Turn out the lights, the party's over-- Blagojevich is history.

Updated at 6:10 pm on January 29, 2009: Rod Blagojevich was removed from the office of Illinois Governor shortly after 5:00 pm this afternoon and that act automatically elevated Lt. Gov.Pat Quinn to Illinois Governor. The swearing in of Quinn was purely ceremonial.

The vote was 59-0 to remove Blago. He was also barred from holding any Illinois government office in the future by the same vote tally. However, as Senate President Cullerton pointed out, Blagovejevich may run for President of the United States in 2016, as he once contemplated doing and as is indicated on the FBI wiretaps.

Best line of the afternoon goes to State Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine)[did he steal it?), when he described then Governor Blagojevich as "An unusually good liar." Of course, it was former U. S. Senator Bob Kerrey who used that line more than a decade ago to describe Bill Clinton. Perhaps Senator Murphy came up with that line independently, as he did not credit it to Kerrey.

Best one word statement of the afternoon goes to Rev. and State Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago), who when voting to bar Blago from holding future Illinois office, didn't simply say yes, as did the other senators, but emphatically responded, "Absolutely." Meeks was double crossed a time or two by Blago and the good Rev. seemed to enjoy sticking in the shiv and twisting it a few times, as he did.

Best post-game comment goes to Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass, who patiently explained to the WGN news anchors that nothing much would change in Illinois politics until the Illinois Combine, composed of the Illinois/Chicago Democratic Machine (run largely by Speaker Madigan and Mayor Daley) and certain so called Republicans, e.g., Bill Cellini (Boss of Asphalt), is broken up or faces a significant counterforce.


The Illinois Combine, of course, is defined as the Democrats and Republicans who work closely together to abuse the government process for personal political and monetary gain. The Illinois Combine used to be known as the Daley-Ryan Combine until former Gov. George Ryan was sent off to prison a few years ago. Somewhat ironically, the 73 year old Cellini, a Republican power broker of the same vintage as George Ryan, will be tried in federal court on extortion charges that resulted from the same federal investigation, Operation Board Games, that started with the 52 year old Blagojevich. What goes around comes around.
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There was virtually no chance that Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) could say anything this morning to the Illinois Senate in his defense that would save him. However, with Blago, you never know. He has demonstrated time and again, over the years, the flair for the unpredictable.

Blago plays it safe

But, this time, Blago played it safe. For most of the forty or so minutes that he spoke, his eye was on his upcoming criminal trial. More tampering with the jury pool. Blagojevich spoke about his Horatio Alger bio and his fighting for the people. He did allude to politicians all doing the same thing [without saying explicitly he meant push hard for campaign contributions from those who benefit from Legislative or Executive acts]. And, Rod ran through his usual litany of fighting for poor people for health care, etc.

He could pass a lie detector test

Blago did say he had done nothing wrong or illegal. And, like Bill Clinton’s statement, “I did not have sex with that woman,” Blago believed what he said so much he could pass a lie detector test on his statement--“I did nothing wrong.” With some pols, fiction becomes reality when they say it enough.

Blago’s harshest critics would say he is a pathological liar or even a sociopath. That might be going too far. But, pundit Charles Krauthammer, a licensed psychiatrist, has said Blago is “batty.” That sounds about right- Batty Blago. Whether that is an impeachable offense, I don’t know. Of course, spending much, if not most, of his tenure as Governor trying to shake down corporate, not-for-profit or labor officials for campaign contributions in exchange for government "favors,", is probably an impeachable offense, especially if he crossed the line and made the shakedown into a quid pro quo. The standard for impeachment in the Illinois Legislature is simply “doing justice,” or “following your conscience.” That assumes pols have one.

Avoiding the FBI tapes

Gov. Blagojevitch didn’t touch the FBI audio tapes the jurors had heard again this morning about Blago allegedly scheming to get contributions from race track officials for his support and signing of a bill to divert gaming revenue to the tracks. Nor did he touch the FBI transcripts of his words that the Senate nomination was “bleeping valuable,” and he wasn’t going to give it away for “bleeping nothing.” No, he didn’t want to touch that at all. He just hoped that most of the people he was trying to reach hadn’t heard that or been swayed by it.

One last effort to tamper with the criminal jury pool and pitch a TV show

Blagojevitch knew he would be removed as Governor in a few hours. This was one last attempt to use the limelight to pick up one juror in his future criminal trial who said to himself or herself, “I like this guy. I just can’t vote to send him to prison.”

And, as with the media blitz, he was showing to the networks his flair for TV. Perhaps “The Rod Blagojevich show,” will be coming soon to a TV near you, and that will finance the best legal defense money can buy. Indeed, if convicted in the criminal trial, former Governor Blagojevitch could probably do the TV show from prison. The ultimate in reality shows.

The final act

The prosecution has concluded with a short, fifteen minute rebuttal, and it has now rested. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) took a one hour recess for the 37 Democratic Senators to caucus to collect their thoughts. Cullerton didn’t say it but one would imagine the 22 Republican senators will do likewise. The thirty-seven Dems want dearly to protect their brand and get Blago out of there. They need only two Republicans to join them to remove Rod. Needless to say, they will get the two and most likely all twenty-two.

It appears that the State Senators will reconvene at 2:15 pm this afternoon and vote shortly after that. Will each senator have to get his two minutes of fame to explain his or her vote? If so, that would get it done nicely in time for the local 5:00 pm (CST) news and the national 5:30 pm (CST) news. It is rumored that each senator might be given up to five minutes, which would mean we might not have a final vote until after 7:00 pm. This journalist is betting on the former. The Dems are controlling this show and they are usually pretty media savvy.

And, now, over to you Katie, Brian, Charlie and Jim. And, of course, to Bret, Chris and Anderson.
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Blagojevich to help close his trial tomorrow morning; Will his former political ally, President Obama, be watching?

Blagojevich to appear tomorrow morning at his trial

Governor Blagojevich (D-IL) will take center stage tomorrow morning at 11:00 am in Springfield. Earlier this afternoon, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) announced that Blago had asked for leave to appear at his impeachment trial to give a closing argument. Neither Blagojevich nor his counsel, has yet made an appearance at this week's impeachment trial. Senator Cullerton [himself a practicing lawyer and partner at Thompson, Coburn] indicated it was not appropriate for the Senate to vote today on Blago’s motion for leave to appear because it had not been filed yet, but it sounded as if Cullerton assumed that leave for Blago to appear should and will be granted by his colleagues in the Senate [Blagojevich will be given up to ninety minutes to address the Senate].

Senate President Cullerton indicated that the Illinois House’s prosecution team would have a half hour to deliver its rejoinder, after Blago finished and the Senate had a short recess-- and the case would then go to the Illinois Senators (the jury) for deliberation. The Tribune, in its first breaking news report this afternoon on this matter, mistakenly reported that Blago’s appearance would be on Friday, but then corrected itself. [See subsequent article here]. The Sun-Times, reporting this item after the Tribune, got it right on its first attempt. [See subsequent article here].

