Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Your New Year's Eve Blago scandals reader

Many people will say they had a disappointing 2008. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich may not know it, but he's part of that unhappy crowd.

Below is your last Blago scandals reader of the year.

Oh, Happy New Year!

State Journal-Register: Governor’s arrest, Sir Paul, vicious squirrel top most read stories of 2008 on sj-r.com

Daily Herald: Dems explain why they let governor make appointment

AP: Legal experts say Blago's move won't sway blacks

CNN: Blagojevich playing a game of racial 'chicken'?

Bloomington Pantagraph: Blagojevich woes reverberate in Washington

New York Times: Tough calculus for Blagojevich on senate seat

AP: Blagojevich Senate pick stands by criticism of gov

Fox News: Congressman backing Blago's Senate pick earlier cited 'No moral basis'

Christian Science Monitor: With no one in charge, Illinois grinds to halt

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Illinois special election news

Yes, the title is a bit presumptuous, because there has not been a special election called by the Illinois General Assembly to choose a successor to President-elect Barack Obama.

Once news broke that goofball Governor Rod Blagojevich tried to auction off that seat, there were bipartisan calls to take away Blago's power to make the appointment.

But as I've remarked numerous times, Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who I believe was the first to call for for a special election, showed terrible judgement by assuming Blagojevich wouldn't select a senator.

Don't they know this guy is nuts?

Republicans, inside and outside of Illinois, have been unwavering in their support to "stick it" to Blago and give the people of the Land of Lincoln the power to choose our next senator.

The state GOP has been a potent force in leading this charge. (Wow, I can't believe I wrote that!)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) strongly favors a special election. The same can't be said for his Democratic counterpart, Harry Reid (D-NV).

But for a while today there was a glimmer of hope that we'll get our special election. Democrats in Springfield tabled a special election bill earlier this month. Then House committee was scheduled to meet on it next week.

Hopes have been dashed, as the resurgent Illinois Republican Party announced in a press release:

Background: Crain's reported earlier today that the House Elections and Campaign Reform Committee was slated to hear special election legislation next week in Springfield . Curiously the Committee was abruptly cancelled today.

Statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna on unusual cancellation of next week's House Elections and Campaign Reform Committee which could have considered Special Election legislation:

"Once again Blagojevich Democrats failed the people of Illinois.

"It appears Rod Blagojevich's campaign co-chairman Mike Madigan would rather allow this senate appointment to stand instead of doing what's right and giving the voters what they want.

"Blagojevich Democrats could have solved this problem 15 days ago by passing a special election, instead they refused to strip the Governor of his appointment powers and contributed to yet another constitutional crisis for Illinois."

We want a special election!

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Breaking: Burris asks Ill. Supreme Court to force his appointment

I just saw Roland Burris on CNN and Fox News making a fool out of himself as he defended Rod Blagojevich's selection of him to replace Barack Obama in the US Senate.

Now he's sealing the deal: Burris asked the Illinois Supreme Court to force his appointment to the US Senate. Not to being an attorney, I can only guess his rationale by pursuing the matter in a state court. Could it be that the Illinois Secretary of State, Democrat Jesse White, refused to accept the paperwork regarding Burris' selection from disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich?

This story gets weirder and weirder...

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Washington Post calls for Ill. Senate special election

Politically speaking, the Washington Post will never be confused withthe Wall Street Journal.

Yet the Post, in an editorial today, is calling for a special election to decide who will represent Illinois in the US Senate, not our crazed governor, Rod Blagojevich.

The best solution remains the one that we urged at the outset of this mess: a special election. Unfortunately, the Democrat-dominated Illinois General Assembly dropped this approach because of concerns that Mr. Obama's seat might end up in Republican hands. The General Assembly should reconsider. Its responsibility is making certain that the citizens of Illinois have their full complement of senators -- not making certain that both are Democrats.

We want a special election!

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Actual headline from the Southern Illinoisan: "Possible Blagojevich impeachment could pave wave for construction plan"

Yep, that's right the headline of a story in the online edition for The Southern Illinoisan reads: "Possible Blagojevich impeachment could pave wave for construction plan."

It's that bad. Indirectly to be sure, but highway improvement is linked to the impechment of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Does this happen in other states?

The article is worth reading, if only to expose the plans of Rep. John Bradley, (D-Marion) to raise gasoline taxes.

That for sure happens in other states.

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Feds ask for extension to charge Blago

Hey, it's not lack of material that's causing US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to request a 90 extension to indict failed Governor Rod Blagojevich. On December 9 Fitzgerald's office issued a criminal complaint against Blago.

Here's what AP says for your doubters out there:

In the motion filed Wednesday, prosecutors ask for more time because "multiple witnesses" have come forward in recent weeks and investigators have to review "thousands of intercepted phone calls."

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