shep going to talk over?

Who?

joncelli Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:35:24pm

It's okay, Rod. You've got your hair to keep you warm.

Occasional Reader Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:35:48pm

Blago Bye-Ku

Blago, "seat for sale"
Consequences; hair today
but gone tomorrow

/apologies to Taranto for stepping on his lines

Cognito Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:36:43pm

59-0.

That dude is radioactive.

OrlandoParkRat Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:37:06pm

We need to get this guy his own talk show ... "Blago." It has that catchy two-syllable name--Oprah, Ellen, Tyra, Maury, Jerry--that would ring in any marketeer's ears. At least one state senator wished him luck in a future career in Hollywood ... maybe said senator has a point!

Gella Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:37:11pm

ppl will burn if he'll talk

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:37:55pm

re: #15 Cognito

59-0.

That dude is radioactive.

The senators were just more concerned about reelection.

Outrider Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:38:12pm

re: #8 FurryOldGuyJeans

He certainly had no taint of respectability and clean government.

but he did have great hair. ehhhhhh ;-)>

Nevergiveup Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:38:45pm

re: #12 FurryOldGuyJeans

Who?

The guy on fox

D. Edgren (the Merciless Infidel) Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:39:09pm

Although, this being Illinois...

Let he (or she) who is without sin cast the first stone.

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

I'm not all that religious, but, given who we're dealing with, these seem sort of fitting. Yippee- Blago is gone, but what about the rest of the miscreants?

D. Edgren

Sharmuta Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:39:11pm

Good for them!

Dustyvet Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:39:11pm

Buh-Bye, Helmethead

[deleted] Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:40:06pm

calcajun Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:40:44pm

Move along people. Just some Democrat corruption. Nuthin' to see here. Move along, citizens.

Killian Bundy Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:40:46pm

And then they promptly voted to bar him from ever holding office in Illinois again. That's got to hurt.

/he should have resigned

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:40:55pm

re: #20 Nevergiveup

The guy on fox

Who's on What?

(First Base!)

Gella Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:41:13pm

but the funniest thing is, out of all politicians in Illinois, he is less corrupt, so Daily will prevail, taxes will go up, nothing new there

OrlandoParkRat Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:42:23pm

re: #24 MikeySDCA

So much for the presumption of innocence.

A very good point, to which the Senate prosecutor had a very good answer:

"He has a Constitutional right not to thrown in jail without a fair trial," he said. "But he does not have a Constitutional right to be governor. That is not a right; it's a privilege and he forfeited that right. He has abused the power of his office."

jcw46 Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:42:37pm

blago blago hair-a-plenty
do you dime someone
or just relent-y

BenghaziHoops Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:43:34pm

re: #24 MikeySDCA

So much for the presumption of innocence.

The presumption of innocence applies to a legal trial..Not a political impeachment.

doppelganglander Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:43:49pm

He'd better get to work on his memoirs, now that he and the Mrs. are unemployed. I'm sure there's a huge market for his side of the story.

/spit

Lincolntf Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:44:30pm

We all got screwed.
Blago's as dirty as all of the rest of them and has absolutely no business in public service, but he also got screwed. The investigation was based on wiretaps (a LOT of wiretaps), and only the incriminating ones were introduced. The investigation stopped short of him committing a crime, and the Senate voted unanimously to convict him and, not coincidentally, end all further investigation into the pay-to-play way of doing business in Chicago.
His semi-boycott of the proceedings was a lame move. I'd have preferred him to get badgered by the prosecution, and then turn around and start naming names in his own defense.
They impeached him for soliciting political contributions in exchange for official actions. Votes in the Legislature are official actions, no? I wonder how many of his accusers would pass that test.

nyc redneck Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:45:07pm

he must be so angry.
he is out on his ass and his guilty peers are still enjoying the good life.
some even running the country.
a guy like blaggo is not going to be ok w/ that.
he is going to start blabbing.
if he was calling o a motherfcker abt. money for a senate seat,
just image how he will be ranting abt. being impeached.
when what he did was just a way of life for all the chicago thug pols.

Taqyia2Me Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:45:16pm

re: #25 calcajun

Move along people. Just some Democrat corruption. Nuthin' to see here. Move along, citizens.

