Though I now live in Georgia, I spent most of my non-Marine Corps life in Illinois. Some of you may have noticed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was in the news this morning. He was arrested on corruption charges this morning. For those keeping track- that's 2 Illinois governors in a row to be arrested on corruption charges. It's also 3 governors out of the last six to be charges. Unfortunately, it just another day in Illinois politics...

I was afraid this guy was going to get off the hook- I have no personal connection, but having cut my political teeth in Illinois, I knew many who had to deal with him. Dealing with him was always seen as a source of frustration and a roadblock to those I worked for. You see, my associates would not participate in the Governors various "pay for play schemes."

Pay for play is not as prevalent in other states- but in what Tribune Columnist John Kass has dubbed Illinois' "bi-partisan combine" pay for play is only standard one is judged by. When you look at my statewide political resume, you will notice one thing- the candidates were good and honest men. They also lost. They would not pay, so they couldn't play.

So what is pay for play? It means that powerful Illinois politicians won't help you if you if said politician won't benefit, in a fiduciary way. A good example is Barrack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat. By law, the Illinois Governor gets to pick a successor. How does an Illinois Governor decide whom to pick? He follows the first commandment of Illinois politics- He who pays the most plays. The FBI taped Blagojevich asking pertinent questions when interviewing. Most governors would ask about economic conditions Blagojevich was no exception. He asked:

Could he count on a  substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions?

Would the candidate place his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year?

Would the candidate promise campaign funds - including cash up front (payola- or what we call a "bribe" in Georgia);

Would the Governor receive A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself (Hey Mr. President elect, aren't those PRESIDENTIAL decisions?)

My favorite piece of the Tribune article:

In the earliest intercepted conversation about the Senate seat described in the affidavit, Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A on November 3 that if he is not going to get anything of value for the open seat, then he will take it for himself: "if . . . they're not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it." Later that day, speaking to Advisor A, Blagojevich said: "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain." He added later that the seat "is a [expletive] valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."

I love the Deputy Governor A part. Illinois Currently has 3 Deputy Governors. Strike that- make it 3 extremely nervous deputy governors...

So where does this leave the top candidates for Obama's vacant seat? Nervous. At least one is safe- and seems to give the Obama Administration political cover. A piece WBBM TV's website states:

In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them."

I would assume that Candidate 1 is probobly Tammy Duckworth. While she is too far to the left for my liking, she is also too smart to get caught up in this.

The most amazing part of this is that Blagojevich knew he was being investigated- yet he still tried to sell this Senate seat. That tells me two things. Blagojevich is incredibly self-confident and he is also incredibly stupid.

In fairness to the Governor- he has not yet had his day in court and may prove to be innocent. However, if I was President Bush I would consider pardoning former Illinois Governor George Ryan- you know just to make room. I'm not sure how many federal penitentiary spots are reserved for Illinois Governors...

Read the 78 page indictment here.