* My latest syndicated newspaper column takes a look at last week’s special session. After documenting how almost no state Senators showed up and just 70 House members made it to town, I looked at the immediate aftermath and the possibility that Gov. Blagojevich could call yet another special session…
One never knows what will go through the governor’s mind at a time like this. A couple of stray electrons in his brain could bump into each other and set off an uncontrollable chain reaction that his staff and top advisers are helpless to stop. So Statehouse types waited around for a signal about what Blagojevich might do next. Several had come to town prepared for the long haul, bringing enough clothes to get them through the weekend.
Thankfully, sanity finally prevailed. Or maybe it was presidential politics.
One of the reasons so many Democrats, particularly in the Senate, weren’t in town last week was because they were in Iowa campaigning for their former legislative colleague, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. If the governor had called another special session for Thursday - Iowa Caucus Day - and harangued lawmakers into showing up, he could have been accused of sabotaging Obama’s campaign.
So instead of calling yet another fruitless, futile and politically dangerous special session, the governor cut his losses and went home. Considering the miserable legislative turnout, he probably spent more on his flight back and forth to Springfield and his Chicago press conference than the General Assembly spent on per diems. In the end, last Wednesday was simply an expensive media opportunity for one of the biggest publicity hounds in Illinois history.
* Kurt Erickson saw signs of hope emerge from the special session…
The entire thing was a misstep, but it bears mentioning that something positive did emerge from the wasted day: The governor did not call any more special sessions.
Maybe he’s learning. That would be good.
I wouldn’t bet on that. Here’s something I wrote back in 2005…
The creators of the TV sitcom Seinfeld kept a sign above their desks that read, in part, “NO LESSONS LEARNED.” The idea was that the characters were not supposed to “grow” in the way characters do on most other TV shows — and in real life, for that matter.
Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld might want to make a pilgrimage to Illinois soon, because their brilliant idea has been playing out here for more than two years now.
The governor never learns. He never grows.
The sign also read: “NO HUGS.” Appropriate.
* This is a whopper of a lede…
State Rep. Jay Hoffman’s New Year’s resolution is an ambitious one, given the tenor of Illinois government these days: “I’m trying to not point fingers, and stop the blame game,” the Collinsville Democrat said Friday.
Hoffman is Gov. Blagojevich’s House floor leader. He’s been one of the prime motivators behind the ongoing legislative feud. If he’s telling the truth, he’s gonna have to walk back his behavior a very long way.
Hoffman is a good guy and well-liked, but this past year didn’t do much for his Statehouse reputation. He’d be better off as a go-between or a mediator instead of an enabler. He’s become an extension of the governor’s office on the House floor, and he’s lost his credibility.
* Quote of the week, from Finke…
Blagojevich last week denied he’s Public Official A, the person who keeps appearing in federal indictments and other court documents dealing with people allegedly involved in corruption in the administration. He also referred to the federal investigations as “tangential, collateral things that have no relevance to people …”
OK, but investigators keep saying there’s a Public Official A, and the guess here is that people want to know who that is. Perhaps Blagojevich can pull an O.J. Simpson and conduct his own search for the real culprit, the real Public Official A. Then we can all move on from “tangential, collateral things.”
* More stuff, compiled by Paul…
* Kruesi on CTA: Don’t blame me
* CTA Tattler: Blame Blago and here’s his final chance
* Editorial: The gas guzzling governor
* McQueary: Time for second string long overdue
* Martire: Let’s start over and see some legislative results in 2008
* Opinion: Gambling no solution to state’s problems
- DumberThanYouThink - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 11:11 am:
It is good to start the week with a hearty laugh. Jay Magoo isn’t pointing fingers, because he has been traveling the state with promises of campaign cash for all good boys & girls who will oppose the devil Madigan. Few if any takers so far.
The inclusion of Magoo in the McQuery piece knocked that idea down a peg too.
Thanks for brighting our day.
- Ghost - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 11:14 am:
I love this bit:
===The governor was forced to spend most of his time denying that he was a crook and slamming the media for focusing on the negatives while he was trying to do what’s right for Illinois.
It was a real George Ryan moment. And we all know how that story ended.====
He didn’t call a special session, but unfoprtunetly I don’t think its because of wisdom or lessons learned about futility. I think he fears the prees corps and questions. In the past he called the special sessions for, as Rich indicated, the press opportunity. Stil I bet we see him shotgun special sessions later in the month and do press releases about how he is doing the work of 27% (or less) of the people. Hoffman must be feeling some heat just to make the Statement he did, regardless of his follow through apparently the politics of intactability and giing the word of a man whose word is worth less then day old bread are taking a toll. Now we just need for the light bulb to click on with Jones.
- Dan S. a Voter - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 11:43 am:
Rich, the Seinfeld reference is brillian. A “show about nothing” just like our State Government.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 12:00 pm:
He can’t be “Public Official A” because his last name starts with B.
- Gregor - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 12:15 pm:
I met Jay early in his legislative career, and we all knew he could go far on his charm and easy way of relating to people, he had some charisma going, very likeable guy. In another reality, perhaps it could have been him that became governor. How very, very different that could have been. But because he’s been such a remora on the governor’s back, when Blago goes down, Jay will also go, down to defeat by any challenger. Not necessarily from any illegal activity, no, but just guilt by association with such a huge failure, and the loss of credibility and respect.
- Squideshi - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 1:23 pm:
Too bad Hoffman is representing Blagojevich, rather than the people in his district.
- S. Illinois - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 2:09 pm:
Rich, while poking around a bit for something else this weekend, I came across an old Sun Times story from Blago’s first day in office. It included a bit that I had forgotten about, that Blago “quarantined” the governor’s office computers to protect them for Fitzgeral’s investigation.
“Shortly after being sworn in, Blagojevich ordered all computers in
Ryan’s Chicago and Springfield offices isolated in the event federal
prosecutors investigating corruption under Ryan decide they want
to inspect the equipment.”
“”Whatever was on the premises has been removed and quarantined to
ensure, on a precautionary basis, that there is no alteration or deletion
of material,” Blagojevich spokesman Billy Weinberg said.”
Now keep in mind, Ryan had not been indicted at this point. But, those around Ryan had been charged and the Governor’s office had been subpeonaed. The current Governor is at this point and beyond, given Fitzgerald’s letter indicating “endemic hiring fraud.”
So the next time you talk with the spin sisters, ask how many of the Blagojevich administration computers have been “quarantined” to preserve evidence for Mr. Fitzgerald.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 2:53 pm:
The computers have all been rounded up and placed in a room with a special protective magnetic field.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 3:12 pm:
This column was excellent and tone of it was sadly perfect.
Politically, it is still raining in Illinois. A little sunshine would be welcome, but with Hurricane Rod still blowing through the state, it looks like more rain - for another three years.
- downhereforyears - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 6:51 pm:
The last thing Blago should be involved in is name calling of federal investigators. God is he dumb….public official A has always been reserved for the Governor….circle the wagons gov. start a defense fund…itr’s only a matter of time.
- Gregor - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 9:39 pm:
Could we maybe try putting Rod on a Ritalin prescription, you know, for just a week, see if we can make any progress? I hear he can get it cheap from Canada.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 7, 08 @ 10:19 pm:
I think it takes longer than a week to work. lol