Rod Blagojevich might reach a new low in the recent history of Illinois governors

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Chad Rubel

The state of Illinois has a reputation of people who sit in the governor's chair somehow ending up in jail. if Rod Blagojevich ends up in jail (one way or another), he will be the fourth Illinois governor of the last eight governors to be in jail. Yes, that sounds horrible. But as you will see, it's not as bad as it looks, but it also makes Gov. Blagojevich look even worse in comparison.

Just for the record, the other Illinois governors who have served time are Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, and George Ryan. And Ryan is still in jail, though Sen. Dick Durbin, of all people, is considering asking George W. Bush to pardon Ryan.

Kerner's situation is perhaps the most ambigious. First of all, Kerner's bribery charges came after he was governor. Second, and we certainly aren't the only ones who think so, but many feel that Kerner was framed. And ironically, the person who pushed this prosecution, and who clearly benefited from the conviction was future Illinois Governor Jim Thompson.

(Thompson is also known as a member of the 9/11 Commission, noted for his strong disagreements with Richard Clarke. Thompson also was criticized for his lack of oversight as a director and head of the Audit Committee for Hollinger International, the media company founded by Conrad Black, who ultimately was convicted and sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison).

Walker's jail time also stems from time after being governor of Illinois. From Wikipedia:

"In the 1980s, Walker entered the private sector with Butler-Walker, Inc, a chain of self-named quick oil-change franchises later bought out by Jiffy Lube and a pair of troubled Savings and Loans. In 1987 he was convicted of improprieties related to the First American Savings & Loan Association of Oak Brook. Media at the time reported he received over a million dollars in fraudulent loans for his business and repairs on his yacht, the Governor's Lady.... He was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and served 18 months at a Duluth, Minnesota correctional facility."

Not great stuff, but neither was tied to specific acts while being governor. Then we have George Ryan.

Ryan's crimes happened while he was Secretary of State, not the Governor. This involved the illegal sale of government licenses, contracts and leases by state employees. One incident as a result of the illegal sale of licenses resulted in a fiery crash where a family lost six children. And wasn't even convicted until after he left office as Governor.

Now we have Rod Blagojevich, who has been under investigation and speculation from what seems like years. And all that he has been accused of, whether true or not, happened while in the governor's chair.

Two of the three listed above are Democrats, and Blagojevich was actually the first Democrat elected to the governor's chair since Dan Walker left in 1977. But Illinois politics don't necessarily lend themselves to political labels. Republicans are generally moderate and Democrats are generally centrist.

If most of what Blagojevich is accused of is true, it will, in Patrick Fitzgerald's words, set a new low.

This state does deserve its reputation in an overall sense. But there have also been great politicians. Ironically, one person who served in many roles (including as lieutenant governor under a Republican governor), but never as governor, was the late Paul Simon. To many citizens regardless of party affiliation, especially in Illinois, Simon was a politician we could be proud of. Unfortunately, the governor's chair has a curse, or cooties, or some sort of hex. We have a lot more faith in Pat Quinn, who should become the next governor of Illinois. But if Illinois history has any say, he will still need a lot of luck.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

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