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Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Yesterday, the much-celebrated Illinois blogger OneMan set up a “Bill for US Senate” FaceBook page. The idea is to get Bill appointed to Barack Obama’s US Senate seat, which Obama is vacating on Sunday.

The longtime Capitol Fax Blog commenter, who unceasingly defends our embattled, unpopular governor here has proved to be something of an Intertubes phenomenon. Since yesterday afternoon, the Bill for Senate FaceBook page has attracted 131 members (as of 10:15 this morning).

It’s a movement!

* When you think about it, appointing Bill to Obama’s seat is truly the smart move. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has been working the DC commentariat circuit to make himself appear inevitable. It’s Obama vs. Clinton all over again! Do we really want to revisit that long nightmare?

Plus, Jackson has constantly fought with Blagojevich, mainly over the third airport. The bottom line is Gov. Blagojevich just can’t trust Jackson, but he can trust Bill!

* Sneed has this report today about the Obama vacancy…

Sneed hears Gov. Blago, who will choose Obama’s replacement in the U.S. Senate, privately feels there may be only one choice that makes sense: His buddy, outgoing Senate President Emil Jones.

• • To wit: Jones is this/close to Blago, who may pay his pal back for being such a staunch ally. Jones would also be a strong ally in the Senate for his political godson — Obama.

• • Hmmm: Isn’t it true Gov. Blago, who truly believes a federal indictment is not in his future, is hoping Jones would be a placeholder until 2010 — when Gov. Rod could opt for a Senate seat or another run at the governorship? Is someone smoking posies?

Emil Jones? Please. When it comes to Blagojevich loyalty, Jones is a fair weather fan compared to Bill.

* The Sun-Times reports today that Tammy Duckworth’s star is on the wane…

But her odds of landing Obama’s seat appear to be dimming because of her closeness to Sen. Dick Durbin, who has an icy relationship with the governor, yet has sought input into the selection process. This week, Durbin identified Duckworth as being on his list of hopefuls for the Obama seat.

Dick Durbin probably doesn’t even know who Bill is. Yet another outstanding advantage.

* From today’s Tribune…

The stakes are high for Blagojevich, who has become increasingly isolated from other top Democrats. His pick could help him create a positive legacy in the face of record-low job approval and ongoing corruption scandals.

What could be more dramatic than appointing an anonymous blog commenter to the seat? It would be huge news all over the world. Blagojevich’s ratings would go through the roof. Jackson may have some poll numbers that show he’s the best pick, but he didn’t test Bill’s name, so the poll is worthless.

Plus, I know Bill. He’s a great guy. Not exactly telegenic, but whatever.

* GateHouse has a story today with the hed: “Former Lincoln library director explains Obama-Lincoln connection.”

Well, I have it on good authority that Bill once rode in a Lincoln Town Car. So, he’s got that going for him, too.

* You should definitely join the Bill for Senate movement today! If nothing else, do it for your own self interest. Obama inauguration tickets are in short supply in a high demand market, so Bill could snag us all tix!

* If you’re not a FaceBook member, just go to Bill’s page and sign up. It’s free, so it’s definitely worth every penny.

If you are a FaceBook member, make sure to invite your fellow FB friends to join the movement. Let’s get this thing rolling, people!

* Bill’s FaceBook followers almost outnumber those of Senate wannabe Jan Schakowsky, and we’re rapidly closing in on Congresscritter Jackson’s crowd [sorry, but there will be no FB links to the competition].

* For the rest of my life I will regret not mentioning Bill’s candidacy during my National Public Radio interview, which is airing this morning.

Don’t let the same thing happen to you! Join the Bill for Senate movement today!

Noted Illinoisans, including some famous media personalities, politicians, even Republicans, are already signing up. Just go over there and scroll through the membership list to see for yourself. It’s simply astounding. For crying out loud, Bill has support from Utah. I’ll bet Jackson can’t say that!

There’s even an Obama campaign guy on our side. Could that be a signal from on-high? Probably not, but we’ll take it!

* Bill is not an African-American and he’s not an Hispanic. He’s a balding, kinda aging white guy. I admit, that could be a political problem. But isn’t it time we moved beyond that sort of thing? Has Obama’s victory taught us nothing?

