ILLINOIS: GOP Rep. Mark Kirk Wins Barack Obama's Former Senate Seat
Rep. Mark Kirk used to have an OK record on LGBT rights for a Republican, having voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and for ENDA in 2007. But then he voted against the repeal of DADT. And since under Illinois law he will be seated in the Senate tomorrow, that means one more vote against repealing DADT should it come up in the lame duck session. This is another disaster we can blame on former Gov. Rod Blagojevitch, as he appointed the hapless Roland Burris to replace Obama in the Senate and Burris never survived the taint of Blagojevitch's favor.
Blagojevich appointee Sen. Roland Burris says he won't run for his seat in 2010. Burris decision appears to have been based at least in part on the fact that he has not been able to raise money for an election campaign.
As of March 31st, reports CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris, Burris had raised only $845 and had $111,031 in campaign debt, according to FEC reports. Burris was appointed to Barack Obama's former Senate seat by Blagojevich, who was impeached in part on charges of offering the appointment in exchange for campaign contributions. Senate Democrats initially opposed the appointment because of the charges against Blagojevich but eventually seated Burris after he made assurances that he had not acted improperly in his discussions with the governor's office.
Ever since Blago appointee Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) admitted this week that he tried to raise money for the disgraced former governor in a quid pro quo for his seat, there have been calls for him to resign. Today both the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune posted editorials demanding his resignation over having perjured himself when asked about Blago. You knew there was something shady about Burris' appointment, didn't you? Illinois Democrats just keep giving.
Rod Blagojevich and his hair brush were unanimously booted out of office yesterday by the Illinois senate in a 59-0 vote.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich was thrown out of office Thursday without a single lawmaker coming to his defense, brought down by a government-for-sale scandal that stretched from Chicago to Capitol Hill and turned the foul-mouthed politician into a national punchline.
Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, becomes the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment. After a four-day trial, the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to convict him of abuse of power, automatically ousting the second-term Democrat. In a second, identical vote, lawmakers further barred Blagojevich from ever holding public office in the state again. "He failed the test of character. He is beneath the dignity of the state of Illinois. He is no longer worthy to be our governor," said Sen. Matt Murphy, a Republican from suburban Chicago.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn was sworn in immediately after the senate vote. One of Quinn's first acts was to cancel Blagojevich's security protection. Blago must now face federal corruption charges.
After the spectacle of being turned away at the Capitol Building last week, Roland Burris will be granted his seat as the junior Senator from Illinois.
"The Secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate rules and validate his appointment to the vacant Illinois Senate seat," read a joint statement from Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) and Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin (Ill.). "We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect," the statement continued. "We are working with him and the office of the Vice President to determine the date and time of the swearing-in." Reid accepted Burris's appointment after the former state attorney general's lawyer visited the Capitol yesterday afternoon with new documentation attesting to its legality. Burris was named to succeed Obama by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), who is battling federal corruption charges, including allegations that he tried to sell the Senate appointment for personal and financial gain.
Burris will have to defend his seat in a special election in 2010.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached by the state legislature today by a vote of 141-1. The measure only needed 60 votes to pass.
Legislators accused the second-term Democratic governor of letting down the people of Illinois by letting ego and ambition drive his decisions. "It's our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that's become Illinois government," said Rep. Jack D. Franks, a Democrat. Blagojevich was out jogging in his Chicago neighborhood when the vote came down. His office declined to comment, but said he would issue a statement Friday afternoon. During the House's 90-minute debate on impeachment, no one spoke up to defend the governor. But Rep. Milton Patterson, a Chicago Democrat, made the sole vote against impeaching Blagojevich. Patterson said he read the impeachment committee's report and wasn't comfortable voting against the governor. "I have no firsthand knowledge of any of the evidence," he said.
Impeachment is similar to a criminal indictment. It is not a finding of guilt.
Roland Burris, former Attorney General for Illinois and disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, was turned away today from his Senate swearing in ceremony.
Senate officials this morning rejected Roland Burris's effort to be seated as the successor to President-elect Barack Obama, telling the former Illinois attorney general that he lacked the requisite approval of state officials to be sworn in with the rest of the class of 2008 in today's launch of the 111th Congress. With a stand-off remaining among Illinois officials over Gov. Rod Blagojevich's effort to appoint Burris to Obama's seat, Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson instructed Burris in a closed-door meeting that he would not be seated.
