14 years for Blago, not the Chicago Way.

From the cesspool that is Illinois political corruption, emerges the lengthy sentence for Rod Blagojevich - 14 years in prison for trying to get the biggest possible bribe in finding a replacement for Barack Obama's vacated senate seat.  

No doubt the sentence will be appealed but this does serve as a timely reminder that seedy backroom politics are the norm not only as far as Blagojevich is concerned but that this is the environment president Obama emerged from , and that the Democratic party was not entirely above board on finding a replacement for the seat vacated by Obama to become president.

CHICAGO (CBS) – Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. 

U.S. District Judge James Zagel handed down the sentence on Wednesday, shortly after Blagojevich made a plea for leniency, following his conviction on 18 corruption counts.

Remember how Obama's seat was filled by Blagojevich with senator Burris after Harry Reid had aid the Senate would not recognize Burris as legitimate, a day before they recognized Burris as legitimate.

Perhaps this will serve voters with a fresh reminder about the culture of corruption the country faces - an issue which has been overshadowed by the debt and jobs issues.

Burris gets a seat. Obama gets a pass.

Politics with a difference. Change. Hope. Don't worry Barack, the media will carry your water on this one too. Blagojevich's appointment of Burris to Obama's vacant Senate seat was supposed to be rejected by the Senate. At least they did the public the courtesy of saying no for a day before back-dooring the appointee.

And Al Franken has apparently won the Minnesota seat, because Chuck Schumer declares the race settled, despite what the Minnesota Board stated about not declaring a winner. Again, Harry Reid will go to bat and Obama's hands can stay clean.

Bill Richardson pulls his name out of the running for Commerce Secretary so Obama doesn't have to undergo the scrutiny that the nomination would apparently have caused both of them.

Leon Panetta, a weird choice for head of the CIA is questioned as a choice by Democrat Dianne Feinstein because of lack of intelligence experience. But no worries Barack, Lee Hamilton and the Brookings Institute will go to bat for your nominee. And Dianne has fallen into line.

More and more this guy is starting to remind me of a cross between Bill Clinton and Pontius Pilot. Slick and at the same time, washing his hands of everything because his proxies are going to handle the issues so he can stay clean.