Several Democratic operatives from Illinois say the Illinois state legislature will likely move as quickly as possible to hold impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), in attempts to prevent the jailed governor from appointing President-elect Barack Obama's successor in the Senate. The Illinois General Assembly would be tasked with holding impeachment hearings, and the state Senate would vote on a conviction.
Illinois law allows Blagojevich to make an appointment while in jail. While the decision would be a disaster for Democrats politically, no one is ruling out that prospect. Any candidate appointed by the jailed governor would be immediately tainted, and would face immense hurdles winning on their own in 2010.
Blagojevich could also appoint a caretaker to the seat, but that also would not bode well for Democrats politically. Having a sitting Democratic senator from Illinois appointed by a jailed governor would hurt the party's chances of holding the seat in 2010.
| I don't know, we in Illinois are used to this sort of nonsense. Only Joisey and Louisiana have the same degree of corruption, and I think we're still ahead ... |
| 2010 is two years down the pike. By then it will all have blown over. Bring the matter up in the campaign and you'll be put off with "the Merkin people want to talk about the issues, not about old news." Y'see, it'll all be in the past, when we'll have all been ever so much younger. |
Lieutenant governor Pat Quinn would take over if Blagojevich was forced to step down. He's from the progressive wing of the state Democratic party, and is very close with Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
| He's a perennial loser in the Kucinich mode and was put into the LG chair to shut him up. Successful, too. |
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