Add Blago To The Unemployment Numers
Jan 29, 2009 Political
The Illinois Senate booted Rod Blagojevich from office today after his impeachment hearing ended with the now former governor giving an impassioned speech about being innocent. The legislature had to boot him. He gave the appearance of impropriety and, more importantly, he focused a spotlight on the corrupt political machine there.
The Senate was well within its right to boot him. His claim of a presumption of innocence is only applicable in court. The public can call him guilty all it wants and the Senate does not have to assume he is innocent. They only have to decide if he did things that warrant removal from office.
Interestingly, this moronic statement was made by impeachment prosecutor David Ellis:
“”He doesn’t think one minute about the people, just himself,” he said, asserting that the impeachment was for the people, not to punish Blagojevich as he had suggested.
“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.” Fox News [emphasis mine]
I agree that being governor is a privilege and not a right. But this guy makes that claim and then says Blago lost that right.
How did he lose a right he did not have?
This was a foregone conclusion and Blago’s things were already packed up and ready to be shipped out.
Is this a new precedent? If Illinois boots all politicians who give the appearance of impropriety they will have no one left in office.
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Tags: blago, corruption, impeach, privilege, right
Democrats Not Very Good With Strategy
Jan 3, 2009 Political
The Democrats appear to have shot themselves in the foot. Harry Reid and his gang of liberals have decided that Roland Burris of Illinois will not be seated in the Senate. Governor Rod Blagojevich selected Burris to fill the seat vacated by soon to be President Obama and that has rankled the Senate Dems.
Rod Blagojevich is the governor of Illinois. Yes, he is a slime ball and he tried to sell Obama’s seat to the highest bidder, an effort that was thwarted when investigators arrested him (way too soon). But, he is the governor and it is in his purview to appoint people to fill seats of those who have not completed their terms. He selected someone who, as far as anyone can tell, was not involved in the pay to play scandal. Burris has, as far as I can tell, had a mediocre public service life but seems not to be too tarnished from Illinois politics where nearly all politicians are crooked.
Harry Reid has no right to block Burris from being seated but he has stated he will do so unless Burris is certified by the Illinois Secretary of State. However, Reid has stated that he would seat Al Franken on a provisional basis while awaiting the outcome of the recount and any court challenges. Franken will not be certified by the Minnesota Secretary of State. Why the double standard? Because Burris has been appointed by a tarnished governor, perhaps but it might also be because Democrats are worried that he cannot win reelection and the seat might go to a Republican (the same reason the legislature of Illinois decided not to have a special election).
In any event, the Democrats have put themselves in a bind because Republicans have vowed to filibuster any move to put Franken in a seat without the issue being resolved at the state level. No matter what Harry Reid and the Democrats do regarding Burris they have already given the Republicans an opening that cannot be closed. They set the standard and allowed the Republicans to thwart their attempt to legitimize Franken’s potential theft of the election an effort that would have looked like partisan politics had Reid not opened the door.
I would have thought that people who have been around politics as long as this gang of thugs has would have seen the potential for disaster in blocking Burris. I know they did not worry about 57 white guys keeping the black guy out because Democrats are the party of slavery and discrimination and they are excused each time they display their roots. The Republicans could have never effectively played the race card but they can use Reid’s own words and rules against him. I wonder where the people who comment that the seat must go to a black guy fall on this issue?
No matter what people think about Rod Blagojevich or Roland Burris, the fact remains that his appointment was legal and it should go through without delay. It is a legal appointment and Reid has no Constitutional grounds upon which to deny Burris entry.
Republicans, on the other hand, have a legitimate issue with Franken. The contest has not been decided and it might take months for the recount and court challenges to resolve the issue. Franken will probably end up winning because Democrats are skilled at stealing elections but he should not be seated until the issue is resolved and he is certified.
Sources:
Politico
The Hill
CNN
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Tags: al franken, blago, filibuster, Harry Reid, illinois, roland burris, Senate
Liberals Miss The Point On Blago-Obama
Dec 20, 2008 Political
The liberals who supported the Messiah, Barack Obama, have completely missed the point on his connection to corrupt Governor Blagojevich. The left continues to harp on the “fact” that Obama had nothing to do with what was going on and that it was a shock to the Sainted One. Perhaps this is true though I find it hard to believe that Obama sailed through Illinois politics unscathed and untouched by the turds floating in that sewer system. But, for the sake of argument, let us suppose that Obama is clean.
The Blago issue has brought to light much more important issues than if Obama has been tainted by Illinois corruption. This entire episode has demonstrated that, contrary to his claim of change, Obama is nothing more than a typical politician. His claims of transparency are now null and void as he has lied to America and he has not been transparent. Couple this with the possibility that he was tipped off about the Blago wiretaps (which allowed Valerie Jarrett to conveniently drop out) and we can see that Obama is politics as usual.
When Barack Hussein Obama had the chance to be straight with the American public he decided to lie. Now, this is nothing new to those of us who have not taken a drink of his Kool Aid. He has lied about any number of things and he is covering something up with regard to his birth. But, when the Blago story broke, America had a chance to see the true Obama. He said that no one in his camp had anything to do with it, that no one had been in contact with Blago and that he was shocked at what was taking place.
It turns out that Obama had contact through Rahm Emanuel and that Emanuel was pushing for Jarrett to be given the Senate seat by a certain date. Emanuel was recorded about 21 times conversing with the governor and his aides. From reports about the conversations it appears as if Emanuel was the messenger for Obama who wanted Jarrett to get his seat. This all shows that Obama lied when he said that neither he nor his folks had any contact with Blago or his people. He later amended this to indicate that no “inappropriate” contact had taken place.
This episode only shows that Obama is nothing more than a typical politician who will lie when it is convenient and then change that lie when evidence shows that he is being untruthful. He is not the change we need because nothing has changed.
Not to worry though, Obama has conducted an internal review and concluded that all is fine, above board, and legal. Suppose the Big Three auto makers went to DC and said they had conducted an internal review and that all was well they just needed money. Do you think Obama would be happy with that? Maybe the next time someone is accused of a crime he can tell the judge that he conducted an internal review and no wrong doing occurred. I am sure this will be OK.
The shine is wearing off Obama very rapidly. He is not in office yet and has a mini scandal to deal with. He handled it poorly because he thought that he could do as he has all along and just bamboozle the media and his followers and it would all go away. There are those who are still in the dark and it is unlikely that they will ever change their minds about the Sainted One.
This is why the liberals miss the point.
Source:
Chicago Sun Times
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Tags: blago, corruption, crime, emanuel, liberal, Obama, oblivious