Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
U.S. Senate lawyers relented this afternoon and declared that Roland Burris's credentials met the chamber's rules and could be seated as the junior senator from Illinois. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin issued a joint statement, saying: "Barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week...We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect."
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna issued his own statement: "By failing to strip Rod Blagojevich of his senate appointment power, Democrats chose to trust a madman over the people of Illinois. The national embarrassment of the Blagojevich saga could have been avoided first in 2006 when Democrats endorsed the Governor knowing he was under intense federal investigation and second by stripping him of his senate appointment power following his arrest. Today's endorsement of Rod Blagojevich's handpicked choice for U.S. Senate confirms what Republicans have been saying for years - that Illinois is in dire need of change."
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Yes Mr. McKenna, Illinois does need change, but since your candidate for governor in 2006 (Ms. Judy Baar Topinka) had to campaign against her record as Treasurer under former governor George Ryan (who had recently been tried and found guilty of corruption) I can't help but think that the change Illinois needs is not to be found with the Republican party either. Perhaps we can start shipping in some outsiders to run for our offices a la Fitzpatrick and Obama.
If the Green Party were organized at the state level at all, they would have taken out a full page ad in the Trib the day after the shit hit the fan with Blago, highlighting the history of corruption coming from both sides of the aisle. But throughout this whole charade, the Green Party has been nowhere to be heard from. If they want to be taken seriously as the third party of Illinois, they certainly blew a golden opportunity.
That painting still makes me chuckle.
Illinois is screwed. No one who is capable of turning things around would be crazy enough to get involved. I don't even think Keyes would want to get involved with anything in Illinois. This state is a political cesspool.