The Illinios State Senate Chamber
...Appearing on NBC's "Today" show, Blagojevich said the trial was "rigged and it's fixed." (click title to entry - thank you)
The one true hope to Governor Blagojevich maintaining his elected authority was the impeachment trial at the Illinios State Senate. It is true that the efforts by him through his former attorney were blunted by the inability to call witnesses in his defense. The reason the Governor is not able to call witnesses is that they Illiniois State Legislature is bowing to the federal indictment by Fitzgerald.
The federal indictment is also a bit of a 'hopeful witch hunt' to attempt to taint further the issues Rod Blagojevich is facing. Fitzgerald is attempting to paint a broader picture of corruption conducted by the Governor and is even entangling his spouse at this point. While all this interesting it is questionable as to the extent this will actually 'shape up' as a viable indictment.
Regardless of what seems like 'Pay to Play' dynamics, the fact of the matter is that any state government conducts business, especially under federal Republican dynamics, with private business. Whether or not that business was given contracts 'in exchange' for donations is highly contentious and without strong evidence of 'agreed upon' amounts or specific favors the federal authorities will have a difficult time proving their case.
Realizing that Bush threw in with the Illinois Legislature by extending the authority and records of Homeland Secruity to Fitzgerald, hence, the added 'witch hunt' hoping that the so called Illiniois Corruption Machine will be revealed. I have said before there is no 'corruption machine' in Illinios, but, a cultural remnant of 'by gone days.'
I will say this, the reason so many Democrats are 'in on' impeachment of the Governor is to save their own careers, because, it is more than obvious this is a last 'Republican Hooray' by Bush to disembody the political culture that gave us a very successful and victorious President.
Basically, Blagojevich has come to the conclusion that the Illinois 'system' is broken and indeed it would seem to be the case. The Illinois House and Senate are marching to their own drummer and not 'accommodating' a needed defense for the Governor. What the process being conducted now amounts to is 'Peer Review' and all the peers have already made up their minds.
It is difficult and extremely costly to attempt to fight a 'federal runaway train' and to that end Governor Blagojevich is left to take his case to the people. The disturbing aspect to his abandonment of a legal venue is that he still faces a serious complaint that might be defeatable in indictment, but, without good legal help he may be facing sincere peril.
I think the 'public venue' Governor Blagojevich has chosen is appropriate, but, at this point is ill considered without subsequent legal representation. In other words, his public appearances should have been conducted last week in anticipation of pressure to open legal remedies at the Illinios State Senate Hearings.
