DISQUS

GoBearsss · 1 year ago

Wooohooo!

Anonish · 1 year ago

The Force is strong with Barack

And the answer is · 1 year ago

SO... How many BLAGO fundraisers will be held this weekend??

Heartless Libertarian · 1 year ago

Any word on funding state parks and social services???

Levois · 1 year ago

If the Senate upholds the governor's AV does the law still come into effect?

Black Ivy · 1 year ago

Imagine that...Obama rode in on his white horse and saved the day!!! Oh, gimme a break. This type of politicking is so disingenuous.

Speaking at Will · 1 year ago

I am about as strong of a conservative as there is. But I have to tip the hat Obamas way on this one.

unclesam · 1 year ago

"Thump, Thump..." I believe that may be the sound of the Governor finally being thrown under the bus.

Princess · 1 year ago

pfft, it really has more to do with Senator Jones deciding he needs a day out of the bad ol' stressful city.

Lefty Lefty · 1 year ago

Holy cow. Waiting to read what these fellow posters have to say today:

VanillaMan: "His fingerprints will not be on that phone either."

red dog: "Seems like many are pleading for Obama influence to no avail..."

Unlicensed Hand Surgeon: "What if Barack calls Emil and Emil says no? If Candidate Obama can’t even convince his own godfather on an ethics issue in a state where Dems have absolute control, how can he influence a divided Congress as president?"

Justice: "This is Obama’s way of voting ‘present’. Why in the world would he want to intercede in something that is presently getting mud on everyone involved."

Nothing against any of the posters at all. It is just rare that we who look into our crystal balls in politics have our outlooks so thoroughly realigned so quickly.

AsAMom · 1 year ago

According to Ryan Keith in his article on the Spfld sj-r web site - the Gov is calling them back at 1 pm on Monday to deal with ""true" ethics reform."

Speaking at Will · 1 year ago

== Imagine that…Obama rode in on his white horse and saved the day!!! Oh, gimme a break. This type of politicking is so disingenuous. ==

I understand that Barack is a politician, and yes this does make him look good, but to assume that this is disingenuous on his part is a bit over the top in my estimation.

As Martha stewart would say "its a good thing."

Disgusted · 1 year ago

That sly old fox Emil. He's doing this in the don's way - I do you a favor and when I ask, you have to return it or I'll make you an offer you can't refuse. It's either a cabinet seat or ambassadorship for himself or something for sonny boy. He could care less whether it's the right move for the state of Illinois. It's all about ego, money and power with Mr. Jones.

wordslinger · 1 year ago

Whatever you think about him, Emil's a good friend to have.

publius · 1 year ago

Emil: "let's see--do i protect my wife's job and hang with the governor, or do i do what barack wants and call a session day---what? oh--federal jobs pay more? get that senate back in town!"

VanillaMan · 1 year ago

The reason Barack Obama picked up that phone and made that call is because of bloggers like me and the Sun Times daring him at a time when he needed to prove a modicum of reform.

If you believe this was in Obama's heart all along then you probably also believe he never heard Reverend Wright say a naughty thing either.

interested · 1 year ago

What are you hearing about the Gov calling special session? Saw this on the Tribs blog...

Seriously?

"Trying to stay in the game on the issue, Blagojevich announced Thursday that he's calling the General Assembly into special session Monday to deal with ethics reform. With the potential for the Senate to also override his veto, Blagojevich summoned lawmakers back to Springfield in an attempt to get them to deal with his suggested changes."

AsAMom · 1 year ago

The Special session is on ethics at 1 pm on Monday.

Heartless Libertarian · 1 year ago

The only thing that makes me think that this whole thing is a setup to make Obama look good is that the Gov is going right along with it. Why in the heck would he call a special session when he knows he is going to lose?! Same with Jones, what does he care? He has already checked-out. It just feels like they have messed with peoples' emotions, their jobs, and their live. They don't give a crap about how they really do hurt people as long as it furthers them politically. Great....

phocion · 1 year ago

This isn't a setup. It was, however, politics as usual. And if Obama weren't running neck and neck with McCain, Barack wouldn't have made the call. Good result? Sure. Shows Obama is a reformer? Not on your life.

Princess · 1 year ago

"Why in the heck would he call a special session when he knows he is going to lose"

Not maybe lose, Heartless. Did'nt I read that Rep. Fritchey was working on bills that would address the 'good' parts of what Rod had wanted in the av?

