Ill. Official: Blagojevich Must Go Now

Face The Nation: State Attorney General Says Disgraced Governor Is "Disabled" From Fulfilling Duties Of Office

(CBS)  Illinois's highest law enforcement official said it was "imperative" that the disgraced governor of her state resign his office before the legislature begins the process of impeachment, so that the lieutenant governor can take over and "legitimately" exercise the power and duties of that office.

Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is facing calls for his resignation and impeachment in the wake of a federal indictment charging he was trying to "sell" Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

This week Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit, asking the state Supreme Court to intervene and remove him from his duties.

"The Illinois constitution does gives the Illinois Supreme Court a role in determining whether the governor is able to serve," she told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer.

She said the term "disability" - referencing Blagojevich's ability to serve - is not limited to either a mental or a physical disability.

Madigan admitted that the court has discretion as to whether it will even hear the case. "We would hope to hear from them sooner rather than later, probably just in a few days, actually," she said.

She said there have been rumors in the media that the governor might make an announcement, perhaps Monday, about his intentions. "But at this point, we're really in a situation, here in the state of Illinois, where we don't have a governor who can legitimately govern."

"Do you think at this point that the governor could actually appoint anyone to fill that Senate seat," Schieffer asked, "because I can't imagine anyone would accept the appointment at this point."

"Exactly," said Madigan, "nobody in their right mind would accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat that this governor made. The legislature tomorrow is also scheduled to take up a law that would basically allow a special election to fill that seat. And I think that's what the people of the state deserve and want at this point."

Madigan also revealed that her office had provided assistance and information to federal law enforcement authorities during their ongoing investigation of Blagojevich, but would not go into specifics.

"When Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney here, filed those criminal charges earlier this week, he made it very clear that one of the reasons behind his decision to do so was that there was a continuing political corruption crime spree going on out of the governor's office," said Madigan (left), "obviously with the governor involved in trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat, in trying to get campaign contributions for signing legislation, for making sure we're not going to give money to a significant children's hospital unless he got campaign contributions; trying to fire a member of the Tribune editorial board, on and on and on."

Also on the program, Michael Eric Dyson of Georgetown University talked about the early efforts by Obama to distance himself from Blagojevich (who is currently in his second term as governor) and other examples of corruption in Illinois politics. "I think Mr. Obama has distanced himself strategically from that."

Dyson referenced a Washington Post article which described how Obama had worked to distance himself from Blagojevich since early on. "So I think in the long run that it will serve to underscore what he has achieved in contrast to the politics of Illinois, and it calls forth his commitment to be transparent in his own political operation."

Dyson also spoke of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Blagojevich said in a recorded conversation that emissaries of Jackson claimed they would be interested in making a campaign donation of $500,000 in return for a Senate appointment. Federal officials have stated Jackson (named in the federal indictment as "Senate Candidate Number 5") is not a target of their investigation, and Jackson has denied any knowledge or consent of cutting a deal for Obama's vacant seat.

How will this affect Jackson's political future?

"There's no question an appointment [now] is out of the question," said Dyson (left), "but I think that he still has a chance in an election.

"As he's indicated already, he has got to clear his name. And I think that he's been attempting to be transparent. He's come forward. Bill Bennett even said, look, if you have no problem with something and you've been accused of something, then stand on the rooftops and declare it." Dyson said Jesse Jackson Jr. has done so.

"What is the linchpin here is the governor has been so corrupt and has been so immoral, it seems that he's poisoned everybody who has come within his sphere. And I think that's part of the problem."

Also on the program, Senators Carl Levin, D-Mich., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Bob Corker, R-Tenn. discussed the auto industry bailout.

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

By CBSNews.com producer David Morgan.

[downsteamjim]

If only CBS would find out why the U.S. Attorney General announced the wire taps when they could have yeilded much more information.

[chicagorail9]

Jackson Junior is as guilty as can be.

He is a fool who knows his electability outside of his own limited district is NIL, especially in Downstate Illinois, where hatred of his ''father'' (who really knows ?) is legend.

His jail term - and that of Blago - should just start tomorrow. They don''t deserve a trial - just take them away.....oh, and Blago''s ugly, foul-mouthed wife, too.

[random_radar]

Rod Blagojevich has not done anything unusual. He is being pilloried to avoid any trouble for President Obama. In any other situation, whether Republican or Democrat, this would simply be expected standard operating procedure. The trouble came because it was the president-elect''s senate seat was for sale. Blagojevich simply didn''t read the situation as carefully as he should have.

