Illinois Democrats begin erasing someone named Rod Blagojevich

(UPDATE below)

Just like China and the old Soviet Union, Illinois authorities began today erasing the presence of Gov. Rod Blagojevich from public property.

A day after the state legislature ousted the first governor in Illinois history (and the 8th in U.S. history), transportation crews began covering some 32 state tollway signs that say: "Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor." (See WGN-TV video below.)

They were erected five years ago at a cost of $480,000.

Those signs are everywhere in Democratic Illinois because the proud public servants of that super state and the fine, fine city of Chicago spare no expense in ensuring that the good citizens of that historic state, the honest taxpayers who work from morning until night to support their families and the dreams of their little children who deserve an excellent education and an extraordinary future, are able to exercise their fundamental rights as citizens of a free Illinois to be fully informed as to which esteemed elected official should get credit for the impressive tollway, airport, street improvement or other really good things that happen there.

Just in case those very same names should ever come up again on, say, a re-election ballot.

According to hallowed Illinois tradition, traffic accidents, construction projects and other annoyances or impediments for people actually trying to get somewhere in the Land of Lincoln are not deemed to require a sign taking responsiblity for the ungodly mess. Not until some months after things are cleaned up and looking good.

On the other hand, when a formerly fine public servant who's been deemed fit to serve several times by those same well-educated voters runs afoul of the party rarely or more likely of federal prosecutors, then their cult of personality must be erased immediately. And they never officially happened.

Just for fun, start counting the number of days until you hear another illinois Democratic politician, President Barack Obama, utter the name of his one-time friend and ally in public. Prediction: The final number will be right up there with number of dollars in the economic stimulus package.

The new Democratic governor, Patrick Quinn, was lieutenant governor and hadn't spoken to the Democratic ex-governor since mid-2007 because they belong to different factions of the one-party rule there. Quinn today called the state's constitutional officers, all of whom happen to be Democrats, to a meaningless symbolic meeting so that cameras could show state government getting back to meaningless symbolic meetings.

In one of the least memorable statements in recent political history, Quinn noted that God put eyes in the front of human heads so that people can look forward and that is what he intends to do, look forward. With his eyes. On the front of his head.

According to the rules of Illinois political scandals, Quinn referred to Blagojevich only as "my predecessor" and said he expected to hear merely silly "chirping" from the disgraced Democrat.

The tollway signs will cost about $15,000 each to cover up Blagojevich's unreasonably long name. (UPDATE: A tollway spokeswoman sends corrective word that total Illinois coverup cost is $15G's, not per sign.)

State officials just happened to have the coverup material handy. The work will be done largely at night, allegedly to minimize traffic disruptions. One day Rod is there protecting Illinois tollways. The next -- poof! -- he's gone. It's easier for everyone that way.

Governor Patrick Quinn's fine Irish name will not go up on the same signs.

At least not until things settle down and no one is looking.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Associated Press

For Obama and Emanuel, it's take a Republican out to eat day

This is Love-a-Gop Day around the White House.

The party that the Great Changer was sure the country didn't want four more years of is in big demand for now. The Democrats don't really need their votes in Congress to pass pretty much whatever they want in economic stimulus, even if it does include $200 million to stimulate birth control and make fewer consumers.

But a lopsided majority vote in favor would fit in with Obama's bipartisan theme and desired public relations sense of momentum for his first 2,922 days in office.

So today the president will take the ride back up (or down) Pennsylvania Avenue without the cheering throngs and actually break bread with Republicans. No, really. They're gonna eat together, despite the atrociously conservative manners of the minority.

It'll be a new experience for them -- and him. Because both of Cook County's Republicans always seemed to be busy running for their lives when Sen. Obama was available for deli sandwiches in the Loop. And there's little need to reach out to the GOP in Illinois politics anyway.

