Marathon Pundit: Patrick Quinn is Illinois' governor

Illinois has a new governor, lawyer, onetime consumer advocate, and some say, political gadfly, Patrick Quinn.

Quinn is a strong supporter of our troops. I don't believe he has missed a single funeral of a single Illinois soldier who was killed in action serving our country in the War on Terror. And he did this without an entourage, and without fanfare.

I don't agree with him politically on a lot of things, but I believe he is a decent and honest (Yep, honest) man.

However, Quinn was a running mate with Blagojevich twice, and was a beneficiary of Blago's strongarm fundraising tactics. In 2006, Quinn said Blago was "a person who's honest and one of integrity." He also said of Blagojevich, "I have confidence the governor does the right thing all the time."

Quinn's rise to the governor's mansion, although not as amazing as Barack Obama's rise to the presidency, is quite a story. CBS 2 Chicago's Mike Flannery wrote that Quinn has "been a thorn in the side of the state's political establishment for 33 years."

Flannery recalls that Quinn is the only man in history who received a standing "boo-vation," a three minute boo-fest, by members of the Illinois House.

Obama never endured that indignity.

Despite my calling Quinn honest, I'm going to compare him to Warren G. Harding.

The last dark horse candidate to win the White House, Harding, an avid poker player, explained his rise to the presidency this way. "I drew a pair of deuces and filled."

As did Quinn.

While still lieutenant governor, Quinn promised Illinoisans that he's remove those obnoxious "Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor" signs from the state's toll roads.

Let's hope Quinn paints over Blago's name from the "Welcome to Illinois" signs as well.

Quinn's a big winner today, but now he has to govern a state that is broke, and one that has only been somewhat fiscally solvent by Blagojevich's smoke-and-mirrors budgets.

Blago: Now there's a guy who deserves a standing boo-vation.

CLTV is reporting that his state police detail left Blagojevich's home a half hour ago. Chicago Police officers have blocked off Blago's street.

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