The Chicago Tribune this morning has a scathing editorial on the General Assembly's adjournment with lack of any action on the issue of filling Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate Seat. At this point, the issue of whether that leaves Governor Rod Blagojevich with the power to make an appointment is almost a side issue; right now, the Tribune's ire, at least, is directed to those Democrats who apparently jumped in to support the idea of a special election, but then pulled back, once they realized that they stood a very real chance of losing the election... perhaps to none other than our own Congressman Mark Kirk.
So far, the state senate is trying to hide behind the additional cost of a "special". The house is hiding behind the senate. And so, nothing is being done by our elected officials.
The issue of cost is simply an excuse. No one was worried about cost before the notion of the 'danger' of an open election was raised. And State Senator Christine Radogno, our new senate minority leader, said it best: "Democracy costs money."
Any appointment made by anyone, including Jesse White, is going to be tainted with the Blagojevich stink. The only way to remove that stink is to throw it open to the people.
IN OTHER NEWS: In the wake of Sheriff Mark Curran's switch to the Republican party, The Lake County Dems take another hit with the defection of County Board Member Bob Sabonjian. While Sabonjian swipes at what he calls the increase in partisanship on the County Board as one reason for his defection (but why would that be a reason to leave your party???), he also points to Democratic infighting, especially between Terry Link and Pat Jones. That appears to TA to be the more likely reason.
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7 comments:
No surprise that State Senate Dems don't want the people to decide who should fill Obama's seat...they also didn't want the people to be able to recall the Governor. They don't trust the voters, and that culture may be part of why Sobonjian jumped ship. Any responsible public servent would do the same!
Bob, just hasn't been happy that he hasn't recieved chairmanships or other high positions due to his exalted status as the son of the late Mayor Sabonjian.
Ray LaHood quit on the Republican Party today to join the Obama Administration. Hopefully there will not be more Republicans like him that turn tail and run to the other team as it suits their careers.
It is worth noting that he ran Peter Fitzgerald out of the party largely because Peter appointed Patrick Fitzgerald.
Maybe LaHood would rather try to improve the country by working with Obama than sit on the sidelines and scream.
I'm tired of both Republicans and Democrats who think that everything the other side says or thinks is wrong just because it comes from the other party. Improved transportation is a need for both Deomcrats and Republicans.
Anon 1:28 -
Sabonjian has always leaned independent and actually listens to his constituents. Foreign concept, I know.
Anon 5:04 is right on the money, but posting something like that is probably a waste of time on this blog.
Remember that little $700,000,000,000 bank bailout for which Mark Kirk voted in the affirmative? As many of Kirk's own party members had the foresight to predict, the money isn't being tracked properly or lent to consumers as was the advertised purpose. Here's an AP article about it.
Hey Anon 11:59, stop the belly aching about who posts on TA's Blog. Here's where fairness reigns. There are several very decent MOC's who understand the value of working across the 'aisle' to give constituents the best kind of governance. Our Congressman is a classic example of the bi-partisanship that most in Congress can't see as helpful. That aside, let's no throw darts at Ray La Hood or anyone else who sincerely wants to help bring about some good leadership and bi-partisan leadership in DC. Too bad we have so few in Springfield. Too bad we have virtually no leadership to help us move forward in this mess we find ourselves suffering thru in IL.
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