But that's not the frosting. Tonight, Rahm Emanuel, the ex-Chicago machine gofer, ex-Clinton finance chair, old Blago pal, ex-congressman and current White House chief of staff, who's famous for his %$#*(&# language, is having about a dozen Republicans over to his boss's house for dinner. The good china and linens, all that.

That way Rahm won't have to do the dishes himself.

It's all part of what might be called the Rahm Reachout. In recent years with Emanuel playing a significant role, the Democrats took the GOP to the electoral cleaners in congressional elections. The diminutive Emanuel plays politics like the NHL, only without the rules and referees.

Emanuel made dozens of phone calls after his appointment and before the inauguration to Repubs saying that he'd be willing to forget what he'd done to them because it's a new day with a new boss who wants to work with Republicans for America at this crucial, crisis-strewn time in its history that happens to coincide with the start of a Democratic administration that needs some big wins early on.

So, it looks like 12 or so moderate GOP House members will get the royal schmooze. How much you want to bet the new boss happens to stop by for dessert and coffee?

We'll see what effect this has on their votes. And if some dissension develops among the other Republicans who didn't make the E-list this time, well, that's the price Emanuel and Obama are willing to pay. Josh Drobnyk over in the Swamp has more detail on today's soiree, which is Chicago for "guys night out."

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Rahm Emanuel gnaws on himself for lunch one day. Credit: Associated Press

Aboard that return flight to Texas with George W. Bush

This is a wee bit late, but worth the wait.

Everybody saw the new President Obama and his wife Michelle graciously see suddenly ex-President Bush and his wife Laura back off to Texas immediately after Tuesday's inauguration ceremonies. Obama and Bush even spontaneously hugged, which will no doubt annoy some Obama folks but makes many more Americans feel pretty good about the machine-gun-free change of parties and power that most of us take for granted.

But not the world.

Then, in effect, the Bushes disappeared. Out to Andrews Air Force Base by a helicopter that took one final goodbye tour over the crammed National Mall, to a private farewell with many staff and friends in a hangar, in contrast to what seemed like a victory rally for the departing Clintons in 2001. (See some amateur pointless videos of the Bush gathering here that somehow managed to capture the Bushes in a single frame).

There was a brief broadcast by Fox News only of Bush's returning remarks to longtime supporters in Midland that went on so long even Fox switched away at some point. (See a brief professional video version on the jump; scroll down or click on the "Read more" line below).

But the Daily Beast got Mark McKinnon, the native Democrat, eternally genial longtime Texas political strategist and media man, to write a lengthy, fascinating article about the long flight back to Texas on what is Air Force One when Obama is on it, but otherwise is that giant blue 747 that says United States of America on the side.

We won't spoil McKinnon's generous account other than to say it captures a spirit of both welcome relief and sentimental retirement after a long struggle together, a spirit that not many of us saw in the post-inaugural media coverage.

You can read it here with pictures of people many have come to know and admire and hate over the last 80% of a decade. McKinnon was the media architect for the late Texas Democratic Gov. Ann Richards and for George Bush in Texas and without through the 1999-2000 primary and general election campaigns.

He worked for John McCain in the primaries but reduced himself to casual adviser in the general election. Too bad for McCain.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Top photo: The Bushes departing Andrews Air Force Base for Texas after Obama's inauguration. Credit:  Mark McKinnon / DailyBeast.com

Inset: Mark McKinnon, who wrote the article. Credit: DailyBeast.com

The First Techie Obama gets to keep his BlackBerry

He protested when the Secret Service told him he couldn't keep his BlackBerry. Barack Obama, a man of his times, usually kept his smart phone fastened to his belt, his thumbs at the ready.

There was the problem of e-mail security, the ultimate hacker lure. And there was the Presidential Records Act, which could put everything on his BlackBerry in the public record.

But Obama, perhaps wary of the presidential bubble that can keep officials isolated from the flow of real-life concerns, insisted. As he told CNN:

I think we're going to be able to hang on to one of these. I want to be able to have voices, other than the people who are immediately working for me, be able to reach out and ... send me a message about what's happening in America.

