So, Da Coach ain't running. And many people rejoice.
KRT Wire | 07/15/2004 | Ditka won't seek U.S. Senate seat, blasts gay marriage: Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka said Wednesday he would not ask Republican leaders to make him their U.S. Senate nominee, forcing a political organization hobbled by scandal and infighting to search for another candidate to replace primary winner Jack Ryan. "Five, six years ago I would have jumped on it and would have ran with it, and I know this, that I would make a good senator, because I would be for the people," Ditka said in an impromptu news conference in front of his Near North Side restaurant. "But . . . I have made commitments. I have obligations, and that's basically the whole reason I've chosen not to go in that direction."
Then, in Ditka's typical blunt-speaking fashion, the former coach launched into an unsolicited tirade about a Massachusetts court decision legalizing gay marriage. "What's the matter with right and wrong? Talk about right and wrong. It's either right or wrong. There's no in-between," Ditka said. "And I'm not going to change, and you're not going to change me, no matter if some judge in the state of Massachusetts or the Supreme Court says it's right. It's not right. Wrong is wrong."
Dillard Considers Senate Race; Oberweis Shows Interest
NBC5.com
POSTED: 4:12 pm CDT July 18, 2004
UPDATED: 4:36 pm CDT July 18, 2004
An Illinois state senator said he plans to decide later this week whether he'll seek the Republican nomination in the race for U.S. Senate, while a wealthy dairy farmer who lost in the primary is considering taking another shot at the vacancy. For more than three weeks, Republicans have been trying to find a replacement for millionaire Jack Ryan who dropped out of the race after the release of embarrassing sex club allegations.
State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, said he's discussed the possibility of replacing Ryan with several GOP officials. [...] Meanwhile, dairy owner Jim Oberweis said he's still considering whether he wants to be appointed as the Republican to challenge Obama.
On the one hand, it's got to be great to be Obama at the moment. Until the Republicans come up with a candidate, he doesn't have to say a single solitary word on the issues. He doesn't really have to say anything about anything; he just has to make sure that he keeps his face in front of the public so that they don't forget he's running.
On the other hand, it's got to suck to be the Illinois GOP central committee. Not only do they have to replace a candidate, but they get to be seen floundering about the issue in public. It can't engender confidence that finding a replacement for the nominee (whom they kind of didn't want anyway) has proven to be such a difficult task. And when the nominee finaly makes an appearance, it will be apparent that it's not going to be the first or second or even third choice. Which will also not be good for them.
On the up side for us residents, at this point, the national GOP has probably written off Illinois as unwinnable for the Senate. We're not considered a swing state for presidential politics. Thus, we're likely to be spared the relentless presidential and Democratic nominee visits and campaigning. (Which, yes, can be informative, but somewhere along the way wind up being an intensely irritating event.)
Posted by iain at July 18, 2004 09:37 PM