Blago is Fired Up and Ready to Go, but "No questions, please."

After practicing and warming up with more than a dozen national TV appearances on Monday and Tuesday, Blagojevich should be more than ready for his last Springfield appearance. Further, unlike his TV media blitz, it was announced that he would take no questions from the House prosecutor or the jurors, i.e., Illinois’ State Senators, tomorrow. Apparently, Blago is more troubled by questions from the Senators than he was by questions from Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Larry King, et al. By packaging his statement to the Illinois Senate as a closing argument, as opposed to "direct" trial testimony, Blagojevich avoids cross examination by the House prosecutor and questions from the state senators [jurors] in this quasi political/judicial format.

Although it is unlikely Blagojevich’s appearance can prevent the two thirds vote [39 Senators] required in the Illinois Senate to convict Blago and remove him as Governor, there has been quiet grumbling among some of the Senators this week as to how weak and poorly presented was the prosecutor’s impeachment case. Thus, it appears Blago will get more than one or two votes in his favor [although Blagojevich might resign before the vote, as Carol Marin suggested this evening].

Time for Blago to exit the Stage, say the Speaker and the Mayor.

The Illinois Democratic Party is ruled, however, by House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago’s Mayor Daley [co-chairs of Gov. Blagojevich’s re-election campaign in 2006]. Senate President Cullerton, a former House floor leader and Speaker Pro Tempore for a dozen years under Speaker Mike, only became Senate President two weeks ago and, although a veteran of eighteen years in the State Senate, is still gaining his footing as President. Watch Cullerton here and read about Senate President Cullerton here.

Madigan and Daley don’t want a Democratic Governor around who has been arrested by the Feds for conspiring to sell President Obama’s U. S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, not to mention many other allegations of illegal behavior. Neither Speaker Madigan nor Mayor Daley is known as a good government kind of guy. But the stench of the Blago arrests by the Feds is too much, even for them.

Blago, bad for the Illinois Democratic Party's brand

In short, Blago is quite bad for the Illinos Democratic Party's business. Most of the Democratic Senators will follow their leaders’ wishes and get rid of the quy. Even for disposing of Blago, detested by many of the State pols, this isn’t personal. It’s just business. After all, most of them supported Blago’s re-election a short two years ago, when most of his funky practices were well known, and the fact of multiple, on-going fed investigations of Blago was also well known. Their decision to support him then was also not personal, just business.

The Republicans, following the herd.

As to the Illinois Republican Party, if they had some smarts, they might have been tempted to tell the Dems “you made your bed, now sleep in it until 2010.” Why? Well, what the impeachment case amounts to is serious allegations by the Feds (but without even an indictment at this point) and a bunch of penny ante allegations of abuse of power. While that case might support the argument that Gov. Blagojevich is a phony populist, a demagogue and an insincere advocate for the people—that should not be enough for impeachment, or you would never be able to get a quorum in the General Assembly. Nevertheless, the Illinois Republican Party, essentially without leadership of its own, seldom misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, and it will go along with the Dems on Impeachment, as they do on most other important matters.

The Obama-Blagojevich history.

On the other hand, maybe Hot Rod has one more rabbit to pull out of his hat. All eyes should be on Blago tomorrow morning. Perhaps even the President of the United States will be tuned in. Then State Senator Barack Obama deferred his decision on running for the U. S. Senate in June, 2002, because he was so intent on electing Rod. By some accounts, Obama was, at the time, engaged in regular weekly meetings with Rahm Emanuel (now Obama’s Chief of Staff) and David Wilhelm (former DNC Chairman and then Chairman of Blago’s election effort) to strategize, brainstorm and perform outreach to the pols for Rod. Sometimes, the meetings included the likes of former State Senator Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) and State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Chicago), with Ronen going on to become a key adviser and enabler to the Blagojevich administration. [Watch Obama's 2002 endorsement of Rod, and commentary re same, here]. And, in 2006, U. S. Senator Obama, like most of his Democratic colleagues, endorsed Rod's re-election effort, notwithstanding his greater knowledge of Blagojevich's less than exemplary behavior.

What will President Obama be doing tomorrow morning at 11:00 am?

Now, less than seven years after Obama's initial work to elect Rod in 2002, Obama’s focus is on “saving the U. S. Economy with his stimulus plan,” and protecting the American people from terrorist acts. My, how times have changed. But, you have to wonder, will Obama be taking a peek at his old political ally, Governor Blagojevich, tomorrow morning?

President Obama has his Presidential Daily Briefing (Intelligence PDB) scheduled for 11:00 am; Economic (sic) Daily Briefing scheduled for 11:30 am and a meeting with his senior advisers (Emanuel and Axelrod ?) scheduled for 11:50 am. Well, if Obama, Emanuel and Axelrod (three of the four amigos) can sneak a peek, they and you can watch Blago tomorrow morning, streaming live, here. Maybe the White House pool reporter will tell us whether Obama and his Illinois friends clicked on the tube or their blackberries to watch Blago tomorrow morning. Inquiring minds want to know.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) and many more.
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Better than Diane Sawyer w/ Blagojevich: Berkowitz w/Sen. Kwame Raoul on Blago's impeachment trial. Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: So, it is possible that as we sit here today [January 11, 2009] that notwithstanding all of what people have heard from the U. S. Attorney’s office, from others, that the State Senate could vote to acquit Rod Blagojevich at the trial and that a jury could then vote to acquit Rod Blagojevich in his criminal trial?

Senator Kwame Raoul: It’s possible.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Will there be witnesses at the Blagojevich trial?

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago): Yes, I believe there will..

Jeff Berkowitz: Will [Blagojevich] have the right to subpoena and call the people he wants [as witnesses].
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Jeff Berkowitz:...is there anything wrong with Balanoff saying to Valerie Jarrett—Oh, you know that Rod thought he might get appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of HHS. Anything wrong with that?

Senator Kwame Raoul: If it is said in return for the appointment [of Valerie to the Senate].
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This week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago)[Watch here] discussing and debating the impeachment of Democrat Gov. Blagojevich, the articles of impeachment issued by the State House, the power to subpoena witnesses, the difference between horse-trading and illegal dealmaking and what it means to cross the line and much, much more. See, below, for more about the show's topics, a partial transcript of the show and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
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You can also watch the show w/State Senator Kwame Raoul here. Senator Raoul replaced State Senator Barack Obama after he was elected to the U. S. Senate in 2004. This show was taped on January 11, 2009.
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State Senator Raoul(D-13th Dist., Chicago) debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.
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Witnesses at the impeachment trial? Who can be subpoenad? By Blago?

Jeff Berkowitz: Will there be witnesses at the Blagojevich trial?

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago): Yes, I believe there will..

Jeff Berkowitz: Will [Blagojevich] have the right to subpoena and call the people he wants [as witnesses].

Senator Kwame Raoul: He’ll have an opportunity.

