Democrats urge special election to succeed Obama

[babylonsister]

Democrats urge special election to succeed Obama

The Associated Press


WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders in Washington and Illinois called on the Illinois legislature Tuesday to quickly schedule a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat rather than leave that power in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's hands.

Blagojevich, a second-term Democrat, was arrested Tuesday in connection with allegations that he sought favors to influence his choice for Obama's replacement.

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, who called the charges shocking, said he would soon call the chamber into session to pass a bill to establish a special election to fill the vacancy. He did so moments after Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., urged the state House and Senate to do so by a margin that could withstand a Blagojevich veto.

"No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement," Durbin, told reporters in Washington.

Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democratic leader, said his state faces a messy and uncertain future with Blagojevich holding the power to name someone to finish the last two years of Obama's term.

Special elections are costly, Durbin acknowledged, but it might be coupled with a special election that will be needed to replace Rep. Rahm Emanuel. The Chicago Democrat will resign his seat soon to become Obama's White House chief of staff.

more...

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/washington/congress/20081209_ap_democratsurgespecialelectiontosucceedobama.html

[Dennis Donovan]

1. That puts the seat in danger of going Republican...

...according to some who answered my post in another thread on the subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7967378#7967537

I think it might be better for Blago to resign immediately so Lt Gov Pat Quinn can appoint someone untainted to Obama's former seat.

[babylonsister]

4. Maybe Durbin is worried about restoring some credibility and transparency to

Illinois politics. This would do it.

[DJ13]

2. Thats a stupid idea

An election opens the seat up to both party's to nominate a candidate, and with the negative Democratic vibes from the corruption scandal theres no guarantee that the Democrat would win.

Just leave it vacant until the Governor is ousted.

[frazzled]

3. They'd better impeach him as long as they're in special session.

I've been waiting all day to see if a special session of the General Assembly will be called. Now I can call my state senator and state rep and tell them to impeach his slimy ass.

Normally, I might take the innocent until proven guilty route. But after hearing parts of the conversations that are on tape, there is nothing that can make me believe this guy does not need to be removed from office ... STAT.

I am humiliated to be a Democrat living in Ilinois today.