1. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 9:35 am:

   “I want a colleague in the Senate who understands that there are 102 counties in this state, and all of them need help,” the Springfield Democrat said.

   That means the Governor should select himself.




2. - Cassandra - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 9:37 am:

   Well, I can see why even the supremely self confident Emmanuel would only plan to stay for two years.

   The first two years are crucial to perceptions and
   if the economy is still in the toilet at the next midterms, as it well may be, Obama is going to be looking to make some changes. There really are limits to what the feds can do to turn the economy around, and one wonders if they aren’t going to reach those limits very early in the Obama administration.




3. - 10th warder - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 9:49 am:

   Say Loud and Say It Proud: United States Senator from Illinois Emil Jones….yes he can, yes he can.
   2 reasons: Emil has protected Governor Goodhair the most and hasn’t anyone learned that this Governor is kooky? Triple J and Danny Davis has as much of chance as Rich Miller (well, maybe that’s hyperbole) as being selected. This Gov is a selfish, ego-centric, slick dude. He doesn’t care that Triple J has being taking polls and campaigning for the spot. Do you actually think that putting public pressure (read: Outcry) will force the Gov into picking Triple J? It will be Emil unless Obama doesn’t bring the Gov’s gal to DC, then it’s Senator Tammy




4. - Leroy - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 9:51 am:

   Who is bankrolling this pro-Tammy Duckworth PR campaign?

   Didn’t she lose an election not too long ago? Why is she so hot?




5. - Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 9:52 am:

   Chief of Staff is like a baseball manager — you’re hired to be fired.

   By taking the job, Emanuel is giving up a his House leadership position and any realistic shot at senator or governor in 2010. He’s not going to get the House seat back, and I suspect he knows that.

   He’s making quite a sacrifice — but what a job!

   As far as Obama’s replacement, perhaps we should start a list of who does not want it.

   I pound on Blago a lot, and for good reason, but I feel the need to pile on here. He doesn’t return Durbin’s calls? The governor of Illinois doesn’t return the calls of the state’s senior senator? The immaturity of the man is galling.




6. - Dan at BFS - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:00 am:

   Damn, I thought you were announcing that the Mighty Mats were reuniting.




7. - rocitman - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:07 am:

   Wait a minute - this is Illinois. Wouldn’t one of Obama’s daughters take over his Senate seat?




8. - Team Sleep - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:11 am:

   Ms. Duckworth would be better utilized as the VA Secretary. She would more of an impact and could turn that agency around. As a veteran of an ongoing conflict - with severe injuries to boot - she would offer a fresher perspective than some old white dude who is out of touch with today’s military and veterans.




9. - OneMan - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:16 am:

   There is also a Facebook group promoting Bill

   http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35042268395




10. - Pat collins - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:17 am:

    Why is she so hot?

    Well, she is cute.

    But she would make a strong 2010 reelection candidate in a year that is traditionally not good to the incumbent party. Downstate appeal, minority status, = easy fundraising.

    s. Wouldn’t one of Obama’s daughters take over his Senate seat?

    Obama messed up. He didn’t wait until one of them was 35 to get elected.




11. - fedup dem - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:50 am:

    First, a note to Pat Collins; the minimum age to become a US Senator is 30, not 35 (the latter is the minimum age to become President).

    Aecondly, since I am of the opinion that anyone who is appointed to the vacancy by Mr. 13% is dead politically (in terms of winning the 2010 Democratic Primary as Gov. Sleazy’s choice), what Rod should do is to emulate the history of his favorite team:

    Create the College of Senators!

    Instead of appointing one sacrificial lamb to the Obama seat, Rod should get two dozen people to agree to be Senator for a month each! Each would-be appointee (save for the last one) would sign a letter of resignation in advance, with the effective date of the resignation left blank. Each would get the opportunity to play senator for a while, and each would get the perks afterward of being a former senator (which include lifetime access to the Senate floor). they may not get much done, but then again, this scheme emulates one of the more infamous moments in Chicago Cubs history, so what did you expect?




12. - wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:52 am:

    Emil Jones makes a lot of sense. He elevated Obama over others and he was Blago’s strongest and best friend. If he wants it, and doesn’t get it, it will just go to show you, if you want a friend in politics, get a dog.




13. - Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 11:08 am:

    The appointee for US Senate is more likely to be someone who can help the Gov. today than who has helped him in the past.

    I do not see what a sitting US Senator can do for an embattled Gov, but I bet it will be someone who can see a role to help with something, perhaps with the unseating of Patrick Fitzgerald….?




14. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 11:27 am:

    I do want to see Emil and Debbie as Georgetown roomies. It would make a great sitcom!

    Here’s the theme song!

