Blago's famous last words "The Fix is In" (He's Out!)

5:38 p.m.
Illinois has a new governor! Patrick Quinn is being sworn in right now.

WTG Illinois senate!
Blagojevich impeached!

(title link to the Trib story)

I'm still at work, but had to get this out!
Such Good News! More later!

10:50 p.m.
UPDATE: After a long day at work, I will keep this short. Our local news out of Springfield gave a little more information than in the linked article. Blagojevich is forbidden from running for any political office again. He will be allowed to draw his pension ($64,000 annually), as long as he isn't convicted in criminal court. The criminal trial is expected to begin in April. It is possible that his wife Patti could still be indicted as well. If Blagojevich is convicted (looks like he will be) this Spring, he will likely be sent to prison just like his predecessor.

Like most Illinoisans, I am just glad this part is over. I don't know what was worse, all the news talk shows that gave him air time or the ex-Governor himself for going on that media blitz.

And I want people outside of this state, who have asked how he was elected twice to know the main reason. Like many elections of recent years, we were faced with two "so-so" candidates. In other words, we had to vote for the best of the worst. Blagojevich had at least six times more money than his Republican opponent Judy Baar Topinka. He used that money to bombard the airwaves, especially the last two weeks of the election to show Topinka's closeness to the tainted former Governor George Ryan, who is now in prison.

In the Blago ads, all he did was show Topinka complimenting, hugging, and even doing the polka dance with George Ryan. His ploy worked, and she was seen as being too close to Ryan and possibly just as corrupt as Ryan. I can still remember how funny the ads were, especially the polka dance ad. I think we all learned a hard lesson though. Just because we are a democrat, we won't automatically vote for a democrat anymore!

And as for Governor Quinn, don't expect him to be elected when he must run for that office. But that is a whole 'nother story!

Durbin wants special election to replace Obama

Illinois senator Dick Durbin has just called for a special election to replace Obama. This does sound like a good idea, but unfortunately will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. What choice do we have? If Blagojevich resigns or is impeached, then our Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn will decide our next senator. Let me just say, Quinn is ALSO a long time Illinois politician (I'll just leave it at that).

Speaking of Durbin, he is probably serving his LAST term as senator, since he has recently stated that he might ask President Bush to commute the prison sentence of the corrupt and unrepentant former Republican Gov. George Ryan. Also in favor of a commutation is current democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who took office in 2002 with promises of putting an end to the government corruption that landed Ryan in prison. Only in Illinois...but the voters will remember Durbin's blunder.

Illinois owes $4 billion in unpaid bills!

Red shows the population centers, so somebody please explain why in the heck we need 102 counties in this state!? It's time to get serious and consolidate some of these tiny counties and save some money. And did I mention revoking the tax exempt status of all churches?!

I see so much waste in Illinois government. Illinois government is corrupt from the top on down. My own niece (unqualified-no clerical experience--was a CNA then a store clerk) brags that she does not have anything to do in her state job at the COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, so guess how she spends most of her day?! Surfing the internet and playing computer games!

So how did she get a job with the state? In Springfield, it's common knowledge that you can't hardly get a state job without "politcal pull." Her grandpa (my sister's father-in-law) was a high ranking politician in one of our 102 counties. He also "assisted" my sister and many other of his relatives and friends state jobs. So just imagine that political corruption times 102 counties! Don't even get me started! It's time for CHANGE in Illinois!

Our last governor GEORGE RYAN is in PRISON, and many people think our current governor is not far behind. Something's got to be done!