by Patrick J. Buchanan

“Something is rotten in the state,” says Marcellus in “Hamlet.”

Well, it certainly is in the state of Illinois.

Yet, on hearing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald describe a plot by his governor to sell his Senate seat — “conduct (that) would make Lincoln roll over in his grave” — how did reform President Barack Obama respond?

“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening. … And as I said, it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”