Usually, that's grounds for a leadership position with the dems.

[deleted] Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:47:33pm

Taqyia2Me Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:48:07pm

re: #33 Lincolntf

Illegal drug importation program.
Illegal flu vaccine importation.
Illegal expansion of public health insurance programs.
He was giving away gas cards for criminy's sake to get people to sign up for public insurance.

Shay4l Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:49:01pm

So what about Rangel? William Jefferson? The crooked tax cheat they made treasury secretary? etc. Oh, they weren't an embarrassment to Zero.

Never mind.

Ceemack Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:49:52pm

They bounced him out of office?

Hope he lands on his hair.

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:50:08pm

re: #24 MikeySDCA

So much for the presumption of innocence.

Oh, he was innocent right up until he was convicted.

sarah Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:51:36pm

HA! Serves him right! Pack your bags Blago you be gone!

*high fives to the IL Lizards*

Wendya Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:53:05pm

I guess he really is having a bad hair day.

Lincolntf Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:53:19pm

re: #37 Taqyia2Me

I'm from Massachusetts, where all of that is called "savvy political maneuvering".

I know he's corrupt. But the citizens of Illinois seem to have forgotten that they consistently elect corrupt Governors, so maybe a reminder of how corrupt the rest of the Government is would spark some change. I guarantee that at least half of the State Senate has done the same thing (on a smaller scale) many times, in many ways.
Blago is a scumbag, there can be no doubt about that, but I recognize a kangaroo court when I see one.

Wendya Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:55:27pm

I have to wonder if this impeachment would have occurred had Obama not won the election. Everything seems to be geared towards covering "The One's" ass.

vxbush Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:56:01pm

re: #43 Lincolntf

I'm from Massachusetts, where all of that is called "savvy political maneuvering".

I know he's corrupt. But the citizens of Illinois seem to have forgotten that they consistently elect corrupt Governors, so maybe a reminder of how corrupt the rest of the Government is would spark some change. I guarantee that at least half of the State Senate has done the same thing (on a smaller scale) many times, in many ways.
Blago is a scumbag, there can be no doubt about that, but I recognize a kangaroo court when I see one.

Not all of IL voted for Blago. I did not, not once. This was not a kangaroo court. There is a whole lot more going on into the federal corruption trial that hasn't even come out yet.

rabidfox Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:56:08pm

What I find interesting was the comment about being a Governor was a privilege and not a right. I thought it was an elective office -- perhaps calling governorship a 'privilege' was a Freudian slip.

shiek al beif salami Thu, Jan 29, 2009 3:57:00pm

There is a God. And his name is not Blagojevich.

billy hank Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:00:12pm

Now, maybe we'll find out what Blago has to trade with the Feds. Maybe he'll spill out of spite.

winston06 Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:01:41pm

Good riddance. Now check him in a mental ward

jones Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:03:02pm

Scratch one Hoplophobe!

OrlandoParkRat Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:03:32pm

re: #48 billy hank

Now, maybe we'll find out what Blago has to trade with the Feds. Maybe he'll spill out of spite.

Now that is a very intriguing scenario. A man with nothing to lose, except is own hide, something he'll do anything to protect. Kinda like a hooker's little black book ...

Dr. Shalit Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:03:41pm

ILLINOIS LAYS OFF GOVERNOR! That is all.

maddogg Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:06:05pm

So Rod got the shaft?

Lincolntf Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:06:28pm

re: #45 vxbush

A whole lot more that hasn't come out yet? How do you know about it?
I know that there were media reports that detailed the number of taped calls, the number of times various participants were taped, the relevant subjects, etc. But what else are they going to have? He gave the seat to Burris, who gave him nothing and never showed up on any of the tapes. There is no big case here, there is no big scandal here. What there is is a trough-addicted big-city Democrat who forgot to talk in code.
I'll wait for the big Fed. conviction, but I won't be holding my breath.

vxbush Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:09:50pm

re: #54 Lincolntf

A whole lot more that hasn't come out yet? How do you know about it?
I know that there were media reports that detailed the number of taped calls, the number of times various participants were taped, the relevant subjects, etc. But what else are they going to have? He gave the seat to Burris, who gave him nothing and never showed up on any of the tapes. There is no big case here, there is no big scandal here. What there is is a trough-addicted big-city Democrat who forgot to talk in code.
I'll wait for the big Fed. conviction, but I won't be holding my breath.

