Big day in the history of Illinois. at 4:52pm, the Senate removed ex-Governor Rod R. Blagojevich on a unanimous 59-0 vote, then immediately (tho apparently not necessary) voted on a notion to have him disqualified from every holding another public office in Illinois ever again. That too was a 59-0 unanimous vote. I've been watching this on TV all afternoon and evening, and I'm still shocked and out of breath. I guess I'm also relieved, because in the back of my mind, I was worried he wouldn't get impeached, and the idea of disqualification seemed like overkill. But given his history of arrogance, delusional acts which some health experts discussed that he's duped himself into believing his own lies and that he might be mentally ill, the East Coast media tour he went on this week to paint himself as a victim, which really angered a lot of the Senators here. And then there's was Blagojevich's 11th hour speech today that was deemed "vintage Blagojevich": an extraordinary speech maker, whom today sputtering complete lies and rhetoric.
I'm just still amazed at how somebody so crooked got to one of the highest offices in the state, yet got re-elected in 2006 for a second term, when there was clearly stuff going on. Blagojevich was a big city Chicago politician before he became Governor in 2002, which already has its own reputation of corruption and keeping seats in the family & family on the payroll. Blagojevich is an example of the worst kind of politician that exists, and according to the speeches the Senators made, he personally "hurt families, hurt Illinois".
The second Blagojevich was removed, his security detail left. He no longer gets a salary, but keeps his pension. He gets removed in disgrace as the 40th Illinois Governor and the first ever impeached. 2-and-out, private citizen Blago. We're finally spared of your corrupt "pay to play politics", selling a Senate seat to the highest bidder for own personal financial gain, all of your shakedowns one including a $50,000 shakedown that include depriving a Children's Memorial Hospital of $8 million of state funds. Regardless of your political affiliation, I know I'm going to sleep a bit better tonight knowing that crook can't poison the Gov't anymore.
Oh, and here are two great pics, first of ex-Governor's wife Patty Blagojevich and a little article about her rather colorful language , and of course Rod sporting the cap of his beloved favorite sports team . Looking sharp, Blago's! Rod also wanted to get his wife on state payroll and get her as a lobbyist, a sure first step in their scheme to get her in higher power. At least I know they won't get it in Illinois.
