Living in IL

Usually the reason I curse the state that I live in (Illinois) is the cold mornings when it is 15 degrees and I am walking my dogs or walking to the train. Unfortunately, I have a new reason this week.


I live in what could possibly be called the most corrupt state in the nation. Even law enforcement officials concede this point. The latest corruption takes the cake.....

The governor of Illinios conspired to sell the vacant senate seat of our next President Barack Obama. His request was a job after he is done being governor and a seat on organization boards which would guarantee a pretty hefty income.

His actions were referred to as a crime "spree". Not an actions but a coordinated set of illegal actions. A coordinated SET!!!

On the tapes (they actually wiretapped his phone) he said he had considered appointing himself to the seat as a prelude to running for president in 2016.

Clarence Page was asked if the governor was the most corrupt person in the world to which he answered to the effect that Robert Mugabe was far and above the most corrupt person in the world but the governor was catching up quickly!

I know politics is a pretty messy game but I was shocked by this.....and I don't get shocked very much.

When candidates meet with a sitting governor to buy a senate seat, something has gone wrong with our political system and, even scarier, with people in general.

I hope that the governor will be impeached and the senate seat will no longer be appointed but elected. But can we assume in this current political situation an election would be free from corruption? No such luck.....

A few thoughts to consider
What would your solution be to assigning this seat?
Should the IL constitution change to allow an election for a vacated senate seat rather than it be appointed by the governor? (IL governors don't have a great track record.)
If not, should the previous senator pick his or her replacement?
Will this hurt Chicago's chances to host the 2016 Olympics?

Talk amongst yourselves.....