* I’m pretty certain I know who wrote the impeachment memo and I’m also pretty sure I know who leaked it to the press. I’ll save that for my subscribers, but it may not be what you think. Zorn is getting ahead of himself here…

Well, maybe you’d want it published precisely because no one would think you’d want it published: Maybe Team Madigan salted embarrassing elements into a muscular brief for the impeachment to make more plausible the claim that Madigan was merely trying to provide background advice to his candidates, not get the whole state buzzing about what a bad guy the governor is while dicey budget negotiations proceed.

Or maybe somebody outside Team Madigan leaked it.

* This is a good point…

Kent Redfield, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said the memo was “heavy-handed and not very artful” and could actually benefit Blagojevich.

“It becomes about the speaker picking on the governor,” Redfield said. “What does this do for negotiations? It helps the governor to say the speaker is out to get me and he’s the one causing the problems. It’s not very helpful to the speaker at all.”

That might give you an idea how this got out.

* Anyway, the papers have more reaction today from Democrats to the impeachment memo. It’s not all positive, as you might imagine…

“If he’s got issues with the governor as speaker, that’s his issue. But as leader of the party, no, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” said Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Guethle, a member of the state party’s influential central committee.

Guethle said Democrats should be getting a state construction-spending plan approved.

“I’ll talk to you forever about that. That’s my world,” Guethle said. “No one’s ever talked to me about (impeachment).”

Lauren Beth Gash, also a member of the state party’s central committee, had not read the memo, but said Springfield needs to start sharing the national party’s message of progress and reconciliation.

“Honestly, my personal preference at this point would be for legislative leaders and legislators to work on the issues that are most important to the people they represent,” said Gash, a former Illinois House member from Highland Park.

“I think it’s unfortunate that this is the type of thing we’re discussing right now,” she said, but quickly added regarding Madigan, “That doesn’t make him wrong for doing it.”

* Notice that last sentence. Whether or not Democrats think the memo was a good idea, there is still a lot of talk about impeachment out in the real world…

“Everywhere I go people ask me about impeaching the governor,” [Democratic state Rep. George Scully] said. “If my neighbors see me outside my house, they ask me when we’re going to impeach the governor. When I go to the store, people ask me if the governor is going to be impeached.

“I recently went to a Bloom High School Board meeting, a Crete Village Board meeting and a Chicago Heights Park District Board meeting, and at every single stop people asked me about impeachment.

“So I could understand the need for talking points because anyone who holds elective office or is running for office in Illinois is being asked that question whenever they meet the public.”

* Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D-Urbana)…

Asked how her constituents feel about Blagojevich, she gave a nervous laugh and said, “I just hear a lot of comments like, ‘How long will he be around?’ I’m not sure if people want him impeached or if they are talking about something else.”

* More…

A day after a memo surfaced in which Madigan recommends how candidates in the November election discuss the issue of impeaching the governor, Jason Warfel, an Ingraham Democrat vying for the 108th House District seat, said the in-fighting is hurting the state.

“It’s tying the hands of the legislature,” Warfel said. “It’s preventing us from moving forward on many of the reforms we need to accomplish.” […]

Warfel has worked for both Madigan and Blagojevich but says he’s not taking sides or accepting help from either of them as he attempts to unseat Reis.

Warfel acknowledged that impeachment is a popular subject among voters.

“It’s on a lot of people’s minds,” he said.

But, he said he’s not getting involved in the tussle between his party’s leaders.

“I’m not in lockstep with everything Madigan is doing,” Warfel said. “And, I’m not advocating for the impeachment of the governor.”

Warfel isn’t “accepting” help because none has been offered. He is in an overwhelmingly GOP district and probably doesn’t stand a chance. Still, that makes his opinion a bit more interesting.

* More…

“It’s outrageous,” state Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle, said Wednesday of the Madigan memo. “It’s very transparent now that this is just a personal vendetta” by Madigan against Blagojevich.

Not mentioned in the story is that Granberg has become much more of a Blagojevich ally since he decided he might want a position within the administration. But, he has a point that about the memo being a bit outrageous.

* Former Gov. Jim Edgar also weighed in…

“It’s all academic because Senator Jones would never call for impeachment in the Senate,” added Edgar, now on staff at University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs. “It’s just speculation or wishful thinking, and until the Senate Democrats want to deal with that, we’re not going to place any stock in it.”

What the memo does do is add to the already agitated scene among top Democrats as they wrangle over a state budget many perceive as far out of balance.

“There’s already all kinds of problems throughout the system,” he said. “It just adds to the atmosphere.”

Edgar says little can be done to resolve the situation beyond the governor crawling back to the speaker on hands and knees.

“I don’t have the silver bullet and can’t pretend to tell you how to solve that situation,” Edgar said. “You can be humble and say, ‘I screwed up,’ and make amends. It may not turn it around immediately, but it will stop it from getting any worse.”

1) Jones may have no choice if the presiding Chief Justice decides to convene a trial.

2) Gov. Blagojevich ain’t gonna crawl on his hands and knees to anybody except maybe the feds.

* Meanwhile, Chuck Sweeny writes about a recent “bash Madigan” event in Rockford designed to whip up the home front in favor of the capital bill…

Led by Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville and Blagojevich’s ally, Reps. Dave Winters, R-Shirland, Ron Wait, R-Belvidere. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley, and Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, took turns dissing Madigan. Winters urged Democrats to overthrow Madigan as speaker, and Pritchard suggested getting on buses and making a fuss in Madigan’s Chicago district.

Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen said Madigan was stifling democracy and demanded, “Mr. Speaker, pass the (word I can’t use) bill.” Mayor Larry Morrissey, not to be outdone by the county, said maybe it’s time for voters to change the state’s rules by having a constitutional convention, something they’ll be asked on the Nov. 4 ballot.

“Who here voted for Mike Madigan?” the mayor shouted. “I’m angry, I’m (word I can’t use) off.”

That’ll work.

* Related…

* Impeachment of state officials very rare

* Jones plays Olympic card in state standoff

* Kay’s Statement on Possible Impeachment Investigations on Governor Blagojevich

* Our View: Stinking up the highways of Illinois

* What went wrong with Rod?: Hinz