Posted on 12/08/2008 8:33:33 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
Following a 90-minute audition meeting today with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. said he was confident in the process the governor is using to make his choice for a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama.
But Jackson also touted his credentials for being Blagojevichs choice, saying that in his 13-year House career serving the South Side and south suburbs, he has only missed two votes. Jackson also said there are three factors that the next senator must be able to fulfill.
He has to be able to legislate. Or she has to be able to legislate, Jackson said, noting there are 105,000 Illinois jobs dependent upon a bailout of the nations automotive industry.
They have to be able to work the state, to develop relationships across the state, in order to potentially run for re-election in 2010 successfully. And they obviously have to raise a considerable amount of money in 14 months, he said.
Democratic leaders nationally have said their preference is for Blagojevich to appoint a successor who could run and hold the seat for Democrats when it is up before voters in the 2010 election.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsblogs.chicagotribune.com ...
According to fox News(about 20 minutes ago) The only thing Blago could be running from in 2010 is his cellmate named Bubba.
Lt. Gov. Quinn is one of the (very few) anti-Chicago machine Democrats to be successful in political office in Illinois, so I’d be rubbing my hands in glee if he had to appoint Obama’s replacement. Most likely Quinn would select someone like State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) of Lake County, mainly because he’s been the biggest thorn in the side of Blago’s crowd— and he’s also one of the few anti-machine Dems to keep winning elections in Illinois. For those unfamilar with State Rep. Franks, here’s some background info. :
http://www.russstewart.com/4-23-08.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/20/blagojevich-viewed-as-cam_n_136138.html
http://djwinfo.blogspot.com/2005/04/jack-franks-for-governor.html
Basically, Quinn would need an ally on the statewide level to watch his back, and putting Franks in there would be Chuck Hagel appointing Walter Jones as Defense Secretary in a “Republican” adminstration taking over from Bush.
State Rep. Frank’s District Office
Wow, the charges against Blago look pretty devastating:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145500/posts
I wonder how they’ll fill Obama’s Senate seat now assuming that Blago doesn’t resign (which he won’t, at least not if it isn’t part of a deal)? Can a federal court enjoin a governor accused of bribery in the appointment of a U.S. Senator from making an appointment to the Senate? Maybe the feds can transport Blago outside the state so that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn becomes acting gov. and picks the Senator or (less controversial) call for a quick special election.
BTW, I think that Illinois Republicans could do a lot worse than having Patrick Fitzgerald run for the U.S. Senate. I’m not saying that I like Fitzgerald or forgive him for his behavior during the Plame investigation, but running an “outsider” who fights corruption may be our only chance of winning that Senate seat now that it is unlikely that the Democrats will appoint someone controversial to the seat.
I think there needs to be pressure now for a special election.
And Blagojevich just got busted LOL, wonder if ‘ol jesse slipped him some Christmas ‘greens’.
Shouldn’t this article now read JJ Jr touts banks statement to Blagojevich?
HOLY S**T!!!!!!
Blago is now making George Ryan look honest and popular.
Key language from the ABC News story:
The FBI affidavit said Blagojevich had been told by an adviser “the president-elect can get Rod Blagojevich’s wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the president-elect’s pick to the Senate.”
Told by two other advisers he has to “suck it up” for two years, the FBI says it heard Blagojevich complain he has to give this “motherf***er [the president-elect] his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him.”
The governor is heard saying he will pick another candidate “before I just give f***ing [Senate Candidate l] a f***ing Senate seat and I don’t get anything.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6424985&page=1
Looks like the other 49 states are getting their first taste of what the Chicago Democrat machine means by "change". You ain't seen nothing yet. They got plenty more "change" coming up! That's the Chicago way.
So this may happen. LOL. What a d-bag! It’s Christmas time!
If Blago won’t quit the General Assembly needs to convene and impeach his ass. This should hopefully kibosh a Ryan pardon. Bush would care about more bad press tarnishing what little of a legacy he has right?
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McHenry country. Franks doesn’t belong there, GOP (but sadly probama). I know he must be kicking himself for not running against Phil Crane. The DCCC must have approached him.
I didn’t know he was allegedly so conservative. Pro-life and pro-gun and anti-tax. This guy think he’s Ken Lucas (D-KY)? Maybe I’m nuts but he’s sounds like I could vote for him, for Governor at least, never for Senate. He’s for honesty in movie start times?
“I do not subscribe to Republican values,”
Well not Illinois Republican values huh. But you sound like we’d take you.
“if Jack runs and draws 150,000 reformers to the Dem primary, those are 150,000 reformers who will not be voting for a moderate Republican candidate for governor.”
LOL. If People who wanted reform voted for Corrine Wood...
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Schakowsky, she’s a wackjob, maybe less than Jagoff Jr. but that’s not saying much. I’m afraid she could win an election. She’d play better in the burbs than Jr.
Yes all those legislators listed shouldn’t be there. Noland and Bond are ‘06 Senators from GOP suburbs. Bond won a seat in Lake county where a senile RINO lost renomination. Noland took Steve Rauschenberger’s open seat.
Jehan Gordon took Rep-elect Aaron Schock’s seat this year. Schock is replacing LaRino. I hope he’s not one.
If Frank’s leaves his seat but that one on the top of the takeover list.
And Walker’s opponent seemed to be hard up for cash.
http://illinoisreason.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/prochno-endorses-walker/
You know Rod if you really want to stick it to that M-effer Obama you could always appoint a GOPer. Can he still exercise executive power from a jail cell?
“According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper’s editorial board who had been critical of him fired.”
Gangsta.
I agree with what you said about change. Last June, the Chicago Tribune printed my letter which said, Sen. Obama says that this election should cause change, and I agree. We can change the government by electing more Republicans. Democrats control the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, IL Senate, and IL House. If IL voters want to change the government, theyll ensure that Republicans regain control of those four houses. If that happens, theyll cut tax rates, cut spending, defend us from terrorists, and discourage illegal immigration. In Jan., Democrats will have larger majorities in all four houses. Few Illinois voters wanted change.
He is an attendance King in the house.
I know about St. Sen. Bond. In Jan.-Mar. 2006, I walked seven precincts for Warren Township Supervisor Sue Simpson, helping her defeat St. Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, in the primary. Sept. & Oct. ‘06, I walked three precincts for Simpson, and Bond got 50.5%.
I thought that St. Rep. Schock was conservative until I heard that, before the 2006 governor primary, he endorsed Judy Topinka.
If St. Rep. Franks doesn’t run for re-election, who should run for his current seat? I hope that William LeFew would run. He’s a conservative who has been the McHenry Co. treasurer and the chairman of the McHenry Co. GOP.
“You know Rod if you really want to stick it to that M-effer Obama you could always appoint a GOPer. Can he still exercise executive power from a jail cell?”
Very amusing, but it won’t happen. Blago was a lefty in Congress.
The only question now is whether he’ll get to make the appointment. There may be an effort to stop him.
Good work, Geo had to go go. As we see she wouldn’t have lived through her term. Very unfortunate loss of that seat.
LeFew sounds popular but he’s hardly done a great job as party chairman has he. Franks keeps winning, Bean. Obama took the county.
As long as he is not a combine RINO though he’s fine with me.
It would behoove a Republican to refuse the appointment anyway. ;)
It will take the General Assembly to pass a law to take away his appointment power. Unless it’s in the state constitution.
A swift impeachment is really what should happen.
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