In an earlier post, I criticized Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's attempt to misuse a law intended to provide for the replacement of an incapacitated governor (e.g., a severe stroke or other serious health condition) in an effort to oust Blago. However, I must admit that the governor seems to have lost touch with reality. He claims that the 144-1 vote reflects the bidding of the lobbyists and special interests which resent his health care initiative for real people. He then caps it off by portraying himself as a profile in courage, quoting Tennyson: "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." Blagojevich does not seem to realize that he is politically radioactive. There isn't an Illinois politician whom isn't worried about challengers in upcoming primaries or elections trying to tie him or her to Blago. This bravado of expressing confidence in the Illinois Senate exonerating him is transparent; does he really want his political legacy to be one of the few governors in our nation's history to be removed from office, or will he do a service to his state and party by resigning?
In the meanwhile, the Burris nomination dance in the US Senate continues as Senate Democrats are praying for Blagojevich to exit the scene sooner rather than later. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refuses to certify Burris' nomination by Blagojevich as if he holds a de facto right to veto a sitting governor's nomination. It is no more his right than, say, a decision not to certify the legitimate election of a Republican lawmaker. Nothing allows Jesse White to arbitrarily refuse to exercise his professional responsibility; in fact, I consider what he's doing as a fundamental abuse of power.
The wildcard is the prospect of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn succeeding Blagojevich and then nominating a different candidate. The real concern among Democrats is that Burris would have almost no chance of defeating a Republican in 2010, being tainted as Blago's choice. They want a nominated Democrat whom is able to leverage his incumbency status and hold the seat; they do not want the 2010 election to be a referendum over Blago. Let's just say I don't think that playing politics with the Obama Senate seat and/or throwing Burris under the bus will end well for the Democrats.
The Senate's attempt to exercise arbitrary authority over a governor's duly-nominated replacement for a US Senator is unconstitutional.
