Blagojevich "The Antithesis Of Leadership"

Former State Attorney General Says If Indicted Ill. Gov. Refuses To Resign, He Must Be Removed

(CBS/AP)  The political currents are running strongly against Rod Blagojevich, with a former state official saying if the Illinois Governor does not resign, every measure must be taken to remove him from office.

Yesterday in an unprecedented move, the state's highest law enforcement official asked the state's highest court to strip Blagojevich of his powers.

"The state government is paralyzed by a governor who is incapable of governing," said Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan.

Madigan is petitioning the State Supreme Court to temporarily remove Blagojevich from office, kicking him out while the legislature works toward a permanent exit through impeachment, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

But does the Illinois attorney general have the power to force the governor out of office?

Former Ill. attorney general Jim Ryan said the attorney general is the right person to file an action in the state Supreme Court but adds, "Whether or not she'll prevail is still problematic because there's no precedent."

Appearing on The Early Show Saturday Edition, Ryan told anchor Chris Wragge, "I think she did the right thing because if Rod Blagojevich won’t go voluntarily, then we have to use every legal means at our disposal to try to remove him."

Under the Illinois Constitution which references the reasons for removing a sitting governor ("If the Governor is unable to serve because of death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disability …"), a question is whether the federal indictment into Blagojevich's alleged attempts to financially benefit from selling a political favor means he is "disabled" from serving in his position as governor.

Ryan said this reading of the law is technical, and remarked, "That's untested, unchartered waters that the attorney general is in right now. We have to wait for the court to decide that. But from a practical standpoint, I think he's incapable of governing. No one trusts him and no one is going to listen to him. He is the antithesis of leadership right now.

"He has to go either voluntarily or we have to force him out," Ryan said.

Ryan said the charges against Blagojevich indicate "reckless" behavior which would taint any decision he makes - whether appointing a successor to Obama, issuing executive orders or spending state money - as a "travesty."

The Associated Press reported that on Saturday, Blagojevich's vehicle was seen parked outside the offices of high-profile defense attorney Ed Genson, whose clients have included newspaper magnate Conrad Black and R&B singer R. Kelly.


Obama Aide Not A Target

In another development, The Chicago Tribune reported that Obama's pick for chief of staff, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, was recorded on government wiretaps speaking with Blagojevich, although the Justice Department said that Emanuel is not a target of the investigation at all.

Emanuel, a Chicago congressman who has long been close to both Blagojevich and Obama, gave Blagojevich's chief of staff a list of Democrats acceptable to Obama to fill the Senate seat, according to the Tribune report. The report did not suggest there was any dealmaking in the conversations, which were captured on court-ordered wiretaps.

In fact, in transcripts released by the Justice Department, Blagojevich complained to chief of staff John Harris that Obama's team was "not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive deleted] them."

Blagojevich met with a group of ministers on Friday seeking spiritual guidance. He said nothing publicly.

But the stain of the corruption probe is causing discomfort among local politicians and their advisers.

Among them: the person alluded to in the government's criminal complaint as "Senatorial candidate number five," who has been revealed to be Jesse Jackson, Jr. (left). The Chicago congressman is denying a report in the Chicago Tribune suggesting he and his brother were involved with Blagojevich's pay-to-play schemes to auction off Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Of his brother's alleged fundraising, Jackson said simply, "He's not authorized to, nor has he ever done it on my behalf and he doesn't have to do it on my behalf."

Citizens of Illinois for Better Government said its members would gather at noon in front of Jackson's Chicago office and call for his resignation.

[summarex]

There''s a lot more going on here than the problem of removing this guy. This is also an opportunistic intrusion by judicial forces into something that should be handled by legislators. State attorney generals and judges should not be in the business of removing anyone from office. That job belongs to the people and their ELECTED representatives

[pirmin3]

"...State attorney generals ..."

That should be ''attorneys general''.

[summarex]

Going further:
This state attorney general should be removed fromm her position and sanctioned severely by her own guild for conducting this intolerable assault on the will of the people of Illinois.

[skeeter4419]

As the old saying goes about Jackson Jr. The apple doesn''t fall far from the tree. As for the governor, what goes around,comes around. If he has financial troubles now,just wait until he leaves office and tries to get hired anywhere.

[samthetvcat]

"Senatorial candidate number five"

Every wonder who are candidates number one through four? Well apparently candidate number two is this psycho State AG Lisa Madigan.

Has anbody asked her point blank yet whether her hope in pursuing this measure to oust Blago____ is that his replacement will be more amenable to naming her for the Senate seat?

