You have to admit, it’s a pretty bad indictment against the voters of Illinois as well as their politics…
-By Christopher Wills, AP
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Two Illinois governors from two different parties, two generations, two regions of the state. Both convicted of felonies.
Is there something about Illinois that encourages governors to go bad? Or is it just coincidence that two in a row have ended up as criminals?
A jury convicted Rod Blagojevich of lying to federal investigators about mixing political fundraising with his government work, but deadlocked on whether his other actions crossed the line into corruption. That should be resolved early next year, when the former governor faces a second trial.
Still, his troubles share a common denominator with those of already-imprisoned George Ryan: access to a river of political money. Illinois law let them accept any amount from any donor, including people who had something to gain from a friendly governor. The two also have something else in common – Illinois voters put them in office despite serious questions about their honesty…
Read the rest: 2 Governors, 2 Crooks. What’s Wrong With Illinois?