Who can subpoena Jarrett? Emanuel?

Jeff Berkowitz: Can he subpoena Valerie Jarrett?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I imagine he could. [This show was taped on January 11, 2009; Subsequently, we learned that Gov. Blagojevich would not have the power to subpoena witnesses if U. S. Attorney Fitzgerald thought the appearance at the impeachment trial of such witnesses might be a problem for the upcoming federal criminal trial of Governor Blagojevich; Valerie Jarrett, Rahm Emanuel, Tom Balanoff and certain other individuals were deemed to be inappropriate witnesses by the U. S. Attorney for Blagojevich or the prosecution to be able to subpoena for Blago’s impeachment trial].

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, because he didn’t have the right to issue subpoenas for the House impeachment process, but you’re saying for the trial he will have the power of subpoena?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I’m not certain, to tell you the truth, because, as we sit here today [January 11, 2009], there’s a Senate committee who has been working on developing rules for this proceeding and they have not presented these rules before the full body of the Senate, so I don’t know for certain.

Enforcing impeachment trial subpoenas

Jeff Berkowitz: But, who would enforce that subpoena? If he issues a subpoena to Valerie Jarrett and she doesn’t want to show up, who would make her show up?

Senator Kwame Raoul: That’s a good question.

Jeff Berkowitz: Senate President John Cullerton?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I don’t know if John will be—

Jeff Berkowitz: Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald?

Senator Kwame Raoul: That’s a good question.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, we don’t know who would enforce that. I don’t see Valerie Jarrett showing up at this trial, do you?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I don’t think of it as a likelihood…

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and SEIU's Tom Balanoff as impeachment trial witnesses

Jeff Berkowitz: ...Rahm Emanuel won’t be showing up. What about Tom Balanoff [Union boss for the Illinois SEIU]? Would he be showing up, do you think?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I have no idea.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think he has been sanitized out of this because, look, the internal report of the Obama administration puts [Balanoff] at a key point as a go between, if you will…
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Senator Kwame Raoul: Let’s suppose that the Obama report, which I have not read, but based on your representation came back differently [and] that Barack was trying to suggest that one person or the other should be appointed [to the U. S. Senate]. There is nothing wrong with that.

The Balanoff-Jarrett conversations: appropriate?

Jeff Berkowitz: No, but is there anything wrong with Balanoff saying to Valerie Jarrett—Oh, you know that Rod thought he might get appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of HHS. Anything wrong with that?

Senator Kwame Raoul: If it is said in return for the appointment [of Valerie to the Senate].

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, what else. He didn’t have to use those words. Wouldn’t that be the logical conclusion that he is in a sense…sending a feeler to Valerie Jarrett as to whether that is at all possible if she becomes a Senator, without him using those words.

Who crossed the line? SEIU's Balanoff? Blagojevich?

Senator Kwame Raoul: It might be a logical conclusion for some but we have to be careful to not pretend that negotiating and compromising and horse-trading does not go along in politics. There is a line that you cross, certainly—

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think this line might have been crossed with Balanoff. He’s head of the Illinois chapter of the SEIU, right?

Senator Kwame Raoul: Yeah, I am familiar with Tom Balanoff.

Jeff Berkowitz: You think he might have crossed the line?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I hope not. I like Tom Balanoff and I think he’s a good guy and—

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, are you sure that Rod Blagojevich crossed the line? Or, his staff?

Senator Kwame Raoul: I am not certain of any line crossing.

Possible that Blago could beat both raps?

Jeff Berkowitz: He might not have. Are you saying as you sit here today [January 11, 2009], it’s possible that the State Senate in the State of Illinois might not vote to convict Rod Blagojevich of these impeachable offenses.

Senator Kwame Raoul: It’s possible that we might not. It’s possible that we might. It has to be all based on the evidence presented at the time.

Jeff Berkowitz: …would your surmise be that most of the people that you talk to are probably assessing that it’s almost a certainty that Rod will be convicted. Not the State Senators, I am talking about your constituents—the other people who are not politicians…---don’t you have the impression that people are just assuming Rod will be convicted of impeachable offenses.

Senator Kwame Raoul: There probably is such an anticipation amongst a lot of people who don’t have the responsibility to remain objective and don’t have the responsibility nor the opportunity to sit and listen to all of the evidence. There are only fifty nine people in the State of Illinois who have that responsibility…

Jeff Berkowitz: So, it is possible that as we sit here today [January 11, 2009] that notwithstanding all of what people have heard from the U. S. Attorney’s office, from others, that the State Senate could vote to acquit Rod Blagojevich at the trial and that a jury could then vote to acquit Rod Blagojevich in his criminal trial?

Senator Kwame Raoul: It’s possible.
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The show with Senator Raoul was taped on January 11, 2009.
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Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago, 13th Dist.), debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Senator Raoul was appointed in late 2004 to the State Senate seat previously held for eight years by now President-Elect Barack Obama.
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Senator Raoul, whose parents were Haitian-born immigrants, attended the University of Chicago Lab School, DePaul University for his undergraduate degree and received his law degree from Chicago-Kent in 1993. He has been an Assistant State's Attorney (Cook County), practiced law in the private sector and was the chief internal negotiator for the City Colleges of New York. Senator Raoul was appointed to do consulting work for the City Colleges of Chicago in 2007 on workforce development and making Chicago a corporate destination. You can read more about Senator Raoul here.
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Topics discussed on the show include whether certain communications between Team Blagojevich and team Obama about the U. S. Senate Appointment would rise to the level of a criminal offense; did the arrest of Gov. Blagojevich ignite the impeachment proceedings and why; is the relationship between Speaker Mike Madigan and Governor Blagojevich a hateful one and has that been the case for the last six years; why did Speaker Mike and Mayor Daley co-chair Blagojevich's re-election campaign in 2006; why did the Democrats not support the un-Blago, i.e., Edwin Eisendrath in the 2006 Dem primary for Governor; is impeachment a good alternative to "recall;"
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Additional topics discussed include the counts of the articles of impeachment issued against Gov. Blagojevich: plotting to obtain something of value for the U. S. Senate Appointment, plotting to condition the IFA assistance to the Tribune on the Tribune's firing editorial board members who were critical of Gov. Blagojevich, plotting to trade official gubernatorial acts for campaign contributions, violating the constitutional separation of powers, disregarding state and federal laws, and using the gubernatorial patronage office to pressure state agencies to make political hires and fires. Are some of the impeachment counts penny ante? Was it appropriate to have Majority Leader in the House, Barbara Flynn Currie, a non-lawyer, chair the House Select Committee on impeachment? Will Gov. Blagojevich be impeached? Should Senator Raoul not read the articles of impeachment until they are officially presented to the House?
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show featuring State Senator Raoul(D-Chicago) is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and Tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.

and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Senator Raoul(D-Chicago) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, February 2, 2008, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) next Thursday night, February 5 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Senator Raoul may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel and much more.
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Better than Chris Wallace w/Axelrod: Berkowitz w/Pete Giangreco on the Blagojevich impeachment and the Obama Administration, Cable and Streaming

Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features Pete Giangreco, Democratic political campaign consultant, who has worked on seven Presidential campaigns, including three winners [Clinton, Clinton and Obama], and too many other congressional, gubernatorial and assorted campaigns to list. Giangreco is a principal at The Strategy Group.

