Illinois DUers: Can Mike Ditka really win the senate race against....

[PROGRESSIVE1]

Obama???

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/081nd3.htm

:wtf: is this??? Again we see another Right Wing Celebrity running for office. So let's get this straight, only conservative celebrities should run for public office and have political views but liberals should shut up.

read this quote:

"It would certainly elevate the national stature of our race, and he could be an Arnold Schwarzenegger-type of candidate," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, a member of the State Central Committee, which will chose Ryan's replacement on the ballot. "

:argh:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1946991&mesg_id=1946991&page=

[MallRat]

1. Ditka: an inarticulate, unrefined, incurious doofus.

Oh, f*ck. He's the perfect GOP candidate.

-MR

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Look at this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1946991&mesg_id=1946991&page=

[Gman]

3. Elevate the stature of the race?

To what? Discussing whether Refrigerator Perry should have been used as a running back on 3rd and goal situations?

[WI_DEM]

4. God I hope not

But I think the democrats would still have the advantage. Ditka is a Dick.

[madrchsod]

5. dam i just woke up and see this

these dam illinios republicans are up to it again- first it`s the ryan scandal,then the ryan scandal, then kirk scandal, and now the coach? i just love these guys...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. can the sob win?

:grr:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

25. He only got 58% of the Republican vote...

I somehow doubt it. I think people realized in his New Orleans days that he wasn't all that good.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. I give up...

if the good people of Illinois are stupid enough to vote for this prick, then they can have him.

Too bad he might be a Senator, though, and help fuck the rest of us.

Yeah-- Murphy, Bono, Reagan, Schwollenpecker, Ditka and a few others can run for office, but the Republic will fall if a "liberal" celebrity ever opens his or her mouth about politics.

Is half the population of this country really stupid enough to fall for this, or are they putting something in the water?

[chiburb]

8. No.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. Could you please tell me why?

I need some optimism.

[chiburb]

10. Barak Obama is the real deal...

1. Pope John could run as a puke and Obama would trounce him.

2. The pukes don't have the money.

3. Even Bears fans don't respect Da Coach any more, see him as a caricature.

4. Illinoisans aren't THAT stupid!

5. Kerry's coattails will be too big for the pukes to overcome.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

11. Some here think that he is still "Da Coach".

[chiburb]

12. Only people with mullets and sleeveless t-shirts....

Real football fans were happy to see him screw-up the New Orleans Saints instead of the Bears.

No opinion on the other reasons I listed?

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

13. Chiburb, I agree with you 100%.

The "goopers" are grasping at straws at this point.

Could you imagine a debate between Barack and Ditka? Even thinking about it makes me laugh hysterically.

If this happens, it'll just make the Illinois GOP look even worse than it does now.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

14. From what I know of Ditka, I could imagine him slipping and...

using a Racial slur against Barack. Ditka is quite the nutkkkase and one never knows what can happen.

[Bjornsdotter]

22. Exactly!

Hi,

Ditka has a hot temper....he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut.

Cheers,
Kim

[AngryAmish]

34. People with mullets and sleeveless t-shirts are not Bears fans

They are White Sox fans. Go Springer Nation!

[billyf65]

37. Oh piss off.

Honestly, is that the best people can come up with?

Are there white trash fans who like the White Sox? You bet. But have you been to a Cubs game? Or a Bulls game? Or a Bears game? Hawks?

Hate to break the news: they're everywhere. On top of that, drunken frat boys isn't really something to brag about either.

And while I love to make fun of the mullet crowd as much as the next guy, we probably should be wary. Anytime people exert a better-than-you attitude, the result is to push back.

We need the hot dog and Busch crowd to vote Democratic just as much as we need the Pinot Grigio and brie crowd.


I have no mullet. I don't own a sleeveless shirt. I went to college (and graduate school). And I know how to drink AND behave myself. And I'm a Sox fan. And I don't think we can take a single voter for granted.

