Are the Feds getting closer? Blagojevich and his wife say they paid for the rehab.

Did Rezko pay for Blagojevich’s house rehab?

Since Rezko’s felony conviction in June, the FBI has been investigating how the former top Blagojevich fund-raiser billed the governor and his wife for the work, who paid for it and whether Rezko ever arranged for cash to be passed in envelopes to the Blagojeviches, several sources familiar with the probe told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Not exactly a surprise; latest Rasmussen:

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress

Brave new world, Comrades.
Please remember to vote against each politician who voted for this now failed, socialist power-grab.

Bloomberg Story on 500 pt plummet, credit crisis

Developing. . . Bloomberg

Locally, we have a gravel pit controversy on the southwest side of Bloomington, an east-west highway that makes no sense to the citizens’ advisory board, the city of Normal spending WAY over estimates, and an election of all elections; will election officials be ready, and will officials on any of these issues be listening to public opinion, or forging ahead on their own like the cash strapped U.S. Cellular Coliseum?

More on this later in the week; for now, here are some national headlines:

Exclusive: Obama to hit McCain on Keating Five

Va. GOP fears McCain could lose state

McCain-Obama splits moderates and the middle class

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress

Much blame for financial crisis aimed at Congresses past and present

I was talking with a friend about the Coliseum last night and he brought to my attention the fact that the arena or whatever it’s called in Peoria took over ten years to make a profit.  Neither of us are businessmen or anything of the sort, but anyone who has taken high school economics would know that the first year that a business is open it is very unlikely to even break even.  The first five years a business is open it would do well to break even.  I think the Coliseum has been open for five years?  I’m not sure how long it has been open, but I am not surprised that it has not made a profit yet.

I find it surprising that so many people in this community want this town to grow and be like a big town or a small city, which it has become given the rise in population and crime,  but they are not prepared to accept the responsibilities that would entail.  With large and sometimes risky ventures such as the Coliseum can come great reward or great loss.  However, one really can’t tell if the venture will be a loss or a gain for quite a while sometimes.  There have been many wonderful events at the Coliseum that have boosted the economy of this community and the events seem to get better and better.  I, among other taxpaying citizens that I know of, are glad the Coliseum is there and we pretty much all say about time for something like that in this town!  For those who are against it, stop just looking at the negative aspects of it and try to find something good about it.  I know that there are some things not so good about the Coliseum, but nothing is perfect, and the thing hasn’t existed long enough to have a fair chance.  If it is still not making a profit in ten years or so, then I will be complaining about the thing too, but until then, I say give it a chance and find something else to complain about–like parking in downtown (maybe the city should put up some parking meters?).

Was it pay backfor past sins or a deserved conviction?

13 proves an unlucky number for O.J. Simpson as he comes up on the losing end in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ In a city where luck means everything, O.J. Simpson came out the big loser — and his unlucky number in a case full of bizarre twists was 13.

He was convicted of an armed robbery that happened on Sept. 13 and was found guilty on the 13th anniversary of his Los Angeles murder acquittal. The Las Vegas jury deliberated for 13 hours after a 13-day trial.

And then, as only the racking sobs of Simpson’s sister broke the silence late Friday, the lights went out.

Court marshals flipped on flashlights and shouted for everyone to stay seated. Only the judge knew what had happened. It was 11 p.m. and the courthouse lights had shut down automatically.

“Timed out,” Judge Jackie Glass said in a fitting epitaph for the story of O.J. Simpson, which has long haunted America.

Server crashed for first time, we’re back, more later and thanks for your patience.

Since the Cubs were losing, badly, I watched the entire debate and have to say it WAS interesting all the way through.  I thought both did well; but Palin won on charm; and actually had substance.  Democrats will never agree, but she did well.

MOST WATCHED DEBATE IN 16 YEARS

It’s also a stunning 60% higher than the 2004 debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. In fact, the early figure surpasses any presidential debate since 1992’s second bout between Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush (which received a 46.3 rating).

My favorite columnist, Charles Krauthammer, makes the case quite well today.  McCain is out of Hail Mary’s.  Barring a major Obama campaign gaffe, this election is Obama’s to lose.

Hail Mary vs. Cool Barry

He tempted fate one time too many. After climbing up on his high horse, McCain had to climb down. The crisis unresolved, he showed up at the debate regardless, rather abjectly conceding Obama’s mocking retort that presidential candidates should be able to do “more than one thing at once.” (Although McCain might have pointed out that while he was trying to do two things, Obama was sitting on the sidelines doing one thing only: campaigning.)