Results tagged “illinois”

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been bringing his case—and his head of thick hair—to NYC media outlets. He hit up Good Morning America, where he told Diane Sawyer that he considered appointing to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. The impeached governor whose trial begins at noon (no, he won't be there) explained that he realized "she probably wouldn't take it, and then if you offered it to her, how would you do it in a way that wasn't a gimmick to embarrass her." He also quoted Kipling again. Blago is also appeared on the Today Show and will head to The View (!!!!) and Larry King today. It's unclear how Blago's trial will go, consider his lead defense attorney dropped out, but senior Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin was not amused by the governor's NYC media blitz: "That’s the governor’s choice as to what he does with his time, but Barbara Walters is not on his jury."

Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's Senate appointee, may have implied he's the Lord's Senate Appointee but that doesn't mean you can enter the Senate's chambers! Burris held a press conference, explaining that the Senate's Secretary turned him away for not having the proper credentials. The Senate secretary's argument was that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White hadn't approved Burris's appointment and, according to CNN, "Rule 2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate states that the secretary of state must sign the certificate of election along with the governor." Burris's lawyer said, "We were not allowed to be placed in the record books. We were not allowed to proceed to the floor for purposes of taking oath, all of which we think was improperly done and it is against the law of this land." This drama will undoubtedly continue, so in the meantime, watch how Stephen Colbert Alan Colmes examine the taint around Burris.

Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich made his first public remarks after being accused of trying to sell a soon-to-be vacated Senate seat and other charges. Besides saying he would not resign, Blago started off with, "I'm here to tell you right off the bat that I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing, that I intend to stay on the job, and I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath."

Who doesn't love an embattled, corrupt governor? Especially when he was apparently trying to sell President-elect Obama's Senate seat? Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is on the cover of the NY Post and Daily News, which devote a serious amount of ink to the scandal. Of course, we're a little disappointed there's no board game imagery on the Post's front page—it Operation Board Games and all.

The allegations against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (a Democrat; pictured), who is now in federal custody, are stunning. Trying to sell or trade President-elect Obama's Senate seat? Check. Shaking down a hospital for sick children? Check. Trying to influence the Tribune's editorial board? Check!

Tri-Staters, since we've had a trifecta of gubernatorial resignations (Rowland, McGreevey and Spitzer), it sort of feels good to know that other states' governors suck too, right? Intensely disliked Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) was taken into custody by the feds this morning at his Chicago home; his spokesman initially told a reporter, "Haven't heard anything -- you are first to call." While Blago has been the subject of a three-year corruption investigation, the Chicago Tribune reports the probe has "expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama." More fun: Blago also was angling to be named Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration AND wanted to get members of the Trib's editorial board fired for, uh, editorials critical of his administration. Troopergate almost seems quaint now!