by James Oliphant
Rep. Rahm Emanuel will resign his House seat Friday.
Emanuel, set to serve as chief of staff to President-elect Barack Obama, sent a letter to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Monday indicating that he planned to step down at the end of the week. The new Congress will be sworn in on Jan. 6.
Unlike the case of Obama's vacated Senate seat, Blagojevich has no power to appoint Emanuel's replacement. Instead, state law gives Blagojevich five days to set a date for a special election to replace Emanuel once the seat is officially vacant. The election to fill the seat on Chicago's North Side must be held within 115 days. The governor will likely set a date for a primary election as well, although the state statute doesn't require that he do so.
Emanuel took a surprisingly personal tone in his missive to Blagojevich, considering the nature of his communication with the governor's office regarding Obama's successor has been the subject of intense scrutiny. "As sons of immigrants to this country," Emanuel wrote, "you and I have a deep appreciation for the opportunities America provides to those who are willing to work hard and sacrifice for their children."
In the letter, Emanuel made no reference to allegations that Blagojevich put Obama's Senate seat "up for sale" and made no suggestion that the governor should resign. Blagojevich, ironically, once held the same seat representing Illinois' 5th District.
A bevy of Chicago Democratic politicians have lined up to compete for Emanuel's seat.
Emanuel's staff said Monday that his offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C. will remain open following the congressman's departure to respond to constituents with questions or problems. Day-to-day management will be assumed by the House clerk's office.
Comments
The trouble could just be starting for Rahmbo if Fitzgerald ends up releasing the Blago wiretaps with his conversations on them.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 29, 2008 2:34 PM
matt,
Whys that? If Rahm had done something wrong he would have been indicted along with Blago. The fact that he told Blago who the Prez-elect supported for the Senate seat is to be expected.
Posted by: Dean M | December 29, 2008 3:04 PM
Funny matt; if Rahm had done anything, I think he'd be hanging on to his seat in Congress a bit longer.
Posted by: mort | December 29, 2008 3:20 PM
for a couple reasons it would seem that if Rahm had done anything wrong (either legally, or just ethically) in the Senate seat appointment scandal, he would be holding on to his House seat and not taking a job at the white house.... first, and primarily, if Rahm had done anything wrong, Obama would not want him at the white house, which would only cause trouble and grief for the obama administration...second, Rahm has his paycheck with the Congress and would want to hold on to it for as long as possible, while if he did something wrong, obama could eject him in the blink of an eye,,,, while to dump a congressman is no easy thing (witness how long it is taking to eject
corrupt congressman from Louisiana with the 100K in tinfoil in his freezer; and NY dem charley rangel)..... so my money is that rahm is pretty clean on this thing, and obama is sure as well, which is why rahm is now leaving the congress to move into the white house....
Posted by: dave | December 29, 2008 3:55 PM
Let the wiretap recordings be released. The investigation has shown Obama and staff have done nothing wrong. You Republicans are just desperate for any scandal to try to smear Obama.
"Rahmbo"? That's pretty pathetic.
Posted by: American | December 29, 2008 4:02 PM
Dean & mort:
I'm not saying Rahm - or anyone connected with Obama - has done anything wrong. On the contrary, anyone still believing that Obama and Co. are the "real" targets of Fitzgerald's investigation is just not looking at facts.
But wouldn't the full release of Blago's wiretapped conversations - 5 of them with Rahm, including talks with Blago COS Harris - be rather embarrassing to Emanuel and Obama? Rahmbo playing hardball and spouting obscenities is not exactly flattering.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 29, 2008 4:22 PM
Has Emanuel, in hiding for more than a week, been released from Obama's witness protection program?
Posted by: Release the tapes! | December 29, 2008 4:35 PM
Dean & mort:
I'm not saying Rahm - or anyone connected with Obama - has done anything wrong. On the contrary, anyone still believing that Obama and Co. are the "real" targets of Fitzgerald's investigation is just not looking at facts.
But wouldn't the full release of Blago's wiretapped conversations - 5 of them with Rahm, including talks with Blago COS Harris - be rather embarrassing to Emanuel and Obama? Rahmbo playing hardball and spouting obscenities is not exactly flattering.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 29, 2008 4:22 PM
The point is The Team Obama dosen't seem to want to come cleans , same as Blago.
Posted by: Inky | December 29, 2008 4:47 PM
People,
.
It seems that something has "Rahm" (I notice we're on a first name basis here) skittish. For the first time in his life he's hiding from the press... for a few weeks now.
.
Not saying a senate seat was bid for -- he's not that stupid -- but it looks like something has "Rahm" squirming. Maybe just his usual boorish behavior, maybe something more, in any case i looking forward to learning what it is.
Posted by: MJ | December 29, 2008 5:55 PM
Can you still purchase flight insurance from Africa?
Posted by: wanglow | December 29, 2008 9:38 PM
There you go again, MJ. Inferring that he is squirming. Do you see him squirming? Now that he's chief of staff, he's not free to go and talk to the press whenever he wants. He works for Obama now.
Posted by: mort | December 29, 2008 10:14 PM
Yippeeee, on Friday my Congressional District will begin the process of selecting a new Congressperson.
I hope that we can have real change in the 5th - have elect a true progressive representative - not a Corporate Congressman like Rahm.
Bye, bye Rahm. I soooooo glad you're leaving.
Posted by: Mary Margaret | December 29, 2008 10:37 PM
haha you republicans need to be quiet, you guys had your moment with the 1994 republican revolution,now its our turn as democrats to shine so jus sit back and be quiet and enjoy your 250,000+ income
Posted by: Eric | December 29, 2008 11:13 PM
Quote: But wouldn't the full release of Blago's wiretapped conversations - 5 of them with Rahm, including talks with Blago COS Harris - be rather embarrassing to Emanuel and Obama? Rahmbo playing hardball and spouting obscenities is not exactly flattering.
