President-Elect Barack Obama wasn't the only one choked up Sunday when he locked the door on his empty Kenwood home and headed to Washington.
Sadly, for those of us left at home, Chicago's moment in the sun is officially over.
No more Grant Park celebrations, no more presidential news conferences, no more Obama motorcade sightings.
And what are we left with?
A disgraced governor and a would-be senator turned away at the Capitol.
If Illinois represents the ultimate in ying-yang politics, Obama's departure has left us terribly out of whack.
If only we could find a way back to equilibrium.
A Blagojevich impeachment, perhaps?
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Nice of Blago's actions to distract not only the IL state legislature's time, focus and resources, but now the U.S. Senate as well. Really, Really, Niiice. Good job Rod. I think about what a great job you're doing everytime I see your name on every I-Pass sign when I drive by. Way to leave your mark.
Once again the Roland Burris situation points out that the true power in our state no longer belongs to the people, but to the power brokers. Select individuals who continuously decide who will take those positions of authority, so called elected officials, who really are not elected but chosen by those other than the people. Democracy in Illinois is only a dream, a dream which doesn't truly exist. And what can we say about a man who has allowed his egoistic desires to become a Senator cloud his judgment to the point that he disregards what the people of Illinois want, a chance to choose their own Senator, and instead threatens court action to obtain a seat that no person with integrity would accept. How can the people of Illinois trust this man?. Illinois politics at it best and the only people who lose are the citizens of Illinois.
I totally agree with Mr. Kratunis' comments. I am not a Chicago native but the politics being played out are shameful for all. Blago is the bad guy here but Roland Burris deserves a gold cup to house that huge ego of his. What he's doing is more than cheeky. Not only did he act inappropriately by accepting Blago's 'assignment' but he has not bothered to squelch accusations of racism in the efforts to resist seating him as Senator. That he so blithely allows these accusations to support his pursuit of the Senate seat speaks tons about the man's character, or rather, lack of one.
THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW.
What gives this IL Gov guy the confidence and power to not step down and continue?
What secrets and cards does he hold that made him confident that he could still do all this?
It looks like he knows stuff which is going to keep him unharmed in all this. There will be an impeachment which will be too late. I will bet that he wont go to prison.
The 90 days extension that AG Pat asked for is un-believable and that should make people sit up and question all this. Hey but thats politics.
I will bet you before 90 days are up people will have other things to think about with economic stimulus and the euphoria around the new presidency and this whole issue will not be important anymore.
All these guys will get out of this un-scathed!
Where I work (Pepsi Chicago) American employees and contractors are being asked to transition their jobs to foreigners here under the H1B visa program. I have an idea for a job program. How about stopping the transitioning of American jobs to foreign workers? And maybe have the foreign workers transition the jobs back to American citizens? And it won't cost the American taxpayer a cent!
If you see that your not welcome with open arms in Washington and that the residents in your home state don't want you there; then why is Roland Burris insisting that this is his seat? What does he have to gain or who does he owe that he's this driven?
I have been following the Democrats President elect and the illinois democrats governor and since I am not from that state,I thought that it was simply business as usual!
Having said that from what I have heard Mr. Burris is a decent man,despite being a democrat and should be seated in the US senate!
I didn't drink the Obama koolaid--so I'm not choked up. Nothing more depressing than seeing Chicago pols running the nation - color doesn't matter - Chicago pols are all the same.