Rule of Law
It pains me to have to remind the crew here that Blago hasn't even been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one. Whatever crimes that Fitz is or isn't going to bring against the man, his current status should be unaffected by that prospect. Fitz did a rather poor job of convicting Libby of lying in lieu of treason.
Why is it that the democrats are so quick to tar and feather one of their own (not yet even indicted) when there are scores of Republicans on the hook for war crimes, some as vile as the torture of toddler's testicles?
That ought to be something that receives at least as much scrutiny as Blago. Like it or not, Blago has the authority to pick Obama's replacement, and lacking any FORMAL charges, Congress will be abusing the law they ACT like they are so eager to support.
Enjoy.
Why is it that the democrats are so quick to tar and feather one of their own (not yet even indicted) when there are scores of Republicans on the hook for war crimes, some as vile as the torture of toddler's testicles?
That ought to be something that receives at least as much scrutiny as Blago. Like it or not, Blago has the authority to pick Obama's replacement, and lacking any FORMAL charges, Congress will be abusing the law they ACT like they are so eager to support.
Enjoy.
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Democrats have to police their own. The tapes are damning as far as this guy's character.
The nominee is another matter. Orlando and others have tackled that on both sides.
I predict that Fitz has more on this gov than just the Senate matter. But you are correct. No one has proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at this point.
January 2, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The tapes are in fact damning, not that it is a substitute for the law, which has yet to play itself out in the courts. I would be cautious in predicting that "Fitz has more on this gov than just the Senate matter", something a lot Americans believed George Bush had more of than the evidence of WMDs prior to invading Iraq. The investigation and timing of Blago definitely has a political component, IMO, tied to the same politicized DOJ that spawned the firing of US attorneys to further the rights political agenda.
January 2, 2009 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hie curly tail, the reason I feel sure there is more comes from some reading I did a week or so ago. I think I even blogged on it. Anyway, Blago was in the numbers rackets in Chicago twenty years ago. From there he got into some real estate stuff.
But, I agree. He is not convicted and besides the tapes I am relying on inuendo(sp) I have not seen the evidence first hand.
Blago is Governor. I have not researched Illinois law but the journalists who like to pass as attorneys state that he has the power to appoint without advice and consent from his own Senate.
I do not know how Reid cannot let Burris in.
And all this at a time when the dems need every senator they can lay their hands on.
I think we are missing one from Colorado, one from New York one from Illinois and one from Minnesota.
We have an extremely sickly one from one of the Dakotas.
WILL SOMEONE STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT!!!!
January 2, 2009 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
We'll see. You buy the beers if I'm right, I'll buy otherwise.
January 3, 2009 3:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree; they can whine and complain as much as they like, but the appointment is legally valid. Now, whether the Dems have to play nice with the appointee is quite another matter. Nothing illegal about giving the cold shoulder!
They've got to come up with a reason why the appointee, in itself, is unfit. I suspect that they would have uncovered that reason by now, if they were serious about it. Just another dog and pony show for the masses. You know, sort of like how they were going to end the war in 2006.
January 2, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why? "Posturing."
I'm troubled by small things, like Obama not telling us the truth already.
January 2, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Illinois decides who they send to the Senate. How is it that the Senate has another vote about that?
If Illinois wishes to prevent the appointment, they need to oust their governor so the successor can make the appointment. They need to do it quickly. If there is going to be a trail, get to it. Until then, Blago is an idiot until proven a guilty idiot. Stupidity is not a crime or Gonzo would already be in jail.
January 2, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the media yet again not doing its job. There is no second election, if you will, whereby those who are elected or legally appointed to the senate must go through a second step wherein the Senate votes to "seat" them. That is a crock of shit. They have the constitutional authority to expel a member by a 2/3 vote, but there is no process by which each newly elected senator goes through a second "election" whereby his/her fellow senators are permitted to trump the will of the voters and simply keep a senator out because they don't like him/her.
All of this bullshit on HuffPo about how the republicans will "filibuster" the seating of Franken if and when he is certified by the MN Sec. of State as the winner. WTF? There is no such thing. Filibuster what? Again, there is no "second election" one must go through to sit in the U.S. senate. If Franken is certified as the winner, the only body/bodies with the authority to stay or undo that certification are the MN Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court (assuming they find a justiciable question, which they shouldn't but it didn't stop them in Bush v. Gore). The U.S. senate has no jurisdiction over the MN election certifications. And if the two courts previously mentioned do not undo or stay the MN certification of Franken, the remedy for the Senate is to expel him by 2/3 vote. Good luck with that, Cornyn.
January 3, 2009 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just saw the story on Frankin. Nonsense. Pure and utter nonsense. I'm so sick and tired of these Republican asshats as is the MAJORITY of the rest of America. They are treading on thin ice both legally and politically.
Obama is going to have a grand time putting the screws to these obstructionist bastards.
Enjoy.
January 3, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah but Tim, tell me what you really think.
January 3, 2009 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink