The second most likely choice, IMO, is Rod appointing 74 year old Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White as Senator. This would be a win-win for Blago, IMO. He gives the Jackson crowd their token "black" Senator, so they're happy, he gets bonus points with Illinois voters since he appoints a "popular" statewide official that won about 2/3rds of the vote last time, and he frees the seat up for his criminal buddies in 2010, since Jesse White is old and senial and definitely won't run for a 6 year term in his own right. In short he'd appoint a seat warmer that would give him allocates from the media and every faction of the Chicago Dems.
The choice that makes me hurl the most would be Blago appointing Tammy Duckworth to the seat, especially after Illinois voters specifically REJECTED her at the polls in her bid to succeed Henry Hyde. Worse, she'd probably win election in her own right as an incumbent Senator. She is a total empty suit and a Democrat machine creation in much the way Obama is. Rahm Emnauel created her "war hero" persona and all her "values" are from the latest DNC script.
Jesse Jackson Jr. would be a horrible Senator but also a good pick for Blago, as JJJ is ultra-liberal and Marxist activist, but he talks a good game on TV and is smoother than his daddy. I don't think Blago will choose junior though, because he'd immediately outshine the Governor and nobody would pay attention to Blago anymore.
There's a chance that Blago could appoint himself, I suppose, if he figured he wouldn't get elected Gov again. He probably won't do this though, because Illinois voters would retaliate and dump him from the Senate, plus appointing himself would result in anti-machine Dem Pat Quinn becoming Governor.
And then there's Emil Jones. That would be a suicidal pick for Blago, IMO, and possibility result in a Republican pickup (except Jones probably won't run for re-election in 2010). Jones has dismal approval ratings statewide now and is "retiring" as Senate President under a "ethics cloud" (and we all know what that means). He's so unpopular that little known perennial Republican candidate Ray Wardingley, running a shoe-string campaign, ended up a competitive candidate on election night (I was Ray's press secretary in that race, I should know). Jones is in a "safe" Democrat seat and hadn't had a challenger in over a decade, but once he announced he was going to retire AFTER the election appoint his clueless hackjob son to "succeed" him to the seat in 2009, here's how Cook County voters responded on election night:
COOK COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE ELECTION RESULTS
State Senator, 14th 4-yr
2 Candidates - Vote for 1
Precincts Counted: 86 of 86 (100.00%)
Candidates Votes %
Emil Jones (DEM) 18,429 53.38%
Ray Wardingley (REP) 16,097 46.62%
SOURCE: http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/110408/SummaryElection110408RaceNum28.html?Party=ALL
If he can only muster 53% in ultra Democrat CROOK County, I doubt Jones could win a statewide election even with the pathetic condition the Illinois GOP is in.
Aside note, I think Ray could have won that seat ala Joseph Cao -- IF he had the money to be competitive, and had been able to run TV ads and such. Too bad the RINOs were diverting attention from real campaigns to con conservatives into flushing their money and time down the drain for hopelessly doomed campaigns like Steve Sauerberg. If I was Emil Jones I would personally send a thank you to these RINOs for wasting valuable conservative resources on laughable races, thus ensuring he won re-election in a low-key contest.
"Ray Wardingley (REP) 16,097 46.62%"
Oh, man. That would've been beautiful if he pulled it off. When's the last time a Republican won that Senatorial district ?
With a 9% approval rating (worst in the country) and under the constant threat of indictment, I doubt Blago will run again in 2010.
Well, it definitely won’t be Emil Jones.
A possible compromise candidate would be Danny Davis. He’s aging (over 65), but as obvious a bench warmer as Jesse White. He’s a Marxist, but personable. He probably wouldn’t seek a full term.
If Blago appoints someone who is unacceptable to Obama (and I think we all know what that means), he’ll go down in the primary with Obama’s tacit approval.
(Uh oh, long post. ;))
Unfortunately some GOP congressmen tried to pull the similar crap as Jones if I remember correctly, dropping out after it’s to late tp have to a primary.
Goodness gracious! I totality missed that race being close. Wardingly is a clown (literally he dresses as a clown for charity and the media when they choose to mention him make fun of him for it)
The seat is can’t be all black, Robert Rita isn’t and he holds one it’s 2 state house seats but still that’s nothing short of stunning. We must be talking 30’s when Chicago blacks started being rats since that area has had a Republican Senator.
Just another reason to feel sick about the totally incompetent GOP leadership. Did they bother to even commission a poll to give themselves an idea if there was a chance? Doubt it. UHHHHHG.
Ill Dems have been wildly aggressive and successful in winning state Senate Seats. Even with a rat map on paper we could have 29 or 30 seats. (With the 30th most likely being that longtime rat Vic Demuzio’s widow, she’s not likely to lose and I think next on the list would be Debbie Halverson’s seat). Down in Southern Illinois where Obama lost, the rats have held the 59th Senate seat since ‘74 I think and won it again 52-48 in November as Obama was losing it. And they held both house seats as well. We gained one Senate seat from them since 2002 in ‘04. And lost 5 in 06 (and one in an upset in 02).
Now this is Illinois I’m not writing off Blago 100% but his approval is so low....he should lose the primary (and would lose the general to a non-RINO scumsucker.....) Quinn wants it. I’d take him over Blago or Madigan any day. Frankly he’s better than Topinka and her RINO combine ilk on corruption. Of course he lacks a natural constituency for the primary since “decent folk who care about good government” are a minority in the party.
I think (hope) Blago needs Obama to stay out of jail more than win reelection.
My very first thought like in May was that should Obama win he would appoint Lisa Madigan. After the election I figured Jesse White would be an ideal “placeholder” should he go that route. I surprised he is not being talked up.
Jones is almost as old as White but he really seems like he actually would run. And why not. Ancient Senators of both parties will run for reelection in 2010. Guys older than him!!
I hope Jagoff Jr. gets it. I don’t see that name having an easy time in Novemeber 2010. Maybe I’m wrong and yes Harold Ford Jr. almost won in Tennessee but...
Jones if he was running would be awesome.
I’d be surprised in he doesn’t pick a black candidate at this point. Though Duckworth, maybe. Yup she’s indeed a “creation” like Obama. Vomit.
Davis from Arkansas (jeez none of the Chicago black Congressman are from Chicago!)
“As the 15th most prolific traveler in Congress, he stirred up controversy by accepting a trip to Sri Lanka in 2005 on behalf of the Tamil minority there, paid for by the Tamil Tigers, a group that the U.S. government has designated as a terrorist organization for its use of suicide bombers and child soldiers. Davis said that he was unaware that the Tigers were the source of the trip’s funding.”
I hope Kirk never runs for higher office. I’m shocked he won at all let alone easily. Gordon Smith lost trying to imply he was endorsed by Wyden and Obama (and because of the Constitution party but given how ran his campaign it’s no shock they did so well).
I thought Seals only lost 2 races. What a loser! An Obama Clone who couldn’t convince white liberals not to split their tickets.
One further note. My Rep. Luis Gutierrez. Doctrinaire leftist and open borders King.
http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/004814.html
looks like he’s running for something I know he wants to, maybe Mayor (LOL) but it wouldn’t shock me if he ran for Senate if their was a placeholder, his dream job is President of an Independent Puerto Rico.
There’s a factory on Goose Island where some workers are having a “sit in” as you all probably know. I didn’t know the Island was in his district but I guess it must be. He’s having my Alderman and his toadie Billy “Future Congressman?” Ocasio pass out gifts and food whist making sure everyone knows they are from the Congressman. Why don’t you try to help your own ward out Billy? How about a coaxing them to open a damn Jewel or Domincks anywhere near here? It’s not like me or any of the legion of children around here need to eat or anything right?