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Blago getting railroaded?

TexasJack

Penultimate Amazing
TexasJack
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
10,906
I'm listening to him babble right now, all over the map. I'm expecting at any moment now for him to give the old "Animal House" speech: "...isn't this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do whatever you want to me, but I'm not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America. Gentlemen!"
 
The quintessential definition of hot air = Blago boy. I hope they hurry up and impeach his sorry ass ASAP. It's a major shame the news media is giving him a gigantic forum to spew forth his dribble.

Better yet, let's get on with the trial resulting from the federal indictments....

al
 
I'm sure the people from Chicago here have been following this a lot closer than I have (WildCat, you there?), but I heard something the other day that struck me as unfair, even un-American. Apparently, Blago's not allowed to call witnesses in his own defense in his impeachment trial.

WTF? The guy may be - and almost certainly is - as guilty as sin, but since when are you not allowed to call on people who will testify that you might be innocent?
 
Blago is not popular in Illinois. His refusal to work with the Madigan’s has created an opening that the Republicans are trying to use to regain the governor’s seat.

There is, however some legitimate concern that some of the charges against him are policy issues well within the governors purview. (namely the child healthcare and Rx drugs programs).
 
Side note - - Did the Madigan’s shoot themselves in the foot over the impending Blago impeachment?

I don’t think that they are coming out looking good in this at all. This will make it much harder for Lisa to run for governor.

(but if she does, she will at least continue blago’s bad hair tradition)
 
Maybe, but the shaking down of children's hospitals for contribution funds is enough of an abuse of power to warrant the guy ouster.
 
BPSCG said:
I'm sure the people from Chicago here have been following this a lot closer than I have (WildCat, you there?), but I heard something the other day that struck me as unfair, even un-American. Apparently, Blago's not allowed to call witnesses in his own defense in his impeachment trial.

WTF? The guy may be - and almost certainly is - as guilty as sin, but since when are you not allowed to call on people who will testify that you might be innocent?
Click to expand...

I have to agree with you on that point, he does deserve a fair process.

He did make a very honest and compelling admission from a politician; he said in essence that the allegations brought against him are what politicians do to get elected. This is probably why politicians have such a low appeal with U.S. citizens.
 
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BPSCG said:
I'm sure the people from Chicago here have been following this a lot closer than I have (WildCat, you there?), but I heard something the other day that struck me as unfair, even un-American. Apparently, Blago's not allowed to call witnesses in his own defense in his impeachment trial.

WTF? The guy may be - and almost certainly is - as guilty as sin, but since when are you not allowed to call on people who will testify that you might be innocent?
Click to expand...
This is a political process, not a legal one. Rules of criminal prosecution don't apply. He can call witnesses, just not the ones he wants.

I went by his house a few minutes ago on my way home from work. In addidtion to the media circus waiting for him to come back from Springfield ( he left immediately after his speech, apparently because he wouldn't be allowed to fly the state plane if they boot him out of office) there was a large truck in front of his house - a paper shredding truck! :p

Apparently Blago is doing some document destruction today.
 
Blago's house a few minutes ago:

Blago's_house.jpg


While across the street the media patiently waits for his return from Springfield, while a woman walking her baby wishes for it all to end (I'm assuming!):

media.jpg


Sorry for the crappy cell phone image.
 
It's a crying shame when an Illinois politician can't profit from his political position. It's a modern day lynching is what it is. Those sick kids want new medical equipment then they gotta pay like anyone else. Who the hell do they think they are anyway?

What's next? No pay to play in the construction industry? Mobsters tuning legit?
 
WildCat said:
there was a large truck in front of his house - a paper shredding truck!

Apparently Blago is doing some document destruction today.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be smarter for him to do a controlled demolition rather that using a shredder...oops, sorry, wrong sub-forum. :D
 
BPSCG said:
I'm sure the people from Chicago here have been following this a lot closer than I have (WildCat, you there?), but I heard something the other day that struck me as unfair, even un-American. Apparently, Blago's not allowed to call witnesses in his own defense in his impeachment trial.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that this is a (deliberate) procedural error on Blago's part.

He was provided with a deadline by which to provide a list of witnesses he wished to call (as was the prosecution or whatever the hell they call it in an impeachment case). He missed the deadline (deliberately) in an attempt to sabotage the proceedings.

From this news report:
Blagojevich this week missed a deadline to file a witness list in the case, which he said was a decision made by his lawyers who feel he cannot receive a fair trial.
Click to expand...

He was called on it. If this had been a criminal trial, he would probably have been jailed for contempt -- and still wouldn't be able to call his witnesses.
 
drkitten said:
He was called on it. If this had been a criminal trial, he would probably have been jailed for contempt -- and still wouldn't be able to call his witnesses.
Click to expand...

BPSCG said:
WTF? The guy may be - and almost certainly is - as guilty as sin, but since when are you not allowed to call on people who will testify that you might be innocent?
Click to expand...

Now, this isn't a criminal trial, right? An impeachment, from as little as I understand is more about job performance, is it not?

I wouldn't drink heavily before going to my own employment review... ;)
 
Jimbo07 said:
Now, this isn't a criminal trial, right?
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No, it's not.

An impeachment, from as little as I understand is more about job performance, is it not?
Click to expand...

Not quite. Impeachment is about "high crimes and misdemeanors" or "malfesance in office" or some such -- i.e. dishonestly and criminal conduct instead of mere incompetence.

But you're right, the rules of criminal trials do not apply. Which is a point that Blago doesn't seem to get. Or more probably, he knows he's going down anyway, but he figures if he can confuse enough people about this particular point, he can use the claim that he was "railroaded" in an "unfair trial" into political support down the road and maybe continue his political career.
 
drkitten said:
No, it's not.



Not quite. Impeachment is about "high crimes and misdemeanors" or "malfesance in office" or some such -- i.e. dishonestly and criminal conduct instead of mere incompetence.

But you're right, the rules of criminal trials do not apply. Which is a point that Blago doesn't seem to get. Or more probably, he knows he's going down anyway, but he figures if he can confuse enough people about this particular point, he can use the claim that he was "railroaded" in an "unfair trial" into political support down the road and maybe continue his political career.
Click to expand...

Speaking of this, in his closing comments today he made several references to "criminal charges". Anyway, as a guy who hasn't been following it, it was pretty effective.
 
Jimbo07 said:
Now, this isn't a criminal trial, right? An impeachment, from as little as I understand is more about job performance, is it not?
Click to expand...

Not at all (at least it shouldn't be). Evaluating job performance is the job of the voters, not the legislature. Impeachment is about criminal acts ("high crimes and misdemeanors" for federal office. I'm not sure but I would assume that each state determines impeachable offenses for it's state officials).
 
drkitten said:
Or more probably, he knows he's going down anyway, but he figures if he can confuse enough people about this particular point, he can use the claim that he was "railroaded" in an "unfair trial" into political support down the road and maybe continue his political career.
Click to expand...

Or at least get sympathy from juries in his criminal trials.
 
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