Rod Blagojevich's criminal defense attorney, well-known criminal defense attorney Ed Genson, said today he will withdraw from representing Blagojevich.

"I never require a client to do what I say," said Genson, who was accompanied by fellow Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky. "But I do require them to at least listen."

"I wish the governor good luck and Godspeed," he added.

It sounds like Genson has not been kept in the loop, particularly with respect to a threatened civil suit Blago's other attorney, Sam Adams, said would be filed within a few days. [More...]

When I wrote this post, I was not aware of this speech by Sen Sheldon Whitehouse (h/t Marc Ambinder):

Whitehouse: As We Look Forward We Must Also Look Back

I rise as we celebrate a new President, a new administration, a new mode of governing, and a new future for America. . . . President Obama looks to that future. Given the depth and severity of those predicaments, we need all his energy to look forward to lead us to that brighter day; forward to what Winston Churchill in Britain's dark days called those "broad and sunlit uplands."

[MORE . . .]

Your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

Via Taylor Marsh:

Governor Paterson made a wonderful choice in appointing Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Secretary Clinton’s seat in the United States Senate. I am confident that she will continue Secretary Clinton’s distinguished service to the people of New York and to our country. During her career, Kirsten has been a strong voice for transparency and reform in government and shares the belief that government should be open, accessible and work for all of our citizens. In Congress and as special counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, she worked to strengthen public and private partnerships to invest in infrastructure and New York’s economy.

At this time of great challenge, I know that Kirsten has the integrity, character, and dedication to public service to help us achieve our greatest goals," said President Obama.

Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. Gillibrand must be "persuaded" to be a more progressive pol. But President Obama is a pol too.

Speaking for me only

Discussing the lay of the land now that Kirsten Gillibrand has been appointed to follow the now-Secretary of State as New York's junior senator, I think the focus on payback and finger-pointing by some folks is misguided. It seems to me that the idea should be to affect issue outcomes. In that vein, I believe a Senator Gillibrand will be especially susceptible to progressive influence. That should be the focus of progressives now.

The main pressure point Senator Gillibrand will face is a potential primary in 2010 from a credible progressive opponent. I have long believed that primaries need not topple an incumbent to be effective. The threat of the primary will often provide strong incentive for movement towards progressive positions by challenged Dem incumbents. In two cases, that of Reps. Jane Harman (who was primaried) and Ellen Tauscher (who was threatened with a primary challenge), the mere threat of the primary pulled the representatives to the progressive view on key issues. So it could and likely would be with a Senator Gillibrand. More . . .

My friend Al Giordano says:

This adventure in unintended consequences will become bigger than life for years to come on the blogosphere. Anytime the self-proclaimed "progressives" go off trying to eat their own (which for some, is daily), the rallying cry will be sounded: "Remember Caroline Kennedy!"

Oookaaay. At least they can't say it to me and Jeralyn who either had no problem with Kennedy (me) or enthusiastically supported her (J.) Though I doubt too many folks are actually worried about a "Remember Caroline!" battle cry. Anyway, this is an Open Thread.

Fred Hiatt, Editorial page editor, The Washington Post

Pilloried on the left for his non-Manichean support of the war in Iraq, his moderate and pragmatic editorial column is likely to be the one most closely followed by the Obama administration.

The entire list is, as these lists always are, mostly silly. But Fred Hiatt on the list pretty much sinks the entire operation.

Speaking for me only

Video of Paterson naming Gillibrand.

While this was pretty much known last night, it seems that the leaking is now of the official variety. The NYTimes:

Gov. David A. Paterson has selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, a 42-year-old congresswoman from upstate who is known for bold political moves and centrist policy positions, to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a person who spoke to the governor early Friday. The governor will announce his selection at noon in Albany. An aide to Ms. Gillibrand confirmed that she had accepted the appointment.

I hope Gillibrand faces primary challengers in 2010. Not because I do not expect Gillibrand to hew a more progressive path as Senator than she did when representing a GOP leaning district (a district Dems will be hard pressed to hold.) I do expect it. I hope she faces a primary challenge because I think every elected official should face a primary challenge. Accountability for all. That is what primaries are for.

Speaking for me only

Law Prof Glenn Reynolds, aka Instapundit, has a policy proposal for President Obama in the Wall St. Journal: lowering the drinking age to 18.

I will make one policy proposal. Some of my fellow libertarians hope that the Obama administration will put an end to the drug war. I hope so too, but I'm not too optimistic. Instead, I propose a smaller step toward freedom -- eliminating the federally mandated drinking age of 21. This mandate was a creature of Elizabeth Dole (who is no longer in the Senate to complain at its abolition), and it has unnecessarily limited the freedom of legal adults, old enough to fight for their country, to drink adult beverages.

[More...]

President Obama took a great step forward today for the detainees at Guantanamo, for the rule of law and for the restoration of America's image in the world.

Yes, there's more work to be done, specifically with ensuring that the secret renditions via Ghost Air to other countries whose personnel may engage in torture are not allowed in the future, that the definition of torture includes not just what is prohibited by regulations in the Army Field Manual but also comports in all respects with the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture, that the military tribunals be dismantled entirely following the review process and that no new national security or other court system is set up to try detainees (our federal criminal and military courts are up to the task).

It's amazing to hear some of the pundits on TV tonight criticize Obama's orders and suggest Gitmo should stay open. Perhaps they have forgotten or never seen the images in this video. [More...]

Via the LA Times, a New York television station is reporting that New York Governor David Paterson has chosen Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, a moderate Democrat, to replace Hillary Clinton. WPIX reports:

PIX NEWS is being told that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is the reported choice of Governor David Paterson to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Two Congressional sources say members of the New York delegation have been invited to join Governor Paterson for the announcement in Albany at noon tomorrow.

....One of the contenders, longterm Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney canceled a scheduled appearance on "PIX News Closeup" tomorrow because of a "conflict," which she did not disclose. She too will be in Albany. According to the sources, Gillibrand, now in her second congressional term, was favored by Secretary of State Clinton herself. Paterson has been under pressure to select a woman.

She is from upstate New York and viewed as being able to help Paterson in his re-relection bid in 2010.

Digby on the Beltway torture lobby:

[H]ere's Town Crier Chuck Todd reassuring us all that these new executive orders won't allow the terrorists to kill us all in our beds:

Todd: There are still some loopholes. Those who are worried that somehow there isn't going to be a way to get intelligence out of them [. . .] Now the administration says this does not mean they will invite new methods of interrogation back into the fold, but like I said Andrea, you could go through here with a fine tooth comb and could find plenty of loopholes that would allow certain things to happen.

Now, it's hard to make sense out of that, and I don't know specifically what loopholes he's talking about, but it's clear that Chuck Todd is seeking to reassure everyone that some kind of torture will be allowed if it's really necessary. (Boy that's a relief, huh?)

You see the Beltway's outrage here will be if torture is halted. More . . .