Ill. House Speaker circulating papers on impeachment of governor

It could be wild summer and fall in Illinois. Impeachment has been loosely talked about even before the Tony Rezko conviction, but things are accelerating. To be fair (it's my job) to Governor Rod Blagojevich, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is also the Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, has been on sour terms with his fellow Chicago Democrat for years.

From AP:

House Speaker Michael Madigan is circulating a memo to legislative candidates spelling out how they can call for impeachment hearings for Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- with talking points that compare corruption under the governor to a tumor that must be removed.

The 14-page rundown of Blagojevich's alleged "misdeeds and malfeasance" is sure to deepen the feud between the two Democrats and lend substance to talk of impeachment.

A memo sent to some House Democratic candidates, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, offers detailed talking points on the merits of impeachment.

"One thing we learned from the (imprisoned former Republican Gov.) George Ryan case is that we should excise a tumor when it is first discovered; not leave it in the body to continue to spread and do further harm," the memo reads.

The state house's most vocal impeachment advocate is Rep. John Fritchey, another Chicago Democrat.

This is not a case of a bunch of Republicans, along the lines of the Bill Clinton impeachment, ganging up on the head of the executive branch. Such a thing is not even feasible in Illinois, since the Republicans are a minority in both chambers of the Illionois General Assembly

Related posts:

Ill. GOP to Gov. Blagojevich: Give back the Rezko cash

Impeachment talk about Gov. Blagojevich continues

Recall amendment dies in Ill. State Senate

Technorati tags: politics Illinois Election Democrats Chicago Tony Rezko corruption legal Blagojevich impeachment