Illinois needs an effective Senator, regardless of who makes the pick

BE-ELECTED
by Chad Rubel

Names you might not have thought you would hear in 2008: Oh, there are so many. Did you know in the beginning of the year who Kay Hagan, Mark Begich, and David Paterson were? Or even Sarah Palin?

We realize that many of those names you never heard of have come from Illinois. We're sorry. Very, very sorry. Mostly for Rod Blagojevich. Really, really sorry.

For what might be the final name of 2008 you never heard of, let's introduce Roland Burris, the would-be U.S. Senator and answer to a most awkward trivia question.

Yes, you heard from Burris that he was elected comptroller of the state for three straight terms, and attorney general for one term. But the last time he was in public office, grunge was still relevant, Hong Kong still belonged to the British, and The Daily Show didn't even exist, much less with Jon Stewart.

But in politics, you are remembered more for what you've done lately. He ran for governor three times, not doing well in any of the primary contests. In 1994, he lost a three-way race to eventual nominee Dawn Clark Netsch. In 1998, he lost a four-way race to conservative Democrat Glenn Poshard (who had one of the oddest mustaches in modern politics). And in 2002, he lost to helmet-hair, er, Blagojevich. I could even forgive the loss to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1995, but the image of losing is what has haunted Burris in recent times.  

For whatever criticism Ted Kaufman will take in Delaware, at least Kaufman has an understanding of what is going on in Washington. Illinois have two tracks of politicians: one whose ultimate goal is Springfield and the other whose ultimate goal is Washington. Barack Obama was always someone destined for Washington. Roland Burris was always someone destined for Springfield.

Before this whole debacle blew up in our faces, the hope was that Democrats would have a Senate candidate who could get a head start for 2010, someone who knew the ropes well enough and could establish a track record heading into what might be a tough race in 2010. Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson, Jr. were two names who had been in Washington for some time.

Even in New York, where Caroline Kennedy's name is brought up, one advantage for her nomination is that she likely would hang on to the seat in 2010 and 2012. And while Delaware is going the caretaker route, there is a seemingly likely nominee in 2010 in Beau Biden.

If somehow Burris gets seated (don't count on it), Burris will not be that individual. He doesn't have an inkling of Washington, and has spent more time as a lobbyist (and not even a Washington lobbyist). Burris talks about how we need leadership in Washington, but he is likely to get swallowed up by the process, not to mention he would have a strong primary fight if he even dared to run for election.

But in the Nero-fiddling type conclusion to the Rod Blagojevich era, our expectations are obviously lowered. Burris won't likely steal from you, but he won't be an effective senator. He would be a warm body who will vote whatever way Obama wants.

I would look forward to whomever Pat Quinn will pick, but he keeps pissing me off by going for a special election. By the time Quinn gets in and makes a pick, that person will be seen by the Senate as ineffective since someone else might come along and serve for about a year. Quinn's pick will serve much less than two years, unless that person wins election in 2010. Even if you love the idea of having a special election, that person and the person Quinn picks won't have a chance to make a significant impact, if the special election happens.

As long as it has taken Democrats to finally get a true majority of U.S. Senators, it's tragic and pathetic that of all the seats, this one is being treated so poorly. If Democratic leaders had been smarter about this, they would have proposed a temporary replacement that would please them, and then ask Blagojevich to pick that person. By waiting until Blagojevich makes a pick, the embarrassment level keeps climbing higher.

During the craziest press conference seen in some time, Burris said something poignant, "Illinois is blessed to have a talented and dedicated Congressional caucus." He is absolutely right. And Democrats, statewide and in Washington, could have stepped up and picked someone from that talented and dedicated Congressional caucus. Then turning to Blagojevich and telling him, "Nominate this person."

While that may seem crazy, you have to start thinking crazy when dealing with Rod Blagojevich. Because during the press conference, Blagojevich was smiling. And he's still smiling this morning. As we've learned, when Blagojevich is smiling, Democrats are sad. And the more he smiles, the more Illinois is exposed as a disgrace to representative democracy.

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