Bye, Bye Blago … Illinois Governor Blagojevich Impeached 59-0

Thursday as the Illinois Senate convened to determine Governor Rod Blagojevich’s future there were 3 certainties … death, taxes and that Blago would be impeached. The Illinois Senate did not disappoint as they voted 59–0 to impeach and oust Rod Blagojevich as Governor of Illinois.

The Illinois Senate removed Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich from office Thursday, convicting him on an article of impeachment that alleged a pattern of abuse of power.

The vote, 59 to 0, ended nearly two months of political spectacle in which Mr. Blagojevich, a second-term Democrat who rose from the ranks of Chicago ward politics on the strength of his charisma and the connections of his wife’s family, sought to salvage his career and reputation.

As Blago insisted that he was innocent, committed no crimes and his goal was always to help the people, the Illinois Senate for good measure then passed another vote 59–0 barred Democrat Blagojevich from ever again holding public office in the state.

Blago had boycotted the impeachment proceedings; however, showed up on the final day to address the Senate. The actions of Rod Blagojevich ever since the accusations of corruption, the tapes, the media appearances and the “victim” comments coming from the former Governor just make one scratch their collective heads to even fathom how such people are ever elected in the first place. Also, how much “Blago” type corruption goes on behind the scenes that we are never privy to?

With a vote on whether to oust him possible Thursday, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) made the surprise announcement regarding the governor this afternoon, prompting senators to murmur, smile and shake their heads in disbelief.

The governor has boycotted the first three days of his impeachment trial, arguing in a national media barnstorming blitz that the rules are stacked against him.