Catching up

RUMOR CENTRAL The blogosphere is all atwitter about the prospects of Jim Edgar actually considering a run at governor again. Eric Zorn seems to indicate that by reading other blogs, including Capital Fax that Edgar's folks are sniffing around Springfield checking on Blago weaknesses.

Edgar folks may be sniffing, but I don't buy the fantasy that Edgar's gonna run. Granted, he may be the only Republican capable of taking on and perhaps defeating Blago, but he has everything to lose and nothing to gain by running this time around.

MELTDOWN It's been interesting watching Christian idealogue Pat Robertson melt down in public. Calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez? Sure, Pat. Just ask yourself, What Would Osama Do?

Many people have been aware of what a nutcase Robertson is since his aborted presidential run a couple decades ago.

I actually tuned into his 700 Club last night to see who he would recommend bumping off next. Looked like a rerun, but CNN said he'd be live tonight. Don't think I can stand him two nights in a row.


SEMINOLE MISTAKE So Florida gets to keep its Native American minstrel show. How sad. How pathetic. How much pressure did the Bush family have to put on the NCAA to bring that about?

Fortunately for the Flailing Illini, we've got a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators. Not much leverage there.

There's also the argument that the Florida minstrel might actually represent in some small way the Seminole tribe. The chief? He represents the Sioux, or the Crow or Hollywood's warped version of Native Americans or ... oh, yeah, the Boy Scouts. But not Illinois or anything resembling the Illini tribe. (Tip of the hat to foleyma. )

MTDEALINGS Plenty of blog action about Sunday's News-Gazette editorial calling for reason and civility (and maybe even a negotiated settlement) between the MTD and its enemies. Imagine, calling for reason, thoughtfulness and a peaceful solution. How radical.

Perhaps it's time for a cease-fire, for the MTD and its detractors to declare an end to hostilities and - perhaps with the help of a mediator - to sit down and discuss what each side wants. Because at the rate each side is going, they will create years of antagonism and perhaps even form separate taxing districts that don't work together, waste money and duplicate services. That's how this community ended up, nearly 150 years ago, with two separate city governments. Do we want to repeat that mistake?

That's crazy talk. It's so much more fun to scream, shout, posture, preen and pass petitions and try to position yourself as the savior of something, isn't it? Save yourself 37 cents in property tax, screw up a great little transportation system.

THEY'RE BACK Judging from the increased traffic around town (and the almost total lack of Mac-and-Cheese at my local grocery yesterday) the students are back. Welcome back. We're glad you're here.

Just one request: Every week, pick out one traffic law to obey and stick to it, OK? Just one. And thanks.

And so it goes.