McHenry County Blog

The second trial of disgraced ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich is but an echo of the first.

Who cares the second time around?

in mid-December, 2009, there was a spoof on Saturday Night Live. Before the actor took the stage, there was a photo of a grim Blagojevich with the word "Arrested" under it.

It’s not front page news.

No Saturday Night Live skits about his hair and swear words.

“If Illinois politicians think you are too corrupt, you’re too corrupt,”

said Seth in December of 2008.

This past week there was another echo.

A bill passed that would prohibit state officials from putting their names on things. It was sponsored by State Rep. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst). Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) originated the legislation.

The target was the signs over Illinois toll collection booths.

When Blagojevich was impeached, Tollway officials did not even give Pat Quinn the opportunity for the photo op he undoubtedly desired.

Quinn did follow the example of his role model, Governor Dan Walker, for whom he was a ghost employee in the Department of Local Government Affairs.

The sign Governor Rod Blagojeich had erected over Illinois toll booths.

When the Department of Transportation changed the entry signs to the State of Illinois to remove Blagojevich’s name, Quinn followed Walker’s excellent example.

"Welcome to Illinois" sign with Governor Rod Blagojevich's name.

The current "Welcome to Illinois" sign does not have Governor Pat Quinn's name.

He left his name off.

Way back in 1973, I was so impressed this newly-elected Republican sent the newly-elected Democrat a letter of praise.

Quinn deserves similar praise.

This is the sixth article McHenry County Blog has published about Paul Caprio’s August Family PAC cruise.

In the first, U.S. Senator and Dr. Tom Coburn’s take on the health care debate. Coburn was on the Senate committee considering the proposal.

The rest are full of pictures of participants:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4.

I passed David, Abbly and Grafton Township (Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood) Township Supervisor Linda Moore. Moore ran on a platform that the Republican township board had made a big mistake putting the taxpayers in debt by over $5 million to build a new township hall without a referendum. She won the GOP township primary election by 30 votes. Since then, with a taxpayer suit pushing them the GOP-controlled township board has agreed with Moore to cancel the loan.

Downstairs I found Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica talking with Chris Robling. Peraica told me earlier that all he was running for this year was his county board seat.

Next, I bumped into Bob Kjellander, who was talking to State Rep. Bob Biggins (on the left). Will Jamison, who helped out at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota and has recently moved to Chicago, is seen in the middle. Obviously, something really tickled the former GOP National Committeeman’s funny bone.

I don’t follow Cook County politics, so I was surprised to find a second candidate for the suburban seat on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Review. He is Dan Patlak. You see him here chatting with Vernon Township Republican Party Chairman Don Castella. Patlak is Palatine Township Assessor.

I ran into a second candidate who wants to replace Bob Biggins in the General Assembly. His name is Chris Nybo. He is currently an alderman in Elmhurst. Here is his web site. I don’t know to whom he is talking, but if someone will tell me in a comment, I’ll add it.

Tomorrow, Part 6.