Now it looks like Obama will be allowed to keep something like a BlackBerry but the device, according to the Atlantic, will be "heavily encrypted" to protect his privacy.

The BlackBerry crisis was not the only technology issue facing the Obama White House in its first week.

On their first day in office, Obama staffers were shocked to find 6-year-old versions of Microsoft software, very few laptops and a mass of government regulations preventing them from using outside e-mail accounts. For the most tech-savvy team in presidential history, accustomed to working on Apple iBooks and texting the world, it was a shock.

As Obama spokesman Bill Burnton told the Washington Post, "It's kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari."

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo credit: Associated Press

What would President Bartlet think of Obama's White House?

For liberals, he was the last Democrat to serve in the White House before President Obama, the man who held together their dreams and hopes until the Republican actually serving in the Oval Office went back to Texas.

Now that President Bartlet of "The West Wing" fame is off the air, some are looking back nostalgically, wondering how the Obama White House stacks up against the Hollywood version.

The London Daily Guardian today offered its version, along with a road map to where staffers will sit in the new Obama White House.

This much is clear: Allison Janney (C.J. Cregg) is taller than Robert Gibbs. And Rahm Emanuel is a  different generation from John Spencer (Leo McGarry). But maybe his advice will be just as valued.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo credits: Rahn Emanuel and Barack Obama by Associated Press;   Martin Sheen and John Spencer in "West Wing" by NBC/Warner Brothers

VP Joe Biden holds opening gaffe until afternoon of Day One

On their first full day in office, the Obama-Biden administration's top folks, several dozen strong plus family, had gathered in the Old Executive Office Building, next door to the White House, as an afternoon audience for the signing of some documents and the swearing-in of some staff.

Good photo op to show the president busy already.

President Obama spoke about the importance of government openness and transparency and ethics. "The American people are really counting on us now," he said. He then signed documents to impose stricter rules on lobbying and the presumption of openness about government information for the people.

After signing the openness documents, the Great Changer proceeded to meetings with advisers that were closed.

But first, Vice President Joe Biden, newly sworn in himself in an unmuffed oath, was asked by Obama to give the oath. As he stepped forward to obey, the new ex-senator asked for a paper copy of the oath he was to administer.

"My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts'," Biden quipped.

The Obama crowd went "Oooooh" in amazement at the vice president's sarcastic shot at the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, who moved the word "faithfully" around while administering the presidential oath at Tuesday's inauguration ceremonies.

What wasn't noticed so widely was that instantly Obama's right hand went out and gave Biden's elbow a warning squeeze. This isn't Delaware, Dorothy. (It's subtle but definite; watch the video down below.)

The rest of the session went fine. And, as The Ticket reported, on the advice of his lawyer, Obama asked Roberts to visit the White House on Wednesday evening to re-administer the oath just for safety's sake. We don't want another silly simmering certificate-of-birth snafu.

Campaign followers will recall that in September Biden publicly mused at one rally that maybe Hillary Clinton would have been a better VP choice for Obama. He meant it as a compliment to his Senate colleague from New York, now a Cabinet colleague. But the Obama campaign was not keen to have the female senator they beat in delegates and rejected as VP brought back into public discussion.

So for the rest of the general election campaign, Joe ended up being considerably less available for media interviews than even the Alaska hockey mom with lipstick. Now, after Biden's crack about Roberts, watch for a foreign funeral soon that needs urgent attending.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Associated Press

Just to be safe, Obama takes muffed oath one more time

Good thing we didn't get another war going last night.

Remember yesterday at the presidential inauguration with the entire world watching, except some suddenly unemployed Republicans vacationing in Mexico, how Chief Justice John Roberts messed with about-to-be President Barack Obama while reciting the oath? (See video below.)

