House approves impeachment probe; Senate proposal on hold

The Illinois House voted 113-0 today to begin impeachment proceedings against Gov.

[Illinois Irrate]

Where is the presumption of "innocent until proven guilty?". Even the Illinois State Prosecutor, Lisa Madigan, who is sworn to uphold this presumption, is calling for Blagojevich's head. Why can't the two Madigans, daughter and father, wait until they have heard from the governor? The senate appointment is only for the rest of Obama's term at which time there will be an election as usual. And as for Lt. Governor Quinn, he should be ashamed of himself for trying to get the governorship in this manner. Let him run for election in the proper way!

[Second one]

Holy X*%$

[Scot in Riverside TX]

Merry FITZmas
There can be no pressure applied to Hot Rod, for he cares not a flip for anything but his personal cash flow.
Gov Hot Rod Blago wants the same deal The Obama Nation got. Hot rod wants his wife on a number of boards, just like Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton, and a number of Political Wives without business resumes, who were offered and held Non Executive Directors positions on company boards that give them both 6 and 7 figure cash income and 6 and 7 figure stock options. Totally, yet technically lawful for any Democrat, but a criminal act for Republicans. Go Figure
Ethics are equal justice under law, remains a powerful myth
Our justice system remains open to the highest bidder
And somehow we are upset at Hot Rods Pay to Play methods

[Dianerose]

It took Patrick Fizgerald to prove once in for ALL the corruption that the State of Illinois has. Without
Mr. Fizgerald we would have never EVER heard about the REAL corruption that so many politicians knew but didn't dare to comment or be a TRUE hero.

[Bibliophilist]

113-0. Blago is toast.
NOBODY wants this buffoon doing ANY Illinois business as Governor of this great state. Remove him. Then we can deal with criminal charges.
I like Pat Quinn. He supports term limits, less government, eliminating the Tollway Authority. He's actually a breath of fresh air amidst the corrupt stench in Illinois politics.
End this now. Remove Rod. Lets move on with solving the immense problems Illinois needs to deal with. We cannot 'afford' this distraction any longer.

[wire tap all of them]

Everyone that holds elected office should sign a wavor to be wire taped at anytime! we need to get a hold on this corruption it's getting way out of control.

[Long-time Trib Reader]

If the Dems do not move quickly, they will lose more than the seat, they will be seen as backing Blago, and will lose it all

[wudubeleveit]

No vote for open position hmmmmmm

[mrdealisland]

the appointment must go throught or there is a problem that will end up in the supreme court. a man is innocent until proven guilt.

[Aaron]

Seems to me the Democrats are too hell-bent to get rid of Blagoevich quickly. Could there be a fear that he will blow the whistle on pay-for-play politics in Illinois that could involve scores if not hundreds of big time players in the Legislature and private business? And don't discount the power play by the Madigans. We need a fresh face at the helm, not another family dynasty.

[Janine]

It would be well for everyone to realize that Gov Rod, even if he remains Governor, has no credibility at this time. Any act or executive order he signs will be questioned. He is a lame duck of sorts without a specific successor. The action that the ILAG Madigan took attempts to address this issue so that state business can go forward. This is NOT related to the impeachment INQUIRY.

The impeachment process must take place in a careful and deliberate manner because it will establish a precedent in Illinois. This is the United States and both USA Fitzgerald and Speaker Madigan stated that Rod must be allowed due process according to the laws of the land. Lets all hope for the best here and move forward.

[Dana]

Its just an effing game to all of them, this just annoys me to no end.

Get rid of Blago, pick on Senator and get on with it already, why spend 30 mil for an election, the state is already so far in the hole, we don't need this.

He has to be assumed guilty since they have his voice on tape, without the wiretaps I could see reason to hold off, but it is own voice, his own words, his own actions.

[Norton]

Before the cart goes before the horse, it has not been proven that Blago did anything except TALK about taking campaign money in a quid pro quo. Illinois' impeachment law is vague as to causes. The governor can be impeached (which means charged) by the House for any reason or no reason at all according to legal scholars. It is the responsibility of the Senate to try the case if the House votes to impeach. This is not a slam dunk. Any federal case is a different matter and Blago's ace in that hole is turning canary. Don't think a lot of Illinois and maybe national politicians are not quaking over that thought.

[Reichardt]

Can you hear the MCAHINEery clanking? What a joke representation in that state is!

[NTP]

While we're impeaching Blagojevich, how about impeaching Bush?

[Hiromi Uto]

I was excited until I realized this wasn't about Bush.

[Bob Gee]

Illinois House voted 113-0, so take him down!

[the man]

What a dusche

[since you asked]

Great. Six days after Blago's arrest, our wonderful state politicians finally vote ... to do an investigation.(How long will THAT take?) And then they adjourned for four weeks.

Do we really trust Harry Reid to block any Blago appointment to the senate seat? Maybe Reid should research the 1969 Supreme Court ruling that the House of Representatives could not refuse to seat Rep. Adam Clayton Powell (D-NY) because of accusations against him.

"The Constitution does not vest in the Congress a discretionary power to deny membership by majority vote." Congrss may "judge only the qualifications set forth in the Constitution," per Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren.

[Resident-Chicago]

NTP wrote:

While we're impeaching Blagojevich, how about impeaching Bush?

Is everyone in Bozeman, MT as idiotic as you? What does Bush have to do with corruption in Illinois? Aside from the fact that his term in office is over on Jan. 20. God! No wonder our country is in the shape it's in with nitwits like you.