Blago's Dog-and-Pony Show

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright January 9 2009
All Rights Reserved.                    

        Voting 114-1, the Illinois House voted to impeach embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, paving the way for a feisty senate impeachment trial.  Blagojevich was accused by U.S. Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald of trying to sell President-elect Obama’s senate seat, catching him on audiotape making deals with unidentified FBI agents.  Fitzgerald arrested Blagojevich Dec. 9 for trying “to sell the U.S. senate seat,” among other related crimes.  Fitgerald, who prosecuted and convicted Vice President Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff I. Lewis “Scooter” for lying to FBI agents about his role in the Valerie Plame affair, is a highly disciplined and credible U.S. attorney.  He arrested Blago to stop “a political corruption crime spree” that “has taken us to a truly new low,” describing the extent of Blago’s depravity.  Despite calls to step down, Blagojevich refused to deal with reality.

            Flanked by a man in wheel chair and transplant recipient, Blagojevich acted defiant at a Jan. 9 news conference, declaring, “I’m going to fight every step of the way,” refusing to heed the will of Illinois voters and legislature seeking to oust the 52-year-old two-term governor.  “The causes of the impeachment are because I’ve done things to fight for families,” showing his prodigious smoke blowing skills.  Blagojevich got into hot water letting his big ego to wreck his political career, maybe his life.  Blago succeeded former Gov. George Ryan Jan. 13, 2003 , currently doing time for corruption.  No other Illinois governor has been impeached for alleged high-rimes-and-misdemeanors.  Blago’s stubbornness can only be an attempt to cut a better plea deal with prosecutors. He’s played a losing hand and faces an uphill battled in the Illinois senate to prevent eviction from office.

            Fitgerald prepared a compelling case against Blagojevich but isn’t ready to go to trial.  Illinois senators prosecuting his impeachment trial will have a lower burden of proof to win conviction.  While there’s a presumption of innocence, there’s too much damaging evidence against Blagojevich to avoid conviction.  With plenty of time before the impeachment trial slated to begin Jan. 26, there’s room for a plea deal.  Two-thirds of the Illinois senate must vote for conviction.  “It’s our duty to clean up the freak show that’s  become the Illinois government,” said Rep. Jack Franks, disgusted by Blagojevich’s embarrassing public displays.  His Jan. 9 news event took smoke blowing to new lows, presenting himself as a victim of some vast conspiracy.  President-elect Obama has steered away from opining about Blagojevich, despite strongly supporting his election in 2003 and 2007.

             Despite calls by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn for Blagojevich to step down, Blago has refused to listen to anyone giving him advice.  Without the support in the Illinois House and Senate, there’s no future for the embattled governor.  He defied Dec. 30 everyone exercising his constitutional duty picking former Illinois State Comptroller and Atty. Gen. Roland Burris.  Democrats in the U.S. Senate, responsible for ratifying Burris’ appointment, especially Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), expressed opposition to Blago’s appointment.  But Illinois law clearly gives Blago the right to name an appointment as long as he’s governor.  Reid and other Democrats can’t block Burris’ appointment because they don’t like Blago.  Burris exceeds the political resume needed to succeed Obama as Illinois’ next senator.  As long as Blago holds office, Democrats have no case against Burris.

            Blago has a few more weeks to nail down a plea deal before the Illinois senate forces him out.  Appointing Burris, an African American, was a shrewd move, demonstrating the opposite of Fitzgerald’s charges that Blago tried to get cash or political consessions for Barack’s seat.  Blagojevich paints himself as a victim eliciting sympathy before the senate starts his impeachment trial.  All but two of Illinois’ House voted to impeach Blagojevich.  “His silence in this grave matter is deafening,” said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, when Blago refused to testify before the House’s impeachment committee.  “If the government is going to indict him, let them go ahead and do that.  That’s their job,” said Rep. Milton Patterson, who voted against impeachment, uncertain that Fitzgerald’s indictment would lead to an eventual conviction.

            Blago’s defiance and refusal to step down stems from his game of chicken heading to Jan. 26 impeachment trial.  Blago’s attorney Ed Genson, believing he could prevail at the impeachment trial, refused to signal whether a plea deal was in the works.  Blago wants his government pension and no jail time before surrendering office.  Illinois Supreme Court ruled Jan. 9 that it was not necessary for the Illinois Secretary of State to sign off on Burris’ appointment.  Senior U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the Senate will not accept Burris without a signature.  But with the Illinois High Court ruling that a signature wasn’t necessary, it’s doubtful that the full senate would block Burris’ appointment no matter how they despise Blago.  Sometime before the start of his impeachment trial, expect Blago to sign off on a plea deal.  He knows his days are numbered and must step down..

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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