It's not like it wasn't expected.  The man who governed Illinois is now a civilian for the first time in 6 years.  Knowing my conservative view, I'm proud to say that I never voted for him in any election.  I'm sorry that it hs come to this, but his time is up.  I have mixed feelings on this even though I never liked him even oine bit. 

What really rags me about this is a few things....

I never liked Rod.  I felt that he was a snake.  I hate to admit that I judged someone on his looks and speaking mannerisms and what he says, but I told my wife that he was a crook before he was even elected.

1)  Due process needs to exist here.  It never really did.  There was no hearing per se.  There were impeachment proceedings.  He was not allowed to call certain witnesses.  While my gut says that he's a snake (did I mention that I don't like him), I still don't think that this process was fair to him.

2)  He wasn't convicted of anything.  In other words, I am amazed that the Illinois Dems (yes this was lead by the dems...and the reps have no arguments from removing him either). who are ACLU liberal, due process waiving representatives, wouldn't let the investigation just take it's course.  Truthfully, I think that dangerous precedent has occured by impeaching someone who has only been CHARGED WITH A CRIME, NOT CONVICTED. 

3)  Finally, I think that the way this was done cheapens the leaders of Illinois. This is the State of Lincoln.  It was Lincoln and the Repulicans that lead the way, even shedding blood to abolish slavery.  Now, more that 150 later, the leaders in Illinois seem more concerned with impeaching someone who will probably be convicted here shortly. 

4)  I think that it reflects badly for both parties to unilaterally impeach someone who has only been charged with a crime and not allowed to call certain witnesses during that person's defense of his or hers livelihood.

For the record, I always believed that Rod would go down.  However, I never thought that he'd go down in this manner.  I think that Illinois congress cheapened itself while going down this route.  It's too bad because I think that Rod swallowed his own grenade.  Sometimes it's better to let that person do that than to give him a chance to look like a martyr.

Pat Quinn takes over.  He seems like a journeyman at the right place at the right time.  I wish him discretion, Godspeed and discernment as he takes over this new role.