* It’s been another one of those weeks. Illinois politics is like a very good political novel. It’s hard to put it down. But we’ve arrived at the weekend, so all things must come to an end. I’ll see you Monday.

Keep heading to Illinoize for bloggy fun, and buy yourself a classified or calendar ad at InsiderzExchange, the place to be seen.

* Let’s announce some Golden Horseshoe winners, shall we?

* Best legislative staffer: Nick Bellini and Nick McNeely. This was how a commenter explained his/her vote….

Because in an election year based on the concept of change, they got [Rep. Ron Wait] a 20-year incumbent who bailed a sex-offender out of jail re-elected.

Can’t argue with that.

* Best legislative secretary/admin assistant: Marcia Simmons. She really does do a great job. Sen. Munoz’s Springfield secretary got a bunch of votes, and here’s one…

It makes your visit to Springfield easier when legislative assistants want to not only help you but do it in a pleasant manner.

* Best state legislator: Senate President-in-waiting John Cullerton…

I can’t believe this transition went as smooth as it did.

* Best political bar/restaurant. Saputo’s wins this hands down, according to readers…

We all know who sits in the corner and it’s a sure thing to see dozens of legislators. It looks like the location has treated Cullerton pretty well also.

* Best Agency Director: Doug Scott…

Hardly ever in the news. Just keeps the agency running with no major scandals or screwups, which is what a good director should be.

* Best statewide official: Lisa Madigan. Both Madigan and Alexi Giannoulias had lots of support in today’s runoff, and it was a very tough decision. Madigan won last year, and I was just about to give it to Alexi when I read this comment by Jake from Elwood…

Simply put, very few politicians in my lifetime have exceeded my expectations when they have first taken office. She is one of them.

Then way south of the border wrote this…

Her early work (which dates back at least two years) on mortgage fraud has paid off beautifully this year, with landmark lawsuits and settlements that are a model for the nation.

I appreciate Alexi as a young, energetic idea guy, but Lisa’s focus and foresight puts her in front of the whole pack of constitutional officers. She has really delivered, when we need it most.

* Best congresscritter: Dick Durbin. I went into today’s runoff figuring that the George Ryan commutation uproar would doom Durbin against Mark Kirk. Boy, was I wrong. Kirk had a lot of intense support, but Durbin gets the win because the odds were so heavily stacked against him today…

I cannot agree with his position on Ryan. I can understand it.

More next week.

* This song seems to be appropriate on a whole bunch of different levels…

Praise be to Nero’s Neptune
The Titanic sails at dawn
And everybody’s shouting
“Which Side Are You On?”
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain’s tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea
Where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much
About Desolation Row