Posted by
VBushmills on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 7:31:04 AM
Rod Blagojevich may not be Richard III, but he certainly is in the final act of a Shakespearean play. Only, is it Historie, Tragedie, or Comedie? Or all of the above.
Local media here (Virginia) is playing the Tales of Blago, (Son of Drago, vampire-slayer) up as a comedy, and Blago as foole. His public announcent yesterday that he was appointing Roland Burris, Illinois AG, to the vacant senate seat of Barack Obama was met with deirisive laughter from both liberal and conservative media. Even the talk shows chuckled.
We're not so sure.
Illinois may not be the most corrupt state in the country (North Dakota is, according to USA Today), but the stakes in Illinois are much more than just Jerry Lundegard's Oldsmobile dealership in Fargo. In fact, they can be downright deadly. We think Blago and his attorney are playing their cards in dead earnestness...and playing to win.
A few days ago we wrote that Illinois Dem's, and the Obama camp, had to deal with Blagojevich swiftly, and politically, for reasons that remain unknown. But his legal case in court, and Blago knows this, is pretty good, and looking better every day.
Even though caught in a lie about contacts between his staff (Ron Emanual) and the Governor, Obama moved quickly to neutralize any possible skeletons under the bed that Blago might reveal. With the media hovering like helicopter moms, Obama is untouchable. That really isn't the story anyway.
Many Illinois legislators have skeletons, too, and Blago undoubtedly can help dig those up, so impeachment is not yet a done deal. A trial in the House, then a vote in the Senate is not just a cake walk. Forget the public polling by the media.
We're no experts in the areas of law involved here, but Blago's attorney is, and it does seem he holds far more powerful legal cards than we're being led to believe. Blagojevich may like to bluff, but I suspect his attorney doesn't in these circumstances, so I'm guessing his actions such as moving forward to appoint a new senator is based on sound law, and on a sound assessment as to where he stands as sitting governor.
For instance, the courts (not politicians) can order the Secretary of State to sign off on the Burris appointment. Blago knows with this device he can throw the case into the Courts where he's likely to get a fairer hearing than in the Senate well. And he can also delay.
As for Burris, Senate Democrats have pledged not to seat him. I'm not sure the courts can force them to. But maybe. That's another obscure area of law mayber only Scalia and Kennedy know anything about. Again, an interesting legal question. But the Republicans might be willing to seat him. Though a liberal, Burris seems like a decent fellow, so he might do well caucusing with the RINO's.
From our point of view, Rod Blagojevich is playing his cards pretty well, as best he can. His impeachment can take weeks. In the meantime, the courts will try to sort out the Burris appointment, which, best we can tell, is valid so long as Blago remains un-impeached.
When he shows up to sworn in later in January, there will much gnashing of teeth. Harry Reid deserves nothing more tha to lose a seat to the GOP.
VB