Who is Blago's replacement?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/29/art.quinnpt0129.gi.jpg caption="Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, will take over now that the state senate has voted to remove Blagojevich from office."]
(CNN) - Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn steps up to replace Rod Blagojevich Thursday now that the state Senate has voted to removed the Democratic governor from office.
Quinn is a 60-year-old tax attorney who has spent most of the last 27 years in public office.
Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times before the vote that if the senate convicts the Democratic governor and he is removed from office, "I will be ready."
Quinn, a Democrat, was first elected to the office of lieutenant governor in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006.
"His priorities include advocating for taxpayers and consumers, protecting the environment, promoting decent health care, and helping members of the armed services and their families," his official Web site said.
He served a term as Illinois state treasurer from 1991 to 1995, leaving office after an unsuccessful campaign for secretary of state in 1994.
Quinn waged another losing campaign in 1996 when Dick Durbin beat him in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat opened by the retirement of Sen. Paul Simon. Durbin went on to win the seat and is now Illinois' senior senator.
His political career began in Chicago in 1982 when Quinn, then a practicing tax attorney, was elected Commissioner of the Cook County Board of (Property) Tax Appeals.
He later served as Chicago's revenue director.
Quinn, who is divorced, is a father of two sons. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, but now lives in Chicago.
Quinn has said the governor should step down. At the time of the governor's arrest in December, Quinn said he had not spoken to the governor since the summer of 2007.
Just to recap, a governor has been impeached but still no criminal charges have been filed?
All governors should be worried, it would appear they can be removed just because the state legislative branch does not like you.
The Alaskan Analsphincter should really be worried.
Jack Franks for Governor
I hope the NEW Governor Quinn has taken notes. He better run a clean and efficient ship, otherwise he's toasts too.
Politicians need a WAKE UP, it's a new era, and Americans are SICK and TIRED of these HIGHLY PAID politicians screwing up with our hard earned money!
ENOUGH is ENOUGH, Politicians better BEWARE because we're watching you very, very, closely.
I wonder what Whoopi and Behar will do now that their "innocent" buddy they were joking with was just overwhelmingly kicked out of office?
They were even calling for a made for TV movie because it would be a great story of his innocence....
HAHAH those cows need to be banned for life from television. They are a disgrace to this country.
I think that Blago's replacement will be Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn......
Why not sell his Governor job to the highest bidder?
Palin is next!
"All governors should be worried, it would appear they can be removed just because the state legislative branch does not like you."
–Yep, that's the way it works. The same goes for Presidents. There is no recourse to the courts. If 51% of the House and 2/3 of the Senate want you out, you're gone. End of story.
Good luck Gov Quinn, though, let's be honest – it would be extremely difficult to do worse than the inept clown we just impeached.
Blago and Palin should join together and have their own talk radio show. That's about all they do well: talk, and talk, and talk, and talk, talk, and talk.... zzzzzzz
Congratulations Governor Quinn. I hope and pray that you can restore honor and integrity to the Office of Governor. Chicago needs a good
"U-Haul". I hope you can "clean house" and start getting things done once again.
Gov. Quinn here is a Tip, to remember. "Loose Lips, Sinks Ships" Right Blago.
What's going on here?
Where are the principles?
Shouldn't this Guy be convicted by the court of laws before being removed from office?
What will happen if the court find him not guilty?
I am not in his defense team but they should think twice before making this decision. This guy is innocent until the court of law determine his conviction.
Watch this man. He is a Demo from Chicago.
I have friends in Springfield that say Quinn is an honest man. Anything will be an improvement over Blago.
Wow!
Mike Dallas – Of course every state legislative branch can impeach a governor, its part of their powers. And since its not a criminal procedure but an administrative one there is NO NEED of criminal charges, just a fact with enough base (not bias) to support a clear and open procedure like the one the now former governor Blagojevitch had.
An impeachment procedure is completely different of a criminal trial.
its about time, this sort of thing is happeneing,, too many polititians get away with wayyy too much,, BE WARE POLITICAINS<<<< it could be you next,,,,
Hey, how much to be governor?
I super swear I won't be crazy if you make me governor.
I am sure that the good citizens of the State of Illinois are happy to welcome him.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn steps up to replace Rod Blagojevich Thursday now that the state Senate has voted to removed the Democratic governor from office.....He is a CROOK too !!!
Mr. Quinn. We now have two disgraced Governors in a row, you've a rare opportunity to restore public faith and confidence in the Governor's office. Please don't blow it by getting yourself indicted too.
Daley is the one that really runs the state (ie Chicago) everyone takes orders from him and if they dont they are done (blago and Ryan)
If anyone thinks this was done by the Illinois legislature for altruistic reasons, you are sadly mistaken. This impeachment was done strictly for political reasons, and a quest for power by those who felt slighted by Rod Blagojevich. There are not really very many politicians in Illinois who could be considered to be in the game to serve the people. Blago did do some good for a lot of the people in this state. But, he did things his way and didn't care whose feathers he ruffled along the way. For anyone else living here in Illinois, if you think things were bad up until now, brace yourselves. They will get worse.