Since being introduced nearly one month ago, the resolution before the IL House of Representitives to send articles of impeachment to the US House is gaing support. A state legislature can initate impeachment proceedings against the president. Even though the House would summarily reject the articles, the story would be huge and expose republicans in congress for their ties to an unpopular president in an elections year. I can see the "Congressmen X: Bush's Rubber Stamp" adds now.
The resolution now has 19 co-sponsors just in the house and has now gone to the rules committee. Now most bills die quiet deaths in the Rules committess, but these typically are bills with only 2-3 sponsors.
Now, any one IL politics knows that nothing passes without the blessing of Speaker Mike Madigan (arguably the 2nd most powerful person in the state behind Da Mayor) who is not yet a sponsor.
In the past, Madigan supported an bipartisan plan for redistricting which protected all incumbants, including Speaker Hastert. This was achieved by selling DINO David Phelps down the river by forcing his to compete in a GOP dominated district. Madigan also refused to consider redistricting the state mid-decade, which could help the Dems gain three seats in Congress. I'm not saying Madigan is a DINO by any measure, but he is too damn close the Hastert and the federal money Hastert is able to bring into the state.