The State has Updated the State Web Site...

It also says Pat Quinn, Governor

SPRINGFIELD – January 29, 2009. Former Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn has become the 41st Governor of the State of Illinois, having taken the Oath of Office at 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2009 The Oath of Office was administered by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke in a brief ceremony in the Chamber of the Illinois House of Representatives.

“I pledge an open and fair state government worthy of being called the Land of Lincoln," Quinn said. “The people of Illinois have the right to expect integrity and diligence from their elected officials.”

On Thursday, the Illinois Senate convicted Governor Blagojevich on Articles of Impeachment the House passed earlier this month. Therefore, under Article V, Section 6(c) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, the Lt. Governor assumes all duties and powers of Governor.

“In the coming days, we will face some tough choices. I am confident that by working together we will meet these challenges to emerge a much stronger and vibrant state.”

Governor Quinn reminds Illinois citizens of President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal words: "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth.”

Gone

So what is Rod going to do tomorrow...

In some ways I have the same feeling about Rod speaking to the senate tomorrow that I do when one of my Wolf Cub Scouts raises his hand to speak about something.

It can be really profound but more likely that not, it isn't going to make much sense.

I see a few of different options that the governor might take...

He knows he likely will know the whole world is watching (sort of) so...

He repeats the same stuff we have seen on all of the shows the last couple of days.

He tries to repeat all of the same stuff, but since it isn't relevant to the charges they challenge him.

It basically ends up being a campaign speech, he campaigns very well and resigns at the end with the hope of acquittal in the criminal courts and another run for Governor.

He starts tossing people under the bus, big time starting with the President on down. There were threats during the summer that they would destroy people if they tried impeachment. A part of me thinks he is vindictive enough to do it. A complete slash and burn out the door.


He does a complete end of Mr. Smith goes to Washington

You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked and
I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause even if
this room gets filled with lies like these, and the Madigans and all their
armies come marching into this place. Somebody'll listen to me


I put the odds of a resignation at the end of it at 50/50

Getting ever closer

Until we are rid of this man as our governor.

But for what it is worth, if Mother Teresa showed up with angles proclaiming his innocence, I would listen.

Also as someone else has pointed out, I hope some member of the media asks about what he did for Obama in terms of appointments. Not because I want to embarrass the president (seriously) but because I think it is another thing that someone needs to call BS on Rod.

Also I would like to hear an interviewer say...

I will give you that you want the tapes released, I will give you the whole thing about Mother Teresa and angles, I will give you elected twice by the people. So don't bring that stuff up again, we have heard it enough. Now answer some questions...

For those who saw Governor Blagojevich on Larry King..

Lets cover some of the 'statements' of our governor.

Seniors ride public transportation for free:

A state mandate without funding to local transit districts for that, also you only ride free within your transit district. So if you live in Springfield you don't get to ride the CTA for free.

Healthcare payments:

Don't even know where to start with this one, the state is way behind on payments to providers. Owing some hospitals and nursing home operators millions of dollars. It's easy to add people to health care programs, it harder to figure out how to pay for it.


Drug Importation:

During the entire time the state drug importation program has been running (years) only 5,000 people or so have taken part, FYI the state has spent a ton of money promoting this program.


There is a ton more, but just remember kids....

He can call witnesses. Also he could call everyone and their brother to say 'He didn't try to sell the senate seat to me' but what does that really mean.

For those who have seen Governor Blagojevich on the TV the last couple of days...

Please note: Governor Blagojevich is not Gandhi, Mandela or Dr. King. It is insulting to these men and their legacies that he even references them, they were concerned about the well being on others, our governor is only concerned about himself and moving himself forward.

He rants about a political-industrial complex. Keep in mind he has raised more money that anyone else in Illinois political history, contributions without limits, contributions from folks who a short time later were appointed to important state boards. He is the epitome of whatever the heck a 'political-industrial complex' is.

Ask about the signs over the tollway that have his name, ask about the number of times he has brought out schoolkids, seniors and the disabled to score cheep political points.

He has sidestepped the checks and balances of government in order to help bankrupt the state and because it suited his purposes. There is a reason our system of government has three branches, there is a reason why leaders compromise to get things done.