I hope I'm not alone.

[murielm99]

15. What they really want is for him to take over as state

chairman, so Judy Barr Topinka is freed to run against Blago next time around. I think this senate suggestion for da coach is a trial balloon.

It seems to me that if he tried for a senate run, some of his former African American athletes could speak to him privately, and if that did not work, step up publicly for Obama.

I have been doing some work around my county for candidates, including Obama. He spoke to our group, along with a Durbin, via conference call.

From what I can see, Obama appeals to Illinoisans across age, gender, income, race AND political party. I think he is the biggest reason that 45% of the primary voters in DuPage County took a Democratic ballot. Sure, people are pissed at *, but they love Obama!

Obama is brilliant. He not only has the talent and brains, but the charisma to do this well. Screw the coach. People will end up laughing at him, especially if they see him next to Obama.

[KharmaTrain]

16. I Sure Hope You're Right...Popping Popcorn!

As others have stated, the "Ditka Magic" wore off years ago in this town. You don't see statues dedicated to him or a demand for him to return to coaching (albeit the Bears)...and best be it so. To use his own words..."this is me, buddy..."zero".

Ditka's great playing TV studio cut-up, but he's got so much baggage outside, he'd almost make Jack Ryan look like a chior boy. We can start with Da Coach's DUIs (can anyone say Janklow???), his messed up finances and ability to talk first and think second (great for soundbites, bad for a politician attempting to be controlled by a central party).

Topinka is clueless. Yep, all she sees is going after Blago and won't waste any of her precious political capital for the party...and for damn good reason. She's stuck with a party that's all but imploded and got the job by default. Her handling of this fiasco has made it even more evident she's barely up to her elected job, yet anything beyond.

Right now, I'll bet you could get the job of GOOP chairman come November...when the knives will again be out among the Illinois GOOPers as to who screwed up the election and the circular firing squad will start shooting. Ya know, having Ditka in the center would be fun to watch.

I've rarely seen a candidate as qualified and ready as Obama. A Repugnican victory now would be considered one of the greatest political mircales/comebacks of all time. But that doesn't make me one bit complacent...another Obama check is out in the mail today!

Cheers!

[tritsofme]

21. But everyone would expect that from Ditka

No matter what his record is, it wouldn't be expected that it be anywhere near squeaky clean. Slinging mud at him would be totally worthless.

Either way, I think Obama is going to have no problem winning as long as Edgar and Thompson stay out.

[Cocoa]

17. it depends...

would it be mini-Ditka or full-grown Ditka?

[mopinko]

18. what a f'ing joke

i love the smell of gop desperation. i think they are just floating this to distract from their hopeless situation. i do hope they field someone, having obama uncontested, and kerry clearly a shoe in might detract from the voter turnout. we not only need a dem landslide, we need one with a historic turnout.

[lil-petunia]

19. they are entertaining, aren't they?

Judy and the boys. who needs doonesbury with these clowns in charge?

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

20. I can't wait to watch Chicago Week in Review tonight

on Channel 11. Should be quite a hoot!!!!

[dogman]

23. They would never allow a debate.

They would run the low road campaign that thay told Ryan he would have to run. They don't like the idea of Oberweis because his bigotry is out in the open. With Ditka they would claim no bigotry (he coached them without a problem) the whole time wink-wink you know Da Coach is one of us. I don't really think he would want to commit himself to the job but they might stroke his massive ego.

[Guaranteed]

24. GOP: "Who's the biggest idiot we could put on the ballot?"

"Mike Ditka! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"

"Let's do it."



:eyes:

[chiburb]

26. Besides, his wife said...

She'd divorce him if he agreed to this.

[FredScuttle]

27. She looks like she's the no-nonsense type

[wyethwire]

28. Here's another take

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/7/12/124838/614

[bushwakker]

29. I say Ditka makes the race a toss up

Assuming he's able to stick to the script they give him he is a formidable opponent. He will run a genereic, non-specific candidacy based on various themes and catch phrases - "common sense", "I'm not a polician", "American values". He will run basically a non-partisan campaign and avoid taking hard right ideological stances (although he probably has them) trying to blur the distictions between himself and Obama. He will be held to a very low standard as far as his knowledge of the issues. He will have prominent African-Americans campaigining for him which just might cut into Obama's support enuf to hurt. Obama's downstate support is over-rated and will diminish when pitted against Da Coach. Da Coach has the white guy vote rapped up and this is good base for him to build on. I think Ditka can win this seat.

[kwolf68]

30. NO NO NO

I am not from Illinois, but have family there and am an avid Bears fans. Here is my take and fellow Bear fans or folks from Illinois are free to rebut or support.

First, I do NOT believe Da Coach will run. However, Da Coach will take it to the very last minute before deciding “its not in his best interest.”

Da Coach is one of the biggest egomaniacs who ever walked the planet earth and he has a big ole woody with all the people just talking about him. He hasn’t had this much ‘pub since the Bear plane deflated into a proverbial mess. So Da Coach is back in the spotlight and he loves it. And he will milk it for everything its worth.

But will NOT run for this Senate, because the election becomes a referendum on Ditka as a man, a person. Ditka is somewhat of a cult hero in Chicago…He represents the last two Bear Titles as a player (1963) and a Coach (1985) and is indicative of what Bear fans think of when they think of Bears. So his legacy and place in Chicago folklore is very secure.

However, losing a Senate election signals commentary that Da Coach, while loved as a player and coach, isn’t so much so liked as a person. Poooft…There goes his legacy. The state of Illinois had rejected him. Therefore, Da Coach will cash in a little more, get his mug on some more TV shows, get the GOPers all in a tizzy and have Dems wondering “if we can beat him.” When all along, he has no intention of running.

In addition, Da Coach would have to actually go do some work. Da Coach would have to spend countless hours debating people far more intelligent than he who have a very different view of the world than he does. His present job as "penis enlargment whore" and football babbling analyst pays too well and is too easy. Ditka won't run as I said.

What is starting to occur in our Democracy is in an effort to eliminate Democratic voices Republicans will start running anyone and everyone with “star power” with the simple goal of ridding government of Democrats. A man like Mike Ditka has no business making legislation in the US Senate, no matter his politics. Ditka is a windbag, a loose cannon and borders on being clinically insane. However, the Repukes have plenty of nutjobs capable of passing solid “right wing” legislation. They just need the extra votes to go along with it…Enter people like Ditka.

I expect Dennis Miller, Ted Nugent, Jerome Bettis, Karl Malone and whatever “star” is out there to be firmly on Republican ballots on day if their likelihood of losing is great. In a small way, this is subverting the Democratic process. In the least, it’s a sham.

I still maintain we get this seat.

[buycitgo]

31. ''...a windbag, a loose cannon and borders on being clinically

insane."

perfect capture!

that's some excellent analysis, great writing, to boot

BUT, I think he IS such a megalo that he might seriously think he can do it.

they've being going ape over this on CNN today; I've seen four stories on it--three different ones.

run, Mike, run!

[Bjornsdotter]

32. Da Coach

Hi,

I say let him run......I live in Northern McHenry County and it's probably about a 50/50 split up here....Bears/Packers.

The Packer fans would cut their right arm off before they would vote for Ditka.

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[argonne]

33. Ditco!

We have had to put up with this miserable f*** for years in Illinois. He will be nothing but a curse if he is elected senator. I can think of nothing worse. What a despicable GOP for doing this. God help us!

[apnu]

35. I have Ditka's campaign photo up for everyone!

http://apnu.runswithscissors.com/ditka.html

[argonne]

36. About a year ago

he came to sing at Wrigley field so drunk that he slurred his words "big time"!

Someone at WGN should get that tape!