The irony of Illinois
One year ago, Rod Blagojevich rushed out of Springfield to take his last state plane ride back to Chicago. He was whisked from the airport by his state police detail and shuffled into his Ravenswood home for his final moments as Governor of Illinois. An hour later, the SUVs rolled away and the troopers moved on. “We guard the Governor,” one of them said as a microphone was shoved in his face. “He’s not the Governor anymore.”
The House had impeached him a few weeks before. On January 29, 2009, the Illinois Senate removed him from office. As hundreds of reporters from across the world clogged his quiet neighborhood to report on his shame and build his fame, Rod Blagojevich wrote the newest chapter in the sad story of redemption and rogues that is Illinois politics.
But a year later, it’s hard for anyone with a sense of history (or a sense of humor) not to think about the irony of Illinois.
The state that brought us the martyred leader who freed the slaves and saved the Union also suffered through more than a half century of corruption. Out of 9 governors who served in the last 50 years, 5 have been indicted and (so far) 3 have gone to jail.
The Land of Lincoln has fostered some of the greatest Senators and statesmen in our nation’s history—Stephen Douglas, Paul Douglas, Everett Dirksen, Adlai Stevenson, Paul Simon, Dick Durbin—and another Senator who followed Honest Abe to the White House.
The storyline was irresistible. A new, inspirational leader rose up from the Great Emancipator’s state to become the nation’s first black President.
But while America was still catching its breath, the old Prairie State schizophrenia kicked back in.
The Governor hustled to sell the President-elect’s seat to the highest bidder. Roland Burris added his portrait to the wall of shame when he traded off what was left of his soul for an office in the Russell Building.
One year later, the hustler’s trial is being scheduled. He’s getting ready to go on reality TV. His successor is struggling to hold on to the Governorship.
And a new Prairie State President is stumbling as he leads a divided nation through one of its most turbulent times.
It’s the irony of Illinois.
