Thank you, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Thank you for helping Illinois do what it seems incapable of doing on its own - cleaning up corruption in Illinois government.

Thank you for carefully building a case against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, then moving quickly to prevent further damage.

Now, if Blagojevich has any shred of concern left for the people of Illinois - the people he was elected to serve, not shake down - he will resign immediately as governor.

When Fitzgerald said the governor had taken the state to "a truly new low," - one that "would make Lincoln roll over in his grave" he was not exaggerating, despite this state having one past governor behind bars and two other former governors who have served prison time after leaving office.

Even the most jaded, cynical observer of Illinois politics can't read the criminal complaint against the governor and his chief of staff, John Harris, without being appalled, shocked and disgusted.

Federal officials moved in to stop what Fitzgerald called "a political corruption crime spree."

Wiretap transcripts record the governor asking about his ability to pull back reimbursement to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for pediatric medical care if a hospital executive didn't cough up a $50,000 campaign contribution.

The transcripts also outline what can only be described as the governor attempting to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate to the highest bidder - with Blagojevich declaring what the minimum bids should be.

Blagojevich was recorded describing the Senate seat as "a (expletive) valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing" and also saying "if ¦ they're not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it."

He also is charged with attempting to coerce the Tribune Co. into firing editorial writers who had been critical of Blagojevich in exchange for receiving financial aid through the Illinois Finance Authority to sell Wrigley Field.

As noted earlier, three former governors have been convicted of crimes and sent to prison, but unlike Blagojevich, none was serving as governor at the time he was charged.

Yes, it is true that - like any other defendant - Blagojevich is innocent until proven guilty. That's the legal reality.

But the political reality is that Blagojevich's ability to govern evaporated when the FBI put the cuffs on him Tuesday morning. Any action he takes from this point forward will be clouded with suspicion - especially the appointment of a person to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

And the practical reality is that the time he will need to devote to his defense will - at best - distract him from his duties as governor.

If Blagojevich doesn't resign immediately, the Legislature should impeach him and remove him from office. But that would take time and delay lawmakers from addressing the very serious problems facing the state, causing further harm to Illinoisans.

Therefore, Blagojevich should do the right thing and just leave.