Rod Blagojevich may have been fired from Celebrity Apprentice, but that doesn't mean he's been forgotten by the people he used to govern.
This week, the Post-Dispatch reports, the Illinois Senate will vote on bill that will prohibit state funds from being used to finance official portraits of impeached governors, an extremely exclusive club whose membership numbers exactly one: Rod Blagojevich.
If Blago's visage is ever to hang among his fellow criminals state executives in the historic Hall of Governors in the Illinois statehouse, he will have to pay for it himself. Or take up a collection.
Real portraits -- the painted kind -- do not come cheap. Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune has done some research into the matter and determined that the oil painting of Blago's predecessor, George Ryan (who, incidentally, is still doing time in federal prison) cost the state a cool $18,000, which is on the low end as far as oil paintings go.
Blago may not be able to afford that, since the Senate is also voting next week on a bill that revoke his pension. This, too, has already passed in the House.
Fortunately, Chicago magazine is here to help! The magazine has decided to sponsor a Rod Blagojevich Portrait Contest. Readers have until the end of this month to send in their entries. "The medium can be a drawing, a painting, a photo--whatever captures his spirit," reads the official announcement.
Anybody out there willing to collaborate on something on black velvet? Given Blago's oft-stated fondness of Elvis, this seems like exactly what he deserves.
Check out the similarities after the jump:
