Peter Fitzgerald - 1998

One of the best things that has happened in Illinois politics in recent history was the election of Peter Fitzgerald to the US Senate in 1998, defeating the Democrat incumbent Carol Mosley Braun.

Peter was an Illinois GOP political outsider who bucked the GOP party line on many issues as a State Senator member of the “Fab Five”: Steve Rauschenberger, Dave Syverson, Patrick O’Malley, and Chris Lauzen. (Note: If I would have won the 4th District State Senate seat that year, I also would have gladly joined this team! )

Randal Birkey and Peter Fitgerald - Republican Candidates in 1998

As a US senator, Peter insisted on the appointment of an out-of-state U.S. Attorney to investigate corruption in the Illinois state government. His appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald (no relation to Peter) to that post led to several indictments, including that of former Republican Governor George Ryan, who is now serving time for several criminal abuses of his authority. And President Bush, please do not listen to Dick Durbin and issue a pardon for George Ryan!

Rod Blagojevich arrested today on corruption charges

Today, we see the additional fruit of Peter’s appointment with the arrest of our Democrat Governor, Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges.

Perhaps this one appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald will turn out to be the key decision that will eventually deliver Illinois from the slimy hands of machine politics and crooked politicians, and finally free the people of Illinois (in both parties) to take back control of their own state and local government!

I also want to acknowledge and thank the Chicago Tribune for withholding a story on this topic for several weeks giving the US Attorney’s office time to get the bugs and wiretaps in place, which were a key requirement to catch this crook.

Now, if we can just be patient long enough until Patrick does the same thing on Chicago’s Daley machine politics!

I remain hopeful!