http://capitolfaxcom.disqus.com/NoneenFri, 16 Jan 2009 08:25:47 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201446<p>Aside from her display of political witlessness, I'm shocked (shocked I tell you!) by this display of nepotism in the 40th. Weren't there any Daley, Madigan, Burke, or Cullerton kids than needed a job?</p><p>Guess I can't tell Ms. Mell to 'Man up', so Ms. Mell, next time you have to choose between your family and the State, either choose the people you represent or resign.</p>Bobs yerFri, 16 Jan 2009 08:25:47 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201445<p>I still agree w/abstaining, it's too close of an issue personally (that can affect professionally)</p><p>BUT I'm looking at this differently (ie, familial relationships)...<br>If she voted YES, she would have been on Dad's side.<br>If she voted NO, she would be on Patti's side.</p><p>This may be a way to show her political independence from her father? Or not...</p><p>I'm sooo glad I'm not in the middle of it, but (as a staffer would recommend she) would have abstained. Yeah, both sides mad that I didn't side with them, but neither REALLY angry that I was publicly against either of them...</p><p>Not like holidays are much fun around that household anyways!</p>312Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:45:10 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201444<p>And get a load of Mell's response to Eric Zorn's flogging. It's classic form-letter-to-a-constituent tripe:</p><p>Dear Eric,</p><p>Thank you for your message, I appreciate your candor. As has been acknowledged, this vote was difficult and not how I anticipated beginning my term as state representative.</p><p>You are one of my constituents and your feedback is important. I take nothing for granted and will work hard to earn your trust and respect. I am committed to providing high-quality services to the people in my district, and will be an active and responsive presence in our community.</p><p>There is much work to be done in Springfield. The economy is a mess, people are losing their jobs and their homes. I am eager to get started, fighting on behalf of the people in my district.</p><p>Before my next vote, please be in touch - I want to be sure to take all perspectives into consideration.</p><p>Regards,<br>Deb Mell</p><p>So, is she saying that if we had only gotten in touch with her before her impeachment vote we might have swayed her? Is this a Daley-esque blame the complacent citizen defense?</p>ZoraThu, 15 Jan 2009 19:33:42 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201443<p>With regards to Deb Mell and her No vote: Just shows you more of the same type of person elected by the Chicago Dems. Hey folks - you get what you vote for! Another big mistake.</p>Toni H.Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:06:04 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201442<p>If Deb Mell couldn't do what was in the best interests of the State of Illinois, it was her duty not to take the job. She could have recused herself from this vote; she could have resigned her position; even a case could be made why she should vote "Present." By no measure is it in the best interest of her constituents for Blago to stay in office. Her decision to vote "No" was wrong and morally cowardly.</p>Thomas WestgardThu, 15 Jan 2009 17:36:58 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201440<p>One thing in Deb Mell's statement that rings true to me is that the allegations were not consistent with the person she had known for a long time. If the Governor had behaved many years ago the way he has behaved recently, he would never have been elected to anything, let alone Governor. When all ultimately comes out and we get hindsight perspective, I believe we will find out there is some personality disorder that has been developing over time. The self-destructiveness of the Governor's behavior sets it apart from any other political corruption case that I know of. I have never seen anybody go out of his way to make powerful enemies as the Governor has done.</p>jakeThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:57:32 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201439<p>===It’s not the vote that she cast that has people upset. It’s the nepotism in the first place.===</p><p>Get over it. She ran unopposed. Nobody even challenged her.</p>Rich MillerThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:18:07 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201438<p>I think most people are missing the point. It's not the vote that she cast that has people upset. It's the nepotism in the first place. Here we go again. I'm sure she and Threemil will have much to discuss.</p><p>Enough already!</p>Chicago CynicThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:15:42 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201437<p>All in all I'd say that yesterday was an up day.</p>Rod Bla-gone-a-vichThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:13:56 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201436<p>She can look those little girls in the eye with a clean conscience. And 10 years from now she won't have to explain to them why she voted to impeach their father on her first day on the job.</p>CheswickThu, 15 Jan 2009 15:43:18 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201435<p>I don't have an opinion on how Deb Mell voted or should have voted. But I do have an opinion of whether she should have been elected or not. This state would be better off with none of the Mell (extended) family in any political position.</p>Little EgyptThu, 15 Jan 2009 15:05:38 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201434<p>I completely agree with Rich! I don't think her vote accurately reflects the sentiment of her constituents, but I think they will understand and forgive her. If the vote had been closer -- say a number of people voted no -- then she might have been in a different situation. Her vote did not make a difference in the outcome, other than we can't say he was unanimously impeached.</p><p>Family is family, and you can't fault her for standing by his side. If she had voted "present," I think she might have had trouble years from now explaining to her nieces why she didn't stick with her family.</p>Give her a breakThu, 15 Jan 2009 14:07:36 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201433<p>Family comes first. Isn't that the Chicago way?