What was Durbin thinking, calling for a special election?

[democrattotheend]

This is what I was talking about yesterday:

The indictment scrambled Illinois politics. Democratic insiders saw Durbin’s rapid call for a special election as a way to circumvent Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s authority to do so, should he take over for Blagojevich. Quinn is not close to Durbin, and their relationship frayed after they were rivals in a contentious Democratic Senate primary in 1996.

But Durbin’s move carries risk. If a special election were held in mid-2009, the governor’s arrest would still be fresh in voters’ minds. Democrats would likely face a crowded primary with the risk of the eventual nominee being tied to the corrupt Blagojevich administration. And Obama’s Senate seat would remain vacant for months, giving the president-elect one fewer Democratic ally in the Senate.

“With this so fresh in the minds of voters, Republicans may have a chance at this seat in a special election,” said one Democratic operative from Illinois.

A well-connected GOP operative with ties to Illinois said Republican Rep. Mark Kirk is likely to consider running. Operatives from both parties agree Kirk would be a strong candidate.

Running from a North Shore House seat, Kirk would have political strength in the Chicago suburbs, said the operative. And having been challenged in consecutive cycles, he’s a formidable fundraiser, raising over $5 million for his House seat this cycle.

A naval officer, Kirk has a clean image with no ties to Springfield or the Chicago political machine.

Meanwhile, the risk for Kirk would be minimal in running during an off-year special election. Under that scenario, he would not have to step down from his House seat to run for the Senate.

But if he chose to run for statewide office in 2010, as had been rumored, he would have to give up his House seat.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16399.html

It sounds like Durbin had his own agenda here, and one that might give the GOP an opening to take a seat that should have been a no-brainer to retain. Instead of passing legislation to create a special election, which at the very least would leave the seat vacant for months and make it harder for Obama to get his agenda passed in the first 100 days, why don't state legislators in Illinois work on impeaching Blago so the lieutenant governor, who appears to be untainted, can appoint Obama's replacement?

[WeDidIt]

1. HE was attempting to insure there would be NO TAINT

Durbin was being ethical.

that must be what shocked you.

[LynneSin]

4. God forbid a democrat suggest something that would allow for a fair choice

even if that choice might be one that would disappoint us

[olkaz]

10. No kidding.

Jesus. Amazes me what people will find to complain about.

Durbin is a good man and his plan is the smart thing to do.

[IsItJustMe]

43. No, it is a really dumb thing to do for a whole host of reasons. Yes, the idea of elections 24/7

sounds good until you put it into practice. Illinois is running huge budget deficites and has already layed off a number of state employees. A statewide election like this would easily cost upward to 50 or 60 million dollars in a Senate race that will have to be ran again in 2010.

This is just a really dumb dumb idea.

[shraby]

11. Wasn't Durbin instrumental in getting Mukasey

confirmed? Who does he work for anyway?

[GarbagemanLB]

12. The Illuminati

[karynnj]

19. No he wasn't - I think you may be thinking of Schumer

Here is a blog post on Durbin's questioning of Mukasey:

"After this initial slight, Durbin asked Mukasey to explain his earlier comment to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) that "reasonable" people had disagreed over the legality of the interrogation method.

“There have been people in this chamber who have disputed whether under circumstances it would be legal...to engage in these techniques," Mukasey said, referring to the Senate's authorization of the Detainee Treatment Act and language in the McCain amendment that some have described as subject to interpretation.

"The question is whether the Senate has spoken clearly enough in the legislation it has passed…" Mukasey added.

"Where is the lack of clarity in the McCain legislation?" Durbin asked. "The lead sponsors of this legislation have said that under the waterboarding is a war crime."

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2008/01/durbin-v-mukase.html
(Read the link - as the 4 paragraph rule makes it hard to show how good Durbin was)

He also voted - "NAY"
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00407

[shraby]

24. You're right. My bad

[democrattotheend]

15. I'm not sure ethics was his only motive

It says in the article that he has a frosty relationship with the lieutenant governor.

