(Melchizedek Communique, MC1212b08) Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn says, regarding the Rod Blagojevich scandal, "This is an emergency. Illinois is in a crisis." ("Quinn grabs at reins, wants Blagojevich out", by Ray Long and Monique Garcia. Chicago Tribune, Dec. 12, 2008, p. 18)

You bet it's a crisis. It's a crisis for Illinois politicians. The longer Governor Rod Blagojevich remains in office, the more attention will be paid to the scandal, and the more names will surface in connection with it.

Already so many names are floating up from the murky pond of Illinois politics, a flow chart will be needed to help understand the connections.

The Chicago Tribune has some good reports today giving readers some of the other names, besides that of Rod Blagojevich. Key names will be given in bold here, to help you later when you construct your Illinois flow chart.

John Kass offers readers the name Ken "Tokyo Joe" Eto. Eto, in the Witness Protection Program, testified to giving cash to James DeLeo. It was said thousands of dollars were hidden in the freezer, wrapped in butcher paper so the bills would not get "freezer burn." DeLeo was found not guilty, and is now an Illinois state senator. ("Man behind curtain is wizard of Rod, Rahm", by John Kass. Chicago Tribune, Dec. 12, 2008, p. 2)

Rahm Emanuel is still a U.S. congressperson. Emanuel, Barack Obama's chosen chief of staff, has not yet resigned from Congress. Kass (op. cit.) suggests DeLeo is the "guy behind the guy", the "wizard" behind both Rahm Emanuel and Rod Blagojevich.

Another "wizard" is William Cellini. Cellini has been on the inside of Illinois politics for 40 years. A Republican, some "Democrats were shocked to find Cellini sitting at [Rod] Blagojevich's table during a party at Tony Rezko's house six years ago." Cellini, write Tim Novak et al. at the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, "has been a mysterious figure, a man who rarely speaks to reporters. Few of his associates will talk about him. A state senator once described Cellini's power as a 'perfect blend of fear and respect.'" ("Has a 'perfect blend of fear and respect'", by Tim Novak et al. Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 31, 2008)

At the Sun-Times blog, "The Provocateur", besides Cellini and Antoin Rezko, introduces the name Stuart Levine. These three, alleges "The Provocateur", "made up a shadow government that really made the shots in the state government." Reportedly, Stuart Levine became chairman of the board of the Teachers' Retirement System, with tremendous power over money and contracts. ("The Indictment of William Cellini and Illinois' Shadow Government", by "The Provocateur", Oct. 31, 2008)

Thomas Rosenberg is another name which appears, though in his case he seems to have been an innocent bystander. Rosenberg reportedly was a witness in the trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko. The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), said to be controlled by "Big Three" Cellini, Rezko, and Levine, had hundreds of millions of dollars to invest. Rosenberg wanted some of the TRS money for Capri Capital, of which Rosenberg is reportedly a principal. Rosenberg allegedly spoke to Cellini, who allegedly told Rosenberg he had to donate $1.5 million to Blagojevich. ("Tom Rosenberg and 'The Ugly Truth' in the Rezko trial", by Ray Hanania. SWNewsHerald Online, April 28, 2008)

"Everybody's got a theory on the charges against Rod Blagojevich," writes Mary Schmich in the Chicago Tribune today. ("Blagojevich case shows the power of power", Dec. 12, 2008, p. 18. Her own theory is psycho-babble.) This installment of Melchizedek Communique does not get so far as a theory (but there is a Hillary Clinton hypothesis). We are still at the point of sifting through all the names which have arisen from the murky pond of Illinois politics. Next, a flow chart needs to be made connecting the names. Finally, a theory may at last be possible. But if Rod Blagojevich is somehow quickly gotten off the front page -- remember, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn says, "This is an emergency. Illinois is in a crisis." -- then various names can breathe a sigh of relief.