Rod Blagojevich found guilty

Illinois' governor, Rod Blagojevich, was found guilty by the state senate by a vote of 59-0.

Blagojevich gets impeached; Burris gets judicial nod

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached yesterday by the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 114-1. The articles of impeachment are now sent to the state's senate where Blagojevich will be tried. Governor Blagojevich states he will be vindicated in the end.

Roland Burris, who was slated by Blagojevich to take Barack Obama's seat in the United States Senate, won a nod from the state's highest court stating his certificate did not require the signature of the state's secretary of state to take his seat in the Senate.

Roland Burris

Blagojevich-appointed junior United States senator for the state of Illinois was denied access to the Senate floor today by the Senate's secretary, because he lacked appropriate credentials. He had a certificate signed by Governor Rod Blagojevich, but not the state's secretary of state. Senate standing rules require that a new senator's certificate contain both signatures to be considered valid.

Mr. Burris has vowed to take this battle to the nation's "highest court."

I say good luck to him.

Senate Showdown

Roland Burris has been appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to fill the seat vacated by President-Elect Barack Obama. Senator Harry Reid (D-Majority Leader) has stated he will do what is necessary to keep Burris from taking his seat in the Senate chamber, which includes having him bounced by security.

I think Majority Leader Reid needs to take a Xanax to calm down a little bit. The Illinois office of governor has the sole right to fill vacancies in the United States Congress. Governor Blagojevich, no matter how slimy and criminal he may be, has done as much to fulfill his constitutional duties by appointing Burris.

I do not think constitutional law is on Reid's side in denying Burris his seat in the 111th Congress.

Blah, Blago

Is it a far stretch to say the man's name, Blagojevich? I'm tired of hearing about it, firstly. If that isn't bad enough, I have to hear them call him "Governor Blago" or just "Blago."

What the hell?

If you're going to send a man down the river at least have the common courtesy to say his entire name. The fact some news commentators call him Blago reflects their own ignorance, because they cannot say his name.

Besides, if this scandal were happening in any other state would the media care? It is only because it is one of Barack Obama's home states. (I'm confused if it is Illinois or Hawaii. The media use both states interchangeably.)

Let's all say B-L-A-G-O-J-E-V-I-C-H. And to make it even easier, the "j" makes a "ya" sound. How fun is that, really?

Blagojevich makes his Senate appointment

The embattled governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, has appointed his former rival, and Barack Obama supporter, Roland Burris to fill President-Elect Barack Obama's seat in the United States Senate.

Four qualities that made Burris advantageous to Blagojevich:

• Democrat
• Former political rival for governor of Illinois
• Endorsed by Barack Obama for governor over Blagojevich
• African-American

Such an appointment will make it hard for Democratic leaders in the Senate to speak out against Blagojevich. He seems to have made lemonade from all the lemons he has collected over recent weeks. Will it improve his image? It is doubtful, but I do believe Burris' appointment to the Senate will stick. As the state's governor, it is his right to fill vacancies.

Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich

Illinois Governor Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich has been a naughty boy, but he is unwilling to acquiese to the charges filed against him by a federal prosecutor. He is adament that he is innocent; therefore, he will not step down as governor. For some reason I keep wanting to call Governor Blagojevich by the name Slobodan Milosevic. I guess that is because he is of Serbian lineage. I know that is terrible. I just don't know what to make of this individual.

Rod Blagojevich

FOX News is keeping a 24-hour vigil on Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL). I was watching it today at my doctor's office, because I do not watch it at home. It would seem that the ultra-conservative news channel is obsessed with this case, since Blagojevich is a Democrat.

Further, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has called on the state's supreme court to rule Blagojevich unable to execute his constitutional duties as governor and install the lieutenant governor in his place. This goes further to the issue of whether or not Blagojevich can install a senator to take Barack Obama's former seat in the United States Senate until the 2010 election. Many pundits agree that he now lacks the authority to make such an appointment, since he has been indicted on federal charges, including those stating he attempted to "sell" the pending senate seat to the highest bidder.