Roberts, who was appointed by outgoing President George W. Bush, in a clear effort to make the Obama administration illegitimate and prolong Bush's tenure from Texas, moved the word faithfully to the end of a phrase instead of near the beginning. Obama, who had clearly memorized it, paused in apparent confusion. But they cleared that up and went on to complete the oath. And millions cheered anyway.

But was he really president?

Of course! The Constitution stipulates the new chief executive takes office at noon on Jan. 20. And, in fact, as we pointed out yesterday, Obama actually became the 44th president while he was sitting down listening to classical music.

But somebody on the White House legal staff wanted to be really really sure. You know lawyers. Anyway, it was all so much fun Tuesday they decided to do the oath again, even though the 2 million spectators on the National Mall had left.

As a historical footnote, without any parade tonight, Roberts made the 1.6-mile trek up Pennsylvania Avenue from the Supreme Court and readministered the oath to Obama, who may now have to pay rent for one night's stay in the White House.

No, just kidding about the rent.

Now, if we could just clear up the ongoing question of Obama's actual birthplace......

Just kidding there too, commenters.

(UPDATE: Alan Keyes stoked the Obama birth certificate controversy anew in February 2009. See Ticket coverage here.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credits: Associated Press

U.S. Senate votes 94-2 for Hillary Clinton to leave

Well, ex-attorney, ex-first lady, ex-presidential candidate, never vice presidential nominee, ex-Sen. Hillary Clinton was not on the nation's list of unemployed for long.

The Senate this afternoon approved her as President Obama's new secretary of State, one day after his inauguration.

The vote was 94 to 2, with Republicans James DeMint and Louisiana's David Vitter voting against and four senators absent, including Clinton. The nomination was never really in doubt, though Texas Sen. John Cornyn blocked unanimous consent on Inauguration Day to permit at least some brief debate today.

The Republican objections really centered more on her connections to husband Bill Clinton and his immense list of foreign donors and supporters for his foundation.

As The Ticket reported earlier today, Cornyn is also blocking the nomination of Eric Holder for attorney general for a week, but not so much over Holder's approval of a pardon for fugitive financier Marc Rich in the closing moments of Bill Clinton's presidency.

Corny seeks assurances that Holder will not seek to prosecute government agents who may have imposed waterboarding on Al Qaeda captives, which Holder says he now regards as torture.

Earlier today, one of Clinton's BFF, Sen. John McCain, as a gesture of their quiet friendship detailed by The Ticket in recent months (stemming from the Arizonan's warm welcome when she first arrived in the ultimate boys club and their common membership on and travel for the Armed Services Committee) tried to move the vote up earlier. But he was blocked by his own party's members.

Clinton took the oath almost immediately in a nearby office with her husband present. Her departure leaves the female percentage of Senate members at 16 for the moment.

New York Democratic Gov. David Paterson says he's likely to name Clinton's successor by the weekend, with Caroline Kennedy believed to be the front-runner, despite Paterson's denials, as The Ticket reported here Monday.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Associated Press

Official text of Barack Obama's inaugural address, Jan. 20, 2009

Inaugural address of Barack Hussein Obama

Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Washington, D.C.

My fellow citizens:                                                (Video excerpt published below)

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our healthcare ...

Moving out, moving in

WASHINGTON -- It may be the biggest shell game in politics.

For hours, the nation's eyes — even the world's — are trained on the presidential inaugural ceremonies on Capitol Hill, and on the hours-long parade that follows.

Meanwhile, back at the White House, its 93 staffers prepare for a precision drill: the moving out of one president and the moving in of another.

Actually, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush arranged for many of their personal belongings to be moved out to their ranch in Crawford, Texas, starting six months ago, according to Anita McBride, the first lady's chief of staff.

But this morning, when the official families were en route to Capitol Hill, a truck pulled up to the back of the White House to begin moving in the new first family. By the time the Obamas return around 5 p.m. from the day's festivities, their familiar furniture will decorate the family rooms and their belongings will hang in their closets.

Call it dedication to duty.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo credit: White House

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