* This is a fascinating observation by Clout Street. Pay close attention to the last graf, which turns out not to be completely true…

As he seeks election, Gov. Pat Quinn has signed on to promote President Barack Obama’s health care reform plans.

The people behind the current incarnation of Obama’s grassroots 2008 campaign organization are promoting a Saturday event featuring Quinn on the North Side. […]

What makes the event, being held in conjunction with 46th Ward Democrats, even more interesting is that progressive activists “will also be distributing petitions for local Democrats, and outlining the key ways that you can help the Democratic Party locally,” according to Organizing for America’s Web site.

If Quinn is getting support from Obama’s grassroots organization, now a part of the Democratic National Committee, it would be a blow to the governor’s Feb. 2 Democratic primary challenger, Comptroller Dan Hynes.

Absolutely. It would be a very big blow, if it was true. Trouble is, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

From the Hynes campaign…

I wanted to let you know that Dan is doing a similar event with [Obama for America] in November and that they are not working for Quinn.

So, no big deal.

[The above was partially re-written to include the information from the Hynes campaign.]

* Speaking of Obama, it just seems bizarre to me that Rahm Emanuel, who has wanted to be House Speaker for years, apparently believed that Rod Blagojevich could appoint his replacement. The US Constitution has always mandated that vacancies be filled by elections.

Keep that in mind when reading this alleged goofy proposal by Rahm….

…the Chicago Sun-Times has learned that Emanuel wanted then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool to his 5th Congressional District seat.

Claypool would serve one or two terms and then be considered for a place in Obama’s Cabinet, according to sources familiar with Emanuel’s proposal. That would give Emanuel the option of returning to Congress, where he could vie to become House speaker. […]

Still, the proposal raises questions about whether Emanuel was contemplating offering a coveted presidential Cabinet post in exchange for a benefit for himself.

That’s just mind-boggling. And supremely idiotic, not to mention insanely self-centered.

* Other stuff…

* Ex-alderman Robert Shaw throws hat in for Cook County assessor: “When he makes comments about lawyers donating money, he might want to look at his old D-2s [campaign contribution disclosure statements] because when he was at the board and had his fund-raisers, the people contributing to him are the same people he’s beating up right now,” Berrios said.

* The Cook County Republican Party will unveil its slate of countywide candidates in Rosemont this afternoon. Former state senator Roger Keats is expected to be the county board president candidate. The Cook GOP Chairman these days is Lee Roupas, the Palos Township Republican committeeman.

* Cook GOP Hopeful Better Times Have Arrived

* Greg Hinz: Surely politicians nowhere else in America try to help some constituent’s kid get into Government U. Surely private schools like Notre Dame turn a deaf ear when some bishop or cardinal puts in the word for a young protege. Kids of big donors never get an admission break — and “legacy” is an historic term of fiction that surely disappeared when John Belushi went to that big animal house in the sky. I mean this is a REALLY AWFUL scandal, right? Why else would my morning newspaper have covered seemingly nothing else for months on end?

* Experts: U. of Ill. image suffers little damage

* Commission cites concerns with Chicago State accreditation: Chicago State University is at risk of losing its accreditation because of “remarkably poor” graduation and retention rates, as well as tumultuous leadership and finances, according to the region’s accrediting agency.

* Illinois scholarship cuts rally students

* MAP grant’s future uncertain: Rep. Rose hopes grant will be saved with new General Assembly bill: Rose hopes a permanent solution for the MAP funding will be discussed during the spring session, he said.

* Resignation helps U of I get back on track

* “Green lanes” plan withers but other projects sprout up: The Illinois tollway Green Lanes program touted by Gov. Rod Blagojevich just weeks before his arrest last year is dead, although the agency is moving forward on part of the construction program involving a new interchange plus possible bus/carpool lanes on I-294.