And a modern-day Elliott Ness shall lead them

Here's another reason why I think the Blagojevich affair should drag on and on and humiliate all citizens of Illinois, just when we should be proud that we have a favorite son in the White House.

We ALL let this happen.

The bar for impeaching a governor here is pretty low. It's not quite as easy as the legislature saying, "I don't like the cut of your gib," but it's close. We have known for a while that our governor is, in the immortal words of Mayor Daley, "cuckoo." Why didn't our lawmakers do this earlier? Why didn't we voters demand they do it?

Because, thanks to Governors Ryan, Walker and Kerner, we all just kinda figured Blago would limp out of office and then be indicted. It's what usually happens here. No big deal. At least no one is dead, not that we know of yet (see post below).

It took the spotlight on Barack Obama, and the indignation of my straight-laced sweetie-pie, Patrick Fitzgerald, for us to see that it IS a big deal. We get the government we deserve. We've all been too lax, too cynical, for too long.

As Fitzgerald pointed out, we are the Land of Lincoln. And yet a convicted pal of Blagojevich's, William Cellini, bribed and bought his way into a painting in the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. Really. Cellini appears in a portrait, commissioned by the Museum, that depicts Lincoln on the night he waits to hear of his re-election. Rumor has it Mrs. Cellini has a prominent spot in another Museum oil painting done by the same artist.

Next month is Lincoln's bicentennial. Dignitaries from all over the world will be in Springfield to honor Honest Abe. Many of them will be gazing upon the visage of a convicted felon who bribed his way into the museum. Skin-crawly, isn't it?

So I hope the country gets a good laugh out of Blago and Illinois for a good long time. We deserve it. And maybe now, finally, we'll say "enough!"