Rod Blagojevich was impeached today by the Illinois House - no surprise - and in his press conference just ended, quoted Alfred Tennyson -
-and strode off the stage, without answering questions.
Over on MSNBC, Nora O'Donnell was interviewing a Kevin Tibbles, an NBC correspondent in their Chicago bureau, who noted that Blago had "ripped off" Tennyson. I think we can immediately clear Blago of at least that one charge: Blagojevich clearly said the poem was written by Tennyson. That's proper attribution, not a "rip off" or theft of Tennyson's words.
As for the other charges, as I've been saying all along, I don't know whether Blago is guilty or not, but that's for a jury to decide, not a Prosecutor. And one of the fundamental planks of our freedom from government abuse is that we do not let prosecutors take the place of juries.
Another is that a sitting official has the right and maybe even the obligation to exercise his or her official powers - which, in Illinois, include appointing a new U.S. Senator when a seat becomes vacant.
Also in Illinois today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Illinois Secretary of State's signature is not needed for a legal appointment of U.S. Senator. It's time for the U.S. Senate to seat Roland Burris.
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
-and strode off the stage, without answering questions.
Over on MSNBC, Nora O'Donnell was interviewing a Kevin Tibbles, an NBC correspondent in their Chicago bureau, who noted that Blago had "ripped off" Tennyson. I think we can immediately clear Blago of at least that one charge: Blagojevich clearly said the poem was written by Tennyson. That's proper attribution, not a "rip off" or theft of Tennyson's words.
As for the other charges, as I've been saying all along, I don't know whether Blago is guilty or not, but that's for a jury to decide, not a Prosecutor. And one of the fundamental planks of our freedom from government abuse is that we do not let prosecutors take the place of juries.
Another is that a sitting official has the right and maybe even the obligation to exercise his or her official powers - which, in Illinois, include appointing a new U.S. Senator when a seat becomes vacant.
Also in Illinois today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Illinois Secretary of State's signature is not needed for a legal appointment of U.S. Senator. It's time for the U.S. Senate to seat Roland Burris.
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