Illinois Mon Jan 12 2009

Rich Miller Undermines Gov's "Testicular Virility"

When I first learned what the Capitol Fax was years ago, I remember thinking, "Does every state have a Rich Miller?"

After years of reading the Capitol Fax, the answer is clearly "No."

I've often given Miller props for his various "journalistic dis tracks" of the D.C. political press, but here he turns his pen* on his absolute favorite target, our Governor. Blagojevich's love for himself and his annoying tendency to turn every public policy dispute into some kind of paean to his manhood has manifested itself in his confounding refusal to even temporarily step aside for the good of the state. He thinks it means he's a tough guy if he clings to the trappings of office while the world mocks his refusal to face material reality. Rich makes it impossible for him to lie to himself that way:

Frankly, conviction is almost as certain as the governor's removal. Former Gov. George Ryan is serving essentially a life sentence for some dinky little crimes in comparison to this governor's alleged lawlessness. Plus, the feds didn't have thousands of surveillance tapes on George like they do with Rod. As Hawk Harrelson would say: "He gone."

Then there's Patti Blagojevich, who is likely behind Fitzgerald's "Door Number Two." Offering to resign now and throwing himself at the mercy of the system might spare the governor's wife from imprisonment....Does Rod Blagojevich really want his much-hated father-in-law Dick Mell to raise his children?

Cut your best deal and resign, governor. Spare the state and your family from this tragicomic circus. Man up and go away.

Damn.

*Our kids will feel comfortable saying "keyboard", but I'm not there yet.

— Ramsin Canon / Comments (0)