MARK KIESLING: Let's get this Blagojevich thing behind us

I'm not quite sure what former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is waiting for.

The guv, who is awaiting sentencing on his federal corruption convictions, was supposed to be sentenced Tuesday, but his lawyers keep wanting to drag things out.

Now, the sentencing is supposed to be today, as soon as the Blago blowhards turn things over to the government.

They've argued that Blagojevich was "a victim" who was misled by his aides into the shadowy world of corruption that has seen dozens of Illinois officials sent off to the federal crossbar hotel.

He was never truly responsible for the crimes (which, you should note, have not been denied) but was misled by a coterie of hangers-on who were trying to advance their own agenda, they said.

Well, if you believe that, I have some property in New York City I'd like to sell you. Interested in the Brooklyn Bridge?

The reason I started this column out with the question of what Blagojevich is waiting for is just that: What does he hope to gain by continuing to delay the legal process?

The man is 54 years old. He doesn't have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel; he's got (should the Lord allow) plenty of time ahead of him.

Get it over with already, Rod. Take your punishment and get out while you can still enjoy possibly seeing your daughter's wedding, picking up the grandkids and maybe making a new, more respectable, life for yourself.

But stop trying to tell us you are some sort of naive innocent who wandered into the governor's mansion and was led down the wrong path a la Oliver Twist or Pinocchio.

Although, of course, had Blago been Pinocchio his nose would now be somewhere around Kenosha and well on its way to Manitowoc.

The worst thing, I guess, was his attempt to sell the vacant U.S. Senate seat of Barack Obama, who went on to some other higher office, I forget now.

There are some others who should be quaking in their boots over that, but I want to stay on topic now.

Does Rod deserve the 15 to 20 years behind bars federal prosecutors are asking for? A lot of people would like to see that, given the Prairie State's history of gubernatorial corruption.

I'm not sure a hammering like that is needed. After all is said and done, the Blago blunders were verbal attempts -- nothing was actually accomplished.

But yes, he deserves time behind bars. Maybe he could bring the Metamucil to his superannuated predecessor, former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, also in the federal can on corruption charges.

Today should reveal how U.S District Judge James Zagel feels about this.

If I were a betting man, which I am not (I do play nickel slots), I wouldn't have slept well last night if I were Blagojevich.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at mark.kiesling@nwi.com.