Now, isn’t this special?

Breaking News:

Rahm Emanuel booted off ballot in 2-1 Appellate Court decision

Rahm Emanuel was thrown off the ballot for mayor of Chicago today by an appellate court panel, a stunning blow to the fund-raising leader in the race.

An appellate panel ruled 2-1 that Emanuel did not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.

Appellate judges Thomas Hoffman and Shelvin Louise Marie Hall ruled against Emanuel. Justice Bertina Lampkin voted in favor of keeping President Obama’s former chief of staff on the Feb. 22 ballot.

“It’s a surprise,” said Kevin Forde, the attorney who argued on Emanuel’s behalf.

Emanuel’s attorneys are expected to use Lampkin’s dissenting opinion to appeal the case to the Illinois Supreme Court.

In today’s ruling, Hoffman wrote: “We … order that the candidate’s name be excluded (or if, necessary, be removed) from the ballot from Chicago’s Feb. 22, 2011.”

Notable Tweets:

ThePlumLineGS Greg Sargent

RT @brianbeutler BREAKING: Chicago fish-markets experience unprecedented Monday sales. #rahm

daveweigel daveweigel

Money well spent, Rahm donors!

daveweigel daveweigel

Can’t Obama just take over the city and make Rahm the Chicago Czar?

@PachacutecVA Pachacutec

Somewhere, Nancy Pelosi is trying not to smile in public #rahm

Update:

Rahm at a just held presser. Some how I think we need a caption contest for this.  He looks like the pissed off Staypuft marshmallow man to me

Jessica Yellin at CNN:

Emanuel is expected to appeal the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court, and a federal appeal could follow.

According to a recent Chicago Tribune/WGN survey, 44 percent of the city’s voters backed Emanuel, 21 percent backed former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and 16 percent backed former Chicago Board of Education president Gery Chico. City Clerk Miguel del Valle received seven percent and nine percent remained undecided.

Emanuel is expected to speak at 2:30 p.m. ET. Moseley Braun is expected to make a statement at 3:30 p.m. ET Monday.

The source close to the Emanuel campaign told CNN his legal team anticipated there was a chance the court would rule against them and they have an emergency appeal already written.