Some random thoughts about Tony Rezko's guilty verdict in his federal corruption trial...

"Do we build attractions to lure tourists or create opportunities for the community's own enrichment?"

That's the question asked by one of the workshops for the recently announced Upper Mississippi River Conference to be held August 21 through 23 at the i wireless Center.

The answer is "both," and this may be the summer Quad Citians can do both - being a tourist by enjoying all our great attractions and by developing a deeper appreciation for our quality of life.

The state-legislative pay-raise issue was a big reason why the Illinois Senate Democrats wanted to wrap things up by the May 31 deadline.

Back in 1966, with the Vietnam War escalating by the day, Vermont Senator George Aiken famously said that the United States should just "declare victory and go home."

History may have repeated itself last week when the two men assigned by Governor Rod Blagojevich to forge a compromise on a multi-billion-dollar capital-construction plan unveiled a $31-billion proposal for roads, bridges, schools, and mass transit and then quickly left town. Their war was unwinnable.