I just finished watching second-term Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan conduct a press conference wherein she outlined a filing with the Illinois Supreme Court asking for the Illinois governor be temporarily removed from office.

First, let's be realistic in knowing that Lisa Madigan grew up in Chicago and Illinois politics. She will very likely be the Democratic candidate for Governor in 2010. Her father is one of the two or three most powerful politicians in Illinois, the Speaker of the Illinois House, which he runs with an iron hand.

But that doesn't diminish her quick and forceful work to serve as the "people's lawyer" and trying to get someone else in charge of the state government to replace the "diminished" current governor. Her conduct of the long, national press conference was impressive. She was prepared, knowledgeable, crisp and clearly in control. She didn't hurt her own reputation if she chooses to run for higher public office in the future.

Even though I no longer have a vote in my home state, I'd sure like to see more politicians there that have the intelligence and presence demonstrated by the Attorney General. She began her career after a superb education doing many of the same things as did Barack Obama, working in needy Chicago communities. Hopefully, she will continue her career in public service without suffering any of the character stains which became apparent in other Illinois politicians in recent years. The people of the State deserve no less. Only time will tell, I suppose.