IL-Gov: Blagojevich to face impeachment?

[Nutmeg]

from http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/912864,CST-NWS-impeach24.article:

Impeachment talk targeting gov heats up: 2 Dems

SPRINGFIELD -- The impeachment drumbeat at the Statehouse grew louder Wednesday, a day after the blockbuster accusation by a former state official that he got his state job after pouring money into Gov. Blagojevich's campaign fund -- including a $25,000 check in an envelope he presented to the governor.

Two House Democrats said discussions on a possible impeachment resolution targeting Blagojevich accelerated after Tuesday's disclosure by Ali Ata, whom the governor appointed to a $127,000-a-year post running the Illinois Finance Authority.

In his surprise guilty plea to federal corruption charges, Ata said he gave two $25,000 campaign contributions to the governor and then got Blagojevich's assurance of landing a state job in which Ata "could make some money." Ata is expected to testify against indicted former Blagojevich fund-raiser Tony Rezko.

State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) and Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) said a decision on impeachment could come within two weeks.

"We now find ourselves in a very different environment, where an individual has pled guilty to being a co-conspirator in transactions involving the governor," Fritchey said. "Can state government be effectively led by a governor who is apparently at the center of some very significant allegations of wrongdoing?"

Blagojevich surfaced Wednesday at a Springfield prayer breakfast that was not disclosed by his staff. In an eight-minute speech, the governor did not address Ata. But, perhaps offering a glimpse into his current mind-set, Blagojevich closed by invoking the lyrics of an obscure, 1950s Hank Williams song, "Men with Broken Hearts."

" 'You never stood in that man's shoes or saw things through his eyes or watched with helpless hands while the heart inside you dies,' " Blagojevich said. " 'So help your brother along the way no matter where he starts because the same God that made you made him too, these men with broken hearts.'"

[© tweed]

Whitney in 2006

[Verily]

Whitney in 2006

It's sort of shocking that the Greens were the only party running a candidate who was decent.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Jim Oberweis baby... 387th time is the charm.

[Keystone Phil]

Nice.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Another GOP do-over tantrum?

[HardRCafé]

Another GOP do-over tantrum?

What makes you assume this is not from fellow Democrats?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

What makes you assume this is not from fellow Democrats?

Because usually it ain't.

[Nutmeg]

What makes you assume this is not from fellow Democrats?

Because usually it ain't.

Well, the article seems to indicate that at least two Democrats are behind it, unless they just happen to know what the Republicans are scheming.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

What makes you assume this is not from fellow Democrats?

Because usually it ain't.

Well, the article seems to indicate that at least two Democrats are behind it, unless they just happen to know what the Republicans are scheming.

It's Illinois.  It doesn't matter what the GOP does there.

[muon2]

What makes you assume this is not from fellow Democrats?

Because usually it ain't.

Well, the article seems to indicate that at least two Democrats are behind it, unless they just happen to know what the Republicans are scheming.

After watching the impact that the George Ryan scandal had on the GOP throughout IL, it doesn't surprise me that the Dems here would like to distance themselves from the Gov. The House Dems have largely fought with the Gov over the last year, but the Senate Dem leadership has protected the Gov in his fight with the House. The fighting got much worse late last year when the Gov decided that he could make administrative rules without legislative authority, even though he had strengthened that authority for the legislature by law during his first term.

It's worth noting that the Reps in the article pushed a constitutional amendment to allow recall through a couple of weeks ago, but the Senate has stalled that effort. The pressure to move it has been high in the media, and it will be interesting to see what happens when the legislature returns from break next week. The deadline for an constitutional amendment to pass both chambers for this year's ballot is May 4.

[Franzl]

Oh please...that would be great to get rid of Blagojevich.

The really amazing thing is, we keep voting for the guy in Madison County, basically because he has a D next to his name, while failing to realize that we keep getting screwed by him..

Topinka and Whitney would have been better.