Let’s say you’re the Governor of a state which has, historically, had a somewhat loose relationship to political ethics. For the past couple years, you’ve been under investigation, an investigation that has even led to the indictment of a few of your colleagues. In fact, there’s a good chance that many of your conversations are being taped, and you’ve even dared the Attorney General to do so. Due to a recent event, there’s a great deal more national attention being paid to you then before.

Given all this, do you a) lay low for a while, and try very hard not to do anything illegal for the next few months, b) continue with your naturally corrupt ways, but in a very quiet manner, or c) talk to anyone and everyone about selling a senate seat, try to extort the president-elect, and pressure the local paper to fire reporters who have been critical of you.

If you chose (c), congratulations! You have what it takes to succeed in Illinois politics! Patrick Fitzgerald-who has now taken down two Illinois governors-had Blago arrested this morning for trying to sell Obama’s senate seat. He couldn’t resist, because, as he put it, “I’ve got this [seat] and it’s [expletive] golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.” Brilliant!

Elsewhere in Fitzgerald’s statement we find Blagojevich is interested in the seat because of, “frustration at being “stuck” as governor; a belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor; a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016; avoiding impeachment by the Illinois legislature; making corporate contacts that would be of value to him after leaving public office; facilitating his wife’s employment as a lobbyist; and generating speaking fees should he decide to leave public office.” (emphasis added) There’s something so adorable about a man who is so scandal ridden that he’s concerned about being indicted or impeached thinking that he could run for President in eight years based on performance in a seat to which he appointed himself. Because no one could possibly see anything inappropriate in that.

Update: whoops!  Will got to this first.  Sorry about that.