From the Tribune:

Blagojevich shrugs off effort to recall him from office

By David Mendell, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune reporters Ray Long and Mickey Ciokajlo contributed to this report
November 2, 2007

Dismissing the notion of a campaign to recall him from office, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday he's "in good company" along with Franklin D. Roosevelt as a target of the Chicago Tribune editorial board.

The paper's lead editorial on Sunday asked readers if Blagojevich should be recalled, drawing more than 1,200 responses tilting toward his ouster.

"I take that as a very good sign," Blagojevich told reporters Thursday before boarding a plane for Springfield to join legislative leaders in transit funding talks.

"I have gone a long way being for the things I'm for and being against things the Tribune is for. And I am in good company. Franklin Roosevelt, who gave us Social Security, who led America out of the Great Depression, who led America victoriously through World War II, received more than a thousand negative editorials from the Chicago Tribune. And in one editorial, the Chicago Tribune compared Franklin Roosevelt to Mussolini, Stalin and Adolf Hitler. When you compare me to Franklin Roosevelt, I think they're going easy on me," the governor added.

His comments came as a state lawmaker who is a consistent Blagojevich critic called for quick action on a constitutional amendment to allow a recall as soon as 2009. The legislature would have to act by May 4 to get a proposed amendment on the November 2008 ballot, said sponsoring Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock).

"Ego has taken over policy, and we have to put a stop to this nonsense," said Franks, referring to the legislature's overtime stalemate and the governor's history of feuding with lawmakers.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn joined Franks in supporting a recall measure. Quinn, who steadfastly defended the governor last year as his running mate, has recently stepped up his criticism of his fellow Democrat. But when pressed Thursday on whether he wants Blagojevich recalled, Quinn refused to take a position.

"I'm not going to even address that question until we have the power of recall," Quinn said. "That's what I'm committed to."

Mayor Richard Daley came to Blagojevich's defense earlier this week. He said voters have a right to be upset with the struggles in Springfield, but a recall would be taking matters too far.

"I've had differences with the governor at the same time," Daley said, "but I really believe his mind is just -- it is on public transportation, on infrastructure as anyone else. ... You can't just say just because I'm upset with an issue or two issues you're going to have a recall."