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* The Daily Herald, which editorialized in favor of permanently changing the Illinois Constitution to allow for the recall of elected officials editorializes today against impeaching Gov. Blagojevich, calling the remedy “extreme“…
And try to imagine an impeachment proceeding based on vague grounds. It would be the most hideous political circus in the state capital we’ve seen yet. It would accomplish little more than serve as a distraction lawmakers would love to have to get away from the harder work of actually governing the state. Blagojevich would get a well-deserved pounding from a long and loud impeachment proceeding — even as the axles of our cars would still be getting bent in potholes, public transportation would still be waiting at the station for more funding and our property taxes would still be going up.
Actually, a serious threat of instigating impeachment proceedings might hurry the session along a bit. But, whatever. Daily Herald: Hoplelessly dead recall proposal=Good; Possible remedy of impeachment=Bad.
* Meanwhile, the Champaign News-Gazette is frothing at the mouth in the wake of last week’s vote against recall…
Whether by recall, impeachment, federal indictments or a constitutional convention, this level of disdain by elected officials for the public must not go unanswered.
But their solution can’t be implemented until the next leadership election in January, and probably won’t happen even then…
The real test is whether those Democrats, and others, are willing to offer an alternative leader to Jones and restore some semblance of respect and responsibility to the people and the government of Illinois.
* And the Lake County News-Sun has another idea: Elections…
The Illinois Senate has become a place where democracy is derided to protect the interests of a powerful few, where representative government is mocked and scorned.
So yes, let’s remember this fall that we can still “recall” our elected officials via election.
Problem: Just two Senate Democrats who voted against the recall proposal face a challenger this fall. The rest either aren’t up for reelection, or the Republicans never bothered to slate candidates against them.
So, that won’t work, either.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
* By the way, the Senate has canceled today’s session….
With their former colleague [Barack Obama] vying for votes in neighboring Indiana, the Illinois Senate has called off work today, a move one Republican said is improper given Illinois’ lingering problems.
“I’m not sure that’s an appropriate reason to call off session with only a few short weeks to go, to send your camp over to Indiana to campaign. I don’t think that’s appropriate,” said Illinois Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville.
The Senate Dems say Obama’s campaign was not the reason they aren’t returning to town until tomorrow, but they pulled the same thing on Ohio’s primary day.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:09 am
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I agree with the Lake Co. News-Sun. We should recall legislators the old-fashioned way, by voting them out of office, in Nov. The majority of the legislators who are running for re-election are Democrats. If all of them lose, both houses would be controlled by Republicans.
Comment by PhilCollins Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:21 am
Even if there were recall so that we can oust Blago, is there any guarantee he’d be voted out. Surely the same voters who voted for him in 06 would vote no on his recall. It could happen.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:22 am
Impeachment is silly when he will be indicted by August. Repubs should vote against impeachment and link all the dems to Blago. McKenna, are you listening? No more “semi-nude” girls and get moving.
This recall movement is silly
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:27 am
Articles of Impeachment would be easy to draft and could be very specific.
LIES: he lied to legislators so many times during his first 2 years of office such GA members demanded assurances in a Memo of Understanding. Then he ignored those written promises.
He lied to communities about grants that he promised. Years after attending announcement events, schools and communities still did not have promised grants.
He lied to the GA about programs including stem cell research and diverted funds to do that program immediately after the GA refused to vote to support such a program.
DISREGARD OF CONSTITUTION AND LAWS
He has openly defied legislative enactments, has diverted dedicated funds from their purposes to his own program desires, ignored the balance of power as in respecting the role of JCAR.
The list of actions that show a blatent disregard for the rule of law is long and specific.
I am not advocating impeachment as State government is disfunctional enough without that, but foa a news editorial to suggest that charges would be vague is just wrong.
Comment by Skeptic Cal Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:29 am
===Impeachment is silly when he will be indicted by August.===
Says who?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:35 am
===If all of them lose, both houses would be controlled by Republicans.===
Did you not read what I wrote?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:36 am
You know, if Hillary becomes President, Emil Jones is in deep do-do. Along with a whole bunch of other people!
Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 10:00 am
The Daily Herald is so clueless: “Blagojevich has not committed any criminal act or even been accused of such.”
I guess they’re not counting the multiple individuals who have stated, under oath, that the Governor was a co-conspirator in their felonious conduct.
It’s amazing to read an editorial like that in the aftermath of the George Ryan years. Is conviction the only standard that they think should merit an impeachment?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 10:24 am
I’ll see your “Macbeth” and raise you a “King Lear.”
“He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.”
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 10:36 am
Remember Rich, Obama’s political Daddy is our very own Emil Jones…kinda makes me wonder why folks think Hillary is the only candidate that will do anything to win the office…
Comment by Anonymous45 Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 10:36 am
The lack of candidates to challenge Democrats stems from the insane district maps, as addressed last week. There is no real democracy when no choices are allowed. Republicans are just as guilty and complicit in this.
As far as the adjournment to help Obama in Indiana, given Indiana’s opinion of Illinois, is it really a boost for him for IL legislators to campaign for him?
Comment by South Side Mike Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 11:17 am
To effect any change in Illinois politics, Emil Jones must be removed from the equation. We can recall governors until the proverbial pig fly’s and it will not change the fact the NO LEGISLATION will pass without Jones’ allowing it through. We have to change the constitution to allow us to remove someone of his ilk and not be reliant on the spineless downstate senators to block his senate presidency. I am at the point that I feel our only hope is that Patrick Fitzgerald comes a callin’ on good ole Emil! A girl can have dreams can’t she???
Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 6:55 pm
Madigan will be in trouble WHEN Obama wins.
Comment by Lillian Tuesday, May 6, 08 @ 9:05 pm