    “Well listen to my story
    ’bout a man name Jones,
    A Senate President,
    knows where Obama buried the bones.”

    “Then one day,
    burying Fitzgerald’s crew,
    up popped Blago’s head,
    (But not messin’ up Blago’s ‘do.)”

    “Blago says, ‘black votes are black gold, all for me!’”

    “Well the first thing ya know,
    Ole Emil’s a senator,
    His side kick Halvorson,
    Still plays his janitor,
    Both a’them are living,
    Large in old DC!”
    With Obama in the Office,
    The Three are livin’ FREE!”




15. - 2ConfusedCrew - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 11:52 am:

    Durbin ruled out a place holder this a.m. —-that should kneecap The President

    Then Sara beats Claypool …who is next? can we suggest Quig roll up his nap mat.




16. - BannedForLife - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 11:55 am:

    ” … this maneuver would be far, far tougher to do now than back in the “old” days… Daley … his organization ain’t what it used to be … ”

    tougher, OK, but “far, far tougher”? I dunno

    post-Sorich indictment muscle flexes include Todd, 3-mil, Hog w/ Big Nuts, others




17. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 11:56 am:

    Banned, you have to look at post-Sorich conviction, not indictment. It’s hobbled.

    Daley resorted to hiring college kids to help Bernie Stone, for instance.




18. - wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:07 pm:

    –Claypool backs down…–

    That’s the inevitable result of a week staring at a phone that doesn’t ring.




19. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:07 pm:

    lol




20. - 10th warder - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:31 pm:

    ==Durbin ruled out a place holder this a.m. —-that should kneecap The President=== Hey 2CCrew, “What you talkin ’bout, Willis?” Dubin and the Gov HATE each other–Rod isn’t gonna listen to Dick, all the more reason to screw him by sending Emil to DC and show loyalty to one of his few friends left. Plus, Obama would be cool with it. He and Emil are pals. Tellin’ ya Folks, its gonna be Emil. Bet he had it all planned– Ok-first, since Barack will be Prez, gotta retire from Senate so I’m ready for his Senate Seat, second, Emil’s buddy Bill Shaw (nice toupee) needs a fed job, so he’ll be Emil’s State Director for his senate office —in Dolton, of course




21. - Just Observing - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:38 pm:

    Shouldn’t Alan Keyes be appointed to Obama’s Senate seat? Afterall, he did finish second in the general election.




22. - The Doc - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:40 pm:

    Please no Schulter - mayoral lapdogs masquerading as aldermen should limit their damage to the city. Gene, it’s much easier to gerrymander in Chicago than on the national stage, you dig?




23. - Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:40 pm:

    I hope Schulter gets the seat (unless by some miracle a GOPer wins it). Schulter is a poor alderman IMHO.

    1) Doesn’t respond to phone calls, you have to go to his office to get anything out of him.

    2) His attempts to shove eminent domain down the throats of ward residents involving properties on Western Avenue riled up residents and he had to back down.

    Go to DC, Gene, and don’t come back no more….




24. - Wumpus - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:47 pm:

    Rich, they have always resorted to hiring to get people to walk and knock doors…oh, you meant not for Streets and San or Building inspectors? Hired as actual campaigners, no wayZ!




25. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:52 pm:

    Somebody needs to tell my alderman that the seniority system in Congress reflects time served, not the age at which one becomes a member. He probably thinks with his “seniority” he’ll be in line for a committee chairmanship.

    What a bozo, and definitely not fit to walk the halls of Congress (let alone City Hall). One more thing Gene, there is no licensing committee in the House of Representatives. Good luck raising federal money from city businesses too.

    Bottom line, it isn’t going to happen for you Gene. Stop embarassing yourself with this pointless posturing. Nobody’s buying it, and you shouldn’t be selling it.




26. - NickNack - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:57 pm:

    I get the the “pity pitch”, but shouldn’t Duckworth be elected to something before being deeded a US Senate Seat?




27. - Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 12:59 pm:

    Duckworth has a positive personality. She’s got the personal charisma to be a politician.

    She lost a close race for a GOP seat. But I don’t think anyone faulted her skills or effort.

    The scheme for electing statewide officers is biased toward the City of Chicago with a token Downstate Senator.

    The appointment opens the possibility of get a suburbanite in the mix.

    Women are underrepresented in the Senate. And aside from the Senators from Hawaii, there aren’t any Asian-Americans in the Senate.

    Part of the case against Duckworth is that she’d be more valuable as Sec of Vets Affairs, like JJJ is more valuable on the House Approps Committee. And I guess Valerie Jarrett is more valuable in the Obama administration too.

