# Governor Blagojevich Arrested, What Now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396 "2008-12-09T15:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/401 "2009-01-08T20:40:48Z")
Dude should have MILQUETOAST tattooed on his forehead. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/402 "2009-01-08T20:42:37Z")
For a guy who has represented Las Vegas in Washington since the dawn of time, and who used to be head of the Gaming Commission to boot - the man sucks at bluffing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/403 "2009-01-08T21:30:49Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > How was that made clear? I don’t recall a vote on this topic - and without one things certainly aren’t clear - especially with the Powell case on the books. There wasn’t a vote, but the entire caucus signed a letter telling Blago they’d reject any appointment he made. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/404 "2009-01-08T21:37:07Z")
Yeah - they’re backing that rhetoric up, I see. Seems there wasn’t much backing it besides hot air and yellow spines. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/405 "2009-01-08T21:56:40Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > For a guy who has represented Las Vegas in Washington since the dawn of time, and who used to be head of the Gaming Commission to boot - the man sucks at bluffing. Don’t be so sure about that. I think people are misreading what Reid is saying. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/406 "2009-01-08T22:49:25Z")
As I noted over at Daily Kos, one of LBJ’s _sperm_ would have more spine than Reid. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/407 "2009-01-08T22:57:19Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > As I noted over at Daily Kos, one of LBJ’s _sperm_ would have more spine than Reid. Heh. If you consider that the only reason not to seat Burris was so that the public wouldn’t think any slime from Blago somehow got onto the US Senate, then bluff and hot air was all that was really needed. No spines required. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/408 "2009-01-08T23:05:14Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Heh. > > If you consider that the only reason not to seat Burris was so that the public wouldn’t think any slime from Blago somehow got onto the US Senate, then bluff and hot air was all that was really needed. No spines required. No, the reason not to seat Burris was because his appointment (and ANY appointment) was tainted by association with Blagojevich. Allowing an appointment to a seat that the governor was trying to SELL just a couple of weeks ago throws mud onto Burris’s motivations in accepting. Any person in Illinois who has spent any time in politics would have realized that the acceptance of that appointment would instantly mark them as being involved in that somehow. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/409 "2009-01-08T23:23:11Z")
I agree. I had never heard of Roland Burris before this whole mess. The fact that he would accept this appointment from a tainted governor shows a horrible lack of judgement on his part; one that should make him unfit to be a U.S. Senator. I can’t believe the GOP is staying quiet on this. Here is a huge opportunity for them to step up fight for some integrity… ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/410 "2009-01-08T23:25:41Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > The fact that he would accept this appointment from a tainted governor shows a horrible lack of judgement on his part; one that should make him unfit to be a U.S. Senator. +1 > [@](#): > > _I can’t believe the GOP is staying quiet on this. Here is a huge opportunity for them to step up fight for some integrity.._ Rule one in politics: When your adversary is busily stomping on his own dick, don’t get in the way. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/411 "2009-01-08T23:39:31Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Rule one in politics: When your adversary is busily stomping on his own dick, don’t get in the way. Or, as Napoleon put it, “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/412 "2009-01-09T03:52:05Z")
Just a note - the Illinois House committee recommended impeachment by a vote of 21-0. Twenty one to nothing. I agree with **Mr. Moto** , by the way, and with **jtgain** ’s first paragraph as well. Reid et al are showing no backbone at all. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/413 "2009-01-09T05:48:00Z")
I do hope Quinn has someone picked out so he can fill the seat immediately in case Blago’s impeached. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/414 "2009-01-09T16:02:54Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > I do hope Quinn has someone picked out so he can fill the seat immediately in case Blago’s impeached. Under the circumstances, he might decide the most gracious, or at least graceful, thing is just to go with Burris. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/415 "2009-01-09T16:37:01Z")
Blagojevich has just been impeached by the Illinois House, with only one representative voting against. The Senate will presumably take this up Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/416 "2009-01-09T16:42:23Z")
Now that’s what I call swiftness. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/417 "2009-01-09T16:42:58Z")
> [@KellyM](#): > > Blagojevich has just been impeached by the Illinois House, with only one representative voting against. The Illinois legislature only has one rep who stays bought? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/418 "2009-01-09T16:43:18Z")
> [@KellyM](#): > > Blagojevich has just been impeached by the Illinois House, with only one representative voting against. The Senate will presumably take this up Monday. Possibly not until Thursday. The terms of the General Assembly expire on Wednesday. There will be some membership turnover. I doubt they will want to start the trial until after the new Senate assembles and organizes itself. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/419 "2009-01-09T16:52:01Z")
Could be interesting. Imagine this: Blago is impeached and convicted, and the new governor rescinds Burris’s appointment and picks someone else. The Illinois SecState happily signs _that_ appointment. Burris insists he’s still the pick of the Governor of Illinois (albeit one no longer in office). With the help of a crack team of orthopedic surgeons, Harry Reid locates his backbone and decides to seat the new guy or gal. Don’t what Federal or Illinois law is as to the property right, if any, to a senatorial appointment, but I suspect Burris would be out of luck. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/420 "2009-01-09T17:12:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Don’t what Federal or Illinois law is as to the property right, if any, to a senatorial appointment, but I suspect Burris would be out of luck. That doesn’t sound right to me. If it were, then any appointed Senator would be the governor’s bitch. Separation of powers isn’t supposed to work that way. Obviously, I don’t know the law either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=22)