That's Joe Birkett in the picture, both today and yesterday. No, not the lady. That lady is Judy Baar Topinka, Republican candidate for Illinois Governor in 2006. From the look on her face, she's thinking, "How did I get talked into running with this asshole again?"

Because in 2006, Birkett was running alongside her, for Lieutenant Governor.

But back to the present, then back to the past again...

Now, I don't know Mr. Birkett personally; I'm sure he has some fine qualities. I mean, I'm assuming. Everyone does, right? But all I get to see is his public persona as my county state's attorney, and from what I see there, he has murderous impulses.

He's currently urging our governor to re-instate the death penalty, since "then-Gov. George Ryan issued a death-penalty moratorium in 2000, and in 2003 commuted the death sentences of about 160 prisoners, citing a flawed system in which more than a dozen people were improperly put on Death Row."

What strikes me as particularly inappropriate about his request is the fact he was one of the people who improperly put people on Death Row:

Between 1984 and 1994, then DuPage County State's Attorney Jim Ryan attempted to put Rolando Cruz to death not once but three times for a crime he did not commit and we, the taxpayers of Illinois , quietly footed the bill.

The Rolando Cruz debacle was the subject of two separate 60 Minutes news segments and a book. He settled out of court on his malicious prosecution charge, costing the citizens of DuPage County $3.5 million.

I can only conclude that not only did Mr. Birkett not learn from his experience (and why would he, when he didn't have to fork over the 3.5 mil), but he's anxious to attempt to kill more death row inmates who may or may not actually be guilty. It doesn't seem to be much of a concern to him.

You may think this story in and of itself would be enough of a case against Mr. Birkett, but his misdeeds don't stop there.