Impeached...And He Keeps on Running

Great photo from the Chicago Tribune of a guy who just doesn't get it.

While the subject of their work was out for a jog today, the Illinois House, on a vote of 114 to 1 (now there's a loyal friend...maybe he figures he can be a U.S. Senator, too) impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Yet, Blago held a news conference in response within hours, coming out fighting behind a guy in a wheelchair and some other recipients of his gubernatorial largesse to pound away at how much he has done for the state and how his power struggle with the House is the only reason representatives voted the way they did.

Instead of focusing on the impeachment which, with any luck, will force him from politics forever, he sounded like a guy getting ready to run for a third term. He ended by reciting a poem. He's a big fan of poetry.

One of the things I've read about sociopaths is how much joy they take from watching their victims' pain. They revel in it. They get a kick out of tweaking authorities and the media and showing off their intelligence. Like reading a little rhyme to the unwashed masses.

Speaking of reading, I was fascinated to read a memo sent to the impeachment committee by my friend and former cop reporter Bob Arya. Bob left journalism to work for Blago. He quit state government in October.

It's not in iambic pentameter but it deals with such things as how the governor shunned his office in Springfield, not for his office in Chicago, but in favor of working from home.

"The Governor's chosen method of communicating with most senior staff on virtually all matters was via speakerphone from his home," Arya writes, adding that Blago's language cited in the federal complaints, including regular use of the F-word, was commonplace when he dealt with his staff.

Arya goes on to detail how Blagojevich failed to hold regular cabinet meetings, used the state plane with no consideration of the cost, detested Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and refused to work with him, refused to entertain diplomats from other countries "unless it (served) one of his political goals" and made it clear that one of those goals after the beginning of his second term was to put himself into position to run for President. Another was to do all he could to destroy Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan.

Madigan's still standing. He announced the results of the impeachment vote today.

But back to Bob Arya's memo. Basically he told the committee, "I was witness to a host of matters and behaviors which were not only alarming but clearly convinced me that the Governor was incapable and/or unwilling to perform the duties of Governor...".

Fascinating.

Bob is an honorable guy and I respect his toughness. I have no doubt he tried to point out to the Governor and others that they were heading the state in a wrong direction.

Nobody paid attention.

Blago's still laughing at us.

Since he enjoys poetry so much I've composed a little verse in his honor. Maybe he'll read it after his next news conference.

Roses are Red. Violets are Blue. George Ryan's in the joint. Soon Blago will be too.

Doobie doobie doo.