SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - We’re less than two hours away now from what promises to be a surreal political spectacle: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, administering the oath of office to the new roster of state senators who will soon decide whether to remove him from office.

Blagojevich was impeached by the state House last week, and now faces a trial in the Senate (starting Jan. 26) to determine whether to remove him for abuse of power and other allegations. All of this, of course, comes on the heels of Blagojevich’s arrest Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.

Anger toward the Democratic governor has been thick in Springfield, where he’s viewed as having disgraced Illinois during what should have been its historic moment in the sun with the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. That anger is likely why Blagojevich hasn’t allowed himself to be in the same room as state lawmakers since his arrest.

But he will have no choice at noon today, when he is constitutionally required to formally swear in the new term of the Senate. Traditionally, the entry of the governor into the Senate evokes thunderous applause. What everyone’s wondering now is, will there be polite applause today, or dead silence - or worse?

“It will be dignified,” predicted state Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton. “We have respect for the office, irrespective of the occupant.”

Does that mean Haine and others will applaud? He didn’t say. But boos are probably not on the agenda - unless they come from the gallery.