Gov. Quinn's chance to make a mark

What to say, now that it's all over?

Do we say it is a sad day, a reflection that Illinois' long history of corruption has yet another sorry chapter added? Or do we raise a toast in a day of celebration, gleeful that the system has angrily removed a politician mired in scandal?

Mainly, the mood this morning is one of relief. The bizarre final months of Rod Blagojevich's reign as governor are over, and with them, hopefully, state government's inability to move forward on the people's business.

It is time to look ahead again, not behind. Thursday's vote in the Illinois Senate to convict will help with that. Not only did that 59-0 vote remove Blagojevich from office, but because it was unanimous, it dispels the notion he tried to create that there was reasonable disagreement about whether he ought to go.

Fresh off his appearances on "The View" and with Geraldo Rivera, Blagojevich gave an impassioned 11th-hour appeal in the well of the state senate Thursday, but failed to turn a single vote. Not one. In the end, it was reflective of his strange ineptitude as governor in working with - rather than around - the legislature. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

And so we welcome, Gov. Pat Quinn, the Gerald Ford in Illinois' version of a long nightmare, and we hope that like Mr. Ford, he can provide us all with closure and reconciliation, only without the pardon, please.

It is difficult to say how long Quinn will be able to enjoy the natural good will of a General Assembly and state eager to embrace someone new.

Our guess is not long. The Republican Party, grabbing at any straws to re-establish itself, has been blasting Quinn disingenuously for days as some kind of bedfellow of Blagojevich. And the Democratic Party? Well, the word's long been on the street that taxes are going up, Quinn is going out and Attorney General Lisa Madigan will be moving in at the next election.

Despite all that, Quinn has an interesting opportunity. The public is so weary of pay-to-play governance and power politics. If he governs by transparency, he not only will aid Illinois, but he also will aid himself.

In some respects, this will come easy to him. He is, after all, a maverick at heart, not the product of a political machine, and so he is open to reform and new ideas.

But in some respects, this will be hard. That same maverick attitude, as former Gov. Dan Walker showed, can make him less inclined to work with legislators, tempt him to be self-righteous and unable to compromise.

If Quinn can walk a balanced line, he will have our support and the support of the electorate.

His first and foremost priority: End pay-to-play once and for all. Don't just talk about it; put a stake through it.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=268164">Mayors pin hopes on Quinn: Restore pride, govern openly</a></li> <li><a href="/?id=268194">Quinn promises a new style of leadership </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=268286">Blagojevich ouster ends low profile of no. 2 Quinn</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=268191"><B>Editorial:</B> Gov. Quinn's chance to make a mark</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>