Reid has no basis to block an appointment. The only precedent is due to disputed elections. There is no question who is governor.

The voters of Illinois have made their bed.

It probably is better to have a special election; however, what’s important is what’s on the books now. I’m all for making a case for changing the law for next time, but you don’t change the rules in the middle of the game.

If both sides feel that the taint of the current situation necessitates a special election, that’s fine. However, if they want to follow the rules on the books, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Frankly, it would be nice if Illinois sent a Republican senator up…

The leading Republican in Illinois state government drew a line in the sand in the debate over the open Senate seat that led Governor Rod Blagojevich into a pay-to-play scandal that resulted in his arrest.

In other words.. it’s a sure bet that a Democrat will be appointed.

The only appointment that could be made without stain or question would be Republican or Independent. Any democrat being appointed will be stained by doubt, question, and scandal- whether involved or not.

And, let me add, I do not think Blagjoveich should resign. He make them force him out via impeachment-and disprove the media’s portrayal that he is somehow mentally impaired.

http://conservativepolitics.today.com/2008/12/12/blagjoveich-should-not-resign/

Virginia Shanahan on December 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM

Umm so there have never been Republicans who were corrupt? And should we also force ALL other states to stop letting Governors appoint an empty senate seat?

What a horse.

Look, the law is the law. The Dems could be nice but they only have to do what is required. The Gov may not be the governor much longer, anyways, depending on what the Illinois laws are, but as long as B is still the legal governor, he can apparently appoint whoever he wants.

[I think Ryan, a Repub, continued to act as Governor after his indictment, didn't he?]

jim m on December 12, 2008 at 12:33 PM

The law is there to protect the citizens. If it is found that the officials cannot perform their duties that they have been sworn to, then a special election is one of the options.
The voters have a right to select the person to represent them…

the law is the law. The Dems could be nice but they only have to do what is required. The Gov may not be the governor much longer, anyways, depending on what the Illinois laws are, but as long as B is still the legal governor, he can apparently appoint whoever he wants.

[I think Ryan, a Repub, continued to act as Governor after his indictment, didn't he?]

jim m on December 12, 2008 at 12:33 PM

Ryan was out of office by the time he was indicted, but he was under investigation at the tail end of adminstration. He offered all the inmates on IL Death Row clemency in order to muddy the waters.

Isn’t allowing the governor to appoint with two years left in the term kinda of unusual these days?

The Rs smell a Senate seat pickup. This would be a major boost for the state party after years of mismanagement, culminating in the Jack Ryan/ Krazy Keyes Senate debacle.

Illinidiva on December 12, 2008 at 11:22 AM

Agreed, and still hard to imagine. Our current electorate makes Massachussetts look like Wyoming.

[I think Ryan, a Repub, continued to act as Governor after his indictment, didn't he?]

Uh, this is old news and it isn’t even this woman’s idea. Unless you ignore all the people calling for a special election earlier this week.

bayam on December 12, 2008 at 11:20 AM

Where did anyone say it was?

Thi story is important because it is coming from the “president-elect of the state Senate and the highest-ranking Republican in Illinois.”

Shouldn’t every open seat be subject to an election, rather than an appointment.

The delay in filling the seat is not terribly long; it will remain open for a little more than three months by the time an election finishes.

That’s three months of a slightly smaller Dem majority, which is a plus.

never fly in Illinoisastan.

Patty Blagojevich was asked about her views on Radogno’s opinion that the Senate seat selection should be left to the voters. Patty said:

“Those fu^king mongoloids have no motherfu&*ing idea who to vote for. If that dum%ass f$ck husband of mine had kept his god^%mn mouth shut that bi%ch would get no fu^%ing press. Who does her fu*king hair, anyway?”

grdred944 on December 12, 2008 at 11:52 AM

Actually, all Patty has to do now is learn to chew tobacco and scratch and she can then qualify to manage the Chicago Cubs.

For better or worse, Blago is the governor. He is innocent until proven guilty. If he actually makes an appointment, could we prove that it was the result of a bribe? Saying you are willing to take bribes is not the same thing as being bribed.

Amphipolis on December 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM

There’s a difference between legally guilty and appearing guilty. If he appoints someone, it won’t matter even if he’s cleared, public opinion will be against him and his appointment.

playblu on December 12, 2008 at 11:44 AM

Blago will start squealing about everyone as soon as he realizes that not doing so means fifteen to twenty years with murderers and rapists in Joliet rather than five years as George Ryan’s bunkmate at the federal country club in Terre Haute. Some very senior alderman and Chicago officials and the Jackson crime family will probably get taken down with him. He’ll also make accusations about Daley and Obama, but Daley is too good at being corrupt to get taken down and Obama probably did some unethical, but not illegal things.

“Those fu^king mongoloids have no motherfu&*ing idea who to vote for. If that dum%ass f$ck husband of mine had kept his god^%mn mouth shut that bi%ch would get no fu^%ing press. Who does her fu*king hair, anyway?”

For better or worse, Blago is the governor. He is innocent until proven guilty. If he actually makes an appointment, could we prove that it was the result of a bribe? Saying you are willing to take bribes is not the same thing as being bribed.

Yes, technically he still has the legal authority to make the appointment. However, Harry Reid says the US Senate will refuse to seat anyone appointed by Blagojevich which pretty much holds the governor’s appointing authority hostage.

Blago will be impeached. He will NOT resign. He will remain in office long enough for the state to pay all his legal expenses. The state legislature, all controlled by the Outfit, will drag their feet on procedural matters long enough that Governor Dondi can pre-pay millions in legal fees with state money.

Blago will NOT roll over for the feds. After the very public threat from Da Mayor (Daley) the other day (”He shd’ do da right thing. He shd’ do da right thing”), the message was clear – roll over to prosecutors and you’ll need the federal witness protection plan to stay above ground. He wants to slide into a role like Fast Eddie Vrdolyak – elder statesman, corrupt lawyer, talking head – and you can’t do that if you’re a hardware store owner in Keokuk.

Blago’s chief of staff, however – they have a chance of rolling him, and he knows where the bodies are buried.

However, back to the matter at hand – when Blago is finally impeached, Pat Quinn will name HIMSELF as Obama’s replacement. That gets him out of Illinois and on the path Blago wanted for himself.

Then the state will install corrupt & Connected state’s attorney Lisa Madigan as governor, and the Outfit will go back to controlling the state, like it always has.