It has been a few years since I lived in Chicago, but sometimes I get emails that remind me of how corrupt and ridiculous it was living there. I mean, when a Mayor with the last name “Daley” is possibly only the fourth most corrupt public officer, your state is corrupt (Gov. Ryan, Gov. Blagojevich, Barack Obama, being the other three).

From BloggingOnBlagoBlog:

As John McCain tours the country talking about cutting taxes on the hardworking people of the United States including providing relief at gas pumps by asking Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax, Barack Obama is once again proving he truly is a product of the Chicago Machine way of doing business by voting for a temporary elimination of the Illinois state gas tax as a state senator but now believes it’s a “bad idea.”

A good sign that someone comes from the Chicago Machine way of doing business is: you oppose tax increases as a candidate (or at some other time prior to running for higher office) and then once you are elected refuse to enact tax reform (i.e. lower taxes) or (their favorite) increase taxes on your constituents sighting all the “vital services” that otherwise would need to be cut.

In many walks of life this is also called hypocrisy.

Read the entire thing. Why do Illinoisans continue to elect these people?

As a post-script: I find it funny that Rod Blagojevich and Obama have seemingly always had one goal in mind: the White House. Everything has always been about photo ops and doing what looks good nationally. Yet, even with that goal in mind, these two cannot keep themselves from associating - and working - with criminals and other corrupt or otherwise unsavory characters. If you are just “a guy,” hang out with whomever you want. If you know you are working towards the highest office in the land, show some good judgment and avoid the racketeering types, eh? When John the Bartender hangs out with some low-lifes, it doesn’t necessarily show bad judgment. He’s a bartender. He can’t help but be surrounded by them. But when a politician is surrounded by low-lifes, it absolutely shows he lacks good judgment. And what, honestly, is more important for a Commander-in-Chief than good judgment? Everything else flows from that one trait!

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