</p>Jake from ElwoodThu, 15 Jan 2009 13:27:29 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201432<p>Another perspective could be that Deb Mell is the ONLY legislator who has heard the Governor's side of the story. And that may have played a part in the decision along with the family connection.</p><p>Who knows whether he told her the truth. Maybe he told her a bunch of lies. But she could have come to the understanding that maybe the Governor isn't completely innocent of any wrongdoing, but that the stuff that he actually did do didn't rise to level of what a standard of impeachment should be for her.</p><p>I don't think that Rep. Mell would have voted against impeachment if she truly thought he was guilty of everything and deserved it, despite the family connection. She probably at least has some doubts about the whole thing because of that close connection.</p>JohnThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:53:34 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201431<p>She doesn't deserve a break. That family has made their own bed (including her, who is only there because of her last name), and now they have to sleep in it. Boo-hoo. She's there to represent the best insterests of her district and of the state, not to prevent personal family drama. She deserves all the flak she gets as a result of this.</p>anonThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:51:55 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201430<p>If you have a conflict of interest, the proper way to handle it is to abstain. That applies whether the conflict is personal, professional or monetary. However, mell is not the only person conflicted. If all conflicted abstained, their probably would have been only 20 votes</p>chicago wayThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:46:37 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201429<p>--"...I appreciated her guts..."<br>--"...I highly doubt there will be any political problems in her district. Who’s gonna beat her in a primary? She’s Dick Mell’s daughter, for crying out loud."</p><p>What guts? If there is no possibility for any real political backlash, what courage was shown by voting family over constituents? Sure, she may get some bad press, and certainly some bad comments from some folks here, but if this vote poses no threat to her current office, then how could this vote have shown any "guts"? Or is that comment in reference to the vote possibly harming her goal of achieving higher office? If that's the case, then I guess I could see calling it "guts."</p>another progunnerThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:41:56 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201428<p>DisenfranchisedConservative, AMEN</p>Dan S, a Voter and Cubs FanThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:29:33 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201427<p>This is exactly what's wrong with Illinois politics. Putting family before the people she is supposed to represent is wrong. Politics is a family business in Illinois and we might as well be the mafia on how we put family and friend morality before the public good. Blago would have never been elected if it wasn't for his family.<br>If Deb Mell is uncomfortable doing the right thing for the state over her brother in-law then she doesn't need to be a state representative. But that is her profession, rather than a civic duty. Politics is a lucrative business in Illinois. And this mentality is what got us here in the first place.</p>DisenfranchisedConservativeThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:24:22 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201426<p>I find no fault in her no vote. I think supporting her sister at this time is actually a good thing. Announcing she was going to run for Congress before even being sworn in as Rep is another matter.</p><p>I do think she will have competition for re-election. I know Mell is powerful but he is waning and this Blago thing hurts the family image. Besides she made some enemies the way they pushed out Bradley.</p>Phineas J. WhoopeeThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:16:38 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201425<p>She made a decision that was right for her what ever her personal reasons might have been. If the vote was 100-18 it would not have changed the actual outcome in any way. Let it go.</p>zatoichiThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:14:04 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201424<p>-- Tony -- How could you chastise her from abstaining? She has a conflict so she abstains. That is something you could respect her for.</p>ChiGalThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:07:48 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201423<p>Mell was damned either way. If she would have abstained or voted present, she would have been chastised. She was put in a heck of a position by her own brother-in-law and she did what she thought was right. And remember, she isn't the one impeached here or facing a federal court battle.</p>TonyThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:03:58 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201422<p>Let’s be fair, Rich - I clearly pre-qualified that statements as being “in my opinion,” not a “fact.”</p>grand old partisanThu, 15 Jan 2009 11:56:37 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/01/15/deb-mell-and-impeachment-give-her-a-break/#comment-18201421<p>I'll cut her some slack, but based on her comments it sounds like Abstaining makes more sense.</p><p>She's known the governor for 20 years, and can't reconcile that with the evidence for impeachment presented in the House? Well, like a grand jury hearing, you can't vote based on facts not entered into evidence, just on the facts presented. The Gov had the opportunity to present his case, and Mell had an opportunity to offer her own testimony, if she wanted. Neither were forthcoming.</p><p>And impeachment is not a "guilty" vote, as others have clearly stated, and Mell should know by now.</p><p>I can't blame Mell for putting her family before the voters in her district, but she should be honest about her motives, and let the voters hold her accountably. I SERIOUSLY doubt that the voters in her district oppose the Gov's impeachment and removal.</p>Yellow Dog DemocratThu, 15 Jan 2009 11:48:53 -0000