Virginia Governor Catches Bad Case of The Rowlands.

It sounds familiar. A state’s chief elected official develops sticky fingers and starts taking things that are not included in the job description. Hanging around with a lot of rich people when you have everything but loads of money can do things to the empty parts of a fella’s head. We’ve seen it before.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, not long ago a rising star in the Republican firmament, has been caught. He’s awfully upset. No one has ever questioned his integrity before. Nevertheless, reporters, law enforcement officials, and the broader public are asking pointed questions and receiving explosive answers. McDonnell is said to be disoriented by his reversal of fortune at taking at least $120,000 from a Virginia businessman. The businessman picked up the tab for catering at a McDonnell wedding and put some money into a family business.

No charter flights or hookers in Vegas have been mentioned yet, so it’s a little different from the scandal that brought down felonious former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland in 2004. Rowland went  to prison in 2005.

McDonnell’s sorry tale is moving fast. The bewildered governor would be smart to stay clear of any minor league baseball games, where crowds are given to expressing their disapproval in ways that require no interpretation or spin.