G-Rod is the hip governor, right?

Chicagoist hit this first.

Then Frank the Tank got in on it.

I was baited into weighing in, but it seemed overdone, so I let it sit all afternoon. Now, watching CNN, Wolf Blitzer is joining the mock-a-thon. OK, fine, game on.

It seems Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (just spelled that without looking it up and I did it correctly, btw) is a total moron and his staff wants to see him fail on a national stage. That's about the only explaination here. He went on The Daily Show last week to talk about condoms (oh dear) and didn't know what the show is about. In short, G-Rod thought it was a legit news show and doesn't have the good sense to now lie about his ignorance. Why he chose to come clean is a major mystery to me. I thought Pat Quinn would chime in to tell G-Rod to keep him damn fool mouth shut. Pat is a really, really bright guy and exceptional at using the media as a tool.

Apparently, the 'hip' governor who rode an image of youth and Elvis albums to Springfield not only doesn't get basic cable at the governor's mansion, but no one on his staff felt the need to clue the poor bastard in.

Now, I can see this falling through the cracks because, really, who would feel the need to explain the basis of the show? If your boss were going to appear on Monday Night Football would you give them a head's up that the show was about football? No, because you'd feel bad about making your boss feel like a jerk for being told such basic things. Still, someone should have sucked it up and made extra sure G-Rod was in on the joke.

For anyone who missed the show, it was the best example of how the Daily Show really doesn't doctor footage as much as one would think. I always assumed things were taken from context and reshot with the interviewer asking the really smartass questions.

Whoever is the press secretary for G-Rod should be fired for not stepping in when he turned and asked, "Is he serious? Is this legit?" That's when you take five and ask as many questions of the governor as possible until he gets it.

As a little addition here, as I was watching this unfold, I was somewhat sympathetic to G-Rod, thinking he's busy, he might not watch much TV, etc. and then I saw a teaser for John Stewart's upcoming interview on CNN. And that he's hosting the Oscars. And had a best-selling book about America last Christmas. How can one person be that out of touch and can I get a job as normal person liason for these people?

I can tell George Bush, Sr. how much a gallon of milk costs and fill in G-Rod about why he's being asked if he's the gay governor. I can do these things and more, for a mere $75,000 per year. And that's a bargain to keep your boss from looking like a jackass on one of the most watched news shows on television.

(Photo from www.illinois.gov - which has the daily Lotto numbers, btw...)