Illinois: Recent rash of treachery

Skeptics, though, say the ethics push produced a lot of bluster and little substance.

"I'd give ethics reform a C-minus, D-plus at best," House Republican Leader Tom Cross, of Oswego, said. "And when you look at the campaign ethics bill that does absolutely nothing but perpetuate the status quo, that was a complete failure."

From big-city machine politics to pinstripe patronage, Illinois long has had a crooked political reputation.

But the recent rash of treachery has gotten extra attention. President Barack Obama, a former Illinois state legislator and U.S. senator, counted among his close supporters Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who was convicted of political corruption in connection with schemes to raise money for Rod Blagojevich, the governor who was arrested in December and removed from office in January. Obama has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Previous posts: Deja Vu Dem Hug Fest, Turning over Rocks