Blagojevich Ripples Begin Flowing

4657251In the wake of the criminal complaint alleging that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich sought to basically sell the senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama (which the governor has sole authority to fill), Senator Dick Durbin is calling for the state legislature to order a special election instead.

Urging the legislature to order the election, Durbin said that anyone selected by appointment under the current circumstances would carry a cloud. "No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement," Durbin said.

Meanwhile, even though U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said there were "no allegations" that President-elect Obama was aware of any efforts on the part of Blagojevich to personally benefit from a senate appointment, South Carolina GOP Chair Katon Dawson, a candidate to become chairman of the National Republican Party, called on Obama's transition team to "immediately release all records of discussions about the appointment of Obama's successor that he and his transition team may have had with Governor Blagojevich or Governor Blagojevich's office."

"The American people expect and deserve nothing less," Dawson said in a statement e-mailed to reporters. "When politicians like Governor Rod Blagojevich exploit the power of elected office for personal gain, they demonstrate a disregard for standards of integrity and ethical conduct. Governor Blagojevich's actions are breathtaking in their callousness and arrogance."

[zzy-izzy]

Yes and we want to keep a close eye on the Republicans because they are all crooks

[thedarkgod1]

NOW THE NEWS IS OUT

This guy tried to get money and had grand schemes to shake down Warren Buffett for money.

Do you Right Wing Losers think that old Buffett is guilty and should go to jail too?

This guy is a dreamer and tried to get money like a s.l.u.t from anyone willing to pay.

He said it on the tapes that Obama would only give him a nice appreciation for selecting someone.

No corruption there but I WANT SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE DOGS WITH FLEAS THAT LIVE THERE TO PAY!!!

AND PAY HEAVY!

[thedarkgod1]

PAY TO PLAY...

NO..PAYPACK!!

THE GOP is signing a death warrant because once Obama is in office, the CLINTON war machine will help him find and DESTROY the corrupt and gay in the airport searching for *** REPUKLICANS.

WAR with a party that has control over everything at a time when EVERYONE HATES THE GOP? HOW DUMB.

ESPECIALLY FOR A RACIST STATE LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA!

PAYPACK..NO GOVERNMENT BAILOUT AND AID OF FUNDS TO S.C.

Ironic that a black president will be the one to destroy the state of slaves. Eat chewing tobacco and die!

[bjcone8559]

Caribou-I think I read somewhere that the law does not allow the governor to assign the responsibility of appointing this Senate seat to someone else. Legally, the LTG could only do so if the Gov resigned, barring that an election is the only legal route.

This will be fun to watch. I was just saying I thought Plaxico made the dumbest move of 08, but I think the Ill senator has him beat.



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Posted by cjai


I think you may be on to something. Even though the governor has been taken into custody, he has not been convicted of anything. He should be able to continue the duties of his office... including appointments.

[cjai-2009]

Caribou-I think I read somewhere that the law does not allow the governor to assign the responsibility of appointing this Senate seat to someone else. Legally, the LTG could only do so if the Gov resigned, barring that an election is the only legal route.

This will be fun to watch. I was just saying I thought Plaxico made the dumbest move of 08, but I think the Ill senator has him beat.

[cjai-2009]

Fidodadog--did you realize that you didn''t mention his party either. Not criticizing-just mentioning as when I first heard the story that''s the first thing I was wondering...

[bjcone8559]

The GOP is already looking for a way to tear Obama down and he isn''''t even the President yet.

They can''''t govern but they''''re experts in the politics of smear.






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Posted by CaribouBarbi


Interesting that the administration''s justice department arrests the governor today without an indictment, and by the end of the day the neocons are calling for a ''special election'' when the rules clearly state otherwise. With the governor out of the picture it should be up to the Lt Governor to appoint Obama''s successor.

[donbl1]

This is going to get interesting.... The Governor is probably figuring out who he can sell out to lower his sentence.

I bet all Illinois Democrats are fidgeting tonight.

[notopennshut]

Is the GOP guy now going crazy? He absolutely has no right to get the records of who the Obama team spoke to regarding a replacement. So far, there has been no replacement named, and that explains why the scum gov did not get what he demanded. There is "sanctity" in political discussions, and until any wrong-doing has been proven, there is no reason for anything to be released, except to the investigators if they think it''s of any use to them putting on the case of "lock the gov up forever".

[cariboubarbi]

The GOP is already looking for a way to tear Obama down and he isn''t even the President yet.

They can''t govern but they''re experts in the politics of smear.