In my opinion, I think a Downstate Democrat should appointed to the Senate seat.

[terrya]

Let's face it, Chicago Democratic politics right now aren't held in great esteem right now. Which is probably a colossal understatement.

I don't know who that Downstate Dem would be. I sort of like the idea of putting as much distance, geographically as well, from Blagojevich and Chicago as possible.

Just a perhaps unrealistic idea.

[Radical Activist]

1. That would be nice.

The odds are against it right now. We usually have one downstate and one Chicago Senator. Durbin is from downstate so some Chicago folks would get mad.

But it would be good to get more downstaters elected statewide in 2010. We need some people who aren't owned by any Chicago political leaders. Downstate Democrats could save the state but the state party hasn't done anything to invest in a downstate farm team for the past decade or so. Thanks Madigan!

[Critters2]

2. I agree. But it won't happen. nt

[ColesCountyDem]

3. I agree.

I seriously doubt that it'll happen, however.

:shrug:

[mopinko]

4. name some names

open to suggestions. anyone in particular people are interested in?

[Radical Activist]

5. Sheila Simon

Phil Hare
Glenn Poshard
John Sullivan
Naomi Jakobsson

Those are a few that come to mind.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. I like all of those.

Sheila and Glenn would both be awesome choices. Glenn is a lifelong friend, absolutely incorruptible, a true friend of labor and the common man, etc. . Sheila is a 'chip off of the old block', as anyone in Southern Illinois can tell you.

:thumbsup:

[DollyM]

8. Didn't Poshard have that whole big issue about . . .

plagiarism with his thesis. I mean, I know he went back and fixed it but these days, the media can dig up anything on a person and use it against them. I honestly can't think of anyone down here that I could see doing this. I can think of a several self impressed people here that would like to be nominated, but no one I can think of that would really live up to the task.

[ColesCountyDem]

14. They did, although it wasn't truly a big deal...

I can't recall the blow-by-blow details at the moment, but a friend of mine who teaches at EIU said that the issue of whether or not it was 'plagiarism' was less than crystal clear; much/most of the alleged plagiarized material fell into a gray area, i.e., one where academics can and do disagree. Glenn immediately acknowledged the criticism of his thesis and immediately fixed the objectionable material, satisfying virtually everyone except his most strident critics (who wouldn't have been satisfied with anything less than banishment, disgrace, loss of pension, etc.).

[mopinko]

12. they sure fitted a frame on glenn.

i heard a couple interviews with him after that election, and the slime of the ryan camp was amazing. don't remember the details of the claim that he was prolife, but do know it was not what they flogged at the time.

how old is sheila?

[Critters2]

7. Naomi!!! She'd be great! I knew her when she was with A Woman's Fund in C-U!

She'd be a great choice!

[Radical Activist]

9. She would be great. I heard Rep. Mike Boland mentioned.

He'd be good too.

[murielm99]

10. Mike is wonderful!

His name went through my mind before I opened this thread. I thought I was the only one who had considered him.

[terrya]

11. Those are some good names.

:thumbsup:

[mopinko]

13. more info on the last 2?

don't recognize them.

[Critters2]

15. Google is your friend. nt

[Radical Activist]

16. ...

John Sullivan is a state Senator from western Illinois.
Jakobsson is a state Rep. from Champaign/Urbana.
Both have been mentioned for various higher offices before. Jakobsson is probably the more liberal of the two.

[WCIL]

18. John Sullivan is my state Senator

He is well-liked here in a VERY Republican area, and I can't off the top of my head think of anything anyone could use against him. The rumor around these parts was that he might be up for something in the Department of Agriculture, but nothing has come of it.

[Radical Activist]

20. Dick Durbin seems to like him.

I've only met him a couple of times but he makes a good impression.

[nemo137]

17. My buddy Mike, a fellow U of I student immediately mentioned Naomi when this came up

I'd be pleased to have her as my senator, she's good people.

[Radical Activist]

19. Yes, she is.

I'd like to see her run for a statewide office in 2010. We need more regional balance on the ticket and she'd do a great job.

[JoDog]

21. Your wish may have been granted

In the form of Roland Burris.

[Critters2]

22. Yeah. It looks like Blago is going to actually name the best possible candidate,

and the Senate is refusing to seat anyone Blago names. What a mess. Would someone just impeach this mofo already?!

[madrchsod]

23. i guess reid is going to pull a democrat out of his ass for us....

reid just gave the rethugs in this state a wide open door....

[Critters2]

24. I was reading another thread where just everyone under the sun

knows what's best for Illinois. :grr:

[madrchsod]

25. as far as i`m concerned the democrats just gave the seat to the republicans

burris would be acceptable to anyone who has a brain in this state. where in the hell are we going to get the money to run an election? the special election for the 14th cost my county 80,000 dollars...where is the parties going to get the money?

[Critters2]

26. I still don't understand how Blago was elected for a second term.

I voted Green in the gubernatorial election, because the problems were already obvious then. Now, we've got this whole mess to fix somehow. We need real reform, and it needs to start with leadership of the party.

[madrchsod]

27. yup....!

[Critters2]

28. Burris is a downstater. From Centralia. Lives in Chicago now,

but his roots are in south central Illinois. Born and raised in Centralia, undergrad at SIU.