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* Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) on the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich…
“We’re going to give the governor an honest and fair trial as called for by the Constitution. We’re going to be fair and open-minded.
“But that noise you hear in the back, that hammering? This is like Texas justice with the guy sitting in the cell saying ‘What’s all that racket?’ and you hear all that hammering in the back. Well, that’s the gallows being prepared… So, it’s obvious what’s going to happen to the governor.”
For whatever reason, lots of people have predicted that African-American Senators would vote with Blagojevich. That’s not going to happen en masse. I’m not sure whether it’s racism or just laziness of thought, but to confidently predict that Sen. Hendon [and all black Senators] will be a “No” vote on removal doesn’t comport with reality.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:55 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Not on the same subject, but an interesting quote nonetheless:
Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:00 am
With Jones gone, is there any reason to think the Senate vote won’t track the House vote?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:01 am
If the State Senate blocks impeachment; then it is time to introduce a constitutional amendments for recall and for an unicameral (single) house leg. system like neb.
Comment by downstate demo Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:06 am
===If the State Senate blocks impeachment===
Are you daft?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:13 am
The notion that Hendon is on board with voting for conviction speaks volumes to the relative ease with which Blago will be ousted.
Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:14 am
I heard Hendon’s interview on WLS yesterday morning and I was struck by his absolute certainty in conviction. Rich, I believe you said it last week - “this thing is on a monorail.”
Comment by HoBoSkillet Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:16 am
Rich, I think your question from a week or two ago still stands. Who can name 20?
Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:17 am
===Who can name 20? ===
That’s very true. And the ease some folks have believing that black legislators will mindlessly stick with the governor through this trial does not sit well with me at all.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:19 am
Who can name 5?
Comment by Boone Logan Square Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:21 am
I believe it will be unanimous, and I believe the 2nd vote in the house will be unanimous with a slight chance of Mell voting present. If she wants an easy path, she will suck it up and vote to impeach.
Comment by Moderate Repub Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:24 am
The Senate cannot afford to block impeachment only to have the Governor get convicted of the federal crimes. The Black Caucus knows this, and I cannot believe they will vote no and commit political suicide.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:25 am
===I cannot believe they will vote no and commit political suicide. ===
There’s also the fact that removal is the right thing to do.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:31 am
I agree that the Governor should be given a fair trial. If the Senators are able to read the Governor should be removed, fairly and soon.
Comment by Say WHAT? Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:32 am
The federal arrest, and the public info that is already out there, removed whatever political cover there was for a “no” vote on impeachment or removal. The nomination of Burris, as well as the gov’s general relationship to the black community, might change a few “yes” votes to reluctant “yes” votes (with appropriate public comments) in favor of removal.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:39 am
Its almost like Hendon might just be most interested in what benefits Hendon.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:41 am
Hendon stated to me back in 2004 that he preferred Ryan to Blago. “At least Ryan would keep his word. You can’t trust Blagojevich!” Interesting coming from the gov’s own party and own hometown.
Comment by FormerRailGuy Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:47 am
Hendon says “this might be my last term.”
Illinois would be better off if it was. Seems like alot of people have forgotten about the $20,000 grants for after school progams that went to waste. Hendon strikes me as part of the problem.
Comment by Speaking at Will Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:48 am
Ghost - That goes without saying with most entrenched politicians. Their first intrest is what benefits them the most / gets them reelected.
Comment by tanstaafl Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:53 am
===There’s also the fact that removal is the right thing to do.===
I agree with you rich but it was the right thing to do a long time ago….
Comment by 618er Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:05 pm
“this thing is on a monorail.”
Do I have to say it?
There’s nothing on Earth…
Comment by Lyle Lanley Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:06 pm
Mell could easily abstain citing a familial conflict of interest. But that’s the only non yes vote I can conceive of at this time.
Comment by One of the 35 Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:10 pm
Rod’s allies know the danger of ending up on his bad side. And since it’s once against him, always against him, he is a liability in the long term.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:10 pm
===but it was the right thing to do a long time ago===
However, since many of those acts in the house impeachment report were committed before the governor was reelected, and many of those were also part of the campaign, i’m not sure how you justify impeaching a guy right away for stuff that the voters didn’t seem to care about. i mostly didn’t formally call for impeachment for that very reason.
now, the post-election stuff is different, but moving too soon might’ve simply given the governor a prime push-back opportunity. “they’re impeaching me because i want to expand health care,” he could’ve said. actually, he did say that last friday, but nobody cared because he’d been arrested. without that arrest, he would’ve been taken more seriously.
it’s easy to wave the pitchfork and the torches, but it’s not so easy to actually get something of that magnitude done. we’ve never impeached a governor in our history. ever. we’ve never removed anyone in our history. taking such an unpredented step would’ve been far, far more difficult than it is now.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:13 pm
When Rickey Hendon says that the Governor will be treated fairly, and that the gallows are being built, he may consider it Texas justice, but it sure beats Illinois Business-As-Usual, doesn’t it?
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:13 pm
Moderate Repub, you apparently have never heard Deborah Mell cooment at length about her no-good brother-in-law. I have. My guess is that right now she is lobbying Mike Madigan for the right to make the the motion to call the question for a vote tommorrow.
