Illinois AG asks high court to declare gov. unfit

[Guest guest]

My one comment about this is that I knew this guy was a snake before

he was elected for his first term, and now there is this desparate

move to get rid of him all of a sudden.

Ridiculous.

Administrator

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor

Illinois AG asks high court to declare gov. unfit

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Associated Press Writer Wills,

Associated Press Writer – 3 mins ago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an unprecedented move, the Illinois attorney

general asked the state's highest court Friday to strip scandal-

plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich of his powers. Madigan took the

action as pressure on the governor intensified to step down and

lawmakers considered impeachment. And the fallout over the scandal

continued Friday as the governor's chief of staff resigned;

was arrested along with the governor on Tuesday.

Madigan said that she took the action with the Supreme Court because

she thinks that this is a faster way to strip Blagojevich of his

power than through impeachment, which could take several weeks.

" I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are

extraordinary circumstances, " Madigan said at a news conference.

It was not immediately clear when the Supreme Court might take up the

matter. The justices also have the discretion to deny the attorney

general's request.

The move came as the governor prayed with several ministers in his

home before heading to his office, telling them he is innocent and

will be vindicated " when you hear each chapter completely written, "

according to one of the pastors.

The attorney general asked the court for a temporary restraining

order or an injunction that prevents Blagojevich from serving as

governor. The filing says he is " unable to serve as governor due to

disability and should not rightfully continue to hold that office. "

" The pervasive nature and severity of these pending charges disable

Mr. Blagojevich from making effective decisions on critical, time-

sensitive issues, " the filing said.

The filing asks that the lieutenant governor assume Blagojevich's

powers.

It is the first time in Illinois history that such an action was

taken. The attorney general is applying a rule that was intended to

cover cases where a governor is incapacitated for health reasons. Her

motion indicates that his inability to serve because of the scandal

is akin to a debilitating health issue.

The motion essentially declares that Blagojevich's legal problems

amount to a disability that would not be resolved until he is either

cleared of the charges or leaves office.

" Mr. Blagojevich is unable to distinguish between his financial

interests and his official duties and between illegal acts and legal

conduct, rendering him incapable of legitimately exercising his

ability as governor, " Madigan says in the motion.

" His ability to provide effective leadership has been eliminated and

the state government is paralyzed. "

The motion came three days after Blagojevich was accused of putting

Barack Obama's Senate seat up for sale and shaking down the owners of

the Chicago Tribune.

The decision to go to the state's highest court was not welcomed by

everyone. Democratic Rep. Jack s said it would set " a dangerous

precedent " for the court to remove a governor as Madigan proposes.

s, a fierce Blagojevich critic, said that kind of decision

should be left to the General Assembly.

" That's our job, and we should be doing it, " he said.

The governor has been alternately holed up in his home or his

downtown office since his arrest on federal corruption charges. He

met with clergymen Friday morning.

The Rev. Ira Acree of the Greater St. Bible Church said

Blagojevich would not discuss details of the allegations against him.

He said the governor discussed trying to get a legal and political

consultation team in place, but feels as if everything is closing in

on him and that he's not getting " any space or chance to sort

anything out. "

Acree and two other pastors — The Rev. Steve , president of the

Baptist Pastor's Conference, and the Rev. Marshall Hatch of the New

Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church — arrived at the governor's

home shortly after 8 a.m. and met with him for about 20 minutes.

said they prayed with Blagojevich and his family.

" I look at it like this: Everybody that's hurting needs hope and the

family needs hope and that's what our jobs are as pastors, "

said. " Nobody should be left hopeless. Nobody, no matter what the

circumstances. "

Shortly after they left, a fourth minister, the Rev. Leonard Barr of

Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, arrived at the governor's house

with his wife, Rita.

He said they were invited by the governor and that the two " prayed

that he would continue to be a great governor for the state of

Illinois. "

Meanwhile, calls for the governor to step down are intensifying. The

lieutenant governor has joined a bevy of lawmakers in demanding that

Blagojevich be impeached, saying he has become an embarrassment to

the state and can no longer lead. His approval rating plummeted to a

shockingly low 8 percent.

" When you have no confidence from the people, in a democracy there's

nowhere else to go but to resign, " Lt. Pat Quinn said Thursday.