[IsItJustMe]

41. Ethical or politically naive, I guess it depends on your perspective.

[Eric J in MN]

2. The IL governor still has the authority. He hasn't resigned. NT

NT

[WeDidIt]

18. That'l last about a week

After that, the legislature will ahve stripped him of that power, thank goodness.

[babylonsister]

3. He wants transparency in IL politics for a change. I know, it's hard to

believe. And no, I think Durbin doesn't have any agenda other than what you see.


Durbin 'stunned' by Blagojevich news
Posted December 9, 2008 6:24 PM
The Swamp

by James Oliphant


The senior senator from Illinois, Richard Durbin, said Tuesday he had no indication that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was on the verge of being indicted or that he was attempting to leverage his power to appoint the state's next senator in exchange for political favors.

"I was stunned," Durbin said in an interview, when learning that Blagojevich had been taken into custody by federal agents.

Durbin and Blagojevich had spoken just once about the vacancy left by President-elect Barack Obama, and even that was freighted with drama. Durbin had called the governor shortly after the election to discuss possible candidates. His office, he said, made five more calls in the span of two days.

Later, Durbin said, Blagojevich aides suggested to the press that Durbin was avoiding a discussion. Eventually the two had a short telephone conversation, 12 days after Durbin's first call., In that talk, as the two discussed as many as 20 potential appointees, Durbin said he had no indication that Blagojevich was attempting to use the appointment to benefit himself, either financially or politically.

more...

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/durbin_stunned_by_blagojevich.html#more

[GodlessBiker]

5. Anyone Blagojevich appoints will now be tainted. I think that's what Durbin was thinking about.

[totodeinhere]

14. One solution that I heard discussed on NPR this morning is that Blagojevich could appoint...

a panel of top Illinois Democrats who would recommend a Senate pick to him. That way the appointee would not be tainted by Blagojevich because he or she would be the choice of the panel and not necessarily Blagojevich's choice.

[GodlessBiker]

17. Illinois Democrats? Oy. How about Wisconsin Democrats?

And the feeling that the governor's (alleged) corruption might wind its way through to these top Illinois Democrats would remain.

But, Illinois can do what it wants.

[IsItJustMe]

44. Great idea. I never thought of that.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. It's the only option we have, really. Anyone appointed is going to be under suspicion

[gravity]

7. The Democrats shouldn't tolerate cronyism

If we do, we will lose a lot more Democratic seats in the future.

[Eric J in MN]

8. All 50 states should have elections to determine the next Senator...

...when there is a vacancy.

It should never be up to the governor.

[Beacool]

9. I think that it's a great idea.

Let all 3 states, NY, IL & DE have special elections and let the voters choose who their new senator should be. No one should be given a senate seat as a payoff for supporting the party leader.

Let the people's voices be heard.

;)

[Sebastian Doyle]

29. What about Arizona?

Shouldn't they be able to elect a new governor (i.e. whoever isn't Jan Brewer)

[Beacool]

31. You're right,

I was only thinking of the senate. They should also hold a special election. it makes me uncomfortable that all these politicians are putting their buddies in positions that they will hold for at least the next two yeas. It seems undemocratic to me.

[Occam Bandage]

13. Because anyone appointed, and not elected, would be tainted with BlagoStink. nt

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. The risk in Durbin's proposal might actually spur Il Dems to impeach.

Dems would look like their doing their jobs. Durbin would look like a statesman. Quinn would be gov. We have a Quinn-appointed Dem in the open senate seat.

Not the dumbest chess move if that's what Durbin's thinking...

[Hokie]

20. Becasue the Democrats will do everything they can to lose this seat

That is what being a Democrat is all about for some of them. Always snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Always concede to inferior forces. Always act like you are in the minority even when you are not.

[Thrill]

21. I posted about this yesterday. With the current political climate in IL. Why risk a

Repuke possibly winning. Its possible to get a public backlash against the Democrats in a special election. Lets not act like this is a state that hasn't recently elected a Repuke Senator.

