Proud Day in Illinois

Not just one politico, but TWO make the list:

• For years, U. S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. stood eagerly in front of microphones, crucifying the Chicago City Council and Mayor Richard Daley over their blase attitude toward corruption.

  "For the last six years, we've read and seen nothing but corruption, greed and malfeasance throughout much of city government," Jackson said in 2006. "A mismanaged affirmative-action program, a Hired Truck scandal, an asphalt kickback scheme and a major Colombian drug connection with dealers selling drugs while on the public payroll."

  He toyed with the idea of running for mayor, saying he was determined to "change the culture of corruption in Chicago, and that will require rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, root and branch."

  How ironic that Jackson (D-2nd) was included on last week's "Most Corrupt Members of Congress" list, compiled annually by the nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. He joins U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, who also made this year's report.

But we'll never see a real challenger take him on in the 2nd District. The corruption is too ingrained. Burris is already toast.