SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State lawmakers weren’t won over by Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s closing argument at his state Senate impeachment trial this morning.

“The notion that’s there’s no proof of wrongdoing in that record is folly to the highest degree,” said state
Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine.

“The governor is a very able speaker and he gave a very good presentation,” Murphy said. “But the truth of the matter is, the man lies exceedingly well and he did it repeatedly in his remarks and I saw nothing in there that would warrant reconsidering his remaining as governor in light of the evidence that’s in this case.”

What effect will the governor’s appearance have had on this proceeding?

“None,” said state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock. “The only question today is, was he going to go kicking and screaming or was he going to go with some dignity and resign?”

Franks called the governor’s appearance “pathetic.”

“When I heard those tapes…it really hit me that this was all casual and it had obviously been done before,” Franks said.  “And then today when he said, ‘you know, we all do that to get elected…’  Governor, nobody does that to get elected.  That’s why you’re getting impeached.  You don’t sell your office and that’s what he doesn’t get.”

Franks predicted there would be a lot of speeches today during the chamber’s deliberations.

“I think you’re gonna hear many of the senators get up and give their reasons for voting to impeach.  I think it could take some time,” Franks said.

Franks also predicted the governor will be indicted “in about a month and a half” and said defending himself against the criminal charges will be “a full-time job and there’s just no way he is equipped to run the state of Illinois right now.”