Blagojevich Impeachment Talk Rears Its Head Once More

State Representative Jack Franks, a Democrat, is making noise about forming a committee to look into impeaching Governor Rod Blagojevich:

Franks wants to form a special House committee as early as next week to determine whether there's enough evidence to bring articles of impeachment against the governor.

It's not the first time Blagojevich's political rivals have suggested impeachment. Last month, House Speaker Michael Madigan, the powerful head of the state Democratic Party and Blagojevich's main nemesis, circulated talking points to Democratic legislative candidates on how and why to call for impeachment hearings.

Specifically, it suggests excising "a tumor."

"Criminal activity in the Blagojevich administration is no longer theoretical -- it is proven," Madigan's memo says. "The first step to cleaning up the mess and getting the state back on track may be to remove the governor from office."

It looks like House Democratic Speaker Mike Madigan, also Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, is playing it coy.  Here's what Madigan's spokesman had to say:

Brown said this afternoon he did not know what Madigan’s posture would be toward Franks’ push for an impeachment committee. But earlier in the day, Madigan’s spokesman left open the possibility an impeachment effort could gain momentum in the House given Blagojevich’s demand that lawmakers reconvene.

“You never know what anybody could do. The speaker isn’t advocating that,” Brown said. “And he wouldn’t take a position, of course, because he’d remain neutral and impartial because he may have to preside over proceedings.”

Meanwhile, Governor Blagojevich appears to be suggesting that he would be just fine if the Democrats didn't gain any more seats in the Illinois House of Representatives:

“I think there’s great cause to be concerned. If Speaker Madigan and the House leadership pick up a veto-proof majority … then they’ll be in a position to easily override a veto.”

I can't say whether or not the House would actually follow through on some of the threats.  Even if the House were to impeach the Governor, it's unlikely he would be removed from office by the Senate, given the Governor's close alliance with Senate President Emil Jones Jr.  Considering his rock-bottom approval ratings, impeachment would probably serve to extinguish any hope the Governor has of getting re-elected, thus finishing off his political career.  In my estimation, that is probably the strongest argument for the House to go through with it.  Illinois would be far better off with just about anyone else inhabiting the Governor's mansion.