Political pundits and casual observers have suddenly been united by a common event: the recent impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The very public process invites anyone and everyone to have an opinion about political corruption.

Stating ripe ridicules of state politics, however, is an old pastime of Illinois residents. After all, Illinois invented the phrase “Chicago-style politics.” Corruption in Illinois can be viewed as inevitability.

Still, when news broke of Blagojevich’s arrest, many called for Blagojevich to step down. The Chicago Tribune reported Dec. 14 that Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked the State Supreme Court to remove Blagojevich, and President-elect Barack Obama called for Blagojevich’s resignation. Suddenly all the cool kids wanted the bully Blagojevich off their playground.

The timing of the governor’s impeachment may correspond to negative public opinion, but a simpler explanation could also be correct.

“Until the federal prosecutor released his report, there weren’t strong grounds for removing the governor from office,” said Ross Corbett, assistant political science professor. “Unpopularity and rumors aren’t enough, but once there was substantial evidence of official misconduct, there was no reason not to move forward.”

A lack of evidence could very well have been the reason for not moving forward with impeachment, but a lack of evidence does not equal a lack of intuition. While residents of this state say they want change in their political leader, the bandwagon of governor-bashing may just be a hot ticket. Residents must realize real change will not come from simply removing Blagojevich from office.

The former governor, George Ryan, was arrested and prosecuted. The only reason George Ryan is mentioned in the press now is because State Senator Dick Durbin (D.-Ill.) proposed Ryan should be pardoned from serving his prison term. Forgetting what happened in the news can be excusable from time to time, but not learning from past mistakes is inexcusable.

No one could have predicted that Blagojevich would be impeached by the Illinois House, but now the evidence is out in the open. The federal prosecutor, the press, the public and the elected representatives all see it. Despite political affiliation, corruption can never be part of a platform.

“The idea that conviction is a prerequisite for removal from office betrays a lack of appreciation for the mechanisms by which these are pursued, or cynicism, or both,” Corbett said.

Simply, excuses no longer have a home in Illinois.

Whether it was U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, a sea of rumors or public opinion which eventually caused the state to move forward, Illinois cannot return to a time of quiet grumbling. Residents have always heard about scandal and corruption through the press. This newfound community of Blagojevich-bashers may have the state’s best interest in mind. When pundits and residents note progress over corruption, then Illinois politics will have truly changed.