Blagojevich

Rasmussen Reports finds Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) holding a narrow 41-38 lead against Democratic Illinois Treasurer (and likely nominee) Alexi Giannoulias. In his analysis, Scott Rasmussen admits that “much can change in the months ahead” and that the field is slanted toward Giannoulias; it’s just a bad month for Democrats, and it’s been tough for [...]

Roland Burris, the scandal-plagued accidental senator from Illinois, will not seek his own term in the Senate. The Chicago Sun-Times has the scoop:
The decision by Burris was based on his inability to raise campaign funds; campaign disclosures with the Federal Election Commission are expected to be filed next week … and he has reportedly only [...]

You may have thought that you had heard the last of him after his appearance on “The View,” but it looks like Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is back in the news. Today, his former chief of staff, John Harris, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, thus implicating his former boss in the pay-to-play [...]

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet writes today that Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), who occupies President Obama’s old seat, recently told her he believes his experience and knowledge of both Illinois and Washington have helped him adjust to his new job.
“I am right on course,” Burris told Sweet, who reports that Burris is calling on Democratic Party leaders to support [...]

Today was not a good day to be the White House press secretary.
After two of President Obama’s prominent nominees withdrew from consideration because of tax concerns, Robert Gibbs took tough questions from the media at his daily press conference. And he didn’t enjoy a bit of it.
At first, he danced around the questions about the [...]

It’s official: Rod Blagojevich is governor of Illinois no more.
The Illinois state senators just went down the line in a roll-call vote, and one after another, they all said “yes” to the motion to give Blagojevich the boot. Inevitability became reality as the 40-vote threshold for removal was passed at 4:42 pm CST.
Lt. Gov. Pat [...]

If you’re near a television set, pick up your remote and go to CNN or MSNBC right now. In one minute Rod Blagojevich will have the floor of the Illinois State Senate, and the ear of the nation, for an hour and half as he delivers the closing argument to his corruption/impeachment saga.
Will he resign? [...]

The Los Angeles Times has the last of its series on things Republicans are saying about Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, whose confirmation hearing kicks off this morning.
GOP staffers investigating Holder’s background say that although he has downplayed his connections to [Illinois' Democratic Gov. Rod] Blagojevich, new information suggests Holder did legal work for Blagojevich on [...]

The planned federal economic stimulus package will include billions of dollars for transportation and infrastructure programs, much of which will ultimately be doled out by state and local governments. The ongoing saga of disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich may be an object lesson on the potential pitfalls of that strategy.

Following his impeachment this morning, Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) gave a press conference that addressed everything under the sun — except the charges of corruption and abuse of power for which he was impeached. It was an utterly bizarre spectacle that left CNN’s Rick Sanchez asking, “What the hell was that?”
“The House’s action today was [...]