This seems to be the week for having "The Worst Person in the World" appear on talk TV. The question is, who will be declared the winner in this catagory?
This morning my housemate has been watching Oprah and listening to Ted Haggard tap-dance around how "confused and conflicted" he claims to have been during his homosexual experiences.
My a-political housemate just shouted out, "Our governor makes even this guy look good!"
Unlike a criminal trial or even a civil trial, impeachment is simply about firing an employee from his job. Had the Illinois Constitution contained something like Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, Blago would have been temporarily removed within 24-hours of his criminal arrest.
I won't get into my personal opinion whether the governor has broken enough laws to be impeached. That is for the Illinois Senate to decide. But I will point out the contradictions between Blago's blanket statements on TV and the actual facts from the Senate Rules.
Got me to thinking about the numerous blatant lies Blago has been trying to spin all week...
"The deck is stacked against me...They are denying me the right to present evidence, call witnesses, cross-examine...I'm the cowboy being lynched for stealing a horse when I wasn't even there..."
First, the governor has now admitted multiple times that he "went around" the state legislature. Translation: He "went around" the laws of the state. Further translation: He "broke the law." Blago tries to spin this fact by claiming that only he knew what was really best for the citizens of Illinois.
Hmmmmm, which President have we heard that from before?
Never having conducted an impeachment under the Illinois Constitution, what have the Illinois House and Senate done so poorly according to the governor? They established clear and published rules based upon those used by the U. S. Senate in past impeachments.
EDIT: Concerning Blago's blanket statements, the Chicago Tribune points out:
CLAIM: Blagojevich can't call or cross-examine witnesses in his impeachment trial.
FACTS: The governor ignored all deadlines for proposing witnesses or submitting evidence to defend himself. He and his lawyers have boycotted the trial. It is going on without him.
Most bloggers haven't even read these rules or the Illinois Constitution, and have assumed the Impeachment Trial is some kind of 'Grand Jury Star Chamber,' and begin to blindly agree with Blago's whining. Nothing could be further from the truth. Public, open, clear rules, ability to challenge and cross-examine. Hmmm...
Before commenting upon Blago-spin, everyone here should at least browse through
SR0006 - Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - the Senate Impeachment Rules of the Ninety-Sixth General Assembly solely for impeachment trial proceedings against Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
Some of the most relevant parts are (bolding mine):
All motions, objections, requests, or other matters pertaining to procedure, to the articles of impeachment, or to the impeachment trial, including questions with respect to the admissibility of evidence, made orally or in writing by the House Prosecutor or the Governor or his counsel, shall be addressed only to the Chief Justice...
Gee, the governor can make motions, requests, object... both he and his legal staff... hmmm
Each witness shall be examined by one person on behalf of the party producing that witness and then cross-examined by one person on the other side...
Yikes, the governor gets to cross-examine witnesses... hmmm...
At all times while the Senate is sitting upon the trial of an impeachment, the doors of the Senate and the Senate galleries shall be kept open, unless the Senate directs the doors to be closed while deliberating upon its decisions...
WOW, it must be an open trial except during jury deliberations... hmmm, not much like a star chamber here...
Any witness neglecting or refusing to appear when duly subpoenaed to testify or to produce documents or other materials before the Senate may be arrested by warrant...
What is this??? The governor had force of arrest to back-up any witness he subpoenaed? but, but, but...
The President, Minority Leader, or any one or more Senators designated by the President or Minority Leader may confer with the House Prosecutor or his or her staff, the Governor or his counsel or staff of the Governor or his counsel, or both in an effort to mediate or settle matters pending before the Senate.
You mean the governor even has the right to sidebar and negotiate??? But, but, but...
Closing arguments shall follow the presentation of all evidence to the Senate sitting as an impeachment tribunal. The House Prosecutor shall have 60 minutes to present a closing argument. The Governor or his counsel shall have 90 minutes to present a closing argument. The House Prosecutor shall then have an additional 30 minutes to present any rebuttal argument. On motion of either party before closing argument, the time for closing argument may be extended by unanimous consent or a record vote of the majority of those elected to the Senate.
Zowie! The governor and the House prosecution get exactly the same amount of time? But, but but Blago said...
Remember folks, impeachment is not about the governor's guilt or innocence in any criminal proceeding. Impeachment is only about the governor's fitness to retain or be fired from his job.
Not only is this impeachment about Blago's "f(*$@&^ng golden" opportunity to get a quid pro quo for selling Barack Obama's Senate seat (which BTW, he did purchase - Roland Burris' sudden flip-flop from condemning the governor to supporting him...hmmm), but this impeachment is also about the 12 other charges made by the Illinois House.
The rules adopted in public and after public debate by the Illinois Senate negate almost everything the governor has been spinning to the TV public this week.