Senator Mark Kirk?

[Lunar]

More likely now than ever.  Looks like we're going to have an election for Obama's replacement.

Kirk would be well funded, would clear the field, and have a simple platform.  The Democrats would have had a heated primary and a cloud over their heads.

That is unless the legislation treats the replacement election like a primary.

[MarkWarner08]

This is why soon-to-be Gov. Pat Quinn should have appoint Obama's successor. Otherwise, Kirk, who is one of the House's most prodigious fundraisers, can run risk-free for a Senate seat. Give Jan Schakowsky two years in office and she'll be the favorite in 2010.

[Lunar]

This is why soon-to-be Gov. Pat Quinn should have appoint Obama's successor. Otherwise, Kirk, who is one of the House's most prodigious fundraisers, can run risk-free for a Senate seat. Give Jan Schakowsky two years in office and she'll be the favorite in 2010.

He'd also get an epic amount of money from Republicans nationally, smelling blood

[Keystone Phil]

No, no, no. I have my eye on Mike Ditka running. 

Hey, he owes us from four years ago. We could have at least tried to prevent all of this.

[Torie]

No, no, no. I have my eye on Mike Ditka running. 

Hey, he owes us from four years ago. We could have at least tried to prevent all of this.

Ya, he would have about as much chance as Toomey in PA to grab a seat.

[Mr. Morden]

This is why soon-to-be Gov. Pat Quinn should have appoint Obama's successor. Otherwise, Kirk, who is one of the House's most prodigious fundraisers, can run risk-free for a Senate seat. Give Jan Schakowsky two years in office and she'll be the favorite in 2010.

But suppose Blago refuses to resign.  How long will it take for the legislature to go through with the impeachment proceedings?  A month?  Two months?  There's nothing to stop Blago from appointing someone to the seat in the interim (as a final f you to all other concerned parties).

OTOH, I guess passing a law for a special election would also take some time, as you'd have to submit it to the governor to sign or veto.  Even if you're prepared to override the veto, the governor doesn't have to act on it immediately.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

No, no, no. I have my eye on Mike Ditka running. 

Hey, he owes us from four years ago. We could have at least tried to prevent all of this.

Ridiculous on an infinite number of levels.

[Keystone Phil]

No, no, no. I have my eye on Mike Ditka running. 

Hey, he owes us from four years ago. We could have at least tried to prevent all of this.

Ya, he would have about as much chance as Toomey in PA to grab a seat.

Uh, no. Not exactly. 

[Lunar]

Remember too that Kirk would not have to retire to run for this.

[Kevin]

No, no, no. I have my eye on Mike Ditka running. 

Hey, he owes us from four years ago. We could have at least tried to prevent all of this.

The problem with Ditka is that he is too old, too conservative and too angry to win espeically in Illinois.

Mark Kirk at least would have a better shot. 

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

No, no, no. I have my eye on Mike Ditka running. 

Hey, he owes us from four years ago. We could have at least tried to prevent all of this.

The problem with Ditka is that he is too old, too conservative and too angry to win espeically in Illinois.

Mark Kirk at least would have a better shot. 

Added bonus: Mark Kirk is not a ridiculous, unqualified candidate.

[muon2]

This is why soon-to-be Gov. Pat Quinn should have appoint Obama's successor. Otherwise, Kirk, who is one of the House's most prodigious fundraisers, can run risk-free for a Senate seat. Give Jan Schakowsky two years in office and she'll be the favorite in 2010.

But suppose Blago refuses to resign.  How long will it take for the legislature to go through with the impeachment proceedings?  A month?  Two months?  There's nothing to stop Blago from appointing someone to the seat in the interim (as a final f you to all other concerned parties).

OTOH, I guess passing a law for a special election would also take some time, as you'd have to submit it to the governor to sign or veto.  Even if you're prepared to override the veto, the governor doesn't have to act on it immediately.

Would the US Senate be willing to seat anyone appointed by Blago? If not, the process doesn't need to be so immediate to be effective.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Does Phil still believe Ditka would've beaten Obama in 2004? LOL.

[Mr. Morden]

This is why soon-to-be Gov. Pat Quinn should have appoint Obama's successor. Otherwise, Kirk, who is one of the House's most prodigious fundraisers, can run risk-free for a Senate seat. Give Jan Schakowsky two years in office and she'll be the favorite in 2010.

