The Audacity of Arrogance

So Gov. Blago (D-IL) has rejected the wise counsel offered him both publicly and privately to forego appointing anyone to President-elect Obama's vacant Senate seat. This afternoon, the governor seemed to proudly announce his appointment of Roland Burris to this seat. As many in IL would tell you, this would be the only route that Burris would ever find to acquiring a Senate seat, his electoral chances being two: slim and none.

Let's not ignore his campaigning for this seat with Gov. Blago. Burris made it more than abundantly clear what his aspirations were and sadly the governor was more than willing to listen. Then act.

Neither the governor nor Burris seemed remotely concerned by the fact that previously and again today, the IL Secretary of State, Jesse White, said he would not certify this appointment. This is not some rubber stamp of approval, but rather a legal requirement for someone who is appointed to the Senate. Without Secretary White's imprimatur, Blago's appointment has all the legal weight of a helium-filled balloon.

I hope Mr. Burris has not been apartment-hunting in D.C. just yet.

Another hurdle that is seemingly impossible to overcome is the Senate itself, which announced that it would vote not to seat Burris should the unthinkable happen and Sec. White's signature find its way on the appropriate paperwork (forgery notwithstanding).

I hope Mr. Burris purchased refundable tickets for his flight to D.C. I'm just saying...

The incredible arrogance displayed by the governor in light of the impending impeachment, the calls for his resignation, and the impossibility of his appointment being fulfilled is beyond astounding. But such is politics in Illinois, the land of Lincoln and now Obama.

Blago is but one pimple on a political face ravaged and pock-marked by terminal acne. IL politics has been corrupt for so long that it exists almost outside of time and space. The political machine in IL has its tentacles wrapped so tightly around almost everything that happens in this state that it is practically impossible to get anything done via legal means anymore.

The sadder truth is this is the birthplace of the political career of President-elect Obama and this is the political birthright bestowed upon him. He cut his political teeth in the machine politics in IL and leveraged it's power to vault from the IL General Assembly to the Senate. Those who may believe that he escaped the taint of the political corruption that oozes and squirts from every political pore and pimple in this state are beyond naive.

Gov. Blago is simply the latest IL pol to have been caught flaunting his excesses. As much as power corrupts, it also breeds contempt, which the governor has displayed amply today by his actions. Yet it is the same contempt which most politicians hold, but are usually wiser in avoiding displays of it.

Contempt, corruption and arrogance... all on display in one single, futile act of a politically drowning governor. As I sat watching the movie Frost/Nixon today, I couldn't help but think of the similarities between Nixon and Blago. Different levels to be sure, but similar in their thought processes, arrogance and utter disregard for the people.