Firing up the Wayback Machine
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From January of 2009…
The Illinois House voted Friday to impeach disgraced Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and send him to trial in the Senate with the aim of removing the two-term Democrat from state public office forever. […]
[The impeachment resolution] included the criminal charges against Blagojevich, which involved allegations that he sought to squeeze campaign contributions in exchange for official acts, such as signing a bill or providing reimbursement to a children’s hospital.
The children’s hospital never paid up, so there was no successful quid pro quo. But Blagojevich was nevertheless impeached for the offense, removed from office and convicted by a federal jury. The attempted shakedown itself was the crime. The hospital was considered a victim.
Hat tip to Kristen, whose tweet prompted me to look through the archives.
* Meanwhile, this is from shortly before the House impeachment vote…
Lawmakers say the criminal charges that accuse Blagojevich of trying to sell or trade his official duties for campaign cash or other personal benefits call into question almost every action he now takes.
And their case for impeachment goes beyond criminal allegations. They say he abused the power of his office: bypassing the Legislature to create new programs he couldn’t pay for; circumventing hiring laws to give jobs to political allies; and misappropriating taxpayer funds.
“He has snubbed his nose at that oath of office and, therefore, snubbed his nose at the people and the constitution,” said Republican Rep. Mike Bost. “And it hurts tremendously to know that we have a chief executive officer [who] can’t realize the pain that his actions have caused the state of Illinois.”
Bost is now, of course, a US Representative.
* And this is from way before Blagojevich’s arrest: July of 2007…
The feud between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan degenerated Saturday into an argument about who gets to set meeting times. […]
“I believe we should look into what it would take to see if he (Blagojevich) is to the point where impeachment proceedings should start,” said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro. “I am dead serious.”
Again, that’s a year and a half before RRB was even arrested.
* Also from July of 2007…
There’s a new website up for those of you who think that Gov. Blagojevich ought to be impeached. The domain Impeach Blagojevich is owned by Dennis LaComb, the executive director of the very conservative organization United Republican Fund.
Twice-failed statewide candidate Jim Oberweis is the group’s secretary
Oberweis is now a candidate for US Representative.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:22 pm:
I was waiting for someone to ask the Bost question. It’s a legit question.
- anon2 - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:25 pm:
Unfortunately, Congressman Bost shows none of the enthusiasm he did as a State Rep. for holding a wayward chief executive to account by employing checks and balances. I wonder what could account for his change of heart?
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:27 pm:
His argument of course was that there was no quid pro quo, it was just political “horse trading.” We’ve already heard Part A from a current office holder, Part B can’t be far behind.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:33 pm:
Impeachment is a political tool within the governing guidelines of a constitution, state or U.S..
That said, a political solution to a truly governing crime is why the process is as it is, and the bar is as high as it is too.
The only true measure of these instances will be the proper interpretation of Blago and the President, and if the strain of the political fervor is too great to use impeachment when possible high crimes and misdemeanors occurred.
Funny thing about the times we live; odds are words can be found when you speak to something, and then you’ll ha ecto be reminded of your possibly hypocrisy today.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:35 pm:
Kristen’s tweet cries out for the journalistic equivalent of Casey Stengel’s “Can’t anyone here play baseball?”
- someonehastosayit - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:46 pm:
And this was a Democratic majority legislature removing a Democratic governor. Principle before party is a fine, fine thing. I hope Republican leaders can find it in themselves to follow suit.
- Been There - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:47 pm:
===The children’s hospital never paid up, so there was no successful quid pro quo.===
Neither did the race track if you want to double up on the argument.
- A guy - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 2:50 pm:
2019 is the year when the very serious concept of Impeach became diluted into Impeaches&cream.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 3:00 pm:
But it’s different because Donald Trump did it. Laws don’t apply to him.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 3:07 pm:
Strange times then and now. If I remember correctly, some of the articles of impeachment dealt with things he did in his first term. Never understood why the Democrats couldn’t dump him when he was up for re-election.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 3:12 pm:
===I hope Republican leaders can find it in themselves to follow suit.===
A party completely devoid of morality and common sense, don’t count your chickens. If impeachment does happen, and there is a trial in the Senate, it does not matter, he will not be removed from office. These people are who they are, it’s time we believe them.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 3:35 pm:
Last Bull Moose -
Remember Madigan saying in 2006ish (and can’t find it online) the last time he opposed an incumbent Democratic Governor the GOP had 26 consecutive years in the Governor’s seat. Anyone have that link?
- DuPage - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 4:00 pm:
Speaking of Blago, Patti needs to remind Trump about that commutation he was talking about. I can’t envision Pence granting that.
- BC - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 4:48 pm:
Sorry, this is long but it’s worth a read. It’s from the U.S. Attorney’s press released detailing the Blago indictment. The parallels (tying the release of government aid to campaign help) with Trump’s Ukraine activities are compelling. The national Dems should really be playing up the Trump/Blago comparison:
“…defendant Blagojevich advised Lobbyist A that he intended to take official action that would provide additional state money to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and that Blagojevich wanted to get $50,000 in campaign contributions from the hospital’s chief executive officer.
On Oct. 17, 2008, Blagojevich called the hospital’s CEO to tell him of his intent to increase the Illinois Medicaid reimbursement rate for speciality-care pediatric physicians. Shortly before this, Blagojevich had directed Deputy Governor A to initiate such an increase, which Illinois providers of pediatric healthcare, including Children’s Memorial Hospital, had actively supported for years.
On Oct. 22, 2008, Blagojevich spoke with the Children’s CEO and asked him to arrange to raise $25,000 for Blagojevich prior to Jan. 1, 2009. On Nov. 12, 2008, after the Children’s CEO had not returned additional phone calls from Robert Blagojevich and no political contributions from the Children’s CEO or other persons associated with the hospital had been received, Blagojevich spoke to Deputy Governor A about the increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rates for specialty-care pediatric physicians, asking whether “we could pull it back if we needed to. . . .” As a result of this conversation, Deputy Governor A instructed the Department of Healthcare Services to stop its work on increasing the reimbursement for specialty- care pediatric physicians.”
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 5:22 pm:
“2019 is the year when the very serious concept of Impeach became diluted into Impeaches&cream.”
Take a nap.
– MrJM