Friday, January 30, 2009

Illinois State Senators

From time to time during yesterday's let's-pile-on-Blago, I would flip from the impeachment proceedings on my computer to the webpage of the particular Illinois Senator who was pounding on his chest and producing the sound bytes for his next campaign.

Where did some of those photographs on the Senator's webpages come from? From their high school yearbook?

Even for some of them who were recently elected for the first time, the photographs did not appear current. In the photographs they looked years younger and, in some cases, tens of pounds lighter. On the other hand, maybe the first two weeks in office has already taken a heavy toll on them, aging them and causing rapid weight gain!

I was reminded of a question by the president of Herbalife when he was testifying before Congress, when it was investigating the company's claims about its weight-loss products. I don't recall his name, but I'll never forget his question. "Why are all these guys so fat?"

Some of these Illinois Senators obviously had never given a five-minute statement in their lives, and yesterday wasn't about to be the first time. They were playing to their audiences and letting their constituents know that they are working hard for their votes at the next election.

The 59 Senators are to represent the People of Illinois, not just the people of their southside Chicago district. They missed that part as they rocketed to their Senate chairs.

"So long as the people like you, and you have enough campaign funds, it doesn't make any difference what the politicans think of you." (Source: GateHouse News Service (what???) in this morning's Northwest Herald, quoting Patti Blagojevich's quote in Chicago magazine of Blago's response to a question from her in 2003.)

Is this statement still alive and well in Illinois politics?

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