"I think I'm a great Governor" — Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, in a statement to the press during the Democratic National Convention, August 27th, 2008
(I guess that depends on what your definition of what “great” is, Guv. Most people think you’re great at reminding the nation of why Illinois—despite extremely stiff competition from Louisiana and my home state of New Jersey—still ranks as the most corrupt state in the Union.
Back in June, when candidate Barack Obama spoke about GOP election tactics, he recalled the line about “The Chicago Way” used by Sean Connery in The Untouchables: “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.” The Blagojevich Affair calls to mind that “The Chicago Way” has a whole different meaning, of political corruption pervading every pore of the city. Thank God right now that Team Obama looks like a victim of the governor’s mad money-making scheme. But if Patrick Fitzgerald pursues this as avidly as he did Scooter Libby—and all indications are that he will—it’s going to be very interesting to see who is left standing in the Illinois Democratic Party when this is all through.
Just think: Governor Rod’s predecessor, George Ryan, a Republican, went to jail for corruption. Now his Democrat’ic successor, who won running as a reformer, is involved in a scheme even more brazen. It all brings to mind Casey Stengel’s groaning comment about the 1962 Mets: “Can’t anybody here play this game?”)
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