Illinois v. United States Senate: Sargeant-at-arms and Secretary of US Senate Disenfranchise the State of Illinois

06 Jan

Filed Under Barack Obama, Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris | 1 Comment

Does the United States Senate have a lawful duty to seat unindicted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointed and Illinois Legislature designated United States Senator Roland Burris? Judge for yourself. The relevant law:

United States Constitution

Article I

Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Illinois Statute*

Illinois Compiled Statutes Chapter 10 Section 5 Article 25 (from Ch. 46, par. 25-8)

Sec. 25-8 (10 ILCS 5/25-8). When a vacancy shall occur in the office of United States Senator from this state, the Governor shall make temporary appointment to fill such vacancy until the next election of representatives in Congress, at which time such vacancy shall be filled by election, and the senator so elected shall take office as soon thereafter as he shall receive his certificate of election.

* Expression of the Illinois Legislature’s rights under Article I, Section 3.

Seems simple enough.

Why does this matter? Why does it matter that the the Secretary of the Senate and the Sargeant-at-arms of the Senate, both non-Constitutional officers, are intimidating a United States Senator from taking their place in the Senate Chamber? Well… why do elections matter? Why does the Constitution matter? They didn’t matter in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

Illinois Governor Arrested for Being a Politician

09 Dec

Filed Under Barack Obama, Rod Blagojevich | Leave a Comment

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges, is revealed to be going nothing more than seeking to exchange political favors for political favors in the 78 page federal indictment displayed below.

While Blagojevich’s private deliberations were caught on tape by FBI wiretaps and bugs, none of the evidence revealed in the complaint proves money was paid to the governor or his campaign fund prior to his taking an official action. Nothing in the publicly disclosed “evidence” amounts to any more than the bluster of a cocky politician engaged in Nixonian ramblings with his personal staff. Perhaps that is why U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald pleaded with parties to come forward who have actual evidence of criminal bribery. Before such evidence is presented, can we say at this point what the FBI heard on its recordings– as transcribed in the indictment– is any different than what one would hear were they do bug every state governor’s office.

“The decision [about Senator Obama’s replacement], like every other one, needs to be based upon….. Our legal situation, our personal situation, my political situation…. Legal. Personal. Political.”

“[The decision will be made] in good faith… but it is not coming for free… It’s gotta be good stuff for the people of Illinois and good for me.”

How much different are the deliberations in New York Governor David Patterson’s office as he deliberates how to appease the powerful Kennedy, Clinton, and Cuomo political families as he picks a successor to Senator Hilary Clinton?

Where does tit-for-tat politics end and bribery begin? Was the Justice Department within it’s rights to do what the voters and legislators of the state of Illinois could have done themselves? Is impeachment not the more lawful way to remove a sitting governor for what may amount to no more than political crimes?