Maybe Blago won’t get to pick Obama’s replacement after all:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/ap-blago.html?_r=1&hp
Asking for bribes in return for naming Obama’s replacement to the Senate? As Princess Leia said to Darth Vader, “only you would be so bold.”
Lt. Gov. Quinn is one of the (very few) anti-Chicago machine Democrats to be successful in political office in Illinois, so I’d be rubbing my hands in glee if he had to appoint Obama’s replacement. Most likely Quinn would select someone like State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) of Lake County, mainly because he’s been the biggest thorn in the side of Blago’s crowd— and he’s also one of the few anti-machine Dems to keep winning elections in Illinois. For those unfamilar with State Rep. Franks, here’s some background info. :
http://www.russstewart.com/4-23-08.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/20/blagojevich-viewed-as-cam_n_136138.html
http://djwinfo.blogspot.com/2005/04/jack-franks-for-governor.html
Basically, Quinn would need an ally on the statewide level to watch his back, and putting Franks in there would be Chuck Hagel appointing Walter Jones as Defense Secretary in a “Republican” adminstration taking over from Bush.
Wow, the charges against Blago look pretty devastating:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145500/posts
I wonder how they’ll fill Obama’s Senate seat now assuming that Blago doesn’t resign (which he won’t, at least not if it isn’t part of a deal)? Can a federal court enjoin a governor accused of bribery in the appointment of a U.S. Senator from making an appointment to the Senate? Maybe the feds can transport Blago outside the state so that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn becomes acting gov. and picks the Senator or (less controversial) call for a quick special election.
BTW, I think that Illinois Republicans could do a lot worse than having Patrick Fitzgerald run for the U.S. Senate. I’m not saying that I like Fitzgerald or forgive him for his behavior during the Plame investigation, but running an “outsider” who fights corruption may be our only chance of winning that Senate seat now that it is unlikely that the Democrats will appoint someone controversial to the seat.
HOLY S**T!!!!!!
Blago is now making George Ryan look honest and popular.