State of the State

The plight of my state has been all over the news the past several weeks. Yesterday's denial of appointed Senator Burris to be seated in the U.S. Senate was a big deal. While the only "technical" reason why he cannot be seated is that Secretary of State Jessie White did not certify our embattled governor's appointment of Burris, there isn't much else that is keeping Burris out of the Senate seat. What makes me sad, is that it didn't matter who our Governor appointed, any candidate would be going through this same issues. Our governor definitely outsmarted everyone by making the move to appoint Roland Burris, but how can the same state that was the home of our next President also be the same state that is embattled and is the laughing stock of the country. *sigh*

To take it up a level. Let's talk about the Senate Democrats for a bleeping moment. What happened?!? All of a sudden they are infighting and just plain old disorganized. I think it all began after the election on what to do with Liebermann, now it's about seating Burris. Harry Ried is loosing a lot of credibility with me. I understand that Sen. Durbin is behind the Burris blocking, but quite honestly this isn't doing anything for our nation or for that matter the party. While the Democrats were all sitting back watching the Republican party implode with their choice of Palin and loosing many seats in the Congress, I can see Dick Chaney and the others in the party just sitting back and watching all of what is going on with a particular sneer.

I am hoping that come January 20th, change will still come to America.

Blue State

This morning I as well as other Illinois residents woke up to the news that our governor was taken into custody by FBI agents on charges of corruption. Information and rumors of what was going on in the Governor's office have been brewing for the past several years. Listening to U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald this morning I was shocked and baffled by the extent of what was happening and exactly who, what, where, when and why.Since the news broke, I have listened to talk radio and NPR to hear more about the charges as well as what will happen next.

I am not sure where to start in this blog, so I guess I'll just tell you my feelings on the whole thing. This was said this morning by someone else, I can't tell if Governor Blago is arrogant or ignorant. For a man who has been under investigation and was named several times during the Tony Rezko trial he should have known his head was on the chopping block. To listen to the press conference today with Patrick Fitzgerald I am shocked by the arrogance of a man who thought that he could sell the President elect Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder and then also try get himself AND his wife a better higher paying job either with the Obama administration or with a union. It's the audacity of this man that has me baffled. Not only was this man screwing with the senate seat he was also screwing with the well being of the United States!

Additionally, the allegations of trying to get Chicago Tribune editors fired over bad press that he was receiving in exchange for help selling the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field is mind blowing. Who thinks they have that much power?! Usually a way to get bad press to go away is to not do things like hmmm let's say sell US Senate seats!

I am glad that the federal government stepped in when they did rather than wait until the spring to bring charges against the governor. Unfortunately other than having his name plastered all over world as being charged in corruption that is all that will happen. He goes back to being Governor of Illinois until the Illinois Legislature takes measures to impeach him. I just hope that the State of Illinois can get it together before January 20th and find ourselves a good hard working Senator that will not have this looming over their head and won't be tainted by all that has happened.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Former Illinois Governor George Ryan is in prison, found guilty of corruption and sentenced to I think y7 1/2 ears in prison. Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a lot of back and forth regarding asking President Bush to pardon or at least commute Govern Ryan's sentence due to his age (72) and the health of his ailing wife. Many politicians in Illinois have weighed in on the opinion of commuting Governor Ryan's sentence; asked a few weeks ago Governor Blagojavich stated that Governor Ryan should not have his sentence commuted and if he was convicted of the crime, he should do the time. Karma?

Update: I just finished reading the 76 page complaint against Governor Blagojavich and Chief of Staff, John Harris, it's official. Governor Blagojavich is delusional and definitely has a very big opinion of himself and the power/influence he may wield.

He is OUT!

Dear Mr. Lieberman:

It's official, our relationship is now over. At first I thought you were just being an independent and trying to work both sides of the aisle to make our country a better place. As a democrat, I saw your switch to an independent as a good and strategic move; but lately I have been thinking that maybe your motives were personal. Were you feeling slighted by the party that had you as their nominee for Vice President 4 years ago?

Now Mr. Lieberman, we are taking it personally. As an independent you are able to support whomever you would like during the campaign and you did. You stayed out of the public eye for most of the campaign until the very end when you were seen standing behind Senator McCain at many of his campaign rallies while also taking part and hanging out with the Democratic Caucus.

You can't have it both ways and I along with Senator Reid are slighted by your actions.

Maybe Senator McCain should have listened to his gut and picked you rather than Caribou Barbie, but I think again you would be in the same situation are you now. Please Mr. Lieberman, you've been given your hat, be gracious and respectful to others that you've let down.

Sincerely,

Realpolitik Mama

UPDATE: The Democrats voted. Senator Lieberman is still in. Read this letter to Senator Lieberman

Bitter Unity?

Ok, so while on vacation I've given myself 15 minutes of surfing. After going to a few of my favorite blogs, I moved on to the news of the day (I have my priorities you know). Well I am not sure exactly what day yet, since an 8 hour time difference makes my days and nights all disconbobulated at the moment, but I digress.

My local paper not giving me all the information I was looking for - except to see that my beloved Chicago Cubs are winning on the road, I purused the New York Times, and came across an article of how the Obama and Clinton campaigns are trying to work together to bring unity to the party. So let's discuss blow by blow.

1. Harden Hillary supporters are still up in arms over Obama clinching the nomination and will not support Obama. my response.....get over yourselves! What are the reasons? Is it policy or experienced based? Or is it that you just don't like him. We, as democrats, need as much support and unity as we can get if we want to win in November. Let's all remember the end result.

2. This "symbolic" gesture of Obama writing a check to the Clinton campaign to help her out with her $+12 million debt. Seriously?! Like this woman and her husband don't have enough money to pay off their own debt. Didn't they start a website to ask people for money to help them with their Whitewater legal bills? Why not do the same now? Quick question, would she write him a check, symbolicly showing that she is behind him?

3. Obama hiring Clinton's people for his own campaign. One gripe Clinton supporters have is that " Mr. Obama’s campaign had made only a perfunctory effort to hire Clinton staff members; the Clinton campaign payroll is ending for most employees in less than a week." Don't we all know that when we work for a campaign that there is a 50/50 chance that you'll be out of a job? Isn't this the chance to take when working for a campaign. Surely they can't be claiming they are poor.

4. I am going to end with this, because I could go on and on and on about this article but this one struck me as a little off. "They are discussing whether Mr. Obama’s campaign will provide a plane and staff for Mrs. Clinton as she travels on his behalf." Does this sound like she wants to be paid off for endorcing Obama. To me it sounds as though she is thinking "well, if he wants me to go away and support him, then he is going to have to pay me for it" Who talks like that?! Do any other people who endorse a candidate get their own plane and staff? Hitch a ride with Obama?! I am sure the DNC has some money to help her out, but maybe it's beneath her to not only endorse the soon to be Democratic nominee, but also any other democrat that might be in that particular state, district, etc.

Obviously I have my own unity issues with Hillary Clinton and her supporters. Hey, if they want to have their own party- go ahead. They seem to know what's better anyway. But come November when we are still going to be stuck in this war, our gas is going to cost $6 a gallon and we aren't any better off, you'll see a "don't blame me my mam voted for Obama" bumpersticker on realpolitik toddler's Sit and Stroll.