But suppose Blago refuses to resign.  How long will it take for the legislature to go through with the impeachment proceedings?  A month?  Two months?  There's nothing to stop Blago from appointing someone to the seat in the interim (as a final f you to all other concerned parties).

OTOH, I guess passing a law for a special election would also take some time, as you'd have to submit it to the governor to sign or veto.  Even if you're prepared to override the veto, the governor doesn't have to act on it immediately.

Would the US Senate be willing to seat anyone appointed by Blago? If not, the process doesn't need to be so immediate to be effective.

Good point.  I assume that there are no legal complications with the Senate refusing to seat a new member?  They can just say "We won't accept anyone appointed by Blago", and that's that?

[Holmes]

If he gives up his seat for this, his seat could become a probable democrat pickup... maybe.

He looks so young for a 49 year old.

[Keystone Phil]

Does Phil still believe Ditka would've beaten Obama in 2004? LOL.

I said he would have at least been competitive. Time to take your head our of your ass if you seriously think otherwise.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Does Phil still believe Ditka would've beaten Obama in 2004? LOL.

I said he would have at least been competitive. Time to take your head our of your ass if you seriously think otherwise.

Are you defining competitive as "losing only by high single digits instead of >40 points"?

[Keystone Phil]

Does Phil still believe Ditka would've beaten Obama in 2004? LOL.

I said he would have at least been competitive. Time to take your head our of your ass if you seriously think otherwise.

Are you defining competitive as "losing only by high single digits instead of >40 points"?

I'd consider that a huge victory in Illinois in that year so, yes, that's competitive to me. Obama wouldn't have been criss crossing the country for every Democratic candidate under the sun if Ditka was his opponent. The Obama glow would have worn off quite a bit.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Obama's DNC speech would be enough to put him into the limelight and get the recognition he needed.

[Keystone Phil]

Obama's DNC speech would be enough to put him into the limelight and get the recognition he needed.

Sure but not to the extent he received after we decided to bring in the worst sacrificial lamb in party history. He wouldn't have been instantly beloved.

[Lunar]

ok, ignoring all this silliness of Obama losing in '04...


Kirk says he's down to run:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/30735-1.html

[Stranger in a strange land]

This is why soon-to-be Gov. Pat Quinn should have appoint Obama's successor. Otherwise, Kirk, who is one of the House's most prodigious fundraisers, can run risk-free for a Senate seat. Give Jan Schakowsky two years in office and she'll be the favorite in 2010.

But suppose Blago refuses to resign.  How long will it take for the legislature to go through with the impeachment proceedings?  A month?  Two months?  There's nothing to stop Blago from appointing someone to the seat in the interim (as a final f you to all other concerned parties).

OTOH, I guess passing a law for a special election would also take some time, as you'd have to submit it to the governor to sign or veto.  Even if you're prepared to override the veto, the governor doesn't have to act on it immediately.

Would the US Senate be willing to seat anyone appointed by Blago? If not, the process doesn't need to be so immediate to be effective.

Good point.  I assume that there are no legal complications with the Senate refusing to seat a new member?  They can just say "We won't accept anyone appointed by Blago", and that's that?

the senate can, at least in theory, refuse to seat anyone, and they would almost definately refuse to seat somebody appointed by Blagojevich, especially since there would be the strong suspicion that this person would have gotten their seat through underhanded means.

[Brittain33]

Does Phil still believe Ditka would've beaten Obama in 2004? LOL.

I said he would have at least been competitive. Time to take your head our of your ass if you seriously think otherwise.

It wouldn't have been competitive because Ditka's best day would have been the day he announced. He wasn't prepared to appear senatorial, and given how bad the Republican base vote in Illinois is (even in 2004), he would have gone down in flames only marginally cooler than those that consumed Keyes.

[Keystone Phil]

ok, ignoring all this silliness of Obama losing in '04...

I never said that but I'll just ignore, for here on out, your typical dishonest commentary.

Does Phil still believe Ditka would've beaten Obama in 2004? LOL.

I said he would have at least been competitive. Time to take your head our of your ass if you seriously think otherwise.

It wouldn't have been competitive because Ditka's best day would have been the day he announced. He wasn't prepared to appear senatorial, and given how bad the Republican base vote in Illinois is (even in 2004), he would have gone down in flames only marginally cooler than those that consumed Keyes.

Bush received 45% of the vote in IL in 2004. I hope to God that you don't think Ditka would have done much worse than that (especially since he could have received support from Kerry voters).

[Lunar]

did I say it was you?  "typical dishonesty?"  you're crazy