He acts if he is surprised that he was charged with a crime. Everyone and I think it is safe to say everyone who follows politics in this state knew the day would come when he would be charged with a crime. He may act shocked, if he was he was the only one.

However all of us where shocked by the senate seat stuff, we never figured he would be that brazen.

He is trying to get your sympathy, he is trying to get your pity, he is trying to convince you he is the victim in all of this. It's a lie. The victims of this are the people of Illinois and they have been this man's victim long before he tried to sell a US Senate seat.

Don't fall for his act...

OneMan

Sometimes Governor

If you think everyone is out to get you, you are in fact paranoid.

If you are going to Twitter as a candidate

Then you need to willing to actually engage the folks who you follow and follow you...

For example SaraforCongress, when you were accused of doing some 'interesting poling' regarding some of the questions that were asked.

Don't think you are going to be able to get away with some sort of half answer half evade thing... Why, because by starting to twitter you have tried to create the illusion of having a two way conversation with people, once you start responding to people via something like twitter everyone who uses it will feel they also should be getting a response.

If you are going to engage in social media, you need to be well, social. You need to answer the tough questions. Because it wasn't just me who asked you about this on twitter. You decided to engage in a conversation using social media, I would suggest you actually do so.

OneMan

Got some MSM play today...

About how Republicans are not going to go into hiding...

The Sun Will Still Rise on Wed...

We will have a Democratic president and I hope he exceeds everyone's expectations, would I rather be saying that about John McCain, yeah.. But reguardless I think every American want's President Elect Obama to succeed.

Anyway here in Illinois we are going to have the Rod show for quite some time so that will warm any Republican hearts.

OneMan

As someone pointed out

Gabrielle Carteris from the original Beverly Hills 90201 is older than the president elect.
The President Elect is also younger than...

The people who played Arvin and Alan on Head of The Class

Jake, Long Duck Dong, Ginny from 16 Candles
Also
Judd Nelson, James Spader, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey, Bill Paxton

Think about that next time you watch a John Hughes film...

Twitter and the 5th Congressional Race

I would just like to suggest that candidates not assume that everyone who is following them is a supporter.

However it is an interesting next step in political communications, the only problem is that it creates the impression of intimacy and if you try to fake that you are going to fail and fail hard.

Even more than facebook fake twitter sincerity is somewhat obvious.... Yes there is risk in being off the cuff but there is also great opportunity.

OneMan

Emil Jones goes off his rocker...

Emil Jones offers some thoughts on the impeachment..

"Maybe all the evidence may point in one direction, but it may be the wrong person," Jones said. "We don't have all the facts.''

and...

Jones, a Chicago Democrat, compared Blagojevich's situation to former Gov. George Ryan's decision to impose a moratorium on the death penalty out of concern that an innocent man or woman could be executed.

''What happened to most of those wrongfully convicted individuals, they were rushed through a process,'' Jones said.

Let me repeat that

Jones, a Chicago Democrat, compared Blagojevich's situation to former Gov. George Ryan's decision to impose a moratorium on the death penalty out of concern that an innocent man or woman could be executed.

''What happened to most of those wrongfully convicted individuals, they were rushed through a process,'' Jones said.

He is comparing the governor and some guy who was beaten to get a confession? Seriously?

I am so going to miss Emil....

OneMan

Something Rod and I can agree on

Nixon Blagojevich

I have been reading: President Nixon: Alone in the White House by Richard Reeves and I am finding a lot in common between Nixon and Blagojevich.

The biggest seeming to be how they both were very isolated, in large part by their own choice. Each of them deciding that their own counsel was the best to keep and wanting to focus on the very large and very small leaving everything else to others. Also the focus on 'enemies' both within government, politics and media. Much like the allegations about him wanting to mess with the Tribune editorial board and how he wanted to ruin the 'Madigan brand'. Those seem to very Nixonian in the nature.

It will be interesting to see if Rod figures out it is time to stop fighting like Nixon did.

I have to give Jesse White some credit.

Unlike Durbin and Reid, he stayed true to his word. I have to give him a lot of credit for that I am sure he was under some pressure to say the least but he stood his ground.

I am sure this monster cave is going to show up in some PAC ad down the road. I would argue it does Reid no favors in his re-election bid.