The show airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The show also will air in Rockford and surrounding areas this Thursday night at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17.
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You can watch the show with Pete Giangreco on your computer.
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Pete Giangreco, Principal at The Strategy Group, a Democratic political consulting firm, debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Giangreco focuses, professionally, on direct mail, message development and developing creative, winning strategies.

In addition to his seven presidential campaigns, Pistol Pete Giangreco has worked on a large number of political campaigns throughout the country over the last quarter century, including elections involving Governor Blagojevich, Governor Warner, Governor Easley, Cong. Foster, Cong. Schakowsky, Mayor Daley, Gov. Strickland and many, many more.

Topics discussed on the show include whether or not Giangreco favors impeachment of Illinois' Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the intellectual puzzle of how Blagojevich got so much Democratic Party support in 2006 for his re-election- in light of how much Democrat Party support currently exists for impeachment, the impact of money on elections, why Obama won the Presidency, how a President Obama will govern, how a President Obama would react to news that his Commerce Secretary designate had received a subpoena to appear before a Grand Jury investigating pay to play in New Mexico, how a President Obama would respond, in real time, to a foreign policy crisis, how a President Obama might use Axelrod, Jarrett and Emanuel in time of crisis and much, much more. Please go here for more about Pete Giangreco and the expertise and background of Pete and his firm, The Strategy Group.
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Were the Illinois Democratic Party leaders enablers of Rod Blagojevich?


Jeff Berkowitz: Are the Democrats guilty of tolerating inappropriate behavior? I mean “tolerating” in this sense. You worked for the guy. You’re a consultant—I understand, that’s one thing. You do that, and it’s like a lawyer, counsel. Those people don’t necessarily believe in every client, but they do it. And you may have believed in Rod—I’m not asking that.

Pete Giangreco: I did.

Jeff Berkowitz: You did.

Pete Giangreco: And look, there were millions of people in Illinois who voted him in.

Jeff Berkowitz: In 2002. You believed in him in 2006?

Pete Giangreco: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: And Speaker Mike Madigan believed in him in 2006 because he co-chaired his campaign. Is that an appropriate conclusion?

Pete Giangreco: I can not speak to the motives of Speaker Madigan. Never have, and never will.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Mayor Daley, who you worked for, over different periods of time-- in 2006, he also co-chaired Rod Blagojevich’s campaign. Didn’t he?

Pete Giangreco: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, would it be safe to say that Mayor Daley believed in Rod Blagojevich?

Pete Giangreco: I think he believed in trying to cover every child with healthcare and some of the other things that Rod Blagojevich did-- tried to hold the line on taxes. Certainly, he shared the Governor’s view that our public schools are underfunded and need more money and they worked together on that. So, from the Mayor’s point of view, it was sort of a no brainer to be for this governor because he was taking care of the same kind of issues that the Mayor was dealing with.

Was Barack Obama an enabler of Rod Blagojevich?

Jeff Berkowitz: And, then state senator, now President-elect Barack Obama sat in the chair you’re sitting in now-- on June 27th, 2002, to be exact, and I asked him about whether he was running for the US Senate, and he said he couldn’t “talk about that now,” because his main focus was what?—was working hard to elect Rod Blagojevich, 2002-- Now I’ve defended him, in an interview with Bill O’Reilly, because a lot of people didn’t know, including me, and probably Barack, a lot about Rod Blagojevich in 2002-- that they know now. [Watch Obama-Berkowitz-O’Reilly here].

Pete Giangreco: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: But in 2006, when Barack knew more, Daley knew more, Speaker Madigan knew more, you knew more, I knew more, Barack said he was still supporting Rod Blagojevich because “he delivered for the people of Illinois.”

Pete Giangreco: Yeah.

Should the Democratic Party Leaders have championed the Blago alternative in 2006?

Jeff Berkowitz: Should Madigan and Daley and Obama and you have stood up and said, you know, you’ve got a choice here. It is Edwin Eisendrath, he’s a true reformer, Rod’s doing funky stuff here with contributions and business. Look, whether it was illegal is another matter.

Pete Giangreco: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: But we all knew funky stuff was going on. And you had a choice. You get a dispensation because you’re a consultant, but the public officials—Obama, Daley, Madigan—should we have expected more from them in terms of saying, hey, this guy ain’t good for Illinois?

Is Giangreco arguing the Ends justify the Means?

Pete Giangreco: No, because were these close allies, bosom buddies, close advisors to the Governor? No. What they supported were the things that Rod got done. Covering every child with healthcare. Bringing an I-pass system to the tollways. Increasing education funding without raising taxes on middle-class people. These are core Democratic philosophies.

Jeff Berkowitz: As Bill O’Reilly said to me, the ends justify the means?

Can Pols fool most of the people most of the time?

Pete Giangreco: They don’t. Now, what the ends did was to give people a reason to be for Rod. And guess what? I don’t think the voters in Illinois are dumb. I think they certainly knew that there were federal investigations of Governor Blagojevich. They certainly were all over the TV; they were all over Judy Baar Topinka’s ads.

Jeff Berkowitz: What else was all over the TV? Twenty million dollars in ads, just in that campaign alone. So they saw twenty million dollars of nice, fluffy stuff—much of which you may have produced—

Pete Giangreco: I don’t think there was much fluffy about it.

Is money the Mother’s milk of politics?

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s twenty million dollars.

Pete Giangreco: There were two very clear views laid out.

Jeff Berkowitz: Judy Baar Topinka had maybe five million dollars. Twenty to five? Who’s going to win that contest?

Pete Giangreco: There were a lot of campaigns we’ve won who were underfunded. Barack Obama in 2004 being one of them. Blair Hull-

Jeff Berkowitz: But not in 2008, Obama spent 750 million dollars in 2008.

Are voters smart?

Pete Giangreco: Blair Hull spent millions of dollars more than Barack Obama, and got a heck of a lot fewer votes. Money doesn’t always dictate the outcome. Look, here’s the bottom line. People are smart. They weigh things and they say—there are some things about this guy I don’t like. I don’t like his hair, I don’t like the way he talks, I don’t like the way he does things. But in the end, I’ve got to pick one of the two of them. And, the majority of people picked Blagojevich, by ten points going away. Your supposition is that voters are dumb, and that if you just raise more money than someone else, you can buy their vote. I don’t believe that.

Jeff Berkowitz: I would never say voters are dumb.

Pete Giangreco: I can tell you a lot of campaigns that we’ve won where we’ve gotten outspent. I’ve been a part of a lot of campaigns where we had more money, and we still lost.

