(7/6/12)

GET THIS…


As I was sitting at the kitchen table this morning munching oats, I thought I noticed a picture of Jesse Jackson Jr. on the back of the milk carton. It seems that the 2nd Congressional Democratic Representative from Illinois has been missing since June 10th. Missing, as in vanished and not fulfilling the job in Washington that taxpayers pay him to do.

His absence has been noticed by many folks including those pesky reporters. Calls have repeatedly been made inquiring his whereabouts, but spokesman Frank Watkins will only say Mr. Jackson has a “physical and emotional illness” and that it was “more serious than we thought.” Others labeled it "exhaustion." Nobody seems to know where he is at or even when he will be back. Wonder if he is getting paid for not representing our interests?

As you might know, the 2nd Congressional District includes Kankakee. Last year the Emperor of Illinois, Mike Madigan redistricted this area, benevolently handing our representation to Jesse “the King of Beers’ Jackson Jr. because that young whippersnapper Adam Kinzinger was getting just a little too popular for his britches. (FYI - Mr. Jackson was given a lucrative Budweiser beer distributorship when he was but a wee lad.)

Now, Mr. Jackson’s contacts are quick to point out that the desertion of his post has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the House Ethics Committee (that’s hard to type with a straight face) is still investigating that little matter of ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich trying to sell Barack Obama’s senatorial seat. Seems there is a nasty rumor that a buddy/fund raiser to Mr. Jackson, Raghuveer Nayak, might have offered "Blago" $6 million if he would slide the seat on over Mr. Jackson’s way. Mr. Nayak was recently arrested on federal fraud charges, so I'm wondering if there just might be a little squeezing being applied. And the “contacts” are certain that the fact that Mr. Nayak paid for a plane ticket in February for a “social acquaintance,” who also happened to be a hot blonde, to accompany Mr. Jackson on a recent trip has nothing to do with our representatives vanishing act. I understand Mrs. Jackson didn’t see the humor in that trip though.

Fortunately, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a fellow Illinois Democrat has been able to ease our concerns for Mr. Jackson’s dereliction of duty. He had this to say to CBS News today concerning the representative’s desertion, "There is concern among his colleagues. Anybody there could understand that;

…It's a stressful occupation."