I think the tendency of most people is to presume that most people are honorable, and that people will act especially honorably when the spotlight is on them - I''m not sure it''s a given that that general rule of life necessarily applies in the State of Illinois (?)

[summarex]

"...State attorney generals ..."

That should be ''''attorneys general''''.

momentary dyslexia!
Sorry.

[pirmin3]

"momentary dyslexia! "

melbrop on

[agidoi]

if they remove him they might as well remove most of congress they are all in the same way

[roachcrusher]

Why were not actions taken to remove Bush and Cheney starting in 2000 when they were placed there by Judicial fiat (by Justice Scalia), the Supreme Court ruling, in effect, that ALL votes were not to be counted.

Where is the "liberal" media? Why have there been banner headlines for eight years of Bush and Cheney''s impeachable offenses against the American people?

Cheney has been indicted and is under investigation in Texas. Where are the continuing banner headlines? I''ll whisper to you: In the "liberal" media''s corporate offices, under the collective seats of the Republicans'' lackeys, the news outlets'' CEO''s. That''s where.

[roachcrusher]

Hey, Republican Sen. Craig was doing the Texas two-step trying to pick up a man in an airport restroom.

Reagan had one of the highest, if not the highest, number of indictments of White House officials of any Presidency.

Nixon. Let''s not forget him.

Then that Republican dude, the Senator hitting on Congressional page boys. (Why is the "Family Values" Party so immoral?)

And Sorry Palin'' up to her moose head in investigations. She might want to secede from the U.S. again. By herself. Yaaay!!

The list of Republican crooks is endless. And growing everyday. There is no political party or entities on starship earth more corrupt and dishonest than Republicans and Conservatives.

So there.

[roachcrusher]

nah

Posted by jgg0005 at 12:32 PM : Dec 13, 2008

Republicans are sheep, blindly following without a thought not feed to them by Drug Popper Limbaugh or Savage Sam.

[oat_man]

Dear Illinois Legislature,

Well it is easy to see that this has turned out to be quite a mess.

You need a new governor fast. You need a leader with experience and proven abilities that is able to guide Illinois through these difficult times. Look no further, I am your man.

I have plenty state level executive experience. I also have the "law and order thing" covered being a former attorney general. As luck would have it, I am currently between job opportunities!

Please forward to me pay and benefit information as well as the phone numbers of elite windy-city escort services to me ASAP.

Thank you for your consideration.

E. Spitzer

[edward1975-2009]

That is why politicians use buffers, so they have denialable knowledge of any wrong doings. But Blago has to be up for idiot of the year, he knew they were investigating him and still went on as usual. And then his idiot of a wife can be heard, using her very limited vocabulary, making herself an accessory to the crime. What a couple these two are and what great role models for their children.

[ken1dall]

CBS and the rest of the pinko Obamunist media still refuse to mention Obama''s man Emanual in the "acceptable replacement" mix. Whew. The fix is in again. I guess what you don''t know won''t hurt you. Fortunate for the left, most semi-sober people with a pulse were watching Kukla, Fran, and Ollie or the Dukes of Hazzard rather than paying attention to the future of the country.

[lmartink]

The Blag gathered ministers together to pray for him. This explains everything. He is a fundamentalist religious zealot.

You can use God and religion to justify any type of immoral, disgusting behavior. Perhaps the most suitable punishment would be to nail him to a cross in a suitable public square in Chicago.

[blitzder]

All the Repubs on this board seem to be crowing and salivating at this scandal.

Fitzgerald should be appointed as Special Prosecutor for the Bush/Cheney years in office. It''ll make the Governor look like Mother Teresa as compared to this administration''s '' bribery, stealing and loot and plunder of the treasury.

[blitzder]

Gee, no one has shown any proof of that.
Do you have some or are you engaged in typical libtard bumper sticker smear and lies?
-------Posted by Abrame at 01:43 PM : Dec 13, 2008.

The country is on the verge of a massive depression, and you want proof???! Let the Special Prosecutor do his work. What he finds will make your skin crawl.

[cattiej]

I would like to see more protesters go to Blagojevitch home and protest like they are doing outside Jesse Jackson Jr. office. Come on Chicago citizens, the rest of Illinois are asking you to get rid of the greedy, corrupt Chicago as usual politicans. They have been dragging commen citizens of Chicago down for years. Throw the bums out!

[slingonewmex]

They have to give him a pardon, no telling how high it would go if he went to trial and started talking questions.

[rkkirch]

"The Antithesis Of Leadership" maybe; but synonymous for today''s politics certain.

[slingonewmex]

Chicago has a bunch of Bad, Bad Men. I don''t think it will go any farther. They have been hiding things like this for 100 years in Chicago.

