Illinoisans happy to see Blagojevich go

Illinoisans who watched former Gov. Rod Blagojevich get the boot Thursday during an impeachment trial played out on national television offered up a subdued reaction from taverns to farmhouses, widely hoping the ouster lets the state begin rehabbing its tattered image.

"No, it's not surprising. I figured it was coming," Darlene Lewis, a 48-year-old investment securities representative, said in Chicago after the state Senate's 59-0 vote to remove Blagojevich from office. "He needs to be impeached. He's not above the law."

From Chicago's well-known Billy Goat Tavern to Richard Borgsmiller's southern Illinois farm -- even a bar and grill in a place called Waterloo southeast of St. Louis -- Illinoisans weren't shocked by Blagojevich's political fate under the cloud of federal corruption charges.

Many actually hoped for Thursday's outcome, fatigued by the Blagojevich saga they say has made their state a laughingstock on cable television and Internet blogs. With Blagojevich sent packing, they spoke of the state's chance now to turn a page.

"I'm in the camp that says, 'Finally.' I'm glad we're moving forward," corn-and-soybean farmer Borgsmiller, 65, said from his farm home near Murphysboro.

By Thursday, Borgsmiller had run out of patience with Blagojevich, believing the governor peddled influence, abused his power and showed "a little bit of arrogance" by living in Chicago instead of the governor's mansion in Springfield.

"From the get-go, that was something that bothered me," Borgsmiller said.

At Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern, patron Gene Ciepierski considered Blagojevich's impeachment "very embarrassing."

"I think it's a shame that with our city and Illinois, everybody thinks we're all corrupt," Ciepierski, 54, said after watching Blagojevich's fate announced on all the TVs in the bar. "To think he would do something like that, it hurts more than anything."

"It looks like we are, as they used to say, the home of Al Capone," added Lewis.

Some of Blagojevich's former political foes rejoiced -- cautiously.

"Nobody is happier to see Rod go than I am, but this is not time to celebrate," said Edwin Eisendrath, a former Chicago alderman who lost to Blagojevich in the 2006 Democratic primary. "We have serious and sobering work to do before we firmly close this sorry chapter in our state's history."

Earlier Thursday, Blagojevich's 47-minute speech to the state Senate played big in Chicago's Loop, where lunch-goers paused in front of a billboard-sized TV screen facing Daley Plaza.

University of Illinois-Chicago undergraduate Brian David found the Democrat's failed bid to save his job unconvincing and devoid of issues he wanted the governor to address.

"I just don't think I believe him at all," said David, 26, of Downers Grove.

Chicago attorney Thomas Westgard called Blagojevich's last stand in Springfield "hilarious and saddening. It's one of those laugh or cry things."

"It's so shocking you don't know how to react," Westgard, 38, said. "He needs to go. They're correct to throw him out."

At JV's Downtown Bar and Grill in Waterloo, population 8,749, off-duty bartender Patrick Meegan nursed a bottle of Bud Light after watching Blagojevich's time as governor screech to a close.

Meegan's only surprise: That the vote was unanimous, "a clean sweep."

"I thought there might be a couple of dissenters," said Meegan, 48, who voted for Blagojevich in 2002 but sided with his opponent four years later, recalling "it was just something about Blagojevich."

"We all thought (his removal) was coming. He made his plea in front of the Senate, and it didn't work," Meegan said. "I'm glad this is done. Let's start all over. We're the laughingstock of the country."

For Blagojevich's first news conference after his arrest, state employees at Chicago's James R. Thompson Center huddled around television sets and computers, hanging on his every word. But there was little of that Thursday as he was convicted and thrown from office.

"There were a couple TVs on, and a couple people had it up on their computer," Assistant Attorney General Katrina Wanzer said. "I guess I'm just happy to see him go."