The State of The State of Illinois

My home state. My home town, Chicago. This is so sad, but not in the least surprising. I grew up around politicians, and then worked with them as a volunteer as an adult. They never disappoint, especially when it comes to finding something to write about.

I heartily laughed out loud when I watched the Governor Rod Blagojevich do something good for a change and choose to seat Roland Burris as the Senator, filling the vacany left by President Elect Barack Obama.

Why did I laugh? I knew what he was up to - or at least I have my opinions, which is what this blog is all about - political opinions! He stuck it to them, all of his buddies - the other politicians in the State of Illinois, who were going to be left with their heads spinning over this choice. How could they not? Roland Burris is the perfect choice. He is qualified, without blemish, deserving, and the perfect choice to fill the vacant seat. The people of the State of Illinois would probably vote him in if given the chance, and when the man runs in a few short years, they probably will send him straight back to Washington where he belongs! The Governor shocked everyone by doing something right!

The thing is, in my opinion, he did it on purpose, because it created contention and boy did he know it. Contention is fun when you are the center of attention - especially negative attention! Why not take the spin off you for a bit and twist it up to something like playing the race card, and turning Washington inside out for a while? I bet he sits back in his chair watching the television and just giggles away. Do we really believe he did this for the good of the people of Illinois?

In the end it thankfully works out for the best and does benefit the people of Illinois, and the Nation as a whole because Roland Burris, Senator Roland Burris is the most deserving and the perfect choice.

But Blago is in some serious hot water and he knows it. What's next? Who's next? Do we really think this guy is going down all alone? Not for one second is this anywhere close to over. The names have not even begun to start dropping yet. I can't help but wonder what his father-in-law, Alderman (City Councilman, 33rd Ward Chicago) Dick Mell is thinking now about being such a driving force in that darling son-in-law of his gubernatorial campaign in 2002? Hindsight being 20/20 and all that..

Lots of players in the Chicago political scene, or machine as some call it to consider, and you have to sit back and wonder what names will be dropped as the story of Blago unfolds. Will he silently go off to prison? Will he even go to prison - following in the legacy footsteps of Illinois Governors before him? Will he take down prominent politicians with him simply because he can? Somewhat like he named Roland Burris against adamant requests that he not, but yet he did because he could? This pundit thinks he will, and believes he will because he will take personal enjoyment from it. Why go down alone when you can go down and take your peers with you - because you can and have the "power" to do so? He has shown that he likes to do this already, along with a slew of foul words that make up his favorite vocabulary.

After all anyone who allegedly will withhold funds from a hospital that treats all sick children regardless of insurance status, well that is just a super guy, right? Gotta love a guy like that!

I wonder if he will start to do all he can to help do in Mayor Daley next, as some kind of effort to save himself.

I guess we just have to wait and see.

Just one persons opinion on the state of the State of Illinois.