Rahmbo playing hardball and spouting obscenities isn't flattering -- for you & me -- but it's what he's known for. He couldn't care less if those tapes were played. Look on youtube for Obama's "roast" of Emanuel from a few years back.
Posted by: Liz | December 29, 2008 11:45 PM
Not so fast Rahm. Methinks you probably won't serve a full term as Chief of Staff. I'm pretty sure that you can hear the footsteps right now.
Posted by: Lynch M All | December 30, 2008 12:55 AM
He can Rahm, but he cannot hide.
Even if he comes out squeaky clean in this whole debacle, he has given the hint of impropriety by his recent inaccessibility to the press and his absence from the media spotlight during the transition team's press conferences. Not saying anything on his own behalf is either PEBO's legal team's plan or a stalling tactic to allow for a rebuttal to his conversations on the wiretap tapes.
US Attorney Fitzgerald comes across as dedicated enough to ferreting out the truth, regardless of Party affiliation, that we shall soon find out if Rahm Emanuel will be a short-term COS or will weather the storm and at least get through most, if not all, of Obama's first term in office (assuming there is a second one).
Gentlemen, give us the tale of the tapes.
Posted by: Pretzel1 | December 30, 2008 1:05 AM
@MJ: What the devil are you talking about? He resigned as expected. Why would you think anything makes it look as though he is squirming?
Posted by: Rich | December 30, 2008 5:05 AM
Funny how he decided to quickly resign his seat after it came out in the news that he had asked our infamous governor to get a "seat warmer" for him. I guess he thought better of that idea, given his most recently revealed "oops" in vetting the Obama seat without his boss's knowledge. Another day in Illinois politics!
Posted by: Disgusted | December 30, 2008 6:15 AM
Rahm's been pretty good, he did represent the 5th district. I'm glad to see his advancement but a little sad to see him go. I wonder who we'll get to represent us that live in the district.
Posted by: Bob | December 30, 2008 7:03 AM
Well, matt, why should Rahm suggest Blago resign? We don't know if Fitz' wiretaps are even admissible before he has his day in court, do we?
And Karl Rove wasn't forced to resign while Fitz was 'investigating' the Valerie Plame leak treason, was he?
So why should Blago have to resign his job and lose his ability to defend himself before we even know whether those alleged wiretaps are even admissible, and are even in the RELEVANT context?
Besides which, SPJ Code of Ethics states that this stuff isn't even ETHICAL to report outside of the court house, let alone speculate upon.
And right now all this is JUST speculation. Great for a comedian's punch line, great for a headline. Hardly relevant.
Posted by: Mob rule sucks--particularly when promoted by republicans | December 30, 2008 7:37 AM
"@MJ: What the devil are you talking about? He resigned as expected. Why would you think anything makes it look as though he is squirming?"
Posted by: Rich | December 30, 2008 5:05 AM
.
Squirming in the metaphorical sense, Rich. Rahm (our dear friend to whom we refer by his first name) has been very uncharacteristically incommunicado of late. This is a guy who never, in his entire life, shunned the press. Quite the opposite, he worked hard at staying in the spotlight. Why has that changed?
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My guess is that something embarrassing vis-a-vis Rahm (pal to all) is in the Blago tapes. Maybe it's just evidence of his usual boorish behavior; maybe something worse. I'm guessing it's not something criminal, but who knows?
.
In any case, it's my hunch that we're in for some grand entertainment in the coming months. Just a hunch.
Posted by: MJ | December 30, 2008 12:28 PM
My guess is that something embarrassing vis-a-vis Rahm (pal to all) is in the Blago tapes. Maybe it's just evidence of his usual boorish behavior; maybe something worse. I'm guessing it's not something criminal, but who knows?
.
In any case, it's my hunch that we're in for some grand entertainment in the coming months. Just a hunch.
Posted by: MJ | December 30, 2008 12:28 PM
I'm guessing there are multiple conversations between Blago and President Bush, discussing who the Illuminati and the Knights Templar want to have the Senate seat and how they are going to notify the Bilderberg group and the space aliens who really control our planet of the decision. Just a hunch.
My guess has just as much proof behind it as MJ's does.
Posted by: Aniother conspracy theorist | December 30, 2008 12:47 PM
News Flash!!! "Joe, the plumber" has quietly moved to Il. 5th congressional district. Suspected run for vacated seat. Massive right-wing campaign contributions to pour in. ACORN announces largest voter registration drive within a congressional district. 5th district voter declares "we're ready for change we can believe in".
Posted by: Bubba Porter | December 30, 2008 12:48 PM
Posted by: Aniother conspracy theorist | December 30, 2008 12:47 PM
.
Hunches don't have proof, genius. That's the nature of hunches.
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However this hunch is an educated guess. That means that given the nature of illinois politics, and Emanuel's biography (two things you seem to know nothing about) it's not a stretch to think that there may be something embarrassing looming.
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OK, now it's your turn to deny the established facts and say you've won the argument.
Posted by: MJ | December 30, 2008 4:55 PM
Oops... I meant to say "Rahm" not Emanuel. Sorry.
Posted by: MJ | December 30, 2008 5:04 PM
We would all like to see some damning evidence in our good friend Rahm's biography that would tie him directly to corrupt Illinois politics.
Nobody has denied "the established facts" because you have never produced them.
Ever.
Posted by: Please enlighten us with some facts | December 30, 2008 9:51 PM
great read
Posted by: vince | January 13, 2009 7:24 PM