Good luck raising money Mr. Burris.

OneMan

The Reid/White Paradox

So Jesse White will not sign the form, the seante will not seat without the form signed and the state supreme court says Jesse White does not have have to sign the form.

The Reid/White Paradox....

If they end up seating Burris this Republican will point out how Burris was the only one on the Democratic side of this whole mess who kept their word.

Go Jesse Go

The Rest of the Governor's press conference

The rest of Rod's press conference..

Now I would like to introduce James Smith, Robert Wells and Bill Jones you will notice they are all wearing prison jumpsuits. The reason they are still wearing jumpsuits is because I didn't get around to their clemency requests because I don't want to appear to be soft on crime. So like almost 2,000 other prisoners they wait for me to make a decision...


Next is Bill Smith, Mr Smith served our county with honor for 5 years in the US Army, when he returned home he interviewed for an open position within a state department. He was our highest rated candidate but alas since he is not connected we decided to open the job in Henry county instead of Cook county so we could give it to the person we wanted to give it to instead of the person who state law said should get it.

Then there is William Edwards, Mr. Edwards worked at a state facility I planned on reopening. But even though I had an agreement with a state representative about finding a new use for the facility I decided to say the heck with that and did what I planned to want to do anyway.

Finally, I would like to introduce Tina Jones. Tina made a request to my office but made the mistake of including a letter from someone in the state senate whom I had a disagreement with. So without so much as thinking about what she was asking for, I had her request tossed into the garbage.

I could introduce you to a whole host of people and entities who have been completely jerked over because of my inability to govern but I would rather recite some more poetry but I have a simple quote that sums up my administration

Larry McMurtry, ‘Lonesome Dove’

Incompetents invariably make trouble for people other than themselves.

Burris was Approached by Rod's Criminal Attorney

I think in a nutshell that statement shows how screwed up this state is...

Leon Panetta for CIA Chief?

Seriously?

Sorry he so does not seem like the right guy for the job. How about someone who at least worked for or oversaw some portion our our spy stuff, can't find a former NSA guy? Even a former general or something?

Seriously, Clinton's former chief of staff is the best you can do?

If this is acurate then Wiesner is a shoe-in

I heard someplace today that Aurora had only two murders last year. If that is true it's the same number as Naperville had last year.

Powerful stuff.

-- In response to the person who commented (the comment I am not going to post because I can't validate the name).

If the clinic was going to be a big political issue in this set of elections we would have seen more aldermatic challengers. Also it would have played out locally in November with the state senate race.

OneMan

Why Rod Should Go to Washington

Because as I read in the NYT the standing rules of the US Senate give access to the senate floor to sitting governors and Rod is a sitting governor.

So while the state house is voting on impeaching him Rod can be in Washington saying he is working on getting a senator seated to represent the people of the state of Illinois.

It would be classic Rod.

Yes Kids...

On more than one level MJM and the rest of the Democrats in Illinois did get totally played by Rod this week.

If he is going to go down he is going to totally mess with them on the way....

What Happens Next with the Burris Saga.

Sometime before Burris goes to Washington to try and get sworn with the newly elected senators you are going to have the following happen.

The fully scripted part....
Bobby Rush takes the rhetoric up to 12 on race, making really outrageous statements. As in above the fold, top of the news statements about the appointment and anyone who dares oppose it.

There is a decent chance that Bobby Rush and a group of others will make a scene when Burris is turned away from the senate swearing in.

You will then have Rolland Burris go out and talk about how this isn't about race at all and start to distance himself from Bobby Rush.

This makes Rolland look 'statesman' like.

The Not as Well thought out by Rod and Rolland part

Most likely as I am typing this folks in the Democratic Senate Caucus, The Illinois GOP, The Chicago Tribune, The Sun Times and at least a half dozen political nerds are cross checking Burris donors, Blagojevich donors and state contract holders. Also looking at donations that just go across the two of them. Not to mention donations by Burris' lobby and business clients.

Also Illinois Democrats are likely beating the bushes to find anyone who has a beef with Burris at this point. Don't worry there are folks out there you can't be in politics in this state that long without you ending up with folks who have a beef with you.