What better way to celebrate being arrested and watching a once-promising political career swirl down the tubes than with cake and candles? That’s what Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will do today, his 52nd birthday, which comes just one day after U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the two-term Democrat had gone on a “political corruption crime spree.”
Blagojevich isn’t the only politician to have an unfortunately-timed birthday this year. Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens (R) led on Election Night, but as the votes came in, the Senate’s most senior Republican lost ground to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D). On November 18, Stevens’s 85th birthday, the Associated Press called the race for Begich.
Other officials might want to lay low on their own birthdays. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) hanging around tomorrow, when they turn 67 and 65, respectively, or Reps. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.), who will be 57 and 59 on Friday.
None of the four impending birthday boys are under investigation, but this year, birthdays just don’t seem to be a lucky day.
–Reid Wilson