Illinois boasts an interesting history of political corruption with three former governors serving time and enough machine politics in Chicago’s Cook County to put Tammany Hall to shame. Despite oozing corruption, the state has never seriously considered impeachment for one of its own, but that may change if powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan has his way. Madigan has started circulating talking points to fellow Democrats, outlining impeachment procedures that could be used to oust Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Could Illinois throw two consecutive governors in the pokey? Wait and see.

President Bush signed a bill Tuesday that has removed former South African president Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress from the U.S. terror watch list. Madela and members of the ANC formerly had to receive special certification from the US secretary of state before entering the country. A State Department spokesman said the bill ensures “that there aren’t any extra hoops for either a distinguished individual, like former President Mandela, or other members of the African National Congress to get a US visa.” Happy 90th Birthday Mr. Mandela from the good old U.S. of A!

The Presbyterian Church (USA) will now allow the ordination of gays and lesbians after overturning a long-established ban, but the church’s national governing body upheld its definition of marriage as a “covenant between a woman and a man.” Like other churches, the Presbyterian Church faces the difficult task of reconciling differing beliefs about the role of biblical influence and homosexuality.

The focus of much gun ownership rights debate has centered on a citizen’s right to defend themselves, but research reveals firearm owners more often turn the weapon on themselves. In 2005, 55 percent of firearm deaths were suicides. Past studies have concluded that in homes with guns, the likelihood that one of the home’s residents will die from a suicide or homicide is much higher. The Supreme Court’s majority opinion on last week’s landmark handgun ruling included no mention of suicide when arguing for U.S. citizens’ right to bear arms, but dissenting opinion author Justice Stephen Breyer mentioned it 14 times. Ok, now go duke it out in the comments. Please try to refrain from violence.

According to Justice Antonin Scalia, the legal debacle that followed the controversial 2000 presidential election should be blamed squarely on Al Gore, who the conservative judge says should have conceded without legal action. Justice Scalia shared his thoughts in an interview with The Telegraph, stating the former VP should have followed Richard Nixon’s 1960 example. Despite accusations of widespread voter fraud in Illinois’ Cook County that allegedly handed John F. Kennedy the presidency, Nixon stepped aside without any lawsuits. Scalia still stands by the Supreme Court’s controversial 5-4 decision to stop the Florida vote recount, calling the vote “absolutely right.”

Gallup conducted a poll asking Republicans, Independents and Democrats about their beliefs regarding the origin of human beings, revealing a significant political divide. Sixty percent of Republicans believe God created humans in their present form 10,000 years ago, compared to 40% of Independents and 38% of Democrats who express the same belief. The other options included “humans developed over million of years, God guided” (32% of Republicans, 36% of Independents, 39% of Democrats) and “humans developed over millions of years, God had no part” (4% of Rep., 19% of Ind., 17% of Dem.) Interestingly, the results of the poll have varied very little since Gallup began the three-part question poll in 1982.

Judges in Louisiana will now have the option to impose a sentence of chemical castration for those convicted on charges of molestation of a juvenile, aggravated rape, forcible rape, second-degree sexual battery, aggravated incest or aggravated crime against nature. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the bill into law that utilizes a drug intended to lessen the sexual impulses of sex offenders.

Attention paranoid fliers: if you want to survive a crash, sit on the aisle near an emergency exit. The results of a study commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority reveals that passengers sitting more than six rows from an exit faced the most likely chance of perishing, usually from toxic fumes, smoke or fire. It also seems those pricier first class seats could prove worth the higher price tag, and not just because of more legroom and an extra bag of peanuts, as the study discovered the front of a plane had a 65 percent survival rate compared to 53 percent in the back of the aircraft.

Aid agency Oxfam estimates that the increase in biofuel use has caused over 30 million people worldwide to plunge into poverty. The report blames green policies in developed nations for contributing to rising food prices. When a crop’s fuel value exceeds its food value, it ends up as a fuel, leaving poor countries without crops or land for food production. Energy crop production has emerged as a divisive issue with one United Nations adviser going so far as to characterize biofuels as a “crime against humanity.”

Alaska police engaged in a low speed chase across several lawns to arrest a 20-year-old man for driving a lawn mower under the influence. The hunt in North Pole, Alaska, reached speeds of 5 mph over as much as 200 feet before a trooper got out of a cruiser and asked the man to stop. Wyatt Lewis’s blood-alcohol content was 0.18 percent–more than twice the legal limit. He is also charged with failure to stop at the direction of an officer.

