The Daily Background
| Good Riddance: IL Legislators vote 59-0 to fire Blagojevich
by Arlen Parsa
This just in:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers have not only thrown out Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY’-uh-vich), they have barred him from ever holding public office in the state again.
Both votes were 59-0.
Blagojevich’s removal comes nearly two months after his arrest on charges of trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. He is the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn automatically became the new governor.
Earlier in the day, Blagojevich came to the Senate to make a last-minute plea to save his job, warning lawmakers that they were about to set a “dangerous” and “chilling” precedent.
Several months ago, I went to a rally which (now governor) Patrick Quinn was at, and he was pretty blunt in expressing his desire that Blagojevich be removed from office, whether or not it would mean that he would ascend to the governor’s seat. I guess he got his wish.
Update: The sweet moment caught on video:
I wonder what will happen if he is acquitted of the criminal charges?
Or will people just say this is another OJ?
Randy