Does anyone honestly believe that people become Governors for the salaries?  According to stateline.org, salaries for governors top out at around $200,000.  Do people really believe that someone runs for office simply for recognition?  Of course not, its all about the money. 

Now that its Blagojevich's turn to be in the hotseat, comparison's are quickly made to other 'honest' politicians from Illinois.  Rezko, a friend of Blagojevich as well as Barack Obama, has been cited in some of Blagojevich's corruption scandals.  The AP reports:

Rezko, for example, was on hand while Blagojevich talked to a campaign donor about putting him on the state payroll with the donor's $25,000 check on the table, according to testimony at Rezko's trial.

A $200,000 salary doesn't sound so bad anymore when on any given day you may be handed a check for $25,000 for simply signing off on a contract.  These are the types of dealings that happen daily in Ukraine, Russia and other former soviet states.  Selling off seats to the senate are also a common place.  The difference is that the people in former soviet states are aware of it, while the US population simply don't want to believe that such a thing could happen in the USA. 

Of course, Blagojevich insists that he did nothing wrong.  A better claim may be that he did nothing 'out of the ordinary', but that wouldn't help his case.  The NY Times has a nice quote by him:

“I’m here to tell you right off the bat that I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing,” Mr. Blagojevich said in a brief appearance before reporters at his downtown office. “I intend to stay on the job, and I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight. I will fight. I will fight, until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong.”

Honestly, what has he done wrong?  He is given the power to chose a senator to replace Obama.  How he decides to choose this next senator is his business and his business alone.  He may have 2 good candidates and simply flip a coin, is that wrong?  If he allows them to humiliate one another in an auditorium full of spectators, is that wrong?  What if he simply gets drunk, and picks one at random, is that wrong? 

What has he done wrong?  He profited from his decision.  People can not stand idly by while politicians profit by signing papers, or make decisions.  If this is allowed, politicians will loose site of what is important, and concentrate on what is more prifitable.  This is the biggest danger in politics.  Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.