I just checked the Office of the Governor's website at 7:30 Central time, and Gov. Pat Quinn has already changed the home page. Here's the text in full:
SPRINGFIELD – January 29, 2009. Former Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn has become the 41st Governor of the State of Illinois, having taken the Oath of Office at 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2009 The Oath of Office was administered by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke in a brief ceremony in the Chamber of the Illinois House of Representatives.But they haven't changed the HTML code yet. The page title (which shows up in the Google directory) still reads "State of Illinois - Rod Blagojevich, Governor." That detail, I predict, will get taken care of very soon.
"I pledge an open and fair state government worthy of being called the Land of Lincoln," Quinn said. "The people of Illinois have the right to expect integrity and diligence from their elected officials.”
On Thursday, the Illinois Senate convicted Governor Blagojevich on Articles of Impeachment the House passed earlier this month. Therefore, under Article V, Section 6 ( c ) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, the Lt. Governor assumes all duties and powers of Governor.
"In the coming days, we will face some tough choices. I am confident that by working together we will meet these challenges to emerge a much stronger and vibrant state.”
Governor Quinn reminds Illinois citizens of President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal words: "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth.”
[Later: At 1 p.m., I was still Googling up a directory showing the old page title, but when I pulled down "View Source," I got this:
<blockquote><html>
<head>
<title>State of Illinois - Pat Quinn, Governor</title>
So the problem is with Google rather than the Governor's Office. They just haven't updated the directory yet.]
The last quote, from Lincoln, is very characteristic of Quinn, by the way. So was his swearing-in speech in the House of Representatives chamber last night. I thought he said exactly what needed to be said, but ...
Full disclosure: I worked for Pat Quinn when he was state treasurer, and I like the guy. So I can't be entirely objective. Not yet.
Anyway, I liked the speech.
Here's the the swearing-in and bio story by Mark Brown of The Chicago Sun-Times. A columnist, Brown writes in his own voice and gives his own reaction. That's what columnists (and bloggers) do.
The Chicago Tribune has several stories on Quinn. Including today's editorial which suggests Quinn "could prove to be the man for the moment." It concludes, "Gov. Pat Quinn (who would've thunk it?) has a tough road ahead. Let's hope he has company on it." Giddy praise from a paper that never gave him the time of day -- or any page 1 coverage -- when I was working for him.
We'll look at The State Journal-Register in class, too.
[Later: We sure did! The J-R was giving away copies at the Qik N Ez station on North Grand, and the clerk gave me a bundle of 30 when I told her I teach journalism at SCI-Benedictine. Great for class discussion.]
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