[endurorob]

It doesn''''t even take a very smart attorney to see exactly how the evidence this federal prosecutor presented could have easily been manipulated to put the Gov. in a bad light....

Are you kidding, Have you seen the transcripts of the recordings. The only thing putting this governer in a bad light is his arrogance and his big mouth.

[perceptions5]

And the "plot" thickens.............the web grows even bigger. Will Obama get caught in it like the rest of his political and business pals?

Apparently when Obama engaged in "personal corruption" in his special real estate deal with convicted felon Rekzo for his mansion the real estate agent for that corrupt deal was Blago''''s wife............oh my God!

If the Governor and his wife decide to sing for Fitzpatrick Obama could be finally included in this web of corruption......

Of course the Liberal Fascists in our MSM wolfpack press can''t report this FACT.

So I will.................

Corrupt liberal press if you can''t report the news/facts then get the hell out of the way...............

[likenoone-2009]

Chicago and IL. just business

[endurorob]

I guess according to special prosecutors, arrogance and big mouths are against the law. Wow... you people have a lot of work to do. *eyeroll*

Posted by william7261

No, arrogance and a big mouth are not illegal but when your arrogance drives you to blatantly do what is illegal and you use your big mouth to tell everyone about it that is where you run into problems.

[perceptions5]

And for those of you Republicans sitting around with a sock in your left hand and your right forearm getting stronger over this, you can forget about it. This thing will not touch Obama.

Posted by julesarcher1
=================================

Yeah ....because the liberal fascists in our MSM wolfpack........Hollywood.......and our flaming liberal colleges and universities won''t let it.

Obama will be "installed" on January 20th and I sure hope he thanks his "power supply", our Nazi-like wolfpack press........they should did turn on the propaganda this eletion cycle......sad, crimminals

[likenoone-2009]

Right now you could not pound a needle up obama''s A$$
with a sledge hammer

[endurorob]

Hey buddy.. we''''re politicians. Everything we do is illegal.


Posted by william7261

Yes, but you are usually better at covering up. I expect my politicians to be corrupt but I won''t stand for lack of sneakiness.

[likenoone-2009]

when thay start it will go back to 96 when obama''s
team was obama rezko ayres and levine and when levine
finds that presiadenteal pardon won''t be comeing
well let see how he sings

[endurorob]

And for those of you Republicans sitting around with a sock in your left hand and your right forearm getting stronger over this, you can forget about it. This thing will not touch Obama.
Posted by julesarcher1 at 02:53 PM : Dec 13, 2008


So the sock is in the left and the right gets stronger, not sure I understand the logistics of this.

[likenoone-2009]

Politicians and T.V. preacher''s only good for one thing ???

[endurorob]

I''''m sitting around with a sock in my left hand and my right forearm getting stronger over this,

Posted by julesarcher1 at 02:53 PM : Dec 13, 2008


Posted by Abrame

This is very disturbing. My grandson is watching a childrens show with pirates in which the treasure in the treasure chest is.... socks.

[endurorob]

Aren''''t ya tired of playing somebody else''''s game? Why is it that when we elect people, its always them telling us what to do? I thought representation was us telling them what to do. And Justice? Hohoho.. don''''t git me going on justice. You guys are a ******** sitcom!


Posted by william7261

And you are a LOGO documentary.

[blitzder]

I think you guys should know though that this is what republicans do. They criticize people for having 80,000 dollars in their refrigerators, and they steal 80 million. -------Posted by william7261 at 02:34 PM : Dec 13, 2008.

Exactly what I was talking about.

As for proof vs depression, we were in a surplus in 2000, what happened since is clearly greed of the few, mostly Bush/Cheney cronies. Follow the money, folks, open all bank accounts for the largest corporations and you''ll find the missing trillions. No need to bail anyone out. Its all there.

[endurorob]

If I were Blago, I''''d demand a trial, make them PROVE UP THEIR ALLEGED charges, and sing like a damned rug and take all the bastwards down with him, including O''''Bungler!


Posted by RowdynTex

I am sure there are plenty of behind the scenes conversations going on right now. Lots people trying to figure out what to offer him to keep his mouth shut.

[talk2chief]

Both Rod Blagojevich and Jesse Jackson, Jr.? Now that is entertainment! I thought New York was going to win the Emmy with Governor Spitzer''s performance, but this, this should make constituents of Illinois so very proud! Congrats Illinois! "The Emmy for worst supporting politician in the role as Governor goes to... ROD BLAGOJEVICH!"

[endurorob]

If I were Blago, I''''''''d demand a trial, make them PROVE UP THEIR ALLEGED charges, and sing like a damned rug and take all the bastwards down with him, including O''''''''Bungler!


