Playing Catch Up - And No I Don't Mean the Bottled Junk

Just wanted to end the year off by catching up with myself. First off, Christmas went well and the New Year's was quiet. I didn't make it Uptown to see the fireworks go off over the Dunkin' Donuts. That was disappointing. It was so cold though, and my ankle is still giving me hell. I fell three weeks ago yesterday. Now that aside, let me get onto important junk.

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The Blagojevich watch is growing more silly everyday. As I said in my first entry on the subject, Jesse Jackson Jr. was mentioned in the indictment. I felt at the time that he didn't act like a guilty man would. He was pleasant and didn't avoid the press. Heck, he even brought hot coffee out to them on a cold morning. I felt sorry for the man. It always follows in Chicago when something happens, the press saturates the neighborhood and surrounds the house of whomever it is they're reporting on. Usually the person who is in the news can't enter or leave his house without confronting them. Not long after the word broke that Blago was being indicted, Jackson's name came up again. Indeed District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald commented that Jackson was mearly one of the people that Blago spoke to on the subject of Obama's Senate seat. Jackson supporters held a fund raiser for him right about that time. Fitzgerald, though, said he had no evidence that any money was offered by Jackson or his people to 'purchase' that seat. It wasn't exactly explained what the fund raiser was for other than to mention that as a Congressman, Jackson is required to run for election every 2 years. In other words the man is continuously running for office.

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On another front, Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to that seat after being told by both the Secretary of State and the U.S. Senate that whomever he appointed would not be seated. This has put us in a really weird perdicament. Roland Burris was the first African American to win a Statewide election. To my knowledge, the man has served honorably for over 30 years. Most Illinoisans feel he is a good selection, except that he has been tainted by Blago's appointment. Congressman Bobby Rush spoke on Burris' behalf on the day of the appointment. Rush commented that the choice should not be pushed aside even though the person who appointed him is questionable. He also made it sound that if we in Illinois, did this, we were racists. The thing about Bobby Rush is that he never leaves race out of any issue. He is my Congressman, and I'm not so pleased with him. After having said that, Secretary of State Jesse White replied that he, a Black man, would not sign the documentation declaring Burris Senator, not because he is a racist, but because Blagojevich was part of the process. Every Democrat in the State and in Washington is standing up against the appointment on those grounds. Even President-elect Obama is against seating Burris. The National news is making Roland Burris look like the fool in the middle.

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I should point out that Congressman Rush and Obama are at odds and have been since Obama ran against Rush and lost. Rush has supported Obama's advisary in every race except the Presidential. I would also point out that Bobby Rush was formerly a member of the Black Panthers.

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Republicans are calling for a special election. There are municipal elections scheduled for April, and it would be a matter of adding a name to the ballot. Democrats are against this because of the cost. At this point bills coming up for payment by the State are not being paid. I heard a horrible story today about a pediatrician who handles only children on Medicade, the poorest of the poor. She is being forced to close her office because the State is $200,000 behind in payments to her.

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On a lighter note a group raised money for a charity by using Rod Blagojevich's name. Actually it was a cardboard cut out of Blago. Commuters in Downtown Chicago were invited to pay a dollar for a shoe to throw at the cut out.

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The Illinois General Assembly is currently working on the first impeachment proceedings since the mid 1800's. We've since written and voted into effect a new Constitution.

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Angel season is officially over. I spoke to George over the weekend. She said that we helped 38 families. That is a big step down from the number we usually help. The thing is though, we didn't turn anyone away after all. We serviced everyone who called for help. We had very little left over. Even still we donated to St. Vincent DePaul at St. B., although not at St. W. I have food in the van, too, for the Salvation Army. I wish we could have done better, although I am thrilled to say that we still have been able to help all that have asked us.

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Becki returns to school tomorrow and Ed returns on the 19th. That's good. I feel like I'm accomplishing something here. My goal is to get her into college and to keep him there. So far so good.

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Oh, and the boys went to a comedy club in Schaumberg this past weekend. Christopher Titus was there. They enjoyed the show wholeheartedly. Jon bought a CD and a t-shirt. Titus signed it all, too.