Placing himself at the center of a nationally televised spectacle, Burris arrived at the Capitol in a steady rain with an entourage of aides and lawyers, followed by dozens of journalists, including some broadcasting the procession into the Capitol and up to the third floor on hand-held digital cameras and cell phones. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and a bipartisan group of leaders have rejected Burris's appointment on the grounds that the criminal charges against Blagojevich, including one that he tried to sell the appointment in exchange for financial gain, make it impossible for him to pick a successor to Obama without tarnishing the decision.
It looks to have been quite the spectacle - I'll try to get some video up later today. Also: I told you this would get interesting.
UPDATE: Here's Burris' press conference after he was turned away.
Disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is somehow barreling forward and will today name Attorney General Roland Burris to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. But the pick may not stick.
The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.
Shortly after Obama's Nov. 4 victory, Burris made known his interest in an appointment to the Senate but was never seriously considered, according to Blagojevich insiders. But in the days following Blagojevich's arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor's support. Though he is 71, Burris has said that Obama's replacement should be able to win re-election and he has noted that despite a string of primary losses in races ranging from Chicago mayor to governor and U.S. senator, he's never lost to a Republican.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich defiantly proclaimed his innocence Friday and said that he will not let a "political lynch mob" force him to resign. "I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath," Blagojevich said in his first official statement since being arrested last week on federal corruption charges. "And I'm not going to quit a job that people hired me to do because of false accusations and a political lynch mob."
Wait a minute, did Blago seriously just recite a Kipling poem? I couldn't stop staring at his hair.
Milorad “Rod” R. Blagojevich (born December 10, 1956) is a politician, currently clinging to one last toehold as chief executive of Illinois, and a dick. The subject of no fewer than a dozen separate federal investigations, Blagojevich is a disgrace to all Serbian-American governors everywhere —that means you, George Voinovich of Ohio. He is also just the kind of a-hole who threatens to screw the whole thing up for Barack Obama before he even takes office.
Rod Blagojevich was the first Democrat to be elected governor of Illinois in 30 years, a distinction he proceeded to totally crap all over by continually failing to pass legislation and budgets, making many political enemies (even in his own party), committing federal and state crimes, wearing a ridiculous side-part in some seriously bouffant hair, and, in October 2008, earning the title “America’s Least Popular Governor.” All that before he got arrested.
On December 9, 2008, adding dick insult to dick injury, Blagojevich was detained by the FBI and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud as well as solicitation of bribery for allegedly trying to sell president-elect Barack Obama’s vacated seat in the U.S. Senate. This happened the day before Blagojevich’s 52nd birthday. One imagines they canceled the stripper.
Barack Obama says disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign.
President-elect Barack Obama is calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president-elect agrees with other prominent politicians that "under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois." In response to questions from The Associated Press, Gibbs said Obama believes the Illinois legislature should consider a special election to fill the seat.
Blagojevich says he won't.
The attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said the governor will be vindicated and he has no plans to resign. "He didn't do anything wrong," attorney Sheldon Sorosky told reporters after Blagojevich was arraigned. "A lot of this is just politics." Blagojevich should be in the office Wednesday, Sorosky added. So, reporters asked, he does not intend to resign? "Not that I know of, no," said Sorosky, who added that the governor was "surprised" by the day's events.
As you might guess, the right-wing blogosphere is having a field day with this, many are claiming the Obama was in on the whole thing.
Best bit: "Seller History: Blagojevich has been a scumbag for a long time." Also: "End Time Of Sale: Better be quick, I may be going to prison." The sale was quickly pulled from eBay, of course.
BREAKING: Illinois Governor Arrested In Scandal Over Barack Obama's Senate Seat
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested by the FBI today, accused of "brazenly" trying to sell Barack Obama's soon-to-be vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder, among other serious charges.
Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder. Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired. A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti. Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it." "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain," Blagojevich allegedly said later that day, according to the affidavit, which also quoted him as saying in a remark punctuated by profanity that the seat was "a valuable thing _ you just don't give it away for nothing."
Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris, was also arrested. Blagojevich's predecessor, George Ryan, is currently serving a six year prison term for racketeering and fraud. Blagojevich took over for Ryan in 2003 after promising to clean up the mess Ryan left behind. So much for that, it seems.
Rep. Mark Kirk used to have an OK record on LGBT rights for a Republican, having voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and for ENDA in 2007. But then he voted against the repeal of DADT. And since under Illinois law he will be seated in the Senate tomorrow, that means one more vote against repealing DADT should it come up in the lame duck session. This is another disaster we can blame on former Gov. Rod Blagojevitch, as he appointed the hapless Roland Burris to replace Obama in the Senate and Burris never survived the taint of Blagojevitch's favor.