* OneMan has even created a couple of TV ads. Henry ain’t exactly David Axelrod, but he’s all we’ve got at the moment and I don’t see JJJ posting stuff on YouTube, so we’ve one-upped that media hound. Here’s one of OneMan’s spots, which has the eloquent title: Bill for Senate Two…

Brilliant!

* OneMan even set up a Bill for Senate blog. It misspells Capitol Fax on the main page, but no worries. The important thing is we’re using high technology to our advantage just like Obama himself!

* Bill for Senate, baby! Some people may look at this and ask “Why?” Our reply: “Why the heck not?!”

There are no comments on this post. Instead, I want you to go over to the Bill for Senate page and leave your testimonial. Time is short and the stakes are high, so get over there now!

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Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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The replacements *** UPDATED x5 *** Claypool backs out *** Schulter says he’s in *** Obama out on Sunday ***

Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE *** Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. has been lining up newspaper endorsements for Obama’s Senate seat, he took a poll to bolster his campaign, he’s been sending reporters so many press releases (from his government account, no less) touting himself for the appointment that his own wife called him a “beast” this week, and now he has a FaceBook group: Appoint Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. to the United States Senate. The group has 247 members and was created by Kenny Johnson, who was backed by Jackson when he ran a losing race for the Illinois House last February against a former Obama staffer, Will Burns.

It’s all getting to be a bit much.

*** UPDATE 2 *** OneMan has created a new FaceBook page: CapFax Commenter ‘Bill’ To Replace Senator Obama

Let’s all join!

*** UPDATE 3 *** Claypool backs down…

Cook County Board Commissioner Forrest Claypool said today he will not run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who has been tapped as President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff.

“I’m not going to Washington,” Claypool added, responding to speculation that he would take a post in Obama’s administration. “I’ll be staying local.”

Claypool is a former chief of staff to Mayor Richard Daley and has been in the political consulting business with David Axelrod, Obama’s top political advisor.

Claypool’s decision comes as his ally on the County Board, Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) is “seriously considering” a run for Emanuel’s 5th Congressional District seat.

*** UPDATE 4 *** Schulter says he’s in…

Forty-seventh Ward Alderman Gene Schulter said he is definitely running for Rahm Emanuel’s seat in the 5th Congressional District.

*** UPDATE 5 *** Obama resigns Sunday…

President-elect Barack Obama said today he will step down from his Senate seat effective this Sunday.

[ *** End of updates *** ]

* Valerie Jarrett says she doesn’t want Obama’s Senate seat, ending days of speculation…

Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and adviser to President-elect Barack Obama, today took herself out of the running to replace him in the U.S. Senate.

“I am not interested in the Senate seat,” Jarrett told the Tribune in an e-mail this afternoon.

* Senate President Emil Jones was evasive when asked about whether he had personally lobbied for the seat…

“It would be a great honor, you know” Jones said. “It would be a great honor.”

Pressed about his chances of getting appointed by Blagojevich, a longtime ally, Jones said: “I don’t know.”

Jones brushed aside questions about whether he had talked to Blagojevich, saying, “You think I should?… Since you asked the question, maybe I should.”

* Sen. Dick Durbin has asked for a meeting with Blagojevich, but that hasn’t happened yet…

Durbin—at IWU today to speak to a class on elections – said Obama should be replaced by someone “who understands there are 102 counties in this state.”

Durbin says he’s got some good candidates for the U.S. Senate, but the choice isn’t his…

Durbin told News 25, “There’s only one vote in this election—it’s Governor Blagojevich, and I don’t have a close personal relationship with him, but I’ve asked to meet with him and talk about this because the person he’s going to choose is someone I’ll be serving with in Washington”.

Durbin has complained before about not getting his calls returned by the governor, so we’ll see if he gets his meeting.

* Join the club, Dick…

Durbin says he hopes to give some recommendations to the governor soon, but he has “no idea” who really has Blagojevich’s ear.

* More Durbin…

“I want a colleague in the Senate who understands that there are 102 counties in this state, and all of them need help,” the Springfield Democrat said.

* Tammy Duckworth is on Durbin’s list…

“I have several names and certainly Tammy would be on that list,” said Durbin, visiting an Illinois Wesleyan University class Wednesday.

* But others want Duckworth in a different job…

A grassroots effort is underway for Barack Obama to appoint Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War and onetime congressional candidate, as Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs in his incoming administration.

Democratic-leaning veterans groups are pushing the appointment among activists and reporters, even launching a petition drive