Jeff Berkowitz: But you can influence people. Money counts. I didn’t say people were dumb.

Does advertising count in politics? Does money count?

Pete Giangreco: Money does count.

Jeff Berkowitz: You know, and I know, and everyone watching this show knows that money counts in politics, because advertising counts.

Pete Giangreco: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not because people are dumb, but because advertising gets out information, much of it accurate, some of it inaccurate. I just want to make that point. I’m not saying anybody’s dumb.

Pete Giangreco: I agree. But, my point is that people, based on what was knowable information, even to me and you, made the right choice, because they weighed Blagojevich and maybe said, I don’t like the way he does things, or how he fights with everybody, but do I want every child covered? Do I want more money for schools? Do I want middle class people to pay more in taxes? No. In all three of those ways—taxes, education, healthcare—which were the bedrock issues of both of those campaigns—they agreed with Rod Blagojevich, and they disagreed with Judy Baar Topinka and Jim Ryan. And they knew what the score was.

Jeff Berkowitz: I would just say that message counts, having good ideas, being able to articulate those ideas.

Pete Giangreco: Sure.

Do ideas have consequences?

Jeff Berkowitz: That wasn’t Jim Ryan’s forte, and that is not Judy Baar Topinka’s forte. And Republicans, if they ever want to become competitive in the state of Illinois, they need to get people who have ideas, have programs, and who are able to articulate them. And they don’t have them yet.

Pete Giangreco: Berkowitz for Governor. Are you ready to announce for Governor? Here, on my show?

Jeff Berkowitz: Don’t butter up the host.

Pete Giangreco: It’s your show. But why don’t you run? You couldn’t be any worse than any of those mopes that they’ve put up.

Jeff Berkowitz: I’ve got my hands full trying to interview you. All right, let’s go over to Barack Obama.
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Public Affairs thanks Amy Allen, one of its interns, for preparing a draft of the above transcript. The show with Pete Giangreco was taped on January 4, 2009.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics and much more.
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Berkowitz goes one-on-one w/Senate President Cullerton on the Blagojevich impeachment trial, taxes and Blago subpoenas to Emanuel and Jarrett

Jeff Berkowitz: How soon could this trial be over if Rod Blagojevich doesn’t show up? Could it be two or three days?

Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago): No, I don’t want to say that because the prosecution will decide…
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Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think maybe you should have given the Governor subpoena rights, to subpoena Rahm Emanuel, if he wants, or Valerie Jarrett and then let him duke it out with the U. S. Attorney…
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Berkowitz: Do you see any way to avoid an increase in taxes? How would you avoid an increase in the income tax or sales tax?
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Newly minted Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) spoke and answered written questions from a packed, non-media audience of more than two hundred City Club of Chicago members and guests this morning at Maggiano’s Banquets in Chicago. [The first Republican perspective scheduled for the City Club this year is apparently Senate Republican Leader Radogno [Lemont] on April 20, 2009].

After this morning’s program, “Public Affairs,” caught up with Senator Cullerton (D-Chicago) and conducted a one-on-one, side walk, video interview with him while President Cullerton was waiting for the valet to bring around his car. [See a transcript, below]. Luckily, for this journalist, the valet service was apparently not speedy.

How long will the Blagojevich impeachment trial take?

It is not surprising that Senate President Cullerton did not want to speculate about how long the Blagojevich impeachment (or should we say removal) state senate trial will take. [The trial started today at noon, and dealt with procedural and evidentiary motions until about 3:30 pm, when the House prosecutor called his first witness Go here for live blogging about the trial by Steve Rhodes on NBC.] It doesn’t sound like Cullerton thinks it will take more than a week to dispose of this matter, if Rod is a no-show, as Gov. Blagojevich has said he will be.

Clearly, President Cullerton wants the trial over yesterday, and that is one reason, he implied, for not giving Gov. Blagojevich the right to subpoena the likes of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel-- with the likely federal court delays of impeachment precipitated by a federal adjudication of disputes related to Emanuel’s compliance with the subpoena.

During his remarks to the City Club of Chicago, President Cullerton emphasized that Illinois state government can't deal with the large and growing state deficits [4 to 5 billion dollars ?] until it is known whether it is Gov. Blagojevich or Gov. Quinn [the current Lt. Gov.] with whom the legislature must work.

Why the pols want a short trial

Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass suggests perhaps some other reasons why the Dems and perhaps Republicans want to conclude the Blago trial as soon as possible.

One, the longer the trial, the greater chance somebody will spread, on Rod’s behalf, some general or specific dirt about Illinois’ legislators and their own corruption [and Kass raises again the murky partnership purportedly involving Cullerton, his wife-- Pam, Senator Deleo and the son of Blagojevich’s criminal defense lawyer, Ed Genson, as owners of Lincoln Park Title Co.].

Two, the Illinois General Assembly may have a number of legitimate reasons to impeach and remove Rod Blagojevich from the Governor’s mansion, notwithstanding that he doesn’t actually live there. However, clearly the Illinois Democratic Party leaders, starting with Mayor Daley and House Speaker Mike Madigan, and at least some Republicans want a significant income or sales tax increase in 2009, and that will be easier to accomplish with a Governor Quinn than a Governor Blagojevich. While this is clearly not the motivating force for impeachment (as Hot Rod suggests), it is a happy by-product for those pols who are licking their chops at the prospects of more tax revenue.

As for Senate President Cullerton and taxes, he advocated for, and bet on, last June on Public Affairs an increase in the income tax-- but this morning he spoke only of the necessity of a tax increase to fund a capital plan and he suggested that the feds’ increased funding of Medicaid might obviate, in his mind, the need for an income or general sales tax increase to deal with the State's operating deficit.

Rich Miller, in this morning’s Capitolfax publication, refers to block grants from the Feds that might help with (1) general efforts to balance the state budget and (2) what some perceive as specific “shortfalls,” in education funding. Perhaps President Obama and COS Emanuel, despite Obama’s denials at a presser last month in response to a question from ABC’s former local political pundit, Andy Shaw, might give some special attention to Mayor Daley and their “friends,” in Springfield when it comes to handing out the stimulus and other government goodies. [Watch a clip of a 2002 interview of Obama by Berkowitz, followed by an O'Reilly-Berkowitz analysis of President Obama].
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Jeff Berkowitz: How soon could this trial be over if Rod Blagojevich doesn’t show up. Could it be two or three days?

Senate President Cullerton: No, I don’t want to say that because the prosecution will decide how many witnesses they want to call and how they want to put their case on, questions, their response to senators. You just can’t say. It will take as long as it takes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think maybe you should have given the Governor subpoena rights, to subpoena Rahm Emanuel (President's Obama's Chief of Staff and a key Team Obama-Team Blago contact on the alleged attempted sale of the Senate Seat), if he wants, or Valeria Jarrett (apparently Team Obama's initially preferred choice to replace Senator Obama) and then let him duke it out with the U. S. Attorney [who indicated he did not want Blagojevich’s impeachment trial to involve certain of his anticipated witnesses for Blagojevich’s criminal trial], however that’s done?