Have you heard about the woman who wore a wire that then led to the feds going to judges requesting wiretaps? No? Hm. Let me see if I can find the story that explains it. He's in a lot more trouble for dealing out state contracts to companies who were then expected to reimburse him for funds, either to him directly or to his campaign coffers. And it was explicit, unlike most politics.

FurryOldGuyJeans Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:11:02pm

re: #44 Wendya

I have to wonder if this impeachment would have occurred had Obama not won the election. Everything seems to be geared towards covering "The One's" ass.

You are learning the Ways of Chicago Politics well.

OrlandoParkRat Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:11:10pm

re: #53 maddogg

So Rod got the shaft?

Yep ... talk about lopsided. 114-1 in the House to impeach, 59-0 to convict, 59-0 to not hold office in the state again. One news article said the sole dissenting vote was his sister-in-law ... well, at least Blago can count on family.

vxbush Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:12:19pm

Okay, here's the story on the person who wore the wire:

Corruption never ceases to amaze me.

Lincolntf Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:16:25pm

re: #55 vxbush

We shall see.
I've seen far worse behavior from lesser politicians than Blago go completely unpunished. Particularly when the pol in question is being investigated under the imprimatur of his own Party's leadership.
And no, I haven't seen the story about the woman, nor do I know if it's real, admissible or otherwise relevant.
Again, I'll be waiting for the Fed. case and I expect to see a whitewash of a prosecution resulting in an acquittal (or it's virtual equivalent).

Picayune Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:18:33pm

59 - 0. Wow, & not one voted "Present", (looking at U, Zero!)

vxbush Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:19:24pm

re: #59 Lincolntf

We shall see.
I've seen far worse behavior from lesser politicians than Blago go completely unpunished. Particularly when the pol in question is being investigated under the imprimatur of his own Party's leadership.
And no, I haven't seen the story about the woman, nor do I know if it's real, admissible or otherwise relevant.
Again, I'll be waiting for the Fed. case and I expect to see a whitewash of a prosecution resulting in an acquittal (or it's virtual equivalent).

Agreed. My take on it, based on what I've seen, is that they had a huge corruption investigation going on and they were afraid that if they allowed Blago to sell the office, they were going to be allowing a federal offense to take place. In some ways, it could be argued that Fitzgerald was trying to protect Obama from getting involved in this, because if the "sale" went through it might have gone all the way back to him. But Fitz moved early.

I just hope there aren't any more delays in the case.

debutaunt Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:23:03pm

re: #42 Wendya

I guess he really is having a bad hair day.

Embarrassing tattoo on forehead.

Lincolntf Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:25:09pm

re: #58 vxbush

I just read it. I'm sure we'll never hear the bulk of those tapes in open court. The fact that Blago is a corrupt machine pol is not the question. The question is how many of his accusers are co-conspirators trying to silence him before he rats them out. You notice the use of the word "widespread" when the informant talked about the corruption? The best way to root out exactly how widespread the corruption is, is to listen to and consider all of the tapes in question.
The Feds better have something bigger than this if they expect to get a conviction for anything.

Maui Girl Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:25:56pm

I can just hear his wife now......ooooooh, my ears can't take it anymore.

right_in_canada Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:27:12pm

I don't get it ......

Democrats don't get in this much trouble over scandals no matter how bad they are. Only republicans I thought!

vxbush Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:31:56pm

re: #63 Lincolntf

I just read it. I'm sure we'll never hear the bulk of those tapes in open court. The fact that Blago is a corrupt machine pol is not the question. The question is how many of his accusers are co-conspirators trying to silence him before he rats them out. You notice the use of the word "widespread" when the informant talked about the corruption? The best way to root out exactly how widespread the corruption is, is to listen to and consider all of the tapes in question.
The Feds better have something bigger than this if they expect to get a conviction for anything.