GoBearsss · 1 year ago

"Did’nt I read that Rep. Fritchey was working on bills that would address the ‘good’ parts of what Rod had wanted in the av"

He filed them, then nothing. Kinda like the FamilyCare bills he said he was going to champion after he killed the Governor's FamilyCare rules.

He still has a chance to move both of them, and I am sure he will go to Springfield Monday prepared to push them forward.

Phineas J. Whoopee · 1 year ago

Why would the Governor call the House back? They already voted. I'd love to count how many show up. He's weird, or maybe I'm missing something.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

what about the lottery lease that passed the house?

AsAMom · 1 year ago

Princess - HB 6699 thru 6704 are the newly introduced ethics - with 6700-6703 being sponsored by both Fritchey and Hoffman - must have been after the big hugfest.

phocion · 1 year ago

Oh, and all of these ethics issues are finally hitting Obama even in this (formerly) bluest of blue states - Illinois. The latest ARG poll has Obama leading McCain by only 6 here (51-45). http://www.electoral-vote.com
I suspect that this kick in his virility region had something to do with Obama's call to his godfather.

OneMan · 1 year ago

To be frank, I would find the why entertaining but I am just glad it is going to happen.

Ivote · 1 year ago

"VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 18, 08 @ 2:26 pm:

The reason Barack Obama picked up that phone and made that call is because of bloggers like me and the Sun Times daring him at a time when he needed to prove a modicum of reform."

I had no idea you were SO influential, Vanilla Man! Would you please fix the economy, the stock market, and get that mess in Iraq

Ivote · 1 year ago

. . . straighted out while you're at it? Maybe the SunTimes will be able to help a little on this one too. Sheeeeesh!

Ivote · 1 year ago

The reason Blago is calling a special session is he understands (yes, I know--"Blago" and "understands" are terms that don't normally go together) that with Emil calling the Senate back at O'bama's request, the first nail in the "Blagojevich is irrelevant" coffin is being inserted. When Emil is gone, the rest will be hammered in quickly, and Elvis might as well have left the building! He's grasping at relevancy as it slips away. Meanwhile, the Fritchey bills will sit in rules and die. He may introduce them again in January--and they can die again! And poor Rod won't even have enough money in the campaign account to pay his lawyers, much less mount a campaign for reelection.

VanillaMan · 1 year ago

It wasn't just me, I had help.

Now - on to that economy!

Ahem · 1 year ago

Follow the leader. Yeesh.

Princess · 1 year ago

--"Davidsmeyer said it’s possible the Senate could take up ethics and other issues – including reversing budget cuts made by the governor – on Monday, “but that’s a lot to do in one day,” she said.--

Nothing stopping him from staying on another day or two. If he's attending fund raisers in Chicago, he should be able to spare a bit of time to tend to state business. The House did a pretty darn good job of getting loads done in one day while they were last back.

A Citizen · 1 year ago

I sure hope none of these Dems get hurt in this Stampede to Ethics Reform - they could get trampled if they slip. If they do get the bill passed over the AVs that will be amazing. Sort of like the reformed lady of ill repute who wants to regain her virginity.

Plutocrat03 · 1 year ago

Before we celebrate, lets watch how this turns out.

I will be surprised if the Senate came in and supported the ethics bill exactly as passed by the House.

Put on your seat belts, it will be a twisty ride.

Big Mama T · 1 year ago

1:00pm - convene
1:01pm - roll call
1:03pm - adjournment

1:15pm - Jones - "We tried to consider the legislation."

Commonsense in Illinois · 1 year ago

Campers, campers, campers...Let's review shall we? First the legislature negotiates a bill for what, 2 years? Sends it to the governor, who imposes an amendatory veto to add his "personal touch" to the bill. The House, pretty much unanimously, votes to override and sends the bill to the Senate where President Jones decides he's going to interpret the Constitution contrary to the way it's been interpreted for the last 40 years. Barack, heeding the call from the newspaper editorial boards (whom he'll be needing next month), calls his mentor and "persuades" him to call the Senate back to deal with the bill. Then our great and dear leader breathlessly calls a Special Session to "bring real ethics reform to Springfield."

It's the 25th Special Session, people...any bets on what gets done? Can you say, "nothing". Sure...I knew you could. (apologies to Fred Rogers)

GoBearsss · 1 year ago

"negotiates a bill for what, 2 years"

If someone can tell me what negotiating actually took place, I can respect that argument.

