Quote of the day.

"We have this thing called impeachment and it's bleeping golden and we've used it the right way."

Illinois State Senator James Meeks, Democrat

Bleepin' A.

Let's see…

…it's Friday. Blago's impeached. Burris is still sidelined, with new clouds gathering over his head.

And Harry Reid is still the Leader of the largest Senate majority by either party since, well, I haven't actually looked it up, but it's been a while.

Jane Hamsher may be a heck of a poker player, but I'm thinking Harry might push her all over a chess board.

OK, I looked it up.

The last time a political party seated 57 Senators it was the 103rd Congress ('93-95). When the full complement of 59 Senators is seated (soon and very soon, I trust), it will be the largest majority since the Democrats held 61 seats during the 95th Congress ('77-'79).
Seems like a stretch to damn the current leadership as completely incompetent.

There's stuff I know...

...and stuff I know I don't know. Among the latter is the strength of the case that Harry Reid and the Sentate Democrats have in their effort to reject Blago's nominee for the U.S. Senate. Actually, until the case has been adjudicated, no one really knows how strong it may be. There seem to be credible, knowledgable folks on both sides. That being the case, as a partisan Democrat I'm inclined to accept the arguments put forward by the voices raised in support of the Senate Democrats.

I confess to some dismay at the number of "progressives" who are using this appointment as an opportunity to vent their frustrations with Senator Reid's performance as the leader of a razor thin and often divided majority throught uncritical acceptance of any argument that would undermine and embarrass the elected (and a lock, apparently, to become the re-elected) leader of the Democratic Party in the United States Senate.

If hoping for a procedural defeat for the Democratic caucus simply to diminish the stature and effectiveness of the Majority Leader is "progressive," that's a prefix I can do without.

In the news…

AP - Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lawyer said Monday that a vague array of charges and evidence doesn't merit removing the governor from office, and he urged a House committee not to recommend impeachment.

In other news, dog bites man.

Heh™

Via Aravosis…

Whew.

Looks like Jesse, Jr.'s gonna be OK.

...new information appears to support Jackson's claim that he was not involved in a scheme to buy a U.S. Senate seat.

ABC7 has learned that since late last summer, the congressman has worked with federal prosecutors, informing on an alleged Blagojevich administration scheme two and half years earlier.

From the "Willing accomplice" file.

After running RNC Chair Mike Duncan's efforts to smear President=elect Obama with an imaginary link to Blago at the top of a post, the Hotline Blog reports the 'known knowns' and wonders...

...Obama did note today that he hadn't had any conversations about his successor with Blagojevich, and Obama said that he's "absolutely certain" his team was not engaged in any deal-making for his seat. He also pledged to release details of any meetings or conversations between his staff and Blagojevich.

What more exactly does Duncan want?

To get his smear at the top of as many blog posts and front pages as possible, maybe?

Just guessin'...

So…

…taking him at his word, who tried to buy a Senate seat for Jesse, Jr.?

The bright spot…

…in the Blagojevich mess is that the next President of the United States comes across as encouragingly incorruptible (pre-bowdlerized by The Politico)...

[Blagojevich] also appears to think little of the president-elect, whom he calls a "motherf***er" at one point.

“F**k him,” Blagojevich says of Obama during a lengthy call with top aides and his wife recorded on November 10th, “For nothing? F**k him.”

In another section of the complaint, Blagojevich expresses exasperation that Obama and his team aren't willing to offer him an inducement in exchange for appointing an aide, apparently Valerie Jarrett, to the Senate.

Blagojevich "said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but 'they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F**k them,'" says the complaint.

I'm sure Barry O' appreciates the endorsement.

Hat tip to Joe Sudbay.