Remember back to last year on this same day. Then governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested by federal prosecutors. As reported by The Quad, the former govoner was arrested in early December on federal corruption charges. He was officially impeached in early January, and was officially replaced later that month. It’s been a fun year for Illinois politics, but the questions about Blago still remain. He’ll get his chance to speak at his federal corruption trial in June.
John Kass of the Chicago Tribune writes this as he reflects upon this anniversary:
Throughout the year, Blagojevich has amused many of us, me included. His wife, Patti, showed up on reality TV, eating jungle bugs and blubbering that her husband is not a crook, with the bugs still on the back of her teeth.
Rod plays the jester. All that’s missing are the curly-toed boots, and Rod holding a wooden rattle carved in his own likeness, a smirk on the tiny Rod head, as Rod himself waves his arms, gesturing at the unfairness of it all.
It’s all so amusing, so droll. But the joke’s not on him.
It’s on us. On every man, woman and child in the state of Illinois.
Christopher Willis of the Associated Press thinks that Blago has caused a shift in Illinois politics:
The scandal could have a national impact by tipping a U.S. Senate seat — the one previously held by President Barack Obama — into Republican hands. The GOP also hopes to reclaim the governor’s office, and they could be helped if Blagojevich stays in the spotlight with a role on “Celebrity Apprentice” next year and a federal trial during election season.
What do you think about our former governor?
Blagojevich’s legacy no joke – Chicago Tribune
Holy mackerel! 1 year since Blagojevich arrest – Associated Press
Tags: anniversary, blagojevich, chicago tribune, governor, john kass, pat quinn
