Democrats respond to Blagojevich

Funny thing - I haven't seen Senator Clinton's statement and she grew up in Chicago and reportedly proved voter fraud in the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election. Mayor Daley Sr won the election for Kennedy by delivering Illinois. Jr has been following in kind.

12-9 BARRY in initial (no) comment on arrest:

I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it will be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time.

12-9 Lt Gov PAT QUINN: called on Gov. Blagojevich today to “do the right thing and step aside.”

I hope he does the appropriate thing for Illinois.

12-9 Speaker of the House MICHEAL MADIGAN refused to comment.

12-9 Rep JOHN FRITCHEY:

There is no doubt these allegations create a sense of immediacy for the House to take a look at beginning impeachment proceedings...I believe we need to act sooner rather than later.

12-10 SENATOR DICK DURBIN, (D-IL)

I am writing to ask you to step down as Governor of Illinois. Beyond guilt or innocence, the charges against you raise serious questions about your ability to carry out your duties as chief executive of our state.

I also ask you not to appoint the next United States Senator from Illinois. Because of the nature of the charges against you, no matter whom you were to select, that individual would be under a cloud of suspicion. That would not serve our state, our nation, or the United States Senate.

Legislative efforts to impeach you or remove your ability to appoint the replacement for the United States Senate have been initiated but those options could take some time accomplish. I urge you to choose the path that will be the most beneficial for the people of Illinois and the nation, and resign immediately

12-10 MAYOR DALEY:

He has to figure out what's best for him and his family and the state of Illinois. He will have to do the right thing.

12-11 BARRY press conference:

I’ve asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor’s office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days. [Seen them yet?]

I to see is a quick resolution of this issue. I want to make sure that the next senator from the state of Illinois is carrying a forward tradition of service, that the next senator from Illinois is not tainted by what has taken place so far.

12-11 HOWARD DEAN:

The arrest of and complaint against Gov. Blagojevich raises serious concerns about his ability to effectively represent the people of Illinois. In the interest of the people of Illinois and all Americans, he should resign immediately. If he does not, I hope the Illinois legislature will take action.

12-12 ABNER MIKVA, former congressman, appeals court judge and political mentor of barry:

Obama saw this coming, and he was very cautious about not having dealings with the governor for quite some time. The governor was perhaps the only American public officeholder who didn't speak at the convention, and that wasn't by accident. He's politically poisonous. You don't get through Chicago like Barack Obama did unless you know how to avoid people like that.

12-12 IL Attorney General, LISA MADIGAN. US Senator 1998-2002 and pal of barry's. Her fater Micheal Madigan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has had a major feud with Blagojevich and barry's senator maker and legislation diverter Emil Jones.

We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving. We want to make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office.

12-12 JESSE JACKSON, JR interview with CNN's DON LEMON:

The governor not only cannot perform his functions under the constitution of the state of Illinois - but has clearly violated [he smiles like I'm not alone - he's worse] a number of statutes under out state statutes and potentially federal statutes. And there may be a capacity issue. A capacity as mental capacity - he cannot function under the duress.

12-12 BLAGOJEVICH:

I’ll have a lot to say at the appropriate time.

12-12 Lt Governor PAT QUINN said his selection process for the Senate seat would be transparent. Quinn said it would be "premature" to talk names but said he would "never" appoint himself.

It is an urgent matter. This is an emergency. Illinois is in a crisis.

12-13 MADIGAN: Is seeking for the IL Supreme Court to find him unfit to serve and wants Lt Governor Pat Quinn to take over.

I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary circumstances. Gov. Blagojevich can no longer fulfill his official duties with any legitimacy. [Blagojevich is] unable to serve as governor due to disability and should not rightfully continue to hold that office. His ability to provide effective leadership has been eliminated, and the state government is paralyzed.

Rep. Jack Franks (D-IL) said it would set "a dangerous precedent" for the court to remove a governor as proposed by Madigan, who is a likely candidate for governor in 2010. Franks, a fierce Blagojevich critic, said that kind of decision should be left to state lawmakers.

Illinois Supreme Court spokesman JOHN TYBOR would not comment on when the court might act on the motion, saying only that it "will be properly considered."