The Daily Herald reports today that Governor Blagojevich began holding interviews with possible candidates to be appointed by him to fill the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by Barack Obama. According to the Herald, 9th District Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky snagged an interview this week (as did Congressmen Danny Davis and Luis Gutierrez), but Senator Dick Durbin, who has been repeatedly trying to get an audience with Blago to talk about possible replacements, continues to be ignored by the Guv.
As we've been discussing here recently, some have raised two-time 10th District congressional wanna-be Dan Seals as an outside-chance replacement for the Obama seat.
Although Seals was mentioned on a few lists early on, we have not seen his name raised as a serious candidate recently, and if Durbin (who might be expected to support Seals, as Durbin did extensively in the 10th District race against Mark Kirk) can't even get in to see Blago, it seems like Seals would have few cheerleaders in his corner that could influence Blago. Certainly Schakowsky, who recruited Seals in the first place, is not going to promote Seals over herself. Although if Jan was appointed by Blago, that would clear the way for a special election in the 9th District, where Seals actually lives (not that it matters to him), so maybe Dan could spend another few months covering up being unemployed by saying that he's running for Congress once again.
Wonder if Seals' supporters are ever going to wise up?
BTW, 10th Dems, who's the next victim you're going to send up against Mark Kirk?
UPDATED: A group of African-American ministers is trying to get Blago's attention for the idea that Obama's Senate replacement ought to be an African-American. JJJ and Danny Davis seem to be favored by the group, perhaps, although they are reluctant to name names, and Emil Jones is disfavored. CBS-2's Derrick Blakely reports that Durbin is gunning to push Tammy Duckworth, if he can get an audience with Blago. Seals' name is nowhere to be seen.
Interestingly, the CBS-2 piece suggests that the successor chosen by Blago would have a huge leg up in the next election, while many of the folks over at Capitol Fax Blog seem to think that whoever is picked will actually be tainted by the 'Blago curse' and actually will be at a disadvantage.
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6 comments:
Do you honestly believe that Rep. Jan Schakowsky will allow Dan Seals to leapfrog over her for the Senate seat? We are talking about politics here.
And forget about Seals taking over Schakowsky's seat. There are a few Democrats who would love to take her place that have held elected office in that District for a while.
The national press is asking: "What is taking Blagojevich so long to make the appointment?" What the national press doesn't know is that Blagojevich has a history of dragging his feet on appointments and has at least one major state agency right now that does not have an appointed chairman.
Louis G. Atsaves
Lou, I don't think anyone is under any illusions that Jan would not hesitate to crush Dan like a bug if it meant getting the Senate seat. Jan is out for Jan, just like Blago is out for Blago. To me, that means that he milks this for all its worth for the attention, and to see what the best deal he can cut for himself in return for the appointment.
Comrade Jan Schakowsky only believes in sharing when it comes to using our tax dollars for her nanny statism.
Blago is going to appoint whoever will do the most for him going forward and it's hard to see a broke failed congressional candidate or a liberal wingnut with a felon husband helping him miuch.
Next year dan will get a job in the obama administration heading some b.s. agency like import-export bank or a bureau at commerce.
As for 2010, I don't think they will screw with mark after 6 million bucks.
Dan Seals has now been totally unemployed for 37 months.
I think Jan S gets the Senate seat and Larry Suffredin, Cook County Commissioner get the nod to replace Jan in the special election. Larry is from Evanston and is a Democratic party heavy. Also, his Cook County Board District is heavily suburban (Glenview, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Northbrook, Northfield and he is a little hot water because he was the deciding vote to authorize Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's massive sales tax hike. There are more than a few people mad at him and this County Board seat could be in jeopardy for Larry and the Dems come 2010. He might relish the jump to the safer political waters of the 9th Congressional District.
Oh, and by the way, Dan who? The Democrats are like Joe Stalin. "Screw up" and your name is forever erased from the history books, print and all official communications.
This is what pisses me off about Mark and his love affair with Andy McKenna and Hastert in that these are terrible democratic candidates whose b.s. probably doesn't appeal to most illinoisans.
But because we have no state party and no serious congressional leadership to step in, we are faced with either comrade jan, danny davis-a doofus who doesn't do anything other than get cons jobs and take trips that would make abramoff blush, and gutierrez-who?
Now comes word the dems are planning to put roskam and biggert in the same district and will no doubt do something cute like give mark more democratic turf to soften up the district.
Maybe then he'll get the message.
RIDICULOUS!
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