That Other Fitzgerald: A Gift That Keeps On Giving
The conviction of Lewis 'Scooter' Libby on four charges of perjury and obstruction of justice brings another Fitzgerald to mind. Peter Fitzgerald (no relation to special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald) preceded Barack Obama as the junior Senator from Illinois and held office for just one term. His brief tenure still haunts politicians of both parties.
In 2001, against the wishes of local politicos, Senator Fitzgerald appointed a geographic and political outsider, Patrick Fitzgerald, to the post of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. As U.S. Attorney for that district, Fitzgerald pursued political corruption without regard for party affiliations, winning convictions of several of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's closest allies, former Republican Governor of Illinois George Ryan and an assortment of top Illinois political hacks and thugs. It is the same Patrick Fitzgerald who successfully prosecuted Libby.
Meanwhile, because he had refused to play nicely with others, Republican pols made it clear to Senator Peter Fitzgerald that they wouldn't support his bid for reelection in 2004. Facing a tough race without the support of his own party, Fitzgerald declined to run for a second term in the U.S. Senate.
Jack Ryan, (no relation to George Ryan) a wealthy Republican attorney and former husband of actress Jeri Ryan, entered the Senate race but was replaced by creepy Republican demagogue Alan Keyes after the Chicago Tribune gained access to sealed divorce records revealing the details of Jack Ryan's sexual proclivities including his repeated attempts to coerce his then wife into performing sex acts on him in front of others at S&M clubs. The unelectable Keyes went down in ignominious defeat against the Democratic Party candidate, Barack Obama.
Should Obama win the Democratic Party nomination and win in the general election, Republicans may indirectly share the credit for his victory, having failed to support Peter Fitzgerald in 2004.
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