Blago Follies

I'm trying to avoid the more hyperbolic outer reaches of the cable news talkers on the Blagojevich mess, but there are a few new developments in the case that merit a word or two. First, while impeachment proceedings are moving forward in the Illinois House, Democrats appear to have deep-sixed the idea of a special election, and I think that's a mistake.

At the Capitol, (House Speaker Mike) Madigan canceled plans to consider a special election to fill Obama's seat, saying Democrats are split over the best way to fill the vacancy. The move sparked harsh criticism from Republicans.

"Why is it, when the whole world is watching, you can't change your ways at least for one day and let democracy rule?" asked Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Greenville.

The GOP happens to be right. The people should be allowed to decide on this - it's consistent with democracy and reform. In a perfect world nobody would get appointed to serve in the US Senate. Let them battle it out with the voters. In addition, I don't think it necessarily follows that the Blagojevich scandal would even threaten whatever Democrat made it through a primary - presumably those most impacted by the connection to Blago wouldn't get through the primary to begin with - but I'm not in Illinois, so I can't be certain. What I DO know is that seeming to fear voters is the quickest way to get booted on your keister when this seat is inevitably up for a vote. There's polling out showing that 66% of Illinois voters favor a special election. Not listening to them is a bigger impediment to a new Democratic Senator than putting it to a vote.

Meanwhile, Jesse Jackson Jr. appears to have been moonlighting as a narc when he wasn't in the Congress:

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) — Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. — who was cited in a criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich — has been an informant for at least a decade with the U.S. Attorney's office, and has informed on the embattled governor of Illinois, though not in the case currently under investigation, Jackson spokesman Kenneth Edmonds told CNN Tuesday.

In addition, two sources close to Jackson told CNN that, in 2002, Blagojevich — then running for governor of Illinois — solicited a $25,000 campaign donation from Jackson, which he did not get.

At the time, Jackson's wife, Sandi, was a candidate for the job of director of the state's Lottery Commission, a post she did not win, the sources said.

After Blagojevich took office, in early 2003, he told Jackson something to the effect of, "You see what $25,000 would have done?" the sources said.

This will do wonders for his image, which was tarnished by being named "Candidate #5" in the initial complaint.

Finally, I'm not sure what to make of Newt Gingrich's condemnation of Mike Duncan and the RNC for going after made-up Obama-Blagojevich ties.

I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles.

The recent web advertisement, “Questions Remain,” is a destructive distraction. Clearly, we should insist that all taped communications regarding the Senate seat should be made public. However, that should be a matter of public policy, not an excuse for political attack.

In a time when America is facing real challenges, Republicans should be working to help the incoming President succeed in meeting them, regardless of his Party.

Digby thinks that Newtie has learned his lesson from pushing the Clinton impeachment and almost losing the majority, and that the press is doing the GOP's job for them so there's no need to pile on. I think it may be simpler than that. Duncan is in the running for RNC chair and Gingrich may simply favor a different candidate. Former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele is on the record saying that Newt supports him. He may just be taking Duncan down a peg, and putting the failures of the past two election cycles on him. I hardly think that Gingrich is avoiding slash and burn politics.