ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style2 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style3 { height: 69px; } .MsoNormal {} .style5 { width: 179px; } .style6 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style5"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td height="2" class="style5">&nbsp;</td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style2">Blago&#39;s Blackmail</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright December 11, 2008<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="style6"> I</span>gnoring calls for his resignation, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich pretended it was business as usual at his downtown Chicago office, despite his arrest Dec. 9 for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitations of bribes, trying to sell the vacant senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Calling his behavior  staggering corruption, U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald was appalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Even President George W. Bush weighed in, calling Blagojevich s his actions  astonishing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Blagojevich s spokesman Lucio Guerrero said it was a  return to normal, going back to his office to work on state business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Illinois state legislators watched with horror as the 52-year-old governor ignored calls for his resignation, despite the outrage felt in Springfield and around the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> There s a sense of trying to return to normalcy, said Guerrero, ignoring growing cries for resignation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Playing dumb, Blagojevich hopes to get a plea deal before he vacates the governor s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>There s no way any Chicago legislators would accept any appointment after getting caught red handed trying to sell Barack s senate seat to the highest bidder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While Barack called for Rod to get out, he remains stubbornly parked in his office, unwilling to budge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn called for Blagojeich to resign or face either impeachment or a request to the Illinois Supreme Court to declare him unfit to serve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span> Illinois is in crisis, said Quinn in the capitol, urging the governor to stop playing games and clean out his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan also threatened to go to proceed with impeachment or go the Supreme Court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While Blagojevich plays hardball, the people of Illinois suffer without a real governor in Springfield, too busy saving his hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <![endif]>Blagojevich knows his days are numbered but continues to play games to negotiate a better plea deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>  Obviously right now in the best of all possible worlds the governor would do what s right for the people of the state of Illinois he would resign, said Madigan, a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If lawmakers choose, they don t have to negotiate with the governor, only vote out articles of impeachment needed to remove him from office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Legislators plan a special session Monday to strip Blagojevich of picking a replacement for Barack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If Blagojevich doesn t resign by Sunday, they should go to the Supreme Court to declare him unfit fir office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Allowing a plea bargain would be a disgraceful manipulation of the judicial system crying out for justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Illinois must not allow the governor to blackmail his way out of his destiny with Club Fed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <![endif]>In a 76-page affidavit revealed Dec. 9 by the U.S. attorney, Blagojevich displays some of the most vulgar, contemptible language toward the Presdient-elect Obama. His vile speech mirrors a broken down public servant, unfit to serve and crying out for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He needs the local Psychiatric Emergency Team to hospitalize him for observation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No one in his right mind would have engaged in such egregious behavior, so destructive to himself, his family and the state of Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No amount of financial desperation could account for how an otherwise intelligent lawyer could cross the line into psychosis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> The legislature should focus on the source of the problem, said Quinn, seeking the governor s urgent resignation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The governor is in office. A recent Illinois poll taken by Glengarif Group of 600 residents indicated that 73% favor impeachment and 70% resignation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count:2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Instead of playing games, Atty. Gen. Madigan should file an immediate brief with the Illinois Supreme Court asking that the governor be declared unfit for office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Instead of meeting in special session Monday to strip Blagojevich of his authority to pick a replacement for Obama, they should vote out articles of impeachment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Both actions should help push the governor to resign, without a distasteful plea bargain likely to insult Illinois residents unwilling to tolerate a backroom deal, letting Blagojevich off the hook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Elected officials that commit high crimes and misdemeanors should not call the shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald should continue to prosecute his case to the fullest extent of the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Senate Democrats warned Blagojevich to step down and not appoint anyone to Barack s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While they have no authority, they want this distraction to end as soon as possible.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>President-elect Barack Obama has called for Blagojevich s immediate resignation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He concurs with Illinois elected officials that the two-term governor must step down and face charges of conspiracy and bribery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Blagojevich s should stop pretending it s business as usual and get out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Despite our best efforts, the governor could play hide the ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> That is an inescapable reality, said Steve Brown, a spokesman Illinois House speaker Michael J. Madigan, seeing problems with mobilizing quick articles of impeachment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Lt. Gov. Quinn and Atty. Gen. Madigan should proceed immediately with their brief to declare Blagojevich unfit for duty with the Illinois Supreme Court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Meanwhile, both should contact Blagojevich s attorney Sheldon Sorosky and try to reason with his client.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Blagojevich can t be allowed to hold the state of Illinois hostage.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <bAbout the Author</u><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <i><a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> </i>and <i><a href="books.html"> Operation Charisma</a></i>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style5"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td height="1" class="style5"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>