Posted on 12/14/2008 1:22:27 PM PST by rface
The Illinois Republican Party has launched what they are calling a "grassroots campaign" to push for a special election where Illinois voters would decide who will take President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat.
On Monday the party is launching a heavy statewide television advertising campaign and a round of live-connect calls informing voters of the special election possibility and asking them to contact their legislators in support of the measure.
[ snip ]
"Pat Quinn is part of Rod Blagojevich's administration and should not be allowed to pick the next U.S. Senator," said Republican DuPage county State's Attorney Joe Birkett. "When it would have taken political courage to speak out, Pat Quinn was silent."
A special election would potentially take place in conjunction with February primary elections. Democratic officials reportedly have reservations about a special election since disillusionment over the scandal might help a Republican candidate.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
Of course they are. Ain’t gonna happen, though. The dems will not risk that and they have the power to prevent it.
We’ve already seen how crude and obnoxious it is to watch another Chicago politician pick Obama’s seat. Let’s have an election.
Illinois has a republican party?
And if so, why are the two or three of them wasting thier time with this?
Doesn’t hurt to try. After what has gone on up there I would think the people would DEMAND a election now.
People can demand what they wish. What does the state constitution say?
plenty of Republicans ouside of Chicago (look south)
If an early election is held Mark Kirk will of course be the favorite on the GOP side, and probably in the final.
Or look just northwest of the city limits.
Well, the GOP may want to run a “grassroots campaign” to elect O’s Senate replacement, but they better be prepared for the Dems’ “scorched earth campaign” just like in 2004 when the Dems got Jack Ryan’s divorce records unsealed.
It’s no coincidence that they stopped the special election talk the minute buzz got out Kirk would probably win.
It’s also not a coincidence that the national party poured money into beating him like crazy this November. They see him as a real threat for either the Senate Seat or Governor’s chair in 2010.
Kirk is Illinois’ rising star, and if he can stay above the fray 2010 looks like his year no matter what he chooses.
Joe Birkett has been extremely silent on corruption himself. As States Attorney it is his role to be the person obligated to speak out on it.
The fact is that Pat Quinn has been extremely outspoken against corruption, including Blago’s corruption. There is no way Quinn can be painted with Blago.
I dislike Quinn’s ideology. But getting caught in lies is not the way to build the GOP.
Mark Kirk is the annointed. Now suppose an understanding could be reached. Kirk for Senate and a small government Republican for his seat in Congress. Right now we are 0 fro 2 there. So would a 1 and 1 compromise be a good tactic? Or should there be no compromise ... and, of course, would the big government Republicans want to compromise?
As for building the GOP, Radogno has been in the media more in the past week than Watson and Cross combined in 6 years. In one interview the question of what the constitution said came up. Both Radogno and the interviewer agreed that the Constitution was irrelevant in this situation.
#17 When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
If the sitution was REVERSED, the liberal MSM would be calling from the rooftops for a special election if at all this was a Republican scandal.
Then again, in some countries, Canada for example the entire Senate is appointed (but it is a relatively powerless position) by whoever is Prime minister when a position is vacant.
Like here, it seems whenever "Liberals" are involved, they corrupt even a simple appointed position, handing out a $150,000. salaried do nothing senate jobs (where one only has to show up for one meeting a year) to relatives, friends, donors, and above all, left wing moon bats.
When Liberals are doing all the appointing, of course there is nothing wrong with them appointing strategically, to strenthen Liberal governments power.
But when a conservative appoints to fill vacant senate seats, it becomes front page news, with liberals demanding they have a say who gets appointed.
Liberalism is a corrupt, power hungry disease where ever in the world it exists.
In Springfield? Not enough Republicans to do squat there. Before there can be any GOP recovery in Illinois the grassroots need to fire EVERYONE running the state party. Illinois has had the most hapless bunch of RHINOs running things for years. Running a guy for gov with the same name as the incumbent known crook was merely the most flagrant error they've made recently. Or so it seems from across the Mississippi. Not that the Iowa GOP is doing that great, but at least they're not embarrassing.
Good idea.
They could run Coleman, since the R’s don’t care if he gets cheated out of an election in MN.
My first two thoughts when I read this were “Reagan Republican” Mike Ditka and pantywasteMarkKirk. I hope Ditka considers a run.
Jim Edgar could be a good option; he’s one of the few former governors alive and not in prison.
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