[cattiej]

Rod Blagojevich is a man without honour!.
He should resign but he hasn''t, so tomorrow morning let the Illinois General Assembly vote to impeach him, stip him of all right to enter any government offices, take the keys to the people plane of Illinois that he flys in from Chi town to Springfield. Instead of the Illinois State Police being around to protect this jerk, the State Police should be around to keep him form fleeing the country. Does Rod know how many people in Illinois really and truly hate him for the mess and the laughing stock he has made the citizens of Illinois? I think this man has a mental problem, certainly an ego problem. Does he think he politics as usual will get him thru when the whole world is watching. (I just receive a message from my friends in Paris and they can''t understand why the General Assembly hasn''t done something yet.
Our Rep here in Illinois is Jay Hoffman, Rod''s former room-mate..They won''t even answer the phone at his office and Hoffman is no where to be found...People from Hoffman''s district (this includes us), let''s tell him to resign or we are going to impeach him too.

[cattiej]

Jessie Jr..lier, lier, pants on fire..Me thinks you protest too much....I wouldn''t vote for you for Cook Country Dog Catcher. Time for you to resign too. Chicago citizens, take back your city from these crooked politicans. They have been living high on the hog, while you can only afford to eat the Chicago Hot Dog.....Throw them out of office. You have many good honest citizens who can do a better job than they have. What say your Mayor Daley? Where is he hiding?

[citizenusa-2009]

Help! Please help me understand why, when we as taxpayers have a median income of $50,233 (many make less, some make more)are standing for the fact that:

The current salary (2008) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is a shocking $169,300 per year!!!

WE pay THEM THREE TIMES WHAT WE MAKE!!!! WHY???

What can we do about this. CLEARLY this is NOT what our "founding fathers" had in mind! All men are created "equal"??? Are you kidding me???

[drivelphobe]

CitizenUSA

Most politicians have advanced degrees, are from well to do families, and can earn a heck of a lot more in private enterprise than the measely $169,300 you post.

Don''t you think Fred Thompson makes more acting than serving as a politician? Many are physicians with huge income potentials. You need to hang out with people who make a better living and get real.

What about Romney.

[jt_lancer]

Congratulations, Illinois voters! You are two for two! Your last governor is presently serving time, and your current governor will soon be joining him!

Nice job, voters.

[hamiltongrad]

Please note that this story does not identify this guy as a DEMOCRAT.

There is such a strong bias in the CBS news.

If this were a Rep scandal, the story itself would be woven as a pattern of REpublican scandals, to rehash and to live again.

[lmartink]

Hey Republican -- Have you heard the word? Barack Obama''s approval ratings are hovering at 70%, and he hasn''t even taken office yet. George Bush is at 18% and declining.

And the GOP has lost popularity with the public since the election.

[lmartink]

Where is the guy who posted a long list of corrupt Republican officials?

[excelsior9]

Man what a fat head ****** bag. He and his trailer park trash wife need to crawl back under the rock they came from. He''s just trying to be an arrogant &** like he has always been by not resigning. I''m sure his *** wife is running her mouth behind the scenes creating alot of this nonsense just like in the FBI tapes. We know who wheres the pants. Fat head dork.

[hennighg]

You gotta come to grips with this: here in Illinois EVERYONE is dirty. Can you play the game properly? That is the only question. If the feds come here for 4 or 5 years straight, then maybe it will be cleaned up. Otherwise, it''s how dirty are you? That''s the only question.

[pepperwood2]

"Exactly," said Madigan, "nobody in their right mind would accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat that this governor made. The legislature tomorrow is also scheduled to take up a law that would basically allow a special election to fill that seat. And I think that''s what the people of the state deserve and want at this point."

A Special Election, than she goes ont to say so that the lieutenant governor can take over and "legitimately" exercise the power and duties of that office.

I take it she means that the Lt. Governor has been approached by the Dems already to appoint the chosen one already - and that would be Jesse Jackson Jr. making it appear all fair & square.

Than the Liberal Congress in Washington with the lowest approval rating in history add another one of their favorite sons to the payroll.

We the people would like to hear when Blago is going to get a chance to give his version of the story. After all that would be the right thing to do.

[wingnutsblow]

ZZZZZzzzzzzz......SNARK......ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

[lapwalk]

"So you have a mute point if any ..." The word is "moot", dear. I''ve read some of your posts. How old are you or how far did you get in school? Sheesh!

[petro49l]

The new Attorney General should indict PA Governor Ed Rendell. He personally attempted to double his salary while bankrupting the Commonwealth. Ed''s incompetence causes unemployment and inflation in the region. A U.S. Attorney must investigate him for graft, alcoholism, and violations of presidential campaign election laws.

[nojoy01]

"So you have a mute point if any ..." The word is "moot", dear. I''''ve read some of your posts. How old are you or how far did you get in school? Sheesh!

Posted by LapWalk at 05:53 AM : Dec 15, 2008

Maybe she actually meant to say ''mute''. As in ''nobody is paying attention to you.''