DISQUS

Yellow Dog Democrat · 11 months ago

Look for a fiery speech from Ken Dunkin during his Mulligan.

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

And nobody will believe it.

Downstate weed chewing hick · 11 months ago

Is this to answer the issue that the old House Impeached and now the new Senate would be trying the case?

Anon III · 11 months ago

Wearing a belt and suspenders too.

The World is Watching · 11 months ago

What are the odds it will be a shut-out? Is Mell likely to side with her brother-in-law or just sit it out (and could she afford to sit it out)?

Hmmm · 11 months ago

Rich - Do you know if they will have a video feed available on the ilga.gov website tomorrow?

A Citizen · 11 months ago

MJM is obsessive/compulsive. Hmmm, wonder if I turned off the gas at home. Better check it . . . again.

Secret Square · 11 months ago

So last week's vote was, ultimately, just for show and tomorrow is the one that really counts?

Captain Flume · 11 months ago

Live Webcast - IL House inauguration
On Wednesday, January 14, 2009, there will be a live webcast of the 2009 Illinois House Inauguration ceremony at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html.

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

===Do you know if they will have a video feed available on the ilga.gov website tomorrow? ===

Don't know yet.

===So last week’s vote was, ultimately, just for show and tomorrow is the one that really counts? ===

In a way, yes. In other ways, no. It was a real vote with real consequences.

A Citizen · 11 months ago

Will Genson object based on "double jeopardy" ? Also is guv the first to be Impeached twice for the same offenses?

Downstater · 11 months ago

Mell having to make her first voting decision on the impeachment issue is incredible.

Mrs. Rod caught on tape using the F bomb. Rod's brother now being scrutinized.

Who of Rod's relation won't be touched by this plague?

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

===Will Genson object based on “double jeopardy” ? ===

It's a new General Assembly, so the action has to be taken to keep the process alive.

Double Jeopardy applies to criminal cases. This ain't a criminal case.

I don't think he'd be the first one impeached twice, but he'd certainly be the first governor ever impeached twice in a week.

Phineas J. Whoopee · 11 months ago

What does the re-established impeachment committee do. Do they look at new evidence so they can double secret impeach him? Can they present new evidence at the Senate trial?

Excessively rabid · 11 months ago

"Your honor, we find the defendant guilty and his lawyer obnoxious...."

A Citizen · 11 months ago

It would be good if they could add those tapes into the pile of evidence. Wonder the status on their release?

Pot calling kettle · 11 months ago

My understanding is that last week's actions were to accept and make official the work of the impeachment committee (the hearing were completed and a report was issued and accepted). That approval ensures that this week the new House can accept the work that was officially completed by the old House last week. If the work had not been completed and accepted, the new committee would have to hold a new set of hearings and draft a new report before the new House could accept it. A lot of i-dotting and t-crossing.

Side notes on double jeopardy: 1) This is not a court, etc. 2) Impeachment is not conviction, so this is more akin to a double indictment and, on top of that, there has been no conviction or acquittal in between.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

I think Blagojevich should appear as he has been appearing in most of our nightmares. For instance, once I dreamt that he showed up in a cloud of red smoke and fire to threaten Dorothy and Toto. Another time, I dreamt I was trapped in a castle at night and saw a coffin slowly open with Blagojevich's hairy hand raising from behind the coffin lid. About a month ago, I dreamt Jamie Lee Curtis and I were being chased by Blagojevich, who was wearing a hockey mask and had a chain saw.

If we do not quickly impeach Blagojevich, Boy Scouts will sit around campfires during Jamboree week a century from now and scare Tenderfoot scouts with stories about the Mad Governor With Scarey Hair who stalks children's hospitals at night.

Blagojevich coming through the back door to swear in the Senate? Thanks for that image!

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

VanillaMan, dude, stop eating chilli before bedtime.

anon36 · 11 months ago

If he is so innocent and has done nothing impeachable-worthy, why is he slithering in through back doors? Why doesn't he walk proud and "tall" like the man he claims he is down the aisle? Anyone who runs the streets of his neighborhood in spandex apparently has no reason to come in back doors.

