In the last 36 hours, the political announcements have been somewhat stunning.  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (daughter of IL House Speaker Michael Madigan) had her pick of offices.  Considered a nearly unbeatable candidate for either Governor or US Senate, Ms. Madigan was the instant front runner for whichever office she would choose.  In fact, many candidates were waiting in the wings to pursue whichever of the two offices she did not select. 

She stunned nearly every political prognosticator when she announced her intentions to run again as Attorney General. 

The Governor and US Senate Seat are currently held by two individuals (Pat Quinn and Roland Burris, respectively) who were not elected to their position.  Quinn is enduring the shortest honeymoon period for a new governor as he faces a monumental budget deficit.  His high taxing, liberal bent doesn't serve him well as he reflexively wants to tax his way out of the deficit. 

Senator Roland Burris will announce today that he is not going to run for his seat, to which he was appointed by the disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Burris has raised an anemic $20,000, while Democratic challengers within his own party have already amassed million dollar war chests.  Burris wouldn't have made it through the primary.  It's ironic that he found that his constituents were as reluctant to write campaign donations to him, as he was to then Governor Blagojevich. 

Lisa Madigan will be a possible Supreme Court Nominee by President Obama.  At just 45 years of age, she would provide a loooooooong Obama imprint on the Supreme Court.