But when people say they "worked hard on a bill for 2 or 3 years", what it really means is that they waited around for 2 or 3 years for Emil or Mike to call it for a vote.

Pond Scum · 1 year ago

Commonsense,

Thank you for the synopsis. It is very clear to me how pathetic this Governor is. Now it appears that not only does Barak Obama have to be the U.S. Senator, run for President but now he has to do the Governor's job as well. And when he does it, the Governor decides to jump on board.

Pathetic-pathetic-pathetic

Southern Illinois · 1 year ago

Maybe the guilty are running for cover to save us all from themselves and they will end up sacraficing themselves and do anything to keep the Obama Doctrine alive.

We will all have to wait and see what the final "fine print" states. I am sure there will be a back door out clause.

A Citizen · 1 year ago

So when all the dust and smoke and mirrors settle we find out that BHO called guv, The One Trick Pony, and ask him to call a Special Session, his favorite, if not only, act. And for this we are to be impressed with guv and BHO ??? I'm Not. Barry did it for political advantage - first thing he's done in and for Illinois for years. And guv did it . . . just not to be left out - "Hay! I coulda been a contenda!" Both are just pathetic pretenders and rank amateurs. We deserve far better than this Democrat Quagmire !!

steve schnorf · 1 year ago

Geez, VM, some people tell me I have a huge ego, but I'm not in the league of anyone who orders presidential candidates around.

Little Egypt · 1 year ago

Obama is just practicing his governing abilities for when he will really need them in this state in 2010 when he is elected governor. I really don't give a rat's behind about the ethics bill, which as rewritten by Dudley Do-Right is DOA, but I do care if the Dana Thomas House is open for Christmas. The decorations are magnificent in this crown jewel of Illinois.

Gregor · 1 year ago

OK, I'm looking at this in a different way. I suggested Rod could/should call a special session just the other day. I was of course drunk as a Lord at the time, however, the reasoning was that Emil is on his way to lame duckdom, Rod will soon be unable to get anything else out of him in the senate. So this is an excellent opportunity to hand off the hot potato to Emil for safekeeping and make the best of a tactical loss by looking like HE solved the problem and supports ethics reform.

It looks like Rod's ethics bill Amendatory Veto will get overridden, no sane pol is going to want the bill's failure pinned to them in an election year, and to stay out ahead of that bad story, Rod's best and only PR tactic would be to play the part of the man who cut the Gordian knot and "saved" the very bill he tried so hard to kill.

Now he can say "See? I'm for ethics bills, even when they are not my own. I thought I could make this one better, the legislature has not yet evolved to my way of thinking, so I'm going to take this one, imperfect as I think it is, and use it as a stepping stone to Rocking the System(tm) this fall". Of course, he won't say it as well as that. But that will be the thrust of it.

He thus dumps the blame for any further issues with that bill on Emil, who is rapidly losing value as his replacement looms, and Rod washes his hands. It's actually Madigan-like thinking for a change. When confronted with accusations he's fought ethics reform, tooth and nail (true), he'll point to this as an exception.

He's just trying to put the best face on a loss, but regardless of motive, we get the bill voted on before the deadline: now it's all on Emil to smile and take it like a man, to let it go and look forward to planning the decor of his university office, or have the shame and bad juju hung around him like a cloak of corruption as he exits.

I don't feel sorry for Emil at all, everybody knew Rod would only stay loyal as long as Jones was useful.

"While you're under there, could you check the brake lines and muffler, Emil? Thanks, 'bro' " -Rod

Sittin' in the Stratton... · 1 year ago

Thank god for Canary and the Sun-times, and to you, Rich, for pushing Obama to get involved in the ethics battle. You all really forced their hand last week.

Little Egypt · 1 year ago

Gregor - "Madigan-like thinking". Pullleeezze, don't help make Rod's head any bigger than it already is. He will NEVER be able to think as Madigan does. The problem is that Blago doesn't know when he can sniff around with the big dogs and when he needs to stay on the porch.

Greaseless · 1 year ago

Governor Blagojevich calls special session on “true” ethics reform. Does this mean he'll give back all the monies he and his family have received the last 6+ years?
Doubt It!

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Obama needs to tell his friend Emil to reinstate the state jobs now. DCFS can't afford to lose any jobs. These people are overworked anyway. Who will protect the children? Children will die and then the jobs will come back. Please call your legislators today and tell them when they go back in session to put the funding back for DCFS, DHS and our parks.