One of the Republican party's rising stars has plummeted to Earth.  Rep. Aaron Schock, reprsenting Illinois's 18^th congressional district, resigned unexpectedly from office on Tuesday following revelations that he massively overbilled the government for mileage on his personal vehicle.

In addition to the controversy over mileage, Schock has been the subject of parody in recent works for remodeling his congressional office in the style of the PBS show Downtown Abbey.  He also apparently billed the taxpayer for private air travel to and from Chicago Bears games.

The 33-year-old Schock was first elected to Congress in 2008 and was pegged for higher office by Illinois Republicans.

With all that success, it looks like he thought himself invincible.  Pride goeth before the fall, and Schock, his once promising career now in tatters, is paying the price for his hubris.