I don’t have much in common with politicians. I have none of Hillary’s ambition, and Palin’s idealism is beyond my reach. I’ve never developed Dubya’s Texas charm, and Schwarzenegger’s biceps are worth three of mine. But when it comes to my occasional sin delusions, I’m an awful lot like Rod Blagojevich.

This week, the political cadaver that is Rod B. pulled himself together one more time to plead with Congress to halt his impending impeachment. He managed to beg from an upright position at the podium and cling to his gutsy refrain: “I have done absolutely nothing wrong.” He looked at the senators leaning forward in their seats and claimed, "It's painful and it's lonely, but I want you to know I never, ever intended to commit a criminal act." From the start of his let’s-make-a-deal senate seat scandal last month, the Illinois governor has been publicly flabbergasted by the outrage against him, and has stuck to the story that he and his conscience crafted.