Posted by RowdynTex

I am sure there are plenty of behind the scenes conversations going on right now. Lots people trying to figure out what to offer him to keep his mouth shut.


Posted by endurorob

Who knows, someone could be telling him to go ahead confess, take the fall, keep your mouth sut and in say, oh, I don''t know, 40 days you can expect a pardon. I''m just saying.

[robaldrich]

So, IL law provides clear legal methods for removing a governor, but the AG (the top law enforcement officer in the state) doesn''t want to follow the law, but rather, wants to waste his, his staff''s, and the court''s time, CIRCUMVENTING the law.

Sound like what he says the Gov. did.

I wonder if he is going to make IL taxpayers pay for his, his staff''s, and the court''s wasted time.

[metsobitso]

Rod Blagojevich appears to be eminently qualified as an Obama Secretary of State. He has all the right traits. He also appears to resemble that grand ally of Albright and Clinton, the great Saakivlli. He will fit right in with the Obama bunch.

[troutfisher4]

Americans grew tired of being thought to be dumb by the rest of the
world, so they went to the polls and removed all doubt.

Posted by keystonebull



In 2000 and 2004, for sure.

Not this time, though. The old man and the caribou beauty queen were REJECTED.

[troutfisher4]

You have GOT to be the stupidest people on the face of the earth.

Posted by RowdynTex


You are likely looking in the mirror. This will not affect Obama.

[troutfisher4]

Yeah, right stupid. You bought an Arabic/Muslim commie and put him our White House! Who is spitting at this moment on our Constitution, and who will be LYING when he takes an oath to protect it!

YOU ARE STUPID!

Posted by RowdynTex


Geez lady, look at your post. I can practically see the spit flying through the air.

Take a deep breath.

[endurorob]

Do you think that you can stand there with a smirk on yer face, with a badge and a uniform? You think thats part of the justice system, doncha.. thats a duty.

Posted by william7261

I never had a badge and I gave up my uniform 3 years ago but you are really not making any sense. You may want to cut back on the shrooms.

[troutfisher4]

I bet you will not make a statement like this in four years. The man has not been sworn in and all kind of turmoil going on. Going to get worse after he gets in office. Worse mistake we ever made but will be worth it. Will teach us a lesson.

Posted by keystonebull


Wrong. George Bush was the worst mistake this country ever made.

Obama would need to work very hard to beat his record.

[troutfisher4]

Looks like the next President will be JOE BIN BIDEN cause AL BARRACK CAPONE OBAMA will be impeached even before get in charge.

Posted by BagdadsHere7



You conservative dead-enders will never learn.

[troutfisher4]

Posted by troutfisher4 at 05:32 PM : Dec 13, 2008

He''''s already far surpassed by PROVEN fact all of the krap that the democrapic propaganda which has never ONCE bothered to prove up their blithering that Bush/Cheney broke the law!

Posted by RowdynTex



I look forward to the day that you post something rational here.

[troutfisher4]

Wrong. George Bush was the worst mistake this country ever made.
Obama would need to work very hard to beat his record.
Posted by troutfisher4
===============
I agree with you that George Bush was bad. Also that is one reason that Obama was elected. McCain was too much like Bush and we were in bad shape. Four years we will probably be in worse shape. It may will not be Obama''''s fault but the people will think so and vote for change. Obama''''s problem is people like the governor, Rev Wright, Rekzo, Ayers, Mayor Daley and Farahkon and a few more people that are un desirables that will destroy him eventually. He got too good a lead before the public found out about them but gambled on Obama to get away from the Republicans. If the people knew about all the folks I just mentioned before Iowa, Clinton would have beat him.

Posted by keystonebull


I just find it sad that so many people are willing to predict his failure even before he is inaugurated. That type of defeatist negative attitude is not good.

[troutfisher4]

I look forward to the day that you post something rational here.
troutfisher4
=========
Her post are more sensible than yours and a couple more people on here. I think you may be retarded. Rowdy proves she does research and I never see where you do any. You try to make people think you do, but you are fooling noone but yourself.

Posted by keystonebull



Guess I am one up on ya, cause I KNOW you are retarded.

[troutfisher4]

I just find it sad that so many people are willing to predict his failure even before he is inaugurated. That type of defeatist negative attitude is not good.
Posted by troutfisher4
======================
He is already failing with all the problems popping up caused by his mafia friends.

Posted by keystonebull



Again with the defeatist attitude. How can he "be failing" when he has not even started the job?? Gte real.

[troutfisher4]

Go get your mommy to change your diaper. It needs changing.

Posted by keystonebull


Please try to rise above juvenile insults.