Reid to Blago: Don’t let a Republican win this seat!
posted at 6:45 pm on December 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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OK, OK, he didn’t explicitly say that, but that’s what frightens Harry Reid about a special election for Barack Obama’s open Senate seat. In a letter to the beleaguered governor of Illinois, Reid urged Rod Blagojevich to resign immediately, and not because Blagojevich has been exposed as a crook, or because Illinois deserves honest government. As Chris Cillizza reports, Reid wants Blagojevich out of the way now so the Illinois legislature won’t have the chance to call a special election that Democrats could lose:
The momentum for a special election to replace President-elect Barack Obama ran into a major hurdle late this afternoon in the form of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) who penned a letter today to scandal-tarred Gov. Rod Blagojevich making clear he would prefer the incumbent step aside and let Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn make the appointment.
“It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election,” wrote Reid in a letter obtained by The Fix. “But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans.”
Reid adds that his preference for an appointment by Blagojevich’s successor rather than a special election is driven by his belief that it is “imperative” that a new senator from Illinois be seated as soon as possible. An appointment by Quinn, a Democrat, also avoids the possibility that Democrats could lose the seat in a shortened special election campaign.
The timeline being floated in Illinois political circles would be for party primaries to take place on Feb. 24 with a general election on April 7 — a schedule that would leave the Senate seat vacant for at least three months.
Well, isn’t that classy? Illinois is in the middle of one of the worst political crises at the state level in American history, and Reid wants one of the existing establishment to hand-pick its Senator. I’m sure Illinois residents really trust their government now. Nice to see Reid’s priorities are in the right order! At least Dick Durbin got that much right when he called for a special election instead of an appointment.
On the plus side, Reid also tells Blagojevich not to even think about making the appointment himself. Anyone the disgraced governor sends to Capitol Hill had better have a round-trip ticket back to Springfield, Reid warns. He’ll use the Constitutional power of the Senate to deny that appointee membership, and it’s hard to find anyone, Democrat or Republican, who would buck Reid on that threat.
Reid knows that an election in Illinois will put the seat at risk of Republican takeover after the Blagojevich scandal plays all the way out. Illinois needs to clean house, and that’s the first opportunity they will get. You can bet that Reid wants to avoid that as much as any Democrat, but this tone-deaf plea to a corruptocrat for a back-room deal smells bad enough to stink up the entire 111th Congress and give everyone else the same idea for the 2010 midterms.
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This from the guy who complained about how tourists stink of BO.
Aitch748 on December 10, 2008 at 8:30 PM
What the Democratic Party sent out today to their kiddies
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Square these two please…
“I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening, ” Obama told reporters today in Chicago.
** FILE ** In this Dec. 2, 2008 file photo, President-elect Barack Obama, right, greets Illinois Gov. Rob Blagojevich, left, at the Bipartisan meeting of the National Governor’s Association in Philadelphia. Federal authorities in Chicago have arrested Blagojevich, and they’ve accused him of attempting to benefit financially from his position to appoint a Barack Obama’s Senate replacement. Looking on are Gov. of Indiana., Mitch Daniels, left center, and Gov. of Ohio, Ted Strickland, right center.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/nation/ill-governor-arrested-in-corruption-scandal-284742.html?page=2
(Picture is in the top of the left column.)
No contact? No contact about the seat? No contact about the pay-offs? Maybe they want to clarify the statement because OBVIOUSLY there WAS contact on Dec. 2, 2008–a mere 7 days before the statement was made.
UnderstandingisPower on December 10, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Important facts to consider:
1: Snidely and Harry have never been seen in the same place at the same time
2: Snidely had an uncanny ability to smell trouble way down the track before it arrived
Red State State of Mind on December 10, 2008 at 8:38 PM
They can hold all the special elections they want here in IL – it doesn’t matter. The one with the most connections wins. Whoever Daley & his army supports will have people pounding the pavement on his behalf.
It sucks here, especially in Crook County.
stoj on December 10, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Illinois has been electing scum like this for decades. What makes anyone think they are in any way upset by this and will elect a Republican in protest. Remember folks, these are the same people that elected Obama with 75% of the vote in 2004 and keeps electing Daily as mayor over and over and over. For crying out loud Jesse Jackson Jr. is an elected official in Ilinois.
angryed on December 10, 2008 at 8:42 PM
Show your support for our ongoing movement with an Obama
four-year calender-or share one as a holiday gift.
Entelechy on Dec 10,2008 at 8:31PM.
Entelechy: “Change is coming”
Interesting how ‘the supporters’ have to go on ‘blind faith’
for the ‘One’,on change is coming!
And a “four year calender”,its almost a joke,Team Hopey
wants to sell the calenders to ‘the supporters’!
You would think,maybe,that Obama would be sending them out
free, as a goodwill gesture,in a form of a thank-you for
the support!!!—————–:):).
canopfor on December 10, 2008 at 8:44 PM
SO what this means is that essentially the US Senate, assuming Coleman wins, will be 57-42 until mid April.
This is not a bad thing… Although I’ll LOL if a Republican wins and the Senate becomes 57-43.
BKennedy on December 10, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Are you folks talking about Mike Ditka?
He spoke at our local pre-election Palin rally before the Divine Sarah took to the stage. Mike was very fired up. I had the sense that he was ready to rumble in order to clean up Washington. His support of Palin was expressed from the heart.
onlineanalyst on December 10, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Yes…I am not sure if it is 100 % accurate, but I’ve read a few places that Ditka was encouraged to run for the Senate Seat (as a R) that Obama eventually won. So it is very plausible that if Ditka had run (and won) we would not be on the verge of the O Presidency. So, tongue in cheek, I’ve sometimes posted “I blame Ditka”.
Now, if he is really interested, I’d love to see him run.
Red State State of Mind on December 10, 2008 at 8:51 PM
This kind of stuff is a badge of honor for Illinois. If Al Capone came back to life they would be thrilled in Chicago.
Four out of seven Gov’s? I mean really. The voters are doing it on purpose.
patrick neid on December 10, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Yeah… maybe he’s earned the nickname “Harry Smelly” (or Hairy Smelly)?
RD on December 10, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Re: Ditka
He is a smart guy and a great leader…but what does he know about government?
Johnny 100 Pesos on December 10, 2008 at 9:22 PM
So it’s going to cost 25/30 million for a new election.
That’s what “Oh-Bummer” had leftover in his war chest wasn’t it?
Have a new election and send a Republican to the Senate on
“Oh-Bummer’s” dime.
samhill on December 10, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Gee, I wonder who will tell Harry to “butt out” of Illinois?
Trochilus on December 10, 2008 at 9:24 PM
I fall into the category of folks who think ‘citizen legislators’ would be better for us than the uber-educated elite politicians who now serve us in office.
I think someone who has been a successful businessman or a successful leader of something is likely to have the basic good judgement to make solid decisions on our behalf.
Red State State of Mind on December 10, 2008 at 9:45 PM
You have seen our Senate, right? When Chuck Rob was representing Virginia, one of the Capital Police said that the man never could find his way around the Capital Building even after years of “service”. It may be a myth but then again it may not be.
Cindy Munford on December 10, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Capone lives still.
OldEnglish on December 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Who is a viable Republican candidate for that seat? We’re going to have to fight for each seat one at a time and I see no reason not to start with Obama’s own Senate seat.
BiasedGirl on December 10, 2008 at 11:41 PM
One Word: DITKA
lavell12 on December 11, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Some comments requested on the following ‘what if’:
Blago’s back is to the wall, he’ll soon be in full ‘get bent’ mode. What would happen if he named a Republican?
SaintGeorgeGentile on December 11, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Harry Reid, doin’ the Senate proud since…um…well, we’re still waiting for that clock to start.
sulla on December 11, 2008 at 1:12 AM
My great fear? The new junior senator from Illinois, Al Franken.
sulla on December 11, 2008 at 1:13 AM
Coach Ditka vs. The Illinois Democratic Party Machine?
Ditka!
SuperCool on December 11, 2008 at 4:32 AM
I’d start watching CSpan just to see Ditka on the floor of the Senate, clipboard in hand, before a major vote telling the other GOP Senators to huddle up and take a knee.
Would mind seeing him grab Lindsy Graham by the facemask and shake some sense into him either…
SuperCool on December 11, 2008 at 4:36 AM
had to fix that
SuperCool on December 11, 2008 at 4:37 AM
SuperCool on December 11, 2008 at 4:37 AM
Personally, I’d like to see Coach head-butt that two-faced worm. Hell, I’d like to see anybody head-butt that lying weasel.
SKYFOX on December 11, 2008 at 5:32 AM
Hmmmmm.
Trolls must have caught a little chill.
Saltysam on December 11, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Blago and Reid have exactly the same interests in their jobs, MONEY. Therefore, they won’t agree about what Reid wants. For Reid, the big payoff is in the lucrative business deals, e.g. real estate, he commands because of how influential he is. He is more influential with a greater majority. For Blago, the payoff now, presuming his influence has waned, is his pay check. He will keep it coming as long as he is able.
burt on December 11, 2008 at 8:07 AM
Well, 2 out of 3 ain’t so bad. Why not give him a shot? I bet he’d do at least as well as these turkeys.
Saltysam on December 11, 2008 at 8:14 AM
I lived in Chicago when I was 14 and all I can remember about it is the ‘68 Convention and riots all the corruption charges against Mayor Daley. This is 40 years later. (ha, just gave away my age) Maybe voters should be required to take a history lesson before they can cast a ballot.
scalleywag on December 11, 2008 at 8:51 AM
The corruption is so entrenched that the same players or their children and other relatives are still looting the city. Frankly, considering the number of children that have replaced their fathers in office, Chicago is starting to look like a feudal European kingdom than one of the largest cities in a modern democracy.
Illinidiva on December 11, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Well, I will give credit where credit is due, and Harry Reid does deserve some credit here.
1) Asking Blago to resign immediately… that’s a no-brainer.
2) Making it clear that he would block any nomination that Blago puts forth… that’s a principled stand, and it’s nice to see that even stopped clocks like Harry Reid can be right twice in one day.
As for the partisan aspect and not assuming that the people of Illinois can’t make the right choice by not favoring a special election, well, that’s another matter. Are BHO’s coattails not long enough to get a candidate of his endorsing elected to keep warm his old Senate butt-print? If that’s the case, then Dingy Harry has far greater problems down the road than this one seat could ever provide.
flutejpl on December 11, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Sheesh… triple negative. Someone didn’t sleep very well last night. Let’s try that again:
As for the partisan aspect and, by not favoring a special election, thinking that the people of Illinois might not make the right choice…
flutejpl on December 11, 2008 at 9:31 AM
I agree 1000%
Vashta.Nerada on December 11, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Reid should’ve done the same thing a long time ago, the scumbag.
I’m moving to Nevada just so I can vote that sucka out.
RedbonePro on December 11, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Are they going to put the Senate seate on eBay like Blago was doing?
DL13 on December 11, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Oh Yes, the people of illinois will have great respect for ANY appointment coming out of Chicago!
Herb on December 11, 2008 at 3:56 PM
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