A Straight Talk McCain & Fitzgerald Cleanup Co.?

Who says Illinois politicians don't deserve a treat for the way they treat us?

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that if elected president, he would reappoint U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald so that Fitzgerald can continue targeting political corruption in Chicago and the state.

"I'd keep him. I'd keep him," McCain said, unequivocally, responding to my question at a session with the Tribune's editorial board.


"Because I think he has a record of pursuing criminals, and he has done so, with efficiency and skill and with dedication," McCain said. "I think he has done a good job, and I think the American people are crying out for having this corruption cleaned up."

Predictably, Fitzgerald had no comment. But who knows how the Illinois Combine might feel about another four years? Publicly, they might clap their hands, smiling terribly bright smiles, waiting until they're alone to sink to the carpet, curl up into the fetal position and issue silent screams.

Compare McCain's statement on Fitzgerald with the mealy-mouthed answer to a similar question by Republican front-runner Mitt Romney on the Don Wade and Roma radio program on WLS-AM a few weeks ago.

"Oh, I can't possibly make that, heh-heh, assessment now," said Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. "It's a little ahead of my time, a little presumptuous of me to be picking U.S. attorneys." He blathered on, but never directly answered Don Wade's question.

Romney also neglected to mention that he's been embraced by key Illinois Combine players, including Republican bosses Big Bill Cellini and Big Bob Kjellander (pronounced $hell-ander). More on the story.



I know McCain is full of it... There is a new sheriff in town: Mukasey. That is new AG Mukasey's call.