Chicago literary trivia: The Weasel(s)

December 11, 2:17 PMChicago Literary Scene ExaminerRobert Duffer

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It's laughable, really. If you live in Illinois or are familiar with the sordid history of Illinois politicians and prison, Governor Rod Blagojevich's flagrant scheming for cash in exchange for the Senate seat vacated by Obama's presidency is laughable.

He wanted cash and power considerations from the bankrupt Chicago Tribune, the horse racing industry, Children's Memorial Hospital and Hair Club for Men to see if they could actually get his hairline to extend down past his eyes(the first three are fact; the last, conjecture). In his profanity-laced phone calls with his chief of staff John Harris, The Weasel showed no respect for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who, as counter-corruption czar in Illinois, has been on his ass for years.

"I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself."

Or

“I’ve got this thing, and it’s [expletive] golden. And I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not going to do it, and I can always use it; I can parachute me there."

There's more, too. Fitzgerald's entire wiretapping transcript can be PDF-ed at this link.

The Weasel showed no respect for history, either: 3 of the last 8 Illinois Governors (make it 4 out of 9--way to go, Blago!) have gone from Springfield to jail.

George Ryan may soon have company in the Federal Correctional Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana (Illinois makes the fame, Indiana takes the shame). Who knows, maybe Blago will be nominated for a Nobel Prize, too. Otto Kerner served a year in 1973 and Dan Walker served 1.5 yrs in 1977. Before Kerner, William Stratton should've gone to jail for tax evasion but was acquitted. Wow, Rod, you're an arrogant moron.

I suppose we all should have seen it coming, which leads to this week's literary trivia question. After Obama's acceptance speech, Blago was featured on ABC 7 nightly news to weigh in on the meaning of the moment, on hope. The Weasel said, "Fly white boy, fly," quoting what jailbird protagonist created by what Chicago writer? Name the character he quoted and the author. The winner recieves a Monopoly "get out of jail free" pass (nontransferable, nonrefundable).

LAST WEEK'S TRIVIA

The question:

In which seminal Chicago bildungsroman does Einhorn treat the narrator to his first whore? The bordello is not far from the Jewish neighborhood of Humboldt Park (1930's).

The winner: doug whippo, who has an aversion to capitalization, wrote, " the adventures of augie march...what do I win?"

You win respect, mr. whippo, and the esteem of your peers.