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| Quinn predicts Blagojevich will be removed soon |
| 2008-12-28 |
| Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn (D) on Sunday predicted that the state legislature would remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) from office before Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday on February 12. The Illinois state House can impeach Blagojevich with a simple majority, and it takes two-thirds of the Senate to convict. "There's far more [senators] than that ready to" remove Blagojevich, the lieutenant governor claimed on CBS's "Face the Nation." Quinn reiterated that he thinks that the best thing for the state would be for the governor to step down voluntarily. However, Blagojevich has remained publicly defiant, promising to stay in office as he works to clear his name. Quinn said he and Blagojevich had not spoken since August of 2007, and that the governor rarely accepts outside advice. Instead, the lieutenant governor said, Blagojevich chooses to listen to a small number of "palace guards." "He's isolated. He always has been. He doesn't really ask other people for advice," Quinn said. "What he needs to know is he's disgraced himself, he's disgraced the people of Illinois and he needs to do the proper thing and resign." Blagojevich was arrested on Dec. 9 and prosecutors alleged he was trying to trade President-elect Obama's Senate seat for personal gain, either through campaign contributions or future employment. Quinn said he hopes to be able to appoint an interim senator who would serve on a temporary basis until the state can organize a new election. "I hope we can have a special election," he said, estimating that it would not take place before June. Also appearing on CBS, top Obama advisor David Axelrod dismissed notions that the presidential transition team has anything to worry about if and when federal prosecutors release transcripts of phone calls between incoming Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Blagojevich and his aides. According to a report issued by Obama's office this week, Emanuel had "one or two" conversations with Blagojevich in the days after Obama won the election, though those conversations focused more on the congressional seat Emanuel would vacate than on Obama's Senate seat. "When [the transcripts] are released, they will completely bear out our report this week," Axelrod said. Still, he added, Obama has no control over when those transcripts see the light of day. "It's within the power and purview of the U.S. Attorney to release those transcripts," Axelrod said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 ONLY IN AMERIKA = OWG USSA/USRoA can MTV's poor ratings vee REALITY SHOWS be interpreted as righteously meaning that MTV SHOULD AND MUST PRODUCE MORE AND MORE REALITY SHOWS! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-12-28 22:00 |
| #5 MARTHA? ALAN? Its official - besides its ratings, MTV's mysterious love of REALITY SHOWS has destroyed Illinois + prob Detroit. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-12-28 21:57 |
| #4 That would work too, SU. Decisions, decisions.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-12-28 20:01 |
| #3 Barb, it may be asphyxiation after an unsuccessful attempt to breathe water in his bathtub. |
| Posted by: Spike Uniter 2008-12-28 19:29 |
| #2 Axlerod has read the transcripts? Otherwise, how can he know that Obama team has nothing to worry about. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-12-28 14:05 |
| #1 "Blagojevich will be removed soon" Via cement overshoes, or elevator shaft? Or maybe he'll commit suicide by shooting himself 3 times in the back of the head? Inquiring minds, etc..... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-12-28 13:31 |