Extraordinary Timing

“Extraordinary and unprecedented”.

Those were the words used by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to explain why she was petitioning the Illinois Supreme Court to remove Governor Big Rod Blagojevich from his authority. The question was; why take this action now before the Governor is proven guilty. The answer from Illinois top legal representative is that in matters that are extraordinary and unprecedented one must take actions that are also extraordinary and unprecedented.

I agree with the premise that this is indeed a situation where inaction could cause undue harm to the state of Illinois in any number of ways. The Governors ability to effectively govern has been seriously compromised. Any action he would take at this point would be viewed in the tainted light of the actions for which he is being investigated. He needs to be relieved of his duties either by his acquiescence or by legal force even though he hasn’t been convicted of anything. But I disagree with AG Madigan’s assertion that the Governors actions were either extraordinary or unprecedented.

First of all, under the table contributions and kickbacks in Illinois for favors and business contracts is as common as failed ethics legislation proposals. The Democratically connected politico’s in Chicago alone have raked in more in illegal tribute than some developing nations GDP’s. Secondly, the most the Governor will likely be charged with on any of these counts of “Pay for Play” is conspiracy to commit. He was not successful at actually completing any of the crimes. This was not for a lack of trying, but rather for a lack of time.

The Chicago Tribune learned of the covert taping of the Gov and his attempt at auctioning off the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the President Elect. They contacted the prosecutor who beseeched them for time to further the investigation. In a rare showing of good judgment and because the Tribune editorial board had also been a target of the Governors shake down they agreed. But before anybody had the opportunity to take the Governor up on his scheme the Tribune informed Prosecutor Fitzgerald’s office that they were going forward with the story.

We have the possibility of at least five wannabe Senators vying for the Governors paid-in-full nod of approval and the Tribune decides to go to print before the deal is done. We have the President Elect’s top political advisor, Chicago political veteran David Axelrod, stating to the news media that the new President had been in contact with the Governor regarding who would be a suitable candidate. A claim which was quickly withdrawn when BHO emphatically stated that he had never had such a conversation. This ardent denial is now being questioned as cell phone records of the incoming Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (also a long time Chicago political veteran) prove that conversations did indeed take place. Add to this the possible implication of Jesse Jackson Jr. who has been identified as someone who may have been interested in playing the game by the Governors rules and you have a real blockbuster of a story.

What is extraordinary and unprecedented is the Tribune’s decision to break the story just when the story was about to get really interesting. What is extraordinary and unprecedented is that the guy who ran on the platform of change is already changing his story before he even gets into office. What is extraordinary and unprecedented is that the administration of change has these two long time Chicago political hacks, who were thick as thieves with the now discredited Governor, in top positions within the administration. What is extraordinary and unprecedented is that Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (a.k.a. Candidate 5) was saved the embarrassment and possible criminal prosecution of actually coughing up a political contribution to pay his way to the U.S. Senate. What is extraordinary and unprecedented is the Tribune learning of this top secret covert operation just as it was about to begin.

Remove the Governor by any means necessary, not because what he did was so extraordinary but because what he did was so stupid. If you want to see extraordinary and unprecedented you need look no farther than the Chicago Tribune Tower.