They need to impeach or Blago needs to resign so the LT Gov can appoint. NO SPECIAL ELECTION. unless its done like a primary with all Dems

[Jennicut]

22. How about doing what is fair and right even if it does not benefit Dems?

If a Rethug gets in, so be it. I am tired of corruption on both sides. I would prefer special elections instead of appointments anyways.

[AspenRose]

23. +1

[TheKentuckian]

26. What right and what is fair is to make sure we can move our agenda

Its not helpful to reduce our numbers, in fact weakening our soft voting block is exactly wrong for America.

Play to win or don't play at all, I say.

[rvablue]

36. Me too...makes it totally democratic, transparent and whomever is elected

can walk into the Senate without a cloud over them.....unlike someone that is appointed at this time, even by the Lt. Gov.

And, I think the concerns that this leaves it open to an R are overblown, Illinois loves and is proud of Obama and I think they will do him right....as far as a successor.

[Cleita]

25. I think it's a bad move too for the reasons you state. n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

27. Why not just impeach Blago and let his replacement name the new senator?

[democrattotheend]

28. That's what I think they should do

[LiberalFighter]

30. He is getting senile. He should think. He should research. He should confirm. Then speak.

[ecstatic]

32. Good points. I didn't think about that possibility

I think we should do everything we can to retain seats right now. Elections without Obama on the ticket have lately equaled a loss for the dems.

[cooolandrew]

33. I think the idea is to remove taint to Democrats. It wasn't politically the best idea but the right>

the right idea.

[riderinthestorm]

34. Even weirder is that there's no indictment. Just a complaint.

Blago isn't even indicted yet....

I know, a minor point but still: Fitz has been investigating Blago for YEARS now, and no indictment. Just this precipitous rush towards stopping Blago from appointing... (who? who knows.)

And then Durbin rushes into calling for a special election?

It's all weird. There's something very fishy going on behind the scenes.

[ShadowLiberal]

35. The problem is Blagojevich hasn't shown signs of being ready to resign

Unless Blagojevich resigns the lt. governor can't appoint a replacement to the senate.

Impeaching and convicting Blagojevich will take too long.

At this point right now the best things Blagojevich could do for the party is to appoint a placeholder to the senate seat (someone really old, or maybe a retired democratic senator, there's 3 of them in IL who are still alive today), and then resign.

I don't think anyone trusts Blagojevich to do what's best for the party however, the man is clearly too delusional to.

[snowbear]

39. No.. but they claim they won't touch the senator's selection.. so..

.
.

Hopefully they'll be able to impeach his ass before the senate meets up again in January, and with any luck --------- the Lt. Governor by that time will be able to make an appointment.

I sure hope so anyway! ~~

[TankLV]

37. Because there's nothing lately for him to apologize for...

While trying to be "fair" he's giving away the store...

The Lt. Governor could take over and pick a replacement.

Dems always bring a jello desert to a gun fight and don't even realize it's a gun fight until it's too late...

Repuke play for keeps - always...

[Bucky]

38. Can I just say I get a giggle out of the repeated use of the word "taint" in this thread?

No, I can't

[LynneSin]

40. Right now that seat is tainted - a special election eliminates that

and the fact that a prominent democrat suggests a special election is one good step towards eliminating that taint.

I understand that the Lt. Governor and Governor are not the best of friends and not even on speaking terms - but if that seat is appointed there will always be a black cloud over it because of what Blagojevich has done.

This is definitely the smartest move, even if we end up losing the seat we'll get it back in 2 years and we'd still have 58 democrat senators on our side.

[IsItJustMe]

42. I think Durbin has been making lots of bad decisions lately. I think it has to do with his

daughter passing away recently. Dick also had the real bad idea of getting Ryan pardoned by Bush.

Durbin is human and I think he is going through some tough times right now, which is clouding his judgment.