Thanks for reading it. Most Illinoisans who are native to Chicago can tell you story after story about what happens up there. I'm certainly not suggesting that everyone else is as pure as the driven snow; far from it. But there are clear ethic rules that every member of the state--from the lowest employee of any of the state schools to the governor himself--must abide by. And it is very clear that violating those rules will result in investigations. In this case, the feds got in first. It will be interesting to see what happens.

In an earlier thread on Blago I posted the list of subpoenas Fitz's office had sent out. Rather sizable.

yochanan Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:43:44pm

shaking down children's memorial hosp was beyond contempt. he wouldn't be the first crook that played the class card to make big $$$'s for himself.

two of my grand kids did benefit from the state health care for kids but that does not give him an excuse for being a crook.

NYCHardhat Thu, Jan 29, 2009 4:57:27pm

Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, hey hey hey, goodbye.

notutopia Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:00:51pm

A unanimous Illinois senate vote....I wonder what is on those FBI tapes? Hmmmm.
Will the investigation now be canned and closed?
I betcha!

LC HOGHEAD Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:02:26pm

The only HONEST* man in the Democrat party has been expelled

LC HOGHEAD Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:03:20pm

FITZGERALDS bodies are now BURIED

LC HOGHEAD Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:04:08pm

OBAMA breathes a sigh of relief

Canoe Train Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:19:20pm

The guy is a Chicago politician. Need I write more ?

I also cannot escape the impression that we are seeing all of the other flies in the colony making a scapegoat out of one fly.

Canoe Train Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:20:23pm

re: #71 LC HOGHEAD

I hope not. Some good might actually come of this, if only to make examples out of corrupt people.

wolfgang Thu, Jan 29, 2009 5:53:20pm

Actually I thought he would ride it out and remain in office. Most of the state of Illinois politics runs in exactly the same manner as he was operating in his office. Fitzpatrick only made the arrest to avert the almost certain implication of THE OBAMBI camp in what was rapidly heading toward a criminal conclusion. But criminality is central to Chicago and Illinois politics and the Illinois Legislators should have paid heed to the old adage "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Instead the pot called the kettle black without any twinges of consciensce.
THE OBAMBI was saved again. The old Richard Daley would have been proud.

kevrobin45 Thu, Jan 29, 2009 7:09:22pm

No suprise to anyone except Mr. Blago...

thefarmer Thu, Jan 29, 2009 7:32:12pm

re: #43 Lincolntf

Sorry, but as a citizen of IL my vote has never had any meaning vs the Chicago political machine. The corruption there has negated anything the rest of us vote for.

Remember Daley's father? He ran the last big city machine. Well, guess what, IL has had this great legacy because his son has continued the same.

BTW our new president is a spawn of the same system. Do NOT blame IL voters, blame corrupt Chicago Dems that torture our state.

Dasher Thu, Jan 29, 2009 8:57:09pm

I saw this somewhere else:

Its enough to make Chicago voters roll over in there graves.

LeePro Thu, Jan 29, 2009 9:21:32pm

BlaGONEavich.

And with that, I'm be-GONE-a-to-bed!

RexMundi Fri, Jan 30, 2009 4:15:46am

As an Illinois resident, I would just like to say, Good Freakin' Riddance, you scumbag!

Ron Shaw Fri, Jan 30, 2009 12:45:22pm

Is it just me or does anyone else find it highly suspicious that the very same people who have done 'business' with the ex-Gov. for many years have performed an almost Olympic-style sprint to impeach him?
The Dems in politics nationally as well as at the state and local levels generally do just the opposite when one of their own gets caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar whether criminal, ethical only or both. The fact that from much more than a few to many of this state's politicians as well as those 'serving' in its largest city, Chicago, are notoriously corrupt would also be contrary to this breakneck pace to cleanse their state house.
Somebody in the media whether MSM or not should be asking plenty of tough questions because there just might be enough skeletons to fill a mass grave.
Is it also just me or does anyone else suspect Blago knows where lot of these bodies lie? How high does the conspiracy go? Do you think all the criminal aspects of this fiasco will suddenly go away? If so, the deal will have been struck, promises made to seal lips since the bread trail would probably have gone all the way up.
As for the MSM, cricket time!

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