PARADE OF BIPARTISAN STARS: Obama is picking Peoria (Illinois!) Republican Congressman Ray LaHood to be the transportation secretary. LaHood is our nation’s new Norm Mineta! Here is a picture of Obama and Ray LaHood. [Peoria Journal Star]

So Blagojevich tried to shake down Jesse Junior for $25K years ago, and Jesse was all, “I don’t think so,” and then Blaggy somehow made Mrs. Jesse Jackson Junior not get some sweet job, and then he was all, “Now you see what $25,000 is worth, you punk,” and Jesse Junior thought this over, for a couple of years, and then went straight to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Illinois is incredible. [CNN]