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IL-Gov: Blago Convicted, Quinn Becomes Governor

by: James L.

Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 6:30 PM EST

Bye-bye, Blago:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich was unanimously convicted at his impeachment trial and thrown out of office Thursday, ending a nearly two-month crisis that erupted with his arrest on charges he tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. Blagojevich becomes the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment.
After a four-day trial, the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to convict him of abuse of power, automatically removing the second-term Democrat. Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, one of his critics, immediately became governor.
In a second 59-0 vote, the Senate further barred Blagojevich from ever holding public office in Illinois again.
"We have this thing called impeachment and it's bleeping golden and we've used it the right way," Democratic state Sen. James Meeks of Chicago said during the debate, mocking Blagojevich's expletive-laden words as captured by the FBI on a wiretap.

We are the Governor of Illinois.

James L. :: IL-Gov: Blago Convicted, Quinn Becomes Governor

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IL-Gov: Blago Convicted, Quinn Becomes Governor | 29 comments

Good riddance, Blago!

Do tell us if you've decided to play yourself in any TV movies.

by: corran horn @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:41:07 PM CST

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Nah, I think

He's angling for a role as a grown up Dennis the Menace.

by: safi @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:43:46 PM CST

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If he had his own movie

He's probably protray himself marching with MLK in civil rights marches and standing along side Gandhi in the fight for a free India.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:09:51 PM CST

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Hit the road, Rod!

And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.
Hit the road, Rod. And don't you come back no more!

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

by: californianintexas @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:36:07 PM CST

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In a somwhat related note

Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times said today that Roland Burris is setting up a fundraising committe. This is not good news.

by: safi @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:47:00 PM CST

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He'll probably lose in the primary.

I think it was pretty clear he was running after everything I've heard about him, regardless of what he may or may not have said.

by: wmlawman @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:59:09 PM CST

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Burris will get rolled over

Who is going to vote for him in a primary? I'd be surprised to see him get over 20%.

by: skaje @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:03:10 PM CST

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I dunno...

If Burris ends up the only major black candidate against several white candidates I can definately see him eeking out a primary win off of black votes alone.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:10:52 PM CST

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I wouldn't bet on that

There are plenty of AAs who don't like the idea of Senator Roland Burris any more than the rest of us.

Your go-to source for great sarcasm

by: DGM @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:23:51 PM CST

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I hope you're right

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:24:50 PM CST

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As do I

But I'm definitely fearful of a very divisive primary.

by: safi @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 19:28:27 PM CST

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I do wish they had let Blago present a defense.

That probably would have been quite amusing

by: homerun @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:50:37 PM CST

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Yeah.

Unfortunately, neither Tina Fey nor Sarah Palin looks like him.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:51:19 PM CST

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who would've been good as Blago

is late 70's era Danny Aykroyd (before he became so paunchy)

by: homerun @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:05:39 PM CST

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The people in the Illinois Senate are adults

they aren't going to let Blago insult the chamber.

by: IHateBush @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 19:00:06 PM CST

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But their maturity

cost us the opportunity to see more comedy skits!

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 20:58:28 PM CST

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PWNT.

Good riddance.

Nice how they stamped a "GET OUT AND STAY OUT" seal on the package.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:50:58 PM CST

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Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

by: californianintexas @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:56:18 PM CST

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New Lt. Governor

Does anyone know what the Illinois Constitution says about filling the vacant Lt. Governor's office?

"Cuz Senator Byrd Said So!"

by: rdp1984 @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:19:00 PM CST

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Not entirely sure

Wikipedia doesn't say anything other than the office is currently vacant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:20:49 PM CST

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Nevermind... here is your answer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...

Under the Illinois state Constitution Article V section 7. "If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the end of the term."

No Lt. Governor until the next election. No clue who becomes Governor is something happened to Quinn.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:22:09 PM CST

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Gubernatorial Succession

"SECTION 6. GUBERNATORIAL SUCCESSION
(a) In the event of a vacancy, the order of succession
to the office of Governor or to the position of Acting
Governor shall be the Lieutenant Governor, the elected
Attorney General, the elected Secretary of State, and then as
provided by law."

Decided to see for myself...If Quinn goes down, I guess it's Lisa Madigan's turn.

"Cuz Senator Byrd Said So!"

by: rdp1984 @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:24:35 PM CST

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That's good

From everything I've read she sounds like one of the better statewide people we have in Illinois.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:29:05 PM CST

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If Quinn can right the ship

then he may run for his own term in 2010 and save the Democrats in Illinois for the Senate seat as well.

by: IHateBush @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 19:30:12 PM CST

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Well,

the longer Quinn is Governor, the more blame he'll take for budget troubles, etc. I think the Democrats (for now) would be in a better position to give Quinn a pass in the '10 primary. The guy is smart. Plain and simple. And will a far better CEO for the state. That said, primary the hell outta Burris. The Senate seat is "bleeping golden".

AG Madigan for Senate. Quinn for Governor.

"Cuz Senator Byrd Said So!"

by: rdp1984 @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 19:40:15 PM CST

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Sounds good on paper

But let's face it, if the rumors are correct, Lisa Madigan wants to be president in 2016, and two terms as Governor looks better than 1.333 terms as Senator.
I imagine she primaries Quinn, and if it's only the two of them, between the Madigan machine and the lingering stench of Blago, Madigan has to be favored.

by: Nico @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 22:08:16 PM CST

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I think Madigan is crazy

if she thinks she can be President in 2016. Although I will admit, from the perspective of 2001, not as crazy as Barack Hussein Obama being elected President in 2008.

by: IHateBush @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 22:18:06 PM CST

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Like Reagan in 1955

"The ACTOR!?!"

by: conspiracy @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 07:06:32 AM CST

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