Sign is Gone, Feelings Remain

I probably should have explained the picture I used in my last Blago Blog, for those of you who didn't see it first in the Chicago Sun-Times. If you click on the photo, you'll see that the sign posted on the utility pole says "Warning, Rats." The photographer captured a great image as our governor-for-the-moment left his home.

Now somebody, we can only guess who, has taken down the sign.

Too bad for Blago that they can't make the federal charges, or the audio tapes used as evidence in those charges, go away as easily.

He'd probably like Lisa Madigan to go away, too. She's our Attorney General who yesterday filed an unusual motion with the Illinois Supreme Court, asking the justices to determine Blago is unfit to serve or, in the very least, to strip him of the ability to appoint anyone to fill Obama's senate seat.

Madigan is petitioning the high court to have gubernatorial duties temporarily turned over to Lt. Governor Pat Quinn until either an impeachment hearing is held or Blago is found not guilty of the charges against him in federal court. It appears to be a gutsy move for someone who reportedly would like to run for governor herself in two years, although she told reporters yesterday that she has not been thinking about politics all week.

Of course not. Politics in a time of legal crisis never seen previously in the Land of Lincoln? Heavens no. Not in the Madigan family.

I'll bet she and her dad Michael, the powerful speaker of the Illinois House and the guy who has been talking up the idea of impeachment since spring, have only focused on what's good for Illinois in their discussions this week.

Asking the supremes to strip the governor of his powers is a legal maneuver that hasn't been attempted before in Illinois. The high court may agree but just as easily could refuse to grant Madigan's motions, thereby leaving Blago's fate in the hands of the legislature. I think Madigan's dad has wisely opted to see what will come of his daughter's efforts before he commits to calling for a vote that would initiate impeachment proceedings.

Why not wait? By doing so, he leaves Lisa in the spotlight. I thought she aquitted herself well in front of the cameras yesterday. Those clips of her wielding the sword of justice would play well if she chooses to run for governor in 2010.

She'll have to have something going for her. My prediction is that Pat Quinn will assume gubernatorial duties by mid-week, if not sooner. Failing any mis-steps of his own, I have no doubt he will ask voters to keep him in office after 2010. If he governs well, heck, Lisa's going to have a real battle on her hands to boot him out.

Which leaves us to ponder all of the other questions raised by the governor's arrest this week. Namely, did President-Elect Obama know about the sale of his senate seat and, if so, did he do anything to promote it?

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says he is blameless. I hope that's true.

I hope there isn't a tape gone missing, or a witness yet to be heard, that would implicate him in Blago's Nightmare.

Could a governor-for-the-moment bring down a president-elect? Hmmm.