WHO WOULD REPLACE HIM? (Ryan)

[chiburb]

From today's Sun-Times...

The pros and cons of people mentioned most prominently as potential successors to Jack Ryan should he end his GOP bid for the U.S. Senate.


FORMER GOV. JIM EDGAR
Pro: Still popular, well-known, close White House ties.
Con: Passed on running for U.S. Senate twice and says the answer is still no.


TREASURER JUDY BAAR TOPINKA
Pro: Well-known, great campaigner and fund-raiser, appeals to moderate and female voters.
Con: Has eye on governor's mansion.


FORMER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN RONALD GIDWITZ
Pro: Respected among GOP brass, capable of self-financing race.
Con: Who?


FORMER GOV. JAMES THOMPSON
Pro: Patriarch of Illinois Republicans, captured limelight on 9/11 commission.
Con: Would have to give up lucrative law business; has ties to Hollinger International scandal. And he's said no too.


SEN. STEVE RAUSCHENBERGER (R-ELGIN)
Pro: Expert on state finances, highly articulate, doesn't face re-election in state Senate.
Con: Also mulling governor race and can't afford another loss after finishing third in U.S. Senate primary.


FORMER LT. GOV. CORINNE WOOD
Pro: Has moderate views that could attract suburban women and family fortune that could help fund race.
Con: Conservatives can't stand her, she's alienated key Republicans and voters were lukewarm in failed 2002 run for governor.

[acmavm]

1. Interesting the media are even mentioning this.

.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Why?

Illinois politics are like no other state's. They are down right nasty in Illinois. From the Daley machine all the way down to township races, they pull no punches. I live right across the Mississippi River from Illinois and have seen a lot of nasty things over there. Obama is taking the high road, for now, though.

[shoelace414]

2. how about

Kes? I know she's like seven years old, but ocampans age quickly. plus she really helped out the doctor.

[jobycom]

4. As candidate, or as husband?

More volunteers for the latter, I'll bet.

[Divernan]

5. By the way, what was the custody decision on his son?

If he has any contact with the son at all, (and he evidently does, since now the ex-wife is saying what a great dad Ryan is), the Mother should get a court order restraining good old Dad from taking his son to sex clubs (hey, just a little male bonding, right?). And the judge should have ordered Ryan into successfully completing counseling before letting him
anywhere near the kid. Probably the Illinois judicial system is like most other states and money talks.

[chiburb]

9. Disagree...

While the concept of sex clubs is foreign to most, there is nothing illegal about them. Also, there is NO allegation that Ryan ever harmed the kid or exposed him to anything like this. It was between Ryan and 7 of 9, that's all. Counseling for what?

Also from today's Sun-Times:

Local sex clubs not like 'old orgy days'

What goes on in sex clubs?

"It's not the old, orgy days where you have people rolling around in Crisco,'' said Sue Gould, who has been visiting such clubs since the 1970s with her husband, Ron.

Increasingly, participants are having sex only with their partners, she said.

"There's a lot of 'soft swinging' going on,'' said Gould, who organizes monthly parties in hotels in Northbrook, Milwaukee and St. Louis. Fear of diseases like AIDS has put the kibosh on a lot of partner swapping, she said.

Still, participants find a sexual thrill "in doing something a little naughty in front of people you don't know,'' said the 50-year-old mother of two grown daughters who runs "Club Adventure'' out of her Vernon Hills home.

Scroll down for story:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-ryan23.html

[gatlingforme]

17. What about the whips and chains? Taiwan Basket anyone.LOL

[kanrok]

6. If I had to choose (choke) It would be for Wood

She is moderate and the GOP does not really like her, which makes her okay in my book. Doesn't really matter who runs against Obama now, though, he's a lock.

[rpannier]

7. I'm hoping none of them

I like Ryan, because he'll get killed in November, unless Obama falters.
But if he does, Rauschenberger. I know people who live in Illinois who say he's a good local campaigner, but a lousy statewide campaigner.

[Padraig18]

8. Oberweiss?

Pro: Self-financing
Con: :puke:

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. Another con:

Bigot. Remember those anti-Mexican immigrant commercials?

[Padraig18]

11. Good point, greatauntX3!

:)

[stevebreeze]

13. funny he would think being from Aurora ...

that the anti immigrant ploy would work....not too bright.

[siden]

19. One possible advantage of Oberweiss

is that he will rally the Repubs. Ryan has only exacerbated the GOP problem's in Illinois, and now more than ever they need their conservative base. Oberweiss would keep them motivated. And I must admit, it would be entertaining as hell to watch Obama kick his ass on Election Day.

[tritsofme]

12. Just hope that Edgar or Thompson don't get the nod.

Because I think either one of them would have a realistic chance of winning.

Personally I think Ryan has too big of an ego to step down, so if all goes according to plan any chance he had of winning is now erased.

[davsand]

14. Edgar, Topinka and Thompson are probably in the NO category.

Edgar is afraid of facing questions about Kemper plus he's got a bad heart (however Unca Dick didn't worry about it--so THAT is not the most compelling reason to say no, I'd think...)

Thompson is just stupid enough to run, and I think maybe the Bush regime has the goods on him--which means he could be leveraged into running. Having said that, I think "Big Jim" may be seen as damaged due to the rumors of his bisexual activities and his ties to the Bush cabal...

Topinka may be the GOP Chair, but she is not well regarded by a lot of the conservatives (just like Corrine Wood.) I doubt they'd put her up--but she'd sure present a challenge to Obama because she's female. They don't want to give up her office, however, so I don't expect her to run.

Gidwitz is almost certainly one of those "WHO?!!" kind of guys that they might run just to put up a candidate to fill the slot, but I doubt the GOP or Rove could stomach the idea of just handing Illinois to two Dem Senators.

Oberweiss is a possible, but frankly, I think it is Rauschenberger who will end up with the nod when Ryan finishes his swan dive onto the rocks.

Just my opinion, and frankly, my ties to the GOP are pretty minimal--ya know?


Laura

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. Topinka wants to be governor.

Her accordion playing goes down better in Springfield than in DC.

[mopinko]

16. quite the quandry

have no doubt that if the boys want ryan to jump, he will. who to replace him?
i hate wood. she reminds me of colin powell- a shiny honorable shield for a corrupt regime.
i think you all are correct about topinka, but if they put the arm on her, she will have to run. i think she would be the best candidate. i kinda like her, but i have a weakness for goofballs. a politician that shops at thrift shops just warms my little heart.
i suspect it will be gidwitz. he can finance his own campaign, and he has the ego for it. one of the boys.

[siden]

18. I'm pretty sure it's going to be Gidwitz

The GOP knows it cannot beat Obama, and merely wants the controversy to go away so they can focus on lower-ballot races. Gidwitz is perfect for this role--he's prestigious yet unknown, will run a quiet campaign until November, get his 40 percent of the vote, lose gracefully, and allow the GOP to concentrate on winning lower races.

If they're delusional enough to think they can, I suppose they could try to tap Rauschenberger, but I doubt he'd accept. He knows he's a rising star in the GOP, and doesn't want to taint his record with a second senate loss.

[lil-petunia]

20. I know - Let's get the Ivory Soap Girl

She's gone from porn to ultrachristian.
If that is too hard to swallow, how about linda lovelace?

Or that repuke radio turd who pleaded guilty to underaged sex?

[chiburb]

21. Seems Ryan should've married her (Marilyn Chambers)...

I don't think she'd mind the exhibitionism...
Btw, when was she "born again"? She was still making porn 3 years ago or so.