Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 06/22/05 4:44 am:
Do you think Daley will make a primary run against Durbin ?
Clarification/Follow-up by Choux on 06/22/05 12:50 pm:
In Illinois, a Democrat has to get "slated" to run by the Democratic organization. If Daley wants to run for Senator, he will get slated, Durbin won't.
Daley has been showing a lot of stress lately due to politics. He makes noise like he wants to get out of the family business. :)
His brother turned down running for Senator as he had better offers after he made a reputation for himself in Washington.
Who knows? I guess I'd like to see him in Washington. :)
Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 06/22/05 1:05 pm:
I don't pretend to know anything about Illinois politics, but I think the big issue will be perceptions as to how badly wounded Durbin might be as a result of this episode. So far, I don't see those wounds as fatal, Hugh Hewitt notwithstanding. Durbin is senior enough in the Senate that the Illinois pols would have to weigh the tradeoff of a (probably) more skillful politician -- Daley -- against a known and somewhat established quantity -- Durbin.
Judging by some of the Chicago-based press coverage I saw, it seems as though a lot of people dismiss Durbin as an empty-headed publicity hound who never saw a microphone he didn't like. He certainly has managed to draw attention to himself.
If events unfold such that Durbin has to step down as minority whip, then I would consider his political wounds fatal. I don't see that in the cards, however.
Clarification/Follow-up by Choux on 06/22/05 1:25 pm:
Illinois politics is fascinating. Who knows what will happen.
I see Durbin making a fatal mistake. The Republicans can run sound bites in the next Senatorial election that would turn off most of the populace here in Cook County. Nazi's...Cambodian Killing Fiends...etc...death by a thousand cuts for Durbin.
But, then, Americans/Illinoisians have short attention spans, and are "what is going on now" ? people. When is the election, anyway? lol...
Oddly enough, the Republicans have been the crooks over the last 30 years. Who'd have thunk that?? :)
Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 06/22/05 1:41 pm:
Durbin will be up for reelection in 2008 (assuming he chooses to run again). He won in 2002 (against weak opposition) despite having voted against the war in Iraq. He is an ardent gun control advocate, a zealous anti-tobacco advocate, and a supporter of the farm community through ethanol requirements and subsidies.
Since Illinois has one Republican Senator (Peter Fitzgerald), I suppose it is not inconceivable that it might someday have two. I think the Daley scenario is far more plausible, however.
Clarification/Follow-up by Choux on 06/22/05 1:52 pm:
VG, Peter Fitzgerald was not slated for re-election by the Republilcan Party because he was considered, well, a "wierdo" he only got in because of voter backlash against Carol Moseley Braun, the first black woman in the senate, who did not exactly distinguish herself.
Barak Obama is the other Illinois Senator if you remember. Illinois has two Democratic Senators.
The REpublican Party is trying to rebuild after a string of scandals as I mentioned above, they have been the crooks in a stunning reverse of the common wisdom. lol
Remember, the Republicnas ended up slating Alan Keyes, the right wing black guy from Baltimore last year to run against Obama? That was after their first candidate went through the scandal of trying to make his actress wife engage in sexual acts in a club in Europe per his divorce papers. Ryan was his name.
Nothing better than Illinois politics. :):):)
Have a great day, vgdude. :)
Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 06/22/05 3:43 pm:
Oops -- sorry about that. My bad. How could I forget Obama?
Sounds like we don't have nearly the quality of scandals here in California that you have in Illinois. Not for lack of trying, though. :-)
Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 06/23/05 6:34 am:
Hugh Hewitt is all over Durbin's case .He is calling for Durbin's censure.
McCain couldn't wait to get to the floor to forgive Durbin after his non-apology .Does he not remember the treatment Trent Lott received after his public mea-culpa? One Dem. after another stood up to demand his removal from a leadership position . Durbin is Asst. Democrat Leader . He should come under the same pressure to step down. Notice that the MSM has circled the wagons around Durbin .When Lott was under fire they joined the fray .