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:14 pm
Rich its just faster to say hindsight is always 20/20
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:25 pm
I’m completely comfortable with Mell voting No or Pressnt. Given the family relationship, voters are unlikely to penalize her for a no vote.
Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:27 pm
Dick Durbin underestimated Blagojevich.
It looks like a monorail now, but I wouldn’t underestimate the Guv. Blagojevich knew what it took to turn Burris and he may well know what it will take to turn others: African American and the rest. He may know a fate for some Senators worse than facing their constituents.
Unlikely sure… but I think they’re more surprises coming. I wouldn’t write the Guv off just quite yet.
Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:28 pm
I disagree CA. I think voters would accept a present vote, due to the apparent conflict. I am not sure they would be ok with her acting on that conflict to vote not.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:29 pm
Who’s paying Blago’s legal bills?
a. Blago
b. Or Us
Comment by Wondering Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:33 pm
Lyle Lanley…how is that going to play in North Haverbrook? lol
Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:37 pm
Don’t forget Brockway and Ogdenville. All three were put on the map when the monorail went in.
Comment by HoBoSkillet Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:46 pm
Bill Baar-
You make a good point about not knowing what aces Blago hold up his sleeves. However, I can’t imagine a faster track to ending your politcal career than voting no on impeachment. Everybody wants this guy gone, and you can be sure sticking with him on this vote will become easy campaign fodder.
Comment by Kevin Fanning Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:14 pm
K-Fan just can’t stay away.
BTW, your choice passed his first test. Woke up on time this morning after his inaugural night out. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:16 pm
About all the Governor has to hang on to at this point is the due process that he deserves. This probably is properly noted by his counsel of one more example of the “being unable to get a fair trail” argument.
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:27 pm
or even a fair “trial”
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:28 pm
Steve, Hendon said the trial would be fair. Very fair. And then comes the hanging.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:28 pm
Lol, good to hear that the inaugural went off without any betting going on.
Comment by Kevin Fanning Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:35 pm
Yep that is a great quote about the Governor’s trial. He’s dead as a goose. I suppose even Emil Jones has turned his back on him!
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:42 pm
== Given the family relationship, voters are unlikely to penalize her [Mell] for a no vote. ==
The voters in her district certainly did not penalize her for getting Rich Bradley to find other employment, or for her pre-election familial relationship with Rod Blagojevich. Her district probably does not much care whether her brother-in-law is the Governor or not.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:56 pm
I was watching Hang ‘Em High the other night. Not sure it took place in Texas, but Sen. Hendon’s gallows humor reminded me of the initial conversation between the judge and Clint Eastwood’s character.
Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:05 pm
“Hendon said the trial would be fair. Very fair. And then comes the hanging.”
I’m interested to see if RRB doesn’t try to take every crook in Springfield he can think of down with him before he goes….
Comment by Macoupin County Kid Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:17 pm
I’m just sad that Ricky chose to denigrate the Texas judicial system in his quote. Blagojevich would not have lasted this long in Texas. He would have already been eating some veal in a small room in Huntsville before the lights started to flicker. But, for Illinois standards, I’d say the ‘gallows’ of the senate are being constructed in record time. it would be ironic if the gallow contractors had supported the FRB campaign fund.
Comment by dznuts Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:18 pm
Hendon’s comments remind me of the Governor’s theme song. Renegade from Styx!
Comment by Reclaimillinois.com Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:25 pm
There are a million similarities between this soap opera and the movie Blazing Saddles… it’s eerie.
Comment by dznuts Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:38 pm
Congrats to Rickey Hendon on being elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. What’s that? Oh, it’s a different guy; he’s an Illinois State Senator. I think he does play a little softball. So you say you’ve seen him play? Oh. Well, nevermind.
Comment by Jake from Elwood Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:47 pm
Flume, I don’t remember where the movie is set, but it’s based on a judge in (Ft Smith, I think) Arkansas.
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:11 pm
Yep, Ft. Smith. And Pat Hingle was pretty good as that nasty judge.
Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:27 pm
Gary Forby will be a “NO” vote.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:06 pm
LE, you’re wrong about that one. Dead wrong.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:08 pm
Just my opinion…
Gary would probably be a NO vote if he had cover. If 10 or 14 would also be voting no.
But as it stands he’d be alone — and frankly, he can’t survive another close race as is. It’d kill his chances at re-election.
Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:15 pm
Sorry Rich and CO, I don’t give Forby credit for being that smart. Neither does 48.5% of the voters in his district. I’d be ecstatic if you both were wrong.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:02 pm
This is my take: Emil will coerce a number of Black Caucus members to vote no…his “fee” for service, and then Obama will name him to a nice (read: cushy) post in the administration…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 6:27 pm
Obama will stay at least three time zones away from anything dealing with Emil Jones and any potential “reward” for some possible no votes. There won’t be any Elga Jefferies in the Senate. Even Forby is smart enough to vote no. Blagojevich repeatedly misled people in Cartersville for six years on money for a school construction project, not to mention that multiple human service providers are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars for reimbursement. My family lives in southern Illinois and I can tell you that if Forby votes to support the Governor, he will end up working at a boat factory in Benton after the next electioin.
Comment by DzNts Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:40 pm
Don’t forget the Quinn factor. NO votes could be a disadvantage with the new administration. I just don’t see any Senator voting NO at this point. There is no future with this governor.
Comment by robo Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:15 am