Gov. Blagojevich: Even Richard Nixon eventually knew when to resign

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Chad Rubel

Dear Gov. Blagojevich:

What a rough six days you've had, huh. Just think it was last Monday, only a week ago, when you told us that "whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful."

Since then, there has been a large national discussion over whether that is true, something you might not have expected last Monday.

But this isn't just about the recent stuff: this is about everything, even some of the stuff we know is completely legal. Outside of your house, there are very few people in the State of Illinois, much less the country, who want you to be governor any more.

You have no political future, as governor or senator or ambassador or cabinet. None. But I realize that you don't realize that.

Your one last shot was to appoint yourself as the replacement for Barack Obama, not for money but purely to save your political career. Getting you out of Springfield would have made so many people happy. And that was the shot I really thought you would do. And you did mention it on the tape, according to the Justice Department, so I feel vindicated that you seriously considered it.

But it's too late. Your time is up. It's time to give Lt. Governor Pat Quinn the chance to do what he can for the residents of Illinois, to clean up the mess that you have made, most of which again stems from decisions that were completely legal.

You are in a tough position. Your career is over, but you are still the governor. And why would you give that up? You might think that maybe there is a way out to save your career; there isn't. You know deep down you have to resign, but you are not sure how to go about it.

It was easy for Eliot Spitzer in March. He saw the writing on the wall, and he took the honorable way out. He didn't try to stretch out his time. Spitzer gave us less than a week, and he was gone. You could learn something (well, a lot of things) from Spitzer.

If you need political inspiration, you might try to go with Richard Nixon. After all, you referred to Nixon and Watergate just seven days ago. As I've noted, apparently Nixon is a political idol in your mind. Boy, you can't write fiction as ironic as this connection.

But Nixon may be very useful right now. After all, people were crying for him to resign for some time. There had to have been the conversation where Nixon finally figured it out.

As Wikipedia describes it:

In August, the previously unknown tape from June 23, 1972, was released. Recorded only a few days after the break-in, it documented Nixon and Haldeman formulating a plan to block investigations by having the CIA falsely claim to the FBI that national security was involved. The tape, which was referred to as a "smoking gun," destroyed Nixon politically. With few exceptions, Nixon's remaining supporters deserted him. The ten congressmen who had voted against all three articles of impeachment in the committee announced that they would all support impeachment when the vote was taken in the full House. Impeachment by the House and subsequent removal from office by the Senate now appeared certain.

Throughout this time, Nixon still denied any involvement in the ordeal. However, after being told by key Republican Senators that enough votes existed to convict and remove him, Nixon decided to resign. In a nationally televised address on the evening of August 8, 1974, he announced he would resign, effective at noon Eastern Time on Friday, August 9, 1974.

You might have a few friends left in the Illinois General Assmebly, but are they really going to stand up and say, "Let's keep Blagojevich around until the end of his term."? Once Nixon knew he didn't have enough friends, he knew what to do.

Nixon decided that he didn't want to be impeached, likely for the good of his country. Perhaps he had his own selfish interests. But Nixon did reach that point.

Gov. Blagojevich, you have to decide whether you are at that point. You are at a sharp disadvantage since the rush to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat will speed up the process. Then again, if the recent allegations against you are true, you know why we're here.

You can't call up Nixon and ask his advice; he left us some time ago. But look at the pages of history, and see how disgraced politicians were treated based on how they handled their exit. The longer they take, the worse history looks upon them. Right now, history is all you have, and unlike your career, you can save what history says about you. It's your only chance.

Signed:
An Illinois resident

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

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