Up, Down and Around Our Town

In preparation for the celebration of this year's Groundhog Day, one can only surmise as to how we will top what has already happened in the first 32 days of 2009. Needless to say, the first month of the new year brought us theater that could only be considered strange. Or, as my father used to say, "downright spooky."

Consider the case of our Illinois Governor. If there was ever a clinical case study of narcissistic sociopathy, we got an up close and personal look at both the symptoms and the outcome. For you see, even in a corrupt state like Illinois (specifically the Chicago breed), there are standards. As low as the bar is placed in the Windy City, when you cross below even that low standard, "spooky" things start to happen. Good to know that even the corrupt have their own idea of justice. Or do they.

This former Governor never wanted to work for anyone or anything that didn't have a direct impact on.....him. His boasting of "go ahead and tape me - see Gary Hart" ended up with his departure that can only be seen as part Twilight Zone and part Biggest Loser. After all, he fired R. Kelly's lawyer and went with the PR guy who has represented of all people - Drew Peterson. So what happened?

We saw our very own Cabbage Patch doll sitting with the girls on the View, chatting with Ann on the Today Show, greeking it up with Larry King on his show and finishing up with a spread on the CBS Early Show. And the message? All that he had done for the people of Illinois. In other words, he even underestimated the continued stupidity of the citizens of "his " state. In other words, enough was truly enough.

He ouster blew threw the House, with only his Sister-In-Law voting to keep him in office. His impassioned, biased, sick plea to keep him in office at the conclusion of the Senate hearings could only be described as Mr. Smith sort of goes to Springfield. By the way, Frank Capra wouldn't have touched this script. The final score: 59-0. Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.

The lessons will be learned the hard way. The State of Illinois is on life supports and Governor Quinn will have his work cut out for him. Those who provide services need to be paid and those projects that do impact the citizens need to be processed through the legislature. With the blockage now removed, here's hoping that both decorum and government return to Springfield. That's where the Mansion is. It is for the Governor. Live in it - it ain't bad.

This in a time when the likes of Du Pont, Microsoft, GM, Boeing, Caterpillar and Home Depot are laying off record numbers of workers. The recession is here. The stimulus package is being debated and most likely will get modified. There is a lot of fluff in that $800 billion dollar handout. And like the new Governor of Illinois, the new President has his work cut out for him as well. Getting group behind all of these efforts is the key. That may be the biggest challenge.

Closer to home, the fate of the Quincy Public Schools is again in balance. Reluctant to approve any tax increase, the ball will return to the state and fears abound that the delivery system will be crippled. Like the Governor and the President, the local School Board needs some degree of concensus to get the job done for those who are in need. We'll see.

This is a remarkable, if not intimidating time to sort all of this out. Plus, the switch to digital TV will happen in a couple of weeks. That should be interesting.

On a local note, I send my sympathies to the family of Dean Johnson. This one is personal, as Dean was the family of my wife's origin. While living to a ripe age of 92, he never lost his zeal for the simple things in life. A large family, a big smile, a curious sense of humor and an undying devotion to his St. Louis Cardinals. He had a health scare in 2006 and was hospitalized during the first level of playoffs. My wife stated that he might be very ill and I reassured him that as long as the Cardinals were winning that Uncle Dean would be with us. For the record, he bought the World Champion Sweatshirt and T-Shirt. To his lovely wife Georgine and their many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, we mark the final chapter with hope, optimism and a remembrance of that laugh and smile. Those are the memories that sustain. Plus, this die-hard Redbird fan was great fodder in our Yankee/Cardinal discussions.

Plus, as the days get longer and the weather (hopefully) gets warmer, it is always a joy watching my little hero and her comedian brother light up our life. Those simple facts keep us all hoping for that first 70 degree day.

Hope your Super Bowl fave prevailed. I'll go out on a limb and predict a Cardinal blow-out. We'll see how that plays out. Till next week, and as always, I remain.....