The Daily Herald took the corruption route in its coverage today.

With the political pal once accused of trading state jobs for campaign cash and the father-in-law who made, then retracted, those allegations sitting in the crowd, Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sworn in for a second term Monday, never mentioning the ethical questions that continue to dog him.

Instead, Blagojevich used his 20-minute inaugural address to tout past successes such as expanded I-PASS use on the tollway and make the case for providing every Illinois resident with health insurance. […]

His aides maintain county, state and federal investigations into his administration have not and will not be a distraction, pointing to the governor’s re-election, making him the first Democrat to win a second term in the office since Otto Kerner in 1964.

The governor made healthcare his top priority for a second term.

Even some Republican critics gave Blagojevich points for opening debate on one of today’s most difficult policy issues. “Health care for Illinoisans is something on everybody’s mind,” said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. “I give him credit for bringing up an issue that needs discussion.”

But Blagojevich offered no details on how the program would be funded, saying he would lay out a plan in detail in coming months. Because he also vowed to continue opposing any general tax increase, the issue of how the cash-strapped state will fund such an ambitious program is likely to be the first and hardest question from critics.

But, as noted above, he avoided talking about ethics reform.

His decision to avoid talk about ethics reform was highlighted when Giannoulias, Hynes and White all mentioned their efforts to clean up government corruption in their inaugural speeches.

“I feel he should have addressed it head on,” said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

And…

Notably absent from the governor’s address was any discussion of ethics, unlike his first inaugural when he noted his election represented a desire for change following the scandal-tarnished years of his predecessor, George Ryan.

Four years ago, Blagojevich declared he would “govern as a reformer.”

The event was far from well attended.

The convention center was far from full, symbolizing how the event was at a vastly restrained level compared to the celebration that marked Blagojevich’s initial inaugural, when he became the first Democrat in decades to become governor.

“I didn’t anticipate it would be this empty,” Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), a frequent Blagojevich critic, said as he looked over the arena.

And the Sun-Times had a classic quote from Mike Madigan.

“Remember that old saying by Will Rogers? . . . He said that ‘I’m not a member of an organized party. I’m a Democrat,’ ” House Speaker Michael J. Madigan told reporters. “Democrats like to be Democrats. And Democrats by instinct don’t like to come together.'’

The governor wasn’t taking questions yesterday.

Meanwhile, back at the Executive Mansion, Blagojevich spokesman Gerardo Cardenas said the governor would not be answering any questions from the press. To ensure that this was the case, no reporters were allowed in the room where the governor was shaking hands with well-wishers. Television cameras, however, were willingly accommodated by the governor and his staff.

Audio of inaugural speeches:

* Governor Rod Blagojevich

* Lt. Governor Pat Quinn

* Attorney General Lisa Madigan

* Secretary of State Jesse White

* Comptroller Dan Hynes

* Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias

I’ll post some photos later today.