Illinois Central

Illinois's lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, confidently predicted that Rod Blagojecich would be impeached, convicted, and removed from office by February. Quinn also said, though, that he would still call a special election for Barack Obama's Senate seat because all of the likely appointees for the seat are tainted by merely having spoken to Blagojevich.

Surely there must be a politician in the state not associated with the governor who could be a "bench-warmer" in the meantime, though. It could be the deputy mayor of Kankakee, a state representative from Quincy, a city councilman from Decatur, the Oak Park town hall receptionist - anyone!

Forget Minnesota, this is getting more interesting . . .