Senate President Cullerton: That would have delayed the trial and we wanted- for the reasons I stated-have the trial be heard as soon as possible and its inevitable there would have been a federal court telling us that we had to wait for that to be litigated. The reasons why the Governor said he needed those witnesses, for the reasons I stated, are not valid because those witnesses’ testimony can be presented indirectly- I assume their relevance to the trial—he could still accomplish the same goal be subpoenaing the transcripts of those public statements.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is the Governor’s PR effort an attempt to tamper with the jury pool for the federal trial, the criminal trial? Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn doubts this hypothesis, but he advances none of his own to explain why Blago has embarked on his massive PR effort: GMA, Today, Don and Roma and The View-- and he may just be getting started.

Senate President Cullerton: I have no idea.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the only thing that makes sense because he is not affecting impeachment, is he—he has already been impeached—he is not affecting removal [from office] at this point with the state senators, they are not going to be influenced by this media effort, are they?

Senate President Cullerton: I don’t think so.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, it must be just thinking ahead to the criminal trial?

Senate President Cullerton: Something.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Do you see any way to avoid an increase in taxes? How would you avoid an increase in the income tax or sales tax?

Senate President Cullerton: Get money from the federal government.

Ed. Note: John Cullerton stated, in response to a question during his breakfast remarks at the City Club of Chicago, this morning, about an increase in state taxes, “…the Federal Government could be providing …billions of dollars for us to help pay for Medicaid costs so we really can’t answer that question as to whether or not we would need a tax increase to balance our [operating] budget until we see what [the Feds] provide. This, of course, is separate and apart from the capital bill. The capital bill—we need to pass. Their [the Feds'] billion dollars and their half billion for mass transit is not enough. We need to pass a capital bill. That will require some type of a tax increase. It will have to bring in about a billion dollars a year. We are considering the income tax; We are considering the motor fuel tax…no one is talking about increasing the sales tax on gasoline…what we are considering is whether or not to raise the 19 cent per gallon gallonage tax—obviously it’s on the table…
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics and much more.
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Cong. Roskam on Tax Cuts, bailouts and disbursing economic stimulus funds in tranches [in his own words].

Jeff Berkowitz:…Do you have an opinion on those two [proposals from the Republican Study Committee (consisting of about one hundred conservative House members)]: the cut of the corporate income tax rate, from 35% to 25% and the cut across the board on the personal income tax rates [of 5%].

Cong. Peter Roskam [R-Wheaton, 6th CD]: I would support them both.

Jeff Berkowitz: …has it come up in either of these groups [Republican Study Committee or the House Economic Stimulus Working Group] – the idea to do more along the lines of what was done with the 700 billion dollar bailout, that is to administer or disburse these funds in tranches, so if hypothetically it is going to be an 800 billion dollar [spending stimulus package;] over two years, maybe to have this disbursed [at the rate of] 100 billion dollars a quarter and have some assessment of how that went that quarter, what kinds of projects were released, what the results were before authorization was given to release the second hundred billion dollars [and so on].

Cong. Peter Roskam [R-Wheaton, 6th CD]: Even today, there is a lot of conversation around the release of the subsequent TARP funds. As you guys know, I voted against that plan back in the fall. But, I am sensing regret from people that voted in favor of it, in that it was obviously poorly planned, the oversight wasn’t in place, lots of questions about where that money has gone. So, in answer to your question, yes, the sort of tranche approach should be carefully considered. You’ve got to balance that with sort of the stimulative effect of trying to jump start things, but I think you make a good point, and that point is that the money should be spent wisely and the best way to do that is to have a careful release of the funds because the temptation is, and you know, you guys that have been watching Congress for a long time, what can happen in this institution is that spending begins to pile on- and it’s not helpful, it’s not disciplined and it doesn’t have the kind of accountability that is ultimately something that I think that the American people want and you know in an internet age the ability to be transparent about where the money is going. We have not seen that kind of transparency on the TARP funds.

Partial transcript, Cong. Peter Roskam’s telephonic Presser, January 15, 2009.

Better than Obama speaking to George Will, Charles Krauthammer, et al: Berkowitz w/State Rep. Hamos on Impeachment of Rod, etc. Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: But in the general election you supported [Rod Blagojevich for Governor in 2002], right? President-elect Obama sat in the chair you’re sitting in, in June of 2002, and said he couldn’t even think about running for the U. S. Senate because he had to work hard to elect Rod Blagojevich for Governor. And then in 2006, didn’t Speaker Mike Madigan and Mayor Daley co-chair Rod Blagojevich’s re-election committee? They did.

State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston, 18th Dist): I know. It’s kind of shocking.
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State Rep. Julie Hamos: Again, I think it’s a totality of circumstances. What put it over the top, certainly for me, and for other members of the committee, is when our sitting governor was arrested by the federal government. Now, I would personally feel better if there were an indictment...
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Eleventh year Illinois State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-18th Dist., Evanston), a member of the Illinois House Select Committee on Impeachment, debates and discusses impeachment [Watch here] and other issues (See, below) with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz in this week’s Chicago Metro suburban edition of “Public Affairs.” For the suburban Public Affairs airing schedule, as well as next week’s airing schedule for the show in Chicago, Aurora and Rockford, please go here.

You can also watch the show on your computer here.
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Following up on the headline for this post, go here to read about President-Elect Obama's charm offensive trotted out in his meeting with eight conservation pundits. The attributes of Obama noted in this article: charming, well informed, smart, bright and strong command of the issues are the same attributes that characterized the Obama that this reporter got to know in 2001-04 [Watch here].
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Topics discussed on the show with Rep. Hamos include whether or not:

• Hamos favors impeachment and/or resignation of Illinois' Gov. Rod Blagojevich,
-Democratic Party Leaders in Illinois were well aware of many of Gov. Blagojevich's "questionable practices," for the last six years
--Illinois Republican Party leaders handled former Republican Governor George Ryan's "issues," better than the Democratic Party leaders handled Gov. Blagojevich's "issues."
• Hamos thinks there should be a special election to replace President-Elect Obama in the U. S. Senate,
• Hamos thinks Governor Blagojevich had the power to appoint Roland Burris as a U. S. Senator,
• the House is using the appropriate standard for impeachment,
• the U. S. Senate can decline to seat Roland Burris- based on the relevant constitutional provisions,
• Hamos will run for Attorney General,
• House Bill 1 (or its successor) reasonably regulates pay to play,
• There should be limitations on contributions to politicians and much more.

Please go here for more about Rep. Hamos and various state legislative issues.
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A partial transcript of the show with State Rep. Julie Hamos is included, below:

Did Blagojevich do anything criminal relating to the U. S. Senate Seat?

Jeff Berkowitz: The real thing people want to know, Julie Hamos—you are on the select impeachment committee in the House--

State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston]: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: The thing of it is, you’re looking at issuing articles of impeachment against Rod Blagojevich, right?

Rep. Hamos: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Team Obama says they investigated this thing…about the allegations… and the U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois says that the governor was trying to sell the Senate seat, put it up for auction…In any case, Team Obama said they looked at those communications, and they didn’t see any inappropriate discussions. And they didn’t see that Rod Blagojevich ever suggested something in return for names that were being suggested by Team Obama for the next Senator, to replace Barack Obama. And Team Blagojevich, of course, says he wasn’t doing anything wrong. So where’s the illegality here? Because if Team Obama didn’t offer anything—which Team Blagojevich would say [and the wiretap and bug transcripts seem to support that], I’m sure—and Blagojevich didn’t ask for anything, which is what Team Obama is saying, is there any illegality that you see? In that transaction?

Rep. Hamos: I think the important thing is-- that is not the only transaction we’re looking at. And I think, if anything, the impeachment committee is looking at a totality of circumstances… The Illinois Constitution is vague on what is a cause for impeachment. It doesn’t define it. So we are left, as an impeachment committee, to define standards for why and how we would impeach. I take that very seriously. And in part, I think, Jeff, it harkens back to my days escaping from a totalitarian government… I think we have a huge challenge-- a huge responsibility here-- to do it right, to set a precedent that has to survive future generations. It cannot be a political lynch mob. It cannot be a witch hunt. It has to be something very thorough, very concrete, as to why we would impeach a sitting governor… So that one issue that caused the U. S. Attorney to stand before a press conference and announce that he is now arresting the Governor, and moving ahead with an indictment, is not the only issue before us, the United States Senate appointment. We are looking at many other issues, going back years, when we believe, as a Legislature, that there were gross abuses of power that require us to take a look at what is the proper role of a Governor.

Jeff Berkowitz: Why are you looking at it now? Because, look. Rod Blagojevich came in in 2002, there was a Democratic primary, as you know. You didn’t support him in the primary, right?

Rep. Hamos: Right.

Did the Democratic Party “enable,” Rod’s impeachable offenses?

Jeff Berkowitz: But in the general election you supported him, right? President-elect Obama sat in the chair you’re sitting in, in June of 2002, and said he couldn’t even think about running for the U. S. Senate because he had to work hard to elect Rod Blagojevich for Governor. And then in 2006, didn’t Speaker Mike Madigan and Mayor Daley co-chair Rod Blagojevich’s re-election committee? They did.

Rep. Hamos: I know. It’s kind of shocking.

Jeff Berkowitz: So four years [later], things must have been fine enough for them to chair that. You supported Rod Blagojevich in 2006, right?

Rep. Hamos: Yes. He was our sitting governor.

Jeff Berkowitz: You didn’t support Ed Eisendrath. You had a choice, a reformer, in the Democratic primary. Did you go with Eisendrath, or did you go with Blagojevich?

Rep. Hamos: He [Blago] was our sitting governor.

Jeff Berkowitz: You went with Blagojevich. I don’t mean just you, the whole Democratic Party—well, thirty percent of the voters went with Eisendrath, but the overwhelming majority of the Democratic public officials, I’m sure, stayed with Blagojevich. So my point is—what’s happened now, if its not this U.S. Attorney complaint about the sale of the office, on January 4, 2009, what’s happened now to make these abuses, that, as you say, have been going on for years and years—why would you impeach him now if he was good enough to re-elect, according to the Democrats, in 2006?

Is it appropriate to impeach a Governor who has not been indicted?

Rep. Hamos: Again, I think it’s a totality of circumstances. What put it over the top, certainly for me, and for other members of the committee, is when our sitting governor was arrested by the federal government. Now, I would personally feel better if there were an indictment. And the indictment now looks like it is not going to happen next week, the following week, as we had hoped. [The U. S. Attorney is] asking for an extension of [90 days to file the indictment] Ed. note; The prosecutor's request for a 90 extension of time to file it's indictment was granted last week.

Jeff Berkowitz: It may never happen at all.

Rep. Hamos: I think it will happen.

Jeff Berkowitz: You think?
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Public Affairs thanks its intern, Amy Allen, for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of our show with State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston)
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The show with Rep. Hamos was taped on January 4, 2009, five days before the Illinois House voted to impeach Governor Blagojevich, sending the matter to the Illinois Senate for a trial of the Governor, to be "presided," over by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald. However, rulings by Justice Fitzgerald can be reversed by a majority of the state Senators. If he is convicted, which requires a two-thirds majority vote of the fifty-nine senators, Blagojevich will be removed immediately as the Governor, and replaced by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn (D-Chicago).

The trial of Gov. Blagojevich in the Senate is expected to begin on January 26, 2009 and take approximately two weeks. This week and next week will be used to handle pre-trial motions, witness issues and other procedural matters. Also, many of the Senators will be in Washington, DC to see the inauguration of and attend related balls and parties for their former colleague, President Barack Obama.
*************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
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Better than Morning Joe w/Sen.Burris:Berkowitz w/Rep.Hamos(the next Illinois AG ?) on Impeachment,Cable and Streaming

This week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Julie Hamos(D-Evanston), discussing and debating the impeachment of Democrat Gov. Blagojevich, whether Gov. Blagojevich should resign, how we got here, Rep. Hamos possible run for Attorney General and much, much more. See, below, for more about the show's topics, a partial transcript of the show and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
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You can also watch the show w/State Rep. Hamos here.
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State Rep. Hamos (D-18th Dist., Evanston) debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.
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Public Affairs thanks its intern, Amy Allen, for preparing drafts of the transcripts of our show with State Rep. Hamos to be added to this post, shortly. The show was taped on January 4, 2009.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show featuring State Rep. Hamos(D-Evanston) is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and Tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.

and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Hamos(D-Evanston) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, January 19, 2008, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Hamos(D-Evanston) will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) next Thursday night, Jan. 22 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Hamos(D-Evanston) may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.

Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
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Better than Conaty w/Durbin: Berkowitz w/State. Rep. Walker on Tax cuts,Caroline Kennedy, school vouchers and impeaching Blago;Cable & Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: How do you do it? Are you going to lower the income tax? Are you going to raise it? If it’s a big middle class tax cut—in Illinois, people pay fairly high income taxes, three percent across the board, that could be fairly high, depending on [your income level].

State Rep. Mark Walker[D-Arlington Heights]: I’d support cutting that tax.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Like Caroline Kennedy, who we’re seeing now. This broad—if we want to use that language, okay, I’ll get heat for that—this broad steps up out of nowhere and says she’d like to be the U.S. Senator from the state of New York, and she’d like... Caroline Kennedy? She was born into the aristocracy. See my point?

State Rep. Mark Walker: Of course, I do. And, it’s a problem for America.
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Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t think people should have choice?

State Rep. Walker: I think it’s a responsibility of this government to support public education. It is a fundamental value of America.
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Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) on Caroline Kennedy and the political aristocracy tax cuts, school vouchers and impeaching Blago. Please go here for more about the show, the guest and partial transcripts of the show.

