Senate Dems ask Blago to quit

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib

The office of Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, is circulating a letter Wednesday to the Senate Democratic Caucus for signatures that recommends Gov. Rod Blagojevich resign and under no circumstances make an appointment to fill Illinois' vacant Senate seat.

The letter contains a threat to the governor, saying that the Senate is poised to use its power to refuse to seat any appointment Blagojevich makes.

The text of the letter is as follows:

December 10, 2008

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

We write to insist that you step down as Governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat.

In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment by you would raise serious questions.

It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be seated as soon as possible so that Illinois is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th Congress moves forward.

Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.

We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you to refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.

Sincerely,


Read more: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/breaking_senate_dems_to_call_o.html#more

[HereSince1628]

1. I'm el-annoyed, Reid would tell Illinoians where to stick it

if a flatlander from back east was telling him how to run his state.

Reid should keep his attention on the ECONOMIC CRISIS and leave Illinois politics to Illinoians.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

2. damned if you do...

...damned if you don't. There is no pleasing some folks.

[Critters2]

7. Are you an Illinoisan? nt

[HereSince1628]

11. Bred and born

But, you don't need to be from Illinois to see that Reid is trying to exercise influence on a process that isn't appropriate.

He sits on his thumbs on critical national issues for years and then is Harry-on-the-spot in order to make political points on something that is outside his sandbox.

[acmavm]

8. So, we've finally found a kind of corruption that old Harry will do something

about? Like maybe, tell the corrupt one to quit?

So, it takes selling a Senate seat, or wanting to anyway.

I guess 4200 dead Americans and over a million dead Iraqis doesn't measure up.

[FriendlyReminder]

3. Blago was a Senator then Reid should take the lead on this BUT

Blago is NOT a Senator, he is a Governor. While it's true he was trying to fill a Senate seat, it hadn't got that far yet and until then Reid should butt out and let the people/legislature of Illinois take care of their own business. Reid has bigger fish to fry.

[HereSince1628]

4. We've finally seen what gets Harry's motor running...

a position for which there is near universal agreement
and absolutely no political risk to Harry.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

5. Reid put it on record that he doesnt want anything to do with it...

...if it comes from Blago. Like I said, "damned if you do, damned if you don't". This sets legal and ethical boundries, too bad some people can't see past their noses. :hi:

[FriendlyReminder]

6. Thanks, good to hear. He should stay out of it.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

10. Look past your nose...

... it is totally in Reid's right as Senate Majority Leader and part of the Democratic Caucus to weed out the bad weeds whose decision would affect the incoming congress. No one wants any elective representative to be tainted with the hint of paying bribes for their seat. Try not being disingenuous. Circular logic doesn't go far here. Just a friendly hello to you.

[truthisfreedom]

9. He's likely doing this at Obama's behest.

Or at least to help Obama.