Jan 05 2009
Impeachment coming this week?
Illinois lawmakers repeated over the weekend that the impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is not an if, but when. Though members of the committee studying the governors impeachment never spoke directly about the committee proceedings, other members of the Illinois spell that General Assembly speculated that the impeachment hearings could begin as early as Thursday.
In the opinion of most of the voters of the state of Illinois, the process has already taken to long. Citizens have been suffering under the maniacal reign of the governor for several years and his battles with the speaker of the house and the remainder of the Illinois legislature are legendary.
New reporters beginning to cover Illinois state government are instructed that the best way to catch the governor is to hide in the basement of the Statehouse when he slinks between his office and the exit. The insulting manner in which he conducts Illinois politics has given a black eye to every thinking person in Illinois. It is no wonder then that people here are anticipating the impeachment process.
However, many Illinoisans are annoyed that the process has taken so long. Worse yet, the General Assembly has taken so long in the impeachment process but the dollar has been able to appoint a new senator for the state, further dividing an already volatile political landscape. At issue is the senatorial service of Roland Burris. Sadly, because Burroughs would be the only African-American serving in the United States Senate, many people have chosen to make opposition to his nomination about race instead of focusing on the person who appointed him. I do not know a single Illinoisan who objects to Roland Burris on principle. Burris has served this state well in the past.
But prior service is not enough to overcome the taint of the man who appointed him. If there is justice in the world, then once the governor is impeached, Burris will be able to run legitimately for the office.
I think that the governor should have talked this over before selling the seat because if he had talked it over before doing this he could have gotten feedback from all of the other people he has worked with on whether to do that or not instead of doing without talking it over.
You write in the spirit of Harry Reid who says Burris won’t be seated. The real sad part about this is the state of the Senate and the introspect view this has caused all Americans to take about our institution.