Scooby · 11 months ago

Can the Senate wait 30 days to send the supplemental to Quinn or do they have to send it now to Blagojevich? How does that work with session ending today?

p · 11 months ago

Rich, did they pass a fund sweep as well, or just appropriations?

How does the state have any money right now. I have heard a reference to a multi-billion deficit for this and next year.

That is huge.

Amy · 11 months ago

Mr. Ellis is a smart and honorable man. (good author too!)
nice choice to helm the work.

47th Ward · 11 months ago

VM,

None of my dreams about Jamie Lee Curtis have ever featured the Governor. If he ever makes a nocturnal appearance in my brain, I assure that my therapist and I will demand you cease and desist all dream-related postings from this point forward.

JL Curtis circa 1986=sexy. G-Rod now and forever=unsexy.

Toast Man · 11 months ago

===G-Rod now and forever=unsexy===

That full page photo of Blago on the front page of Saturdays Tribune was hideous. My 7 year old saw it and keeps waking up at night screaming about the hairy boogeyman.

grategul · 11 months ago

I am the Reformer / Of What ???

Gov. Rod

I will change the Pay for Play
Attitude ?????

I will work for the People of ILLINOIS

" right "

I am Ethical ???

I am Hard Working ????

I am Honest / About What ?????

I Like Helping People / Who ???

I like take the Ethics Test ???

When ??? and how do I apply it ???

I will make a lot executive Orders
that don't mean anything !!!!

And punish the Hard working state employees

See you Soon / Foolish Voters and Supporters

too much Tv tonight I guess · 11 months ago

It would look cool for the cameras if, as Rod entered, all the senators turned their backs silently, like the Klingon warriors in Star Trek:-)

Or maybe they'll go for a Hollywood movie type of very slow-clapping.

Or like the aliens in the remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", they just point at Rod and scream soundlessly.


My guess for Rod's remarks will be that he will not be able to help himself, and will act much like Pee-Wee Herman, post-arrest, at the Awards show:

"So, anybody hear any good jokes lately?"

Pot calling kettle · 11 months ago

Once he swears them in, they should lock the doors and hold him until the impeachment resolution arrives from the House. They could question him, convict him and have him escorted to the door, before midnight.

VM: Picture two security guards escorting the governor to his office where he fills a cardboard box with his personal items. They then escort him to the front door of the Capitol building and watch as he slowly shuffles away.

A Citizen · 11 months ago

- Pot calling kettle -
I'm thinking "Perp Walk" with full TV coverage!

Gregor · 11 months ago

Predictions for the event...

Which speech will we get to hear?
Getting to the bottom and still no pony, eh, Rod?
Or maybe it's going to be the electrified elephant anecdote.
Or the Bill Clinton Air Force One call to Mom story.
Or the Mistaken for Daley story that's Bernie adores so much.

Maybe the poetry again, that always gets laughs... he could recite the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. I see many parallels there to his situation...

Hendon will insist on a point of order so he can make a speech about his best buddy Rod, then, like Pilate, wash his hands of him.

Cullerton will have his hands full trying to keep a straight face the whole time.

618er · 11 months ago

-Pot calling kettle-
===They then escort him to the front door of the Capitol building and watch as he slowly shuffles away. ===

Seeing how he's probably going to springfield in the 'company' jet that would be a long cold walk home...

Hank · 11 months ago

What ever came of the pre-trial hearing scheduled for today?

They have 30 days to transmit supplemental to Governor. He will be gone by then.

Secret Square · 11 months ago

Ah, but Hank, if the GA that passed those bills ceases to exist at noon, can they wait?

Barny's Burger Barn · 11 months ago

I love how the House schedule for Fe. 18th has the Governor's Budget Address listed as "tentative."

Barny's Burger Barn · 11 months ago

oops, should say "Feb."

Joe · 11 months ago

Yes.

Secret Square · 11 months ago

In this case, it's the Governor as well as the Budget Address that's "tentative."