Peacock Feather Duster

Now that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office after his arrest on corruption charges, the state’s lieutenant governor, Democrat Patrick Quinn, 60, has replaced him. Quinn is described by political observers as the “Anti-Blagojevich” — calm, quiet, and humble. Quinn understands popularity comes and goes, remembering once in the 1970s when he was sitting in the gallery of the state legislature. When introduced, lawmakers “stood up and booed for three minutes,” Quinn said. “One guy called it a standing boo-vation.” Quinn may be popular now, especially compared to Blago, but “You want to know my philosophy?” he asked. “One day a peacock. The next day a feather duster.”

(New York Times)