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Quote of the week
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) on the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich…
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.
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- Scooby - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:00 am:
Not on the same subject, but an interesting quote nonetheless:
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:01 am:
With Jones gone, is there any reason to think the Senate vote won’t track the House vote?
- downstate demo - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:06 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.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:13 am:
===If the State Senate blocks impeachment===
Are you daft?
- The Doc - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:14 am:
The notion that Hendon is on board with voting for conviction speaks volumes to the relative ease with which Blago will be ousted.
- HoBoSkillet - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:16 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.”
- Deep South - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:17 am:
Rich, I think your question from a week or two ago still stands. Who can name 20?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:19 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.
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:21 am:
Who can name 5?
- Moderate Repub - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:24 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.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:25 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.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:31 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.
- Say WHAT? - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:32 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.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:39 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.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:41 am:
Its almost like Hendon might just be most interested in what benefits Hendon.
- FormerRailGuy - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:47 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.
- Speaking at Will - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:48 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.
- tanstaafl - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:53 am:
Ghost - That goes without saying with most entrenched politicians. Their first intrest is what benefits them the most / gets them reelected.
- 618er - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:05 pm:
===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….
- Lyle Lanley - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:06 pm:
“this thing is on a monorail.”
Do I have to say it?
There’s nothing on Earth…
- One of the 35 - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:10 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.
- Pot calling kettle - 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.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:13 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.
- VanillaMan - 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?
- fedup dem - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:14 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.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:25 pm:
Rich its just faster to say hindsight is always 20/20
- Captain America - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:27 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.
- Bill Baar - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:28 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.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:29 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.
- Wondering - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:33 pm:
Who’s paying Blago’s legal bills?
a. Blago
b. Or Us
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:37 pm:
Lyle Lanley…how is that going to play in North Haverbrook? lol
- HoBoSkillet - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:46 pm:
Don’t forget Brockway and Ogdenville. All three were put on the map when the monorail went in.
- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:14 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.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:16 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
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:27 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.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:28 pm:
or even a fair “trial”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:28 pm:
Steve, Hendon said the trial would be fair. Very fair. And then comes the hanging.
- Kevin Fanning - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:35 pm:
Lol, good to hear that the inaugural went off without any betting going on.
- Levois - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:42 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!
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:56 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.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:05 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.
- Macoupin County Kid - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:17 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….
- dznuts - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:18 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.
- Reclaimillinois.com - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:25 pm:
Hendon’s comments remind me of the Governor’s theme song. Renegade from Styx!
- dznuts - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:38 pm:
There are a million similarities between this soap opera and the movie Blazing Saddles… it’s eerie.
- Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:47 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.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:11 pm:
Flume, I don’t remember where the movie is set, but it’s based on a judge in (Ft Smith, I think) Arkansas.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:27 pm:
Yep, Ft. Smith. And Pat Hingle was pretty good as that nasty judge.
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:06 pm:
Gary Forby will be a “NO” vote.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:08 pm:
LE, you’re wrong about that one. Dead wrong.
- Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:15 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.
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:02 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.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 6:27 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…
- DzNts - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:40 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.
- robo - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:15 am:
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.