Help Wanted - Lieutenant Governor

I mentioned in previous blog entries (February 8 and January 27) that I am not politically inclined. The current state of Democratic affairs in Illinois, however, is too much for me to resist. On Sunday evening, February 7, Scott Lee Cohen, the lieutenant governor winner in the Democratic primary, withdrew his candidacy. Pressured by party leaders to resign after stories of his jaded past surfaced and made headlines, Cohen finally yielded. He picked a perfect venue, the Hop Haus tavern in Chicago, to make this announcement during the half time of the Super Bowl. Surrounded by family, including his current fiancée, the dramatic proclamation was complete with tears and slurred words. The dilemma now is to select Governor Pat Quinn’s running mate in the November election. Common sense dictates the logical choice would be the person who garnered the second highest percentage of votes in the lieutenant governor primary, Illinois Representative Art Turner. Cohen had 26% and Turner had 22% of the total vote, not a significant difference. Illinois is a state not known for common sense principles, however, and the lieutenant governor candidate will be selected by a 38-member Democratic State Central Committee which will meet on March 17 or earlier. Because of this foolish practice, Democratic politicians are hovering around Governor Pat Quinn like worker bees around the queen (or Quinn) bee. The lieutenant governor position is not a very prestigious one. On Monday, Governor Quinn suggested that anyone interested should “speak up.” Governor Quinn should post a classified advertisement in all state newspapers: “Help Wanted – Illinois Lieutenant Governor: No experience necessary, will train, must be willing to travel, obey orders, kiss babies, shake hands with old people, and assume higher duties if governor dies or goes to prison.” With unemployment in Illinois now averaging 10%, surely someone needs a job badly enough to apply!