A dozen New Yorkers scrambled to deliver baby girl Soleil on a Subway platform in New York yesterday. Francine Alfontent gave birth to the healthy 6-pound, 7-ounce girl on the the East Broadway F train platform. The delivery became a joint effort, as one nurse on her way to work comforted Francine, another man offered his briefcase as a pillow, and others gave up clothing for mom to rest on. Yay for warm-hearted New Yorkers!
(Photo credit: nydailynews.com)

Confirming yet another relation, Bill Clinton will be gunning for Obama, according to an announcement today. The old rivals Hilary Clinton and Obama plan for a joint rally on Friday, but one BBC correspondent calls the two camps “strained.”
(Photo credit: AP)

According to a new survey, about ninety two percent of people in America believe in the existence of God or a universal spirit and about fifty eight percent pray privately. Also most believers have expressed dissatisfaction in the country’s direction. In addition, most groups believe the best way to ensure peace is through good diplomacy, not military might.
(Photo Credit: Wolfgang Amri /iStockphoto)

A court in South Africa has ruled that Chinese-South Africans will now be reclassified as “black” in a move allowing ethnically Chinese citizens to benefit from government affirmative action legislation implemented to redress the effects of apartheid. In South Africa, “black” classification includes black Africans, Indians and any other group discriminated against under apartheid. The Chinese Association of South Africa had lobbied for the change, claiming its members failed to qualify for business contracts and job promotions because the government had classified them as white.

Could the days of flocking to the suburbs soon end as Americans move back to the city? The economic downturn has created what experts call “New Urbanism,” a rejection of life amongst suburban sprawl and the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Rising oil prices have made even the “drivable suburb” a less feasible option for Americans feeling the penny-pinch. Some housing experts even predict that so-called large-lot McMansions could become multi-family units for the poor as urban housing pricing rise with an influx of former suburbanites.

In a 23-17 vote, Norway’s upper house of parliament approved the gender-neutral marriage law that allows gay couples in the Scandinavian nation to enjoy the same rights as straight couples, including the right to marry, adopt and undergo artificial insemination. Since 1993, Norwegian legislation had only allowed gay couples to enter civil unions that forbade church nuptials and adoption. The new law kicks off January 1, so expect to hear some wedding bells alongside New Year’s Eve festivities.

Presidential election season often brings out crass and offensive political gear donned by Republicans, Democrats and fledgeling third party supporters looking to proudly express their candidate leanings. But a pin sold at the recent Texas Republican convention has even some GOP-supporters disgusted. A booth hosted by an independent retailer sold a button reading: “If Obama is President will we still call it the White House?” Hmm, thoughts?

A Dutch company named Airworks makes what may be the world’s longest foosball table. It’s twenty-four feet long and has 182 players with twenty-three handles. Buy it now just in time for the Euro Cup.

According to the IEEE, “nerds” are getting cool. Of course, this is the IEEE saying this. The IEEE cites Wikipedia’s definition, for example: “a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities.”

An Aurora, Illinois man was stabbed in a bar, but went home and fell asleep. He woke up the next afternoon to discover someone had stabbed him. Sleep clearly has curative powers.

George Bush jetted out of Northern Ireland last night after visiting a local school where the kids obviously have a taste for cheesy punnery. The school children presented Mr Bush with a pot plant labelled “The Mighty Bush” (groan). The President saw the funny side though; afterall who doesn’t appreciate a little play on words?

What political party enjoys donations from plastic surgeons, professional golfers and truckers? Hint: think red. And where do cartoonists, public defenders and organic farmers toss their political dough? No hint, since organic farmers probably already gave it away. Michael Mechanic of Mother Jones broke down data from FundRace.org and the Huffington Post that reveals the campaign donations according to the donors’ stated occupations. Not surprisingly, those who deemed themselves professional wizards and sex slaves exclusively donated to Ron Paul.

Expect a wave of fondant, “Y.M.C.A.” and champagne toasts across California this week as gay marriage becomes legal in the Golden State on Monday at 5:01 p.m. Massachusetts is currently the only U.S. state allowing the legal union of same-sex couples, but only allows its state residents to wed. California will allow residents of any state to get hitched, a move that will bring in an estimated $683.6 million tourist dollars from gays and lesbians looking to tie the knot.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is bringing “Law Enforcement and Society: The Lessons of the Holocaust” course to all Arizona judges. For the first time ever, each and every judge of a state will be exposed to an Ethical Leadership course that is based solely on the Lessons of the Holocaust to ensure that such evil never occurs in this country.

NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert died of a heart attack today. The 58-year-old host of Meet The Press collapsed suddenly at the NBC studios in Washington DC. The well-known and beloved political pundit earned 48 honorary doctorates and was named to Time Magazine’s 2008 list of 100 most influential people in the world. On a personal note, I met Tim while on the Today Show and he was incredibly sweet and even cracked a joke about fellow NBC contributor Chuck Todd, calling him “Chucky T.”