Remember that old "Where's Waldo?" cartoon, where you'd have to find a half-hidden Waldo in various locales? The Hound used to love doing that puzzle as a pup. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was kind of like that on Friday.
While the nation's Democratic governors were invited to Chicago by Sen. Barack Obama for snacks, a campaign moment and a discussion on the economy, Rodo was downstate acting, well, like a governor. He made his third visit in a week to flooded areas as rising Mississippi River waters inundated acre upon acre of Illinois land.
Or was the reason he wasn't at the Obamafest because Illinois' economic performance is ranked 48th in the nation? Or that the Democratic presidential hopeful didn't want to be seen with Rodo. Or that he just plain wasn't invited.
After all, some Illinois Democrats want to impeach Rodo and the governor did take about $1.4 million in campaign donations from Obama's housefinder, convicted felon Tony Rezko. Usually, the governor of a state is a presidential candidate's honorary statewide campaign chair. That may not be the case in Illinois this year.
Meanwhile, where was Rodo? On Friday he was in Quincy and Alton. At the same time, he asked President Bush for expedited federal disaster assistance, including some for Lake County.
Obviously, Rodo felt do that was much more important than listening to a bunch of talking policy wonks discussing politics. Wonder if he hopes those downstaters remember his flood visits in two years?
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