Blagojevich is that good story that just won’t go away. Now, there is talk of a special election to fill the vacant Senate seat in Illinois….and some Democrats actually think it’s a good idea. Really!
Why should Democrats allow a special election to go forward? So Republicans can run against “Blagojevich Democrats,” “Chicago Politics,” and the ” Culture of Corruption?” Then if Republicans win they will spin the victory as a huge victory over Obama, and make the case that voters are having “buyer’s remorse” and that POTUS Obama does not have a mandate.
Dear Dems…..this seat is ours…let’s not flush it down the political toliet. Now besides the obvious political arguments against a special election, Democrats can make several credible arguments against a special election….
1) The “will of the people” has already been spoken for. In 2004, the people of Illinois voted for a 6 year term for a Democratic candidate.
2) The law is clear…Illinois law dictates that the Governor can fill the seat of Senator who is no longer serving.
3) The appointment is not for 6 years, but merely to fill out a term that the voters of Illinois have already cast judgment on.
4) Voters will soon have an opportunity to cast a judgment on this new appointee in ‘10 and can judge him/her on their own merits.
Should Blago choose the new Senator? No!!!! He needs to resign or be impeached, so that Lt. Gov Pat Quinn can make the choice. Pat Quinn has never been implicated in Blagojevich’s scandal, and in fact has not spoken to the Gov in nearly a year. Quinn was one of the first elected officials to call on Blago to resign, and clearly has the capacity to make the choice…
I get the rationale behind the call for a special election…..but when the path is clear to the basket….dunk- don’t pull back behind the 3 point line and hurl one.
December 16, 2008 at 5:07 am
Whose political career do you want them to make the sacrificial lamb by making them the senator that bought his appointment? It’s Illinois. A democrat doesn’t lose a senate run in Illinois. He does the same thing the republicans will do, run against Blagojevich and then takes the seat free of scandal and able to fend off other democratic challengers in 2010.
December 16, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I am always amazed at how much time is spent by Democratic strategists pondering “How can we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?”
I’m sure there is a large cadre of retired Democratic politicians who would love the chance for a free-pass into the Senate, and then step aside for the next election.
December 16, 2008 at 11:46 pm
And Blagojevich would appoint one of those people because he has the best interest of the party in mind.
December 17, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Now you’ve got it!