The show airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The show also will air in Rockford and surrounding areas this Thursday night at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17.
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You can watch the show with Rep. Mark Walker on your computer.
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Caroline Kennedy: Entitled?

Jeff Berkowitz: Is this [the political aristocracy] a problem for the Illinois Democratic Party…

State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: I think it’s a problem for America.

Jeff Berkowitz: Like Caroline Kennedy, who we’re seeing now. This broad—if we want to use that language, okay, I’ll get heat for that—this broad steps up out of nowhere and says she’d like to be the U.S. Senator from the state of New York, and she’d like [Governor] David Patterson to appoint her. And you know what she’s done? She’s been a mom. There’s nothing wrong with being a mom, but for fifty-one years. And she’s a lawyer—she got a law degree. And she wrote a book. She was at the Book Stall in Winnetka, IL a year ago hawking her children’s book. No way she’s qualified. Think of all the Democrats who have earned their stripes, who are in Congress. If you want to have a woman, you could pick among six, [or so, New York Congresswomen]. Caroline Kennedy? She was born into the aristocracy. See my point?

State Rep. Mark Walker: Of course, I do. And, it’s a problem for America.
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Cutting taxes and cutting spending.

Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s go over to taxes, because that was a big issue you talked about during the campaign. You said you wanted to have the biggest middle class tax cut in history, right? Tell us, in the next minute or so, what’s that going to be like? The biggest middle class tax cut?

State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: I don’t know the numbers.

Jeff Berkowitz: How do you do it? Are you going to lower the income tax? Are you going to raise it? If it’s a big middle class tax cut—in Illinois, people pay fairly high income taxes, three percent across the board, that could be fairly high, depending on who you are.

State Rep. Walker: I’d support cutting that tax.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would.

State Rep. Walker: I don’t think anyone can afford taxes that high.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would cut the income tax, what, from three percent to two percent?

State Rep. Walker: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you raise any taxes?

State Rep. Walker: I don’t see any taxes that I would raise. I don’t think the economy can stand it. I really don’t. Now what do you do about government is the issue.

Jeff Berkowitz: Right, so there’s a four billion dollar deficit right now on the state level. How would you solve that? You’re going to go down there, you’re going to be a state rep. You’re not going to raise any taxes, so how are you going to solve that?

State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights] : I haven’t come up with a solution yet, to tell you the truth. I’ll tell you some things I do know. One is that we have to take the pension liabilities of the state and not treat them as if they’re contingent liabilities, we’ll cover them or we won’t cover them, depends what our cash flow is. Two, fund actuarially what we need to do with long-term bonds. That’s the only thing to do, to put it as a hard liability on your balance sheet and manage your balance sheet.

Jeff Berkowitz: If you’re not going to raise taxes, and you’re going to fund these pension liabilities-it must mean you’re going to cut spending somewhere else, right?

State Rep. Walker: We have to cut spending.

Jeff Berkowitz: Where are you going to cut spending? In education?

State Rep. Walker: I would not cut spending in education. I would support education.

Jeff Berkowitz: Where would you cut?
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More parental choice of schools or more money for public education?

Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s take education. What’s your plan to improve the quality of education? That was something you said—make it more accountable.

State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do you want to do?

State Rep. Walker: I’d like to raise what’s called the foundation level in Illinois so that we have at least a minimal standard for school districts in expenses per pupil.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do they spend right now in the school districts in the 66th? Do you have any idea?

State Rep. Walker: I can’t give you numbers on that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Across the state of Illinois the average is eleven thousand dollars per kid, per year.

State Rep. Walker: It’s higher in my district.

Jeff Berkowitz: In the city of Chicago, it’s sixteen thousand dollars per kid, per year. It might be even higher in your district.

State Rep. Walker: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: You think we’re spending enough. You think the answer is to give more money on education? Is that your answer?

State Rep. Walker: My answer is to make people accountable for what they do.

Jeff Berkowitz: How about having competition? Would that make them accountable? You’re in business. You must believe in competition, right?

State Rep. Walker: What I do believe in, for instance, since I’m in business and I understand these things, is to walk away, as I think the country’s going to, from the No Child Left Behind act. The No Child Left Behind Act caused these institutions-

Jeff Berkowitz: You want to walk away from No Child Left Behind?

State Rep. Walker: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Let me give you a stark example. Right now you can give people choice, you can take the money, whatever it is [that is being spent currently on public school education]—say it’s seventeen thousand, it probably is in many areas of the 66th district. Seventeen thousand dollars per kid per year. Say it’s fourteen thousand. I don’t know what it is. Give them choice. Give them a voucher and say, whatever is being spent on your kid now—federal, state, and local—fourteen thousand—if you’re happy in the public schools, stay there. If you’re not, go to the private school of your choice. School choice, school vouchers. You’d sign up for that?

State Rep. Walker: I would not sign up for that.

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t think people should have choice?

State Rep. Walker: I think it’s a responsibility of this government to support public education. It is a fundamental value of America.

Jeff Berkowitz: More than [supporting] the kids in the education system? So if the education the kids are getting, like in the city of Chicago, is almost uniformly believed to be pretty bad, in many schools, not all schools, and they’re spending sixteen thousand, don’t say to the parents, you can take sixteen thousand and go to the school of your choice, because we fundamentally have to do something about public education. I thought we had to do something about the kids at the public schools. Let them go where they want. Why wouldn’t you want to do that?

State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: I would want to fix the schools.
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Better than Stephanopoulos w/Obama: Berkowitz w/State Rep. Walker on Impeachment of Blagojevich, Education,Todd Stroger and more;Cable and Streaming

Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) on Impeachment, middle class tax cuts, education and school vouchers, Todd Stroger. Please go here for more about the show, the guest and partial transcripts of the show.

The show airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The show also will air in Rockford and surrounding areas this Thursday night at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17.
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You can watch the show with Rep. Mark Walker on your computer.
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Did Barack Obama become President because he appeared on “Public Affairs,” five times during 2001-2004? For more about President-Elect Obama and his TV appearances on “Public Affairs,” go here to watch the fastest five minute video on the web.
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On the other hand, as we discussed recently with Bill O’Reilly [Go here to watch], about six and one half years ago, then State Senator Barack Obama told Berkowitz he was focused on electing Rod Blagojevich as Governor of the state of Illinois. As it turns out, not the best Dem to try to elect.
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To see Berkowitz w/Obama on Hannity & Colmes, go here to watch the second fastest five minutes on the web, including a less guarded Barack Obama from a July, 2006, interview by Jeff Berkowitz in an Austin, IL [west side of Chicago] alley—what can I say, Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz, unlike H&C, is a no frills show-- but we deliver, as they do, on content. Take a look, you’ll be glad you did. And, if you are not a visual person, you can read the transcript of the segment.
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The show with Rep. Walker was taped on December 21, 2008.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment about the Berkowitz 2002 interview of Obama, shows with newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
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