Blagojevich Investigation: "Pay to Play" on gBay

On the cover of every major Chicago paper, over the last five days, has been the investigation of Governor Blagojevich. In Friday’s Chicago Tribune the article “Blagojevich fundraiser held by Jackson allies Saturday,” Davis Kidwell, John Chase, and Dan Mihalopoulos discuss what exactly happened with the Blagojevich fundraiser.
Money, more than one million dollars, was being raised to help encourage Blagojevich to pick Jesse Jackson for Illinois’ next U.S. Senator. The article states that, “Blagojevich and the congressman met to discuss the senate seat on Monday, one day before federal prosecutors arrested Blagojevich and charged him with trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-Elect Barack Obama.”
The Blagojevich situation directly relates to my perilous times essay, “Executive Branch Power in Perilous Times.” My essay in particular, along with the chapter “Democracy in the Balance” from Al Gore’s The Assault on Reason, both focus on cases in which the executive branch (presidents in particular) has overstepped its constitutional boundaries. In the Blagojevich situation, it is the executive branch of the State Government instead of the Federal Government.
In cases, such as Blagojevich’s, politicians are abusing their power. What steps should the government, and our country, take to insure that in the future, power will not be misused? Should it be Governor that chooses the replacement for the U.S. Senate position when it is vacated during the term of office?
Can you explain the meaning of "gBay" in the title?

A Veterans Challange

On Sunday morning, Tom Brokaw interviewed Barack Obama on Meet the Press. During this interview, a topic arose that I found very interesting. Obama brought up some of the issues that veterans have when returning from foreign service. These courageous men leave their homes, families, and jobs, to travel to a foreign land during times of peril to defend and protect our country. When they return from military duty, they are faced with many challenges. First, some of them are recovering psychologically from living with terror and death. They may be permanently physically injured as well. They have been separated from their families and friends. These men left their jobs to protect our country. When they return they are confronted with finding work. Some are fortunate to have their jobs held for them. For others this search could take months or years. This disruption of their lives continues as they job search. Without a job, their lives continue to lead them to the path of financial debt, and who knows if they will be able to support their families.

How can we repay these loyal Americans? Should they be guaranteed jobs when they return? What about health care for them and their families?