    Maybe, this is a good line of questioning for potential Senate candidates. Is anybody arguing against your appointment because you’d be more valuable doing something else? If nobody is arguing you’d be more valuable doing your current job or some job in the Obama administration, why should people think you’re going to be valuable as a Senator?




28. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:31 pm:

    Emanuel wants the seat back after 4 years, not 2, and the organization will probably throw it’s weight behind a relatively well likes elected official who can be trusted to give the seat back. Think far Northwest.




29. - Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:32 pm:

    47th Ward, we need to meet for beers sometime and somewhere in the ward so we can drown our sorrows over Mean Gene. He definitely is flush with cash to run for Congress, cash on hand is $628K per the State Board of Elections.




30. - Illinois.Pundit - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:45 pm:

    Ravenswood Right Winger all that cash doesn’t matter if it’s in a local fund vs. a federal fund. He’ll have to start from scratch at 2,300 a pop like everyone else.




31. - Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:51 pm:

    Is that correct, Illinois.Pundit?




32. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:52 pm:

    IP is correct.




33. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:57 pm:

    Sure thing Ravenswood,

    Gene’s problem is that none of his dough can be used for a federal race. I’d love to be there to see his face when somebody finally explains that to him.




34. - Illinois.Pundit - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 1:59 pm:

    The only one with Fed money is Flores because of his run for Luis’s seat. But there aren’t enough Hispanic voters, key word being voters, to win in a field of Democratic Aldermen that have never been to Springfield, much less Washington.




35. - Teve - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:19 pm:

    WOrdslinger

    Claypool was the top candidate for that COngressional seat. Sorry to all of you who are politically naive. Claypool would beat Sara, Gene Schulter, Fritchey…..Furthermore, the Daley’s would have loved to get Claypool out of town and remove Todd Stroger’s top threat. COunty Board President is a better fit for Claypool. He was one of the few decent politicians and it would have been a shame if he left for Washington.




36. - Leroy - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:28 pm:

    Carl Nyberg - Your ‘quota’ argument is laughable.

    I think this ‘more valuable’ stuff is telling us she won’t get the appointment, while keeping her name in the news.

    The machine is doing its job on this one.




37. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:30 pm:

    Teve, could Claypool beat the Bears, too? Even with Ditka coaching? Could he singlehandedly win the war in Iraq with just a spork? Could he capture Bin Laden without every leaving his living room?

    It’s Claypool mania!!!




38. - Vote Quimby! - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:33 pm:

    At least there is no downturn in political hack postings….




39. - Don Smith - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:35 pm:

    I have mixed emotions about Claypool not running for the 5th Congressional seat. Of all the pols. who are throwing out their names, none has the connection to Obama like FOrrest has. None of the candidates save Tammy Duckworth seem “COngressional”. On the other hand, I am glad Forrest is staying and hopefully taking on Todd Stroger in 2010. There are few politicians out there that have Claypool’s credentials both with his role on the Obama campaign and as the main foe to the machine backed incompetant Todd Stroger.




40. - Illinois.Pundit - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:36 pm:

    LOL Rich! He was a frontrunner, but not necessarily the frontrunner. When it all comes down to it, it will be the battle of the sexes. By my latest count there is one confirmed in the race and 20 others “seriously considering running”. Of the 21, six are women of which many have been rumored to pull out. My guess is that we’re going to have 1-3 women running against 8-12 men. I would say that the best odds are with Sara.




41. - Teve - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:43 pm:

    Illinois PUndit

    I think you think the best odds are with Sara because you work for her. Look Sara is fine, but give me a break. The person that will win the race will be the person with the most money and highest name recognition. West of Western nobody knows who Sara is and if Quigley is running you can forget about Sara.




42. - Captain Flume - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 2:46 pm:

    As Obama has announced he is resigning his Senate seat as of Sunday, he is quoted thus, “…[I will]begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President,’” Do we take Sweet ‘n’ Low with that?




43. - Phil Collins - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:08 pm:

    Illinois Pundit, I agree. It’s a battle of the sexes, and the last time that IL had a lady U.S. senator was when Carol Moseley-Braun left office, in 1999. The best woman for the job is Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Duckworth hasn’t held a political office, but Schakowsky has been a congresswoman and a state rep.




44. - wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:17 pm:

    –Furthermore, the Daley’s would have loved to get Claypool out of town and remove Todd Stroger’s top threat.–

    Teve, forgive my naivete, but wasn’t Claypool Daley’s chief of staff — twice? And his park district chief? When was he transformed to an anti-Daley machine “threat?”




45. - Illinois.Pundit - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:18 pm:

    Jan and Tammy are both great! Hmmm, do I work for them too. I hate the Guv, so we know I don’t work for him. I just work for myself, actually, and try to do as little of that as possible. Okay, I digress. Back to Jan and Tammy. Jan is definitely more qualified. Tammy would however get selected over Jan. After all, this is Illinois politics.




46. - Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:27 pm:

    Now that Il will be down to one Senator (brilliant move by BO), the pressure should be on the Gov so we can have 2 Senator voting for whatever comes up during the lame duck session.

    I say appoint by Monday so Illinois has its full voice.




47. - Teve - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:31 pm:

    Illinois Pundit,

    Maybe you do and niether is a bad gig. Just as long as you don’t work for Stroger. I stll think with Claypool’s obvious connection to Rahm, Alexrod, and Obama and the fact that despite Mayor Daley, Mike Madigan, and Bill CLinton helping JOhn Stroger, a beloved pol. by many, Claypool damn near won that race for county board President back in 2006. I am not ashamed to say that I am a big Claypool fan.




48. - Take It Easy - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:43 pm:

    How bout Oprah for Senate?




49. - Illinois.Pundit - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:47 pm:

    Big fan of Claypool’s too. Stroger is almost in the same class with Blago, as far as I’m concerned.




50. - Jimbo - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 3:53 pm:

    Any candidates for the 5th from the suburbs? Silvestri? Someone in Franklin Park?




51. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 4:32 pm:

    You’re kidding right Jimbo? The suburbs? Silvestri? Good snark sir, well done!




52. - Huntingwithaswitch - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:05 pm:

    Claypool is seriously overrated as fixer let alone a pol. Forest has nothing on Gump.




53. - BannedForLife - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:43 pm:

    “Gene’s problem is that none of his dough can be used for a federal race.”

    well, IL is so loosy-goosy that if he were willing to pay income tax on it, he could pay himself $600K as a campaign consultant, and then donate the balance to his fed. campaign!




54. - BannedForLife - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:45 pm:

    ” … a field of Democratic Aldermen that have never been to Springfield, much less Washington.”

    the lack of actual legislative experience rules out Chicago alderman




55. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:46 pm:

    ===well, IL is so loosy-goosy that if he were willing to pay income tax on it,===

    Only if he had that much in his account in 1998.




56. - Teve - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:47 pm:

    Huntingwithaswitch,

    How is Claypool overrated? I like to here your astute wisdom on this. If anything Claypool is vastly underrated and to some degree under appreciated. I would love to debate you on this. By the way, “Forest” is actually spelled “Forrest”.




57. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:48 pm:

    He had $275,906.83 at the end of 1998.




58. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:49 pm:

    ===By the way, “Forest” is actually spelled “Forrest”.===

    And “I like to here,” should be “I’d like to hear,” but whatever.




59. - BannedForLife - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 5:53 pm:

    “Durbin has complained before about not getting his calls returned by the governor, so we’ll see if he gets his meeting.”

    Do you suppose Obama would not have resigned the Senate without Durbin getting thru to Blagojevich, at least by phone, and the call went well from Durbin’s POV?




60. - Teve - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 6:26 pm:

    Yeah, and “Forrest” = “Good guy”




61. - Anon this time - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 9:29 pm:

    Skip or McAuliffe might beat Feigenholtz or even Ms. Mell in the general. The district is not all Fritchey-Quigley la-la-lib land.




62. - Roy Slade - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 10:06 pm:

    I am trying to look at this as “who can get appointed to take the political heat off of the new president elect”? That is why Emil gets the nod- and he can do all of the “favors” for everyone, and keep the heat off of the new pres. Everyone will know that Jones will carry the water, and Obama will be able to say “I didn’t have anything to do with….- it was Senator Jones”.




63. - Amy - Thursday, Nov 13, 08 @ 11:03 pm:

    senate…..anyone but Schakowsky. seriously, anyone. her husband’s ethics have some contact to her from the group he led. so she’s tainted. and Illinois does not need that. no more of that. we need an honorable leader.

    the 5th….oh, so deely depressing. Schulter has an ego the size of a skyscraper. Deb Mell, positively scary arrogant to up and run. oh, wait, obama was running for something else the moment he got the Senate seat, but, still, we want honor. the district was the bastion of ethnic politics until Rahm came along and tipped it to the yuppie side. but, all the northwest side wards went for Obama, even 41, which is the land of Republicans and cops. so perhapssomething is changing in the 5th. Where’s Kasak?




64. - blackdem - Wednesday, Nov 26, 08 @ 3:44 pm:

    Teve Are you Forrest? Educate me, what has he done other than campaign with rhetoric..not plans for the last few years. every sound bite includes Storger..what about what he HAS done? Maybe I am missing it. also with ties to Daley, why is he now a “reformer”?

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