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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 10:36 AM CST
Who's in charge of state government?

By Kurt Erickson/JG/T-C Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest this morning raised immediate questions about who is running state government while he is in custody.

Along with Blagojevich, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested his chief of staff, John Harris, who oversees much of the day-to-day management of state government.

At 9 a.m. in the governor’s press office on the second floor of the State Capitol, Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen would not confirm the governor’s arrest.

But there are numerous pressing issues facing the governor and state government that were thrown into limbo while the legal process sorts itself out.

Among them were:

n The appointment of a replacement for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama;

n Plans to close Pontiac Correctional Center;

n And, the financial mess facing state government.

University of Illinois-Springfield political scientist Kent Redfield said it’s still Blagojevich’s call to appoint a successor to serve out the remaining two years of Obama’s Senate term.

Because of that, Redfield said, federal prosecutors may try to prod Blagojevich into resigning soon. Earlier this year, New York governor Eliot Spitzer resigned after charges against him were announced.

“The governor is governor until he’s removed from office or forced from his office,” Redfield said.

If Blagojevich resigns or is removed from office, he would be replaced by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a former state treasurer who has served under Blagojevich since 2003.

Quinn was expected to issue a statement later in the day.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, aren’t due to return to action until Jan. 12. It was not clear whether the governor’s arrest would prompt legislative leaders to bring the General Assembly back to town before then.

Even before the arrest, however, some lawmakers were talking about impeaching Blagojevich because of the on-going federal investigation.

The governor’s arrest follows a trend in Illinois dating back 45 years, in which three former Illinois governors had been convicted of crimes.

Otto Kerner, who served from 1961 to 1969, was convicted of bribery.

Dan Walker, who served from 1973 to 1977, was convicted on charges related to financial dealings after his term ended.

Blagojevich’s predecessor, George Ryan, is currently serving a 6 ½ year sentence in a federal prison in Indiana after being convicted for corruption.

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jrfan wrote on Dec 9, 2008 10:36 AM:

" FINALLY "

emme_75 wrote on Dec 9, 2008 10:51 AM:

" Like we didn't all see this coming. Thank God that someone finally showed some initiative to get him out of that office! "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Dec 9, 2008 11:33 AM:

" Kurt Erickson writes....."questions about who is running state government"

Well that's easy to answer....the corrupt Chicago democrat political machine...that's whose running the Illinois state government with Comrade Blagojevich being arrested.

I don't know why they arrested him now though.

It would been interesting to see if Jesse Jackson Jr.,Tammy Duckworth, Emil Jones, or Rep. Danny Davis would have "bid" on Obama's vacant senate seat now, wouldn't it have been?

Ah, but that wouldn't happen now would it? Can't arrest too many corrupt Chicago democrat politicians all at one time now can we? How would NOTHING get done in Illinois state government?!?!?!?!

!!!!Boy it all makes everyone in the state so PROUD to live in the (corrupt) People's Republic of Illinois!!!!! "

lojack wrote on Dec 9, 2008 11:48 AM:

" WOOOHOOOOO! This is wonderful news! "

291953 wrote on Dec 9, 2008 12:16 PM:

" I think Jerry Ford when he became President years ago said it best. With a little paraphrasing; "Our Long State Nightmare is OVER!!".

FREE AT LAST!! FREE AT LAST!! "

.Doh wrote on Dec 9, 2008 1:30 PM:

" As I've stated

Future Headlines:

One Libtard Down, One To Go "

medic57 wrote on Dec 9, 2008 2:40 PM:

" If he gets out on bond, he still is, unless they impeach him really fast, he can also appoint Obama's replacement from jail. "

medic57 wrote on Dec 9, 2008 2:41 PM:

" Neocon

I would imaginge Emil Jones is running for cover right about now. "

ed miller wrote on Dec 9, 2008 3:08 PM:

" The big question now is do they know who was trying to bribe him for Obama's seat? "

Becky wrote on Dec 9, 2008 3:35 PM:

" It should be the people, but that hasn't been the case for years and years now. "

BlueDogDemocrat wrote on Dec 9, 2008 4:34 PM:

" Who's in charge of state government?

Uhm, right now I'd say Patrick Fitzgerald. "

HeinekenMan wrote on Dec 9, 2008 4:51 PM:

" Doh, I just want to be clear. Calling anyone a "tard" is extremely inconsiderate to both that person and people with handicaps.

Neocon, why must you draw conclusions about the Democratic Party based on a hypothetical situation? This seems to be a popular device for you.

Sure, it would have been interesting to see whether they put a bid on the seat, but they didn't. So let's just stick to the facts. After all, it would be interesting if the world was flat and run by tiny pixies.

Let's also be clear. I haven't read the documents, but they are available. I think there might be some misunderstanding among folks around here. I doubt he was looking for bribes from politicians. More likely, he was looking for bribes from outside groups seeking to influence the Senate. For example, he could request a sum of cash and a future position with the AFL-CIO or the NRA in exchange for picking their preferred senator. "

thirtysomething wrote on Dec 9, 2008 5:20 PM:

" heinekinman, You must have voted for that jackass. I myself would have voted for anyone else, but him. "

BlueDogDemocrat wrote on Dec 9, 2008 5:47 PM:

" (Doh, I just want to be clear. Calling anyone a "tard" is extremely inconsiderate to both that person and people with handicaps.)

I agree HeinekenMan. As the sibling of a mentally disabled person, I find that term completely unacceptable. "

Harry Potter wrote on Dec 9, 2008 5:50 PM:

" I wish the jg-tc.com on line poll gave us the option to enter a name instead of just other, because I would vote for either Doh or Neo because they seem to have all the answers. Well at least they think they do. LOL! "

Harry Potter wrote on Dec 9, 2008 6:20 PM:

" I agree HeinekenMan. As the sibling of a mentally disabled person, I find that term completely unacceptable. "

Doh, you never fail to amaze me. Do you really think you're fooling anyone with that one? Just be careful and don't use your favorite term, libtard, when you're posting as the blue smurf. LOL! "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Dec 9, 2008 6:38 PM:

" HeinekenMan wrote....

"Neocon, why must you draw conclusions about the Democratic Party based on a hypothetical situation? This seems to be a popular device for you."
-----------------------------
What hypothetical situation? I provide facts and you call them "hypotheticals"? With all due respect that seems all too typical.

Blago said himself, with a few f-bombs dispersed throughout his tirade I might add, that he was selling the seat.

Furthermore, having lived in Chicago, considering myself a Reagan Democrat then that never went back, I've experienced first-hand how corrupt it is there. I've also had trusted professional acquaintances tell me their experiences with the unsavory "in doing business with/within Chicago". Besides, how many more 100's of Chicago public officials do you need to see go to jail, that happen to be democrats, to realize how corupt it is there? So, with respect to the hypothetical concerning Blago, I have absolutely no doubt there would have been a "willing interest" for a quid pro quo for Obama's seat with Blago, none.

As for my "popular device" and "hypothetical situations" all we've heard from the left over the last 8 years is "hypotheticals" like habeus corpus is being suspended, loss of personal liberty, "Bush Knew", "Bush Lied", "how terrible the economy is (was) (even though we had 4.7% unemployment and a booming economy), and we're "intentionally bombing civilians and villages in Iraq" and all the other non-sense hyperbole and untruths from the left to get their party back into power. So yeah, it's become a "popular device". The left's made that happen pretty easily for me. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Dec 9, 2008 6:42 PM:

" HP wrote...

"I would vote for either Doh or Neo because they seem to have all the answers. Well at least they think they do. LOL! "

....well thank you Harry...you're making me blush! I'm truly honored by your statement!

One does what one can.....

pfft! "

BlueDogDemocrat wrote on Dec 9, 2008 8:41 PM:

" Harry,

as if your paranoid and ridiculous accusations about my identity weren't enough, now you've denigrated the existence of my mentally disabled sibling, and this is a follow up on your disgraceful attempt to pick a fight with me on the thread about the death of a 13-month-old girl. Have you no shame?

You've had quite a day trolling in the gutter, haven't you Harry. Can you possibly sink any lower?

I simply don't understand your irrational behavior towards me, Harry.

Your obsessive compulsive actions are starting to resemble stalking.

Please get some help, my friend. "

BlueDogDemocrat wrote on Dec 9, 2008 8:45 PM:

" (....well thank you Harry...you're making me blush! I'm truly honored by your statement!)

Well NeoCon, I'll give Harry this much; at least he recognizes your greatness.

Harry and I salute you NeoCon! "

Harry Potter wrote on Dec 10, 2008 9:05 AM:

" Your obsessive compulsive actions are starting to resemble stalking.

--

Huh?

And now we get this nonsense from the man who practically invented stalking! LOL!

And I see your back to patting yourself on the back again. What happened to your old style of creating a new posting name to give yourself kudos?

I rather enjoyed watching for those little self promoting posts from you and all the clever little names you came up with in order to give yourself some accolades.

My all time favorite one was, Doh you're the man. "

bobbie wrote on Dec 10, 2008 11:59 AM:

" Who's in charge of state government?

Duh nobody "

BlueDogDemocrat wrote on Dec 10, 2008 12:43 PM:

" (And I see your back to patting yourself on the back again.)

Where did you see that, Harry?

Get a grip my friend.

Your paranoid obsessive delusions are really starting to get creepy.
You're starting to see enemies and innuendo everywhere around you; lurking in the shadows.

Maybe you should take some time off, Harry. "

medic57 wrote on Dec 10, 2008 5:52 PM:

" HeinekenMan

DOH said;

Calling anyone a "tard" is extremely inconsiderate to both that person and people with handicaps.

I'll agree with you on that one, hey Doh, the special olympics will in the spring, I suggest you volunteer for a REAL eye opening event, you haven't seen fun and sportsmanship until you have been to one. EVERYONE, including myself, has a lot to learn form handicapped people.

Do you have any idea how many special kids come home crying from school each day because someone older said something about riding a short bus? "

.Doh wrote on Dec 11, 2008 12:42 AM:

" OK meds, I won't accuse you of riding the short bus anymore. And I agree, libtards are very handicapped people. LOL! "

CITIZENOFMATTOON wrote on Dec 11, 2008 6:09 AM:

" Who has been in charge since Blago took over? Doesn't seem that he has. He's been too busy with his own issues. If ya git my drift!!!!
Maybe they will put him next to Ryan and they can swap stories%))&^%^%%$!@$#$!* "

unknownjoe wrote on Dec 11, 2008 6:52 AM:

" How about liberally disabled? "

even steven wrote on Dec 11, 2008 9:59 AM:

" Who is in charge in Illinois? The same people who've been in charge for much too long: a consortium of organized ciminals, union leaders, and paid-off Daley toadies posing as elected officials. "

injustice85 wrote on Dec 11, 2008 3:10 PM:

" at this point the state would be better off if it just ran itself, or perhaps we could find a monkey to do the trick, Blagojevich as I predicted has embarassed the state of Illinois not that others haven't but he has made us a spectacle of past and present shame, we are in a presidential transition period and didn't need this, for ONCE maybe we could get a governor who gives a hoot to make this state a better place for its citizens and ones to come "