Anyone else hearing this name crop up?  Some of my friends (sources) in D.C. say former US Senator Peter Fitzgerald's  name has been cropping up; as considering running for something again in Illinois; perhaps Governor.

Of course, that could be two guys/gals at D.C.'s Foggy Bottom saying, "I wonder if Peter will get back in the game."  In Washington, like here; once out of the mouth it hits the gossip circuit pretty fast and becomes the truth; based on absolutely no facts.  So, we'll see.

Fitzgerald told some folks a few years ago when he chose not to run again for US Senate, that he'd like to see his 13-year-old son grow up; and then might consider options down the road.   Well, it's "down the road" and that young son should be out of high school by now.

I had another friend in D.C. the same time Fitzgerald was serving as US Senator, and he said he beat to a different drummer.  Another way to put that is he didn't play the political game.  He would often be seen in the cafeteria dining alone.

Retiring Senator Stood Up for Principles  Fox News Opinion 2004

When a long-serving politician retires, we're often treated to windbag editorials from newspapers and columnists about the virtue of public service, and how the latest retiring politician contributed to it. 

Never mind that one of the ways one becomes a long-serving politician is by building up constituencies by doling out pork and patronage, and that many long-serving politicians spend their careers lusting after the perks and privileges of power.

When Congress adjourns this year, Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (search), R-Ill., will retire after just one term. He's retiring because his own party has turned on him and promised to run a primary candidate against him. That's because this particular senator decided that while he was in office he'd be his own man and vote his own conscience. He wouldn't be a lackey for his party, he wouldn't vote pork home to his state, and he wouldn't do what the special interests who run his party told him to do. And that got him into trouble.