Lisa Madigan out is big news: what does that say about those still running?

It's big news that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced yesterday that she is not running for either the office of Illinois Governor or U.S. Senator for the former Barack Obama seat in Washington.

If that's big news, what does it say about all the candidates who are running for those offices. Yikes!

Here's what all the players in this drama want:

Mike Madigan, the Illinois House Speaker: Found himself in a dilemma. He wants his daughter to become Governor, or possibly now US Senator -- Senators do become presidents -- but he also wants to maintain his iron fist majority rule in the Illinois House and the battle over the budget could jeopardize that. He's held back on an income tax increase to protect his daughter and to protect the many spineless legislators who don't want to say if they will support an income tax increase until they know for sure no one of substance will be running against them in this Spring primary.

Gov. Pat Quinn: The deer in the lights. He can't balance his promises of reform against the need to play tough politics. Inept in political diplomacy, Quinn's only talent is to lead often but not always losing campaigns for reform. This time, Quinn was able to reverse course and do nothing to push reform while the wolves ripped the reform chicken to pieces. With Lisa Madigan "in" the race, he could blame everything on Mike Madigan. Now that she is out of the race, he has to blame everything on his pathetic lack of leadership and his hypocrisy.

Senate President john Cullerton: It makes it easier for him to take marching orders from Mike Madigan, who is the defacto governor.

Democratic, spineless legislators: They are falling to their knees crying and yelling "Hail Marys" for their great fortune that they don't have to worry about anything any more. no more important decisions. No more possibilities they will get beat and lose all the perqs and clout and jobs they've gotten their families. And now they don't even have to work. Mike Madigan will do all the thinking for them.

State Republicans: They are in total disarray and divided into two messed up camps. Despite some good leaders, they can't get their act together. Lisa Madigan removing herself from the race allows mediocracy to rule again and anyone can run for office to get a good headline, like Sen Kirk Dillard, who has done what in the past decade? At least Dan Proft, the ultra conservative candidate for Governor, has some good ideas.

News media: We wanted Lisa Madigan to run for either office. She great news. And the dilemma it would cause in Springfield over the budget battle only becomes more dramatic as a news story.

Alexi Giannoulias: Who?

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich: With all the reality shows out of the way, he's left with fighting the U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald who is out to get him with a vengeance. And all he can do is appear on a morning radio talks how that hammers him when he's not looking.

The public: They are left out in the cold.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Lisa Madigan launches her own personal FaceBook Page that she'll update

Here's the message from Lisa's campaign team regarding her new Facebook page that Lisa will personally update with information. It just doesn't say which office she will be running for, the U.S. Senate seat, which makes great sense, or the office of Illinois Governor, which her father already controls:

Check it out! Lisa Madigan just published her own official Facebook Page. Become a supporter today and join the Page at
LISA'S NEW FACEBOOK PAGE.

The new FB Page will be a great place to get all of the latest news stories and photos for the upcoming campaign in 2010. You'll also get exclusive announcements from Lisa herself.

Remember, Lisa's FB Page will be different from the “Citizens for Lisa Madigan” Group. For one thing, it's a lot more personal and Lisa will be updating it herself. The ‘Wall’ has tons of important things to read and share with friends. The ‘Info’ section is packed with interesting facts you probably never knew about Lisa. The Page also features fun and even heartwarming pictures and videos for you to enjoy. And, here’s probably the best part: you’ll be able to tell Lisa what’s on your mind.

So, sign up today at NEW PAGE, and be sure to invite your friends. Let's see how fast we can reach 1,000 supporters!

Thank you for everything you do for Lisa, and we look forward to seeing you at the new Page!

Warmest Regards,
Lisa’s Campaign Team

P.S. There's an older "Lisa Madigan" page that is unauthorized. So, make sure you sign up for the right page at OLD PAGE. We hope to see this other page taken down by month's end.

Battle on to succeed Barack Obama -- still wistful thinking

The fight is already brewing to replace U.S. Senator Barack Obama in the Senate IF he wins the Democratic race this November. Gov. Rod Blagojevich would most likely be the person to name the successor, who would then seek election in a special election bid.

My choice for a successor is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. He has proven himself to be independent, concerned about people not politics, and very talented. His speech to the Democratic National Convention was overshadowed only by the Clinto-Obama battle which despite the hopefuly media pundits is still pitched and energized.

Ray Hanania
www.TheMediaOasis.com

NATIONAL JOURNAL

Illinois Dems Keep Quiet On Possible Senate Vacancy
by Ben Schneider
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008

The next junior senator from Illinois might have been walking in their midst this morning, but attendees at the state delegation's breakfast meeting were careful not to put the cart before the horse.

Lawmakers, candidates and other home state colleagues of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois were in agreement about the agenda -- put Obama in the White House first, and then talk in earnest about a possible successor. "There are people who are out there that are looking for that appointment," said Rep. Dan Lipinski, noting that a vacant Senate seat would be chosen by Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He quickly said he was not among them.

"I think it's best not to really talk about it," Lipinski said. "We know this isn't going to be an easy election."

While they might be skittish or superstitious, there is a long political tradition that names of potential candidates tend to float well ahead of an actual vacancy, and this case is no exception.

Among those mentioned as possible candidates are Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Gutierrez and Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth, who fell just short in a bid for a House seat in 2006. Blagojevich, a former member of Congress, is also mentioned, and he wouldn't be the first governor to appoint himself to the Senate.

Jackson is a co-chairman of Obama's campaign. He could not only replace Obama in the Illinois delegation, but as the only black member of the Senate, a factor that might play into the governor's decision.

Duckworth, a disabled veteran of the Iraq war is a moderate. Blagojevich has not only mentioned her as a possible successor to Obama but is sponsoring a reception for her tonight in Denver.

But while others might be floating her name as a trial balloon, Duckworth is not yet on board, choosing to keep her focus on getting a Democrat elected president, albeit one that might create a job opening for her. "We have a long 70 days in front of us," she said this morning.

Gutierrez and Schakowsky both said they would be honored to serve in the Senate, but also played down interest in the post. "I didn't wake up this morning thinking about it," Gutierrez said.

Jill Morgenthaler, who is running for a House seat, said it didn't matter to her who got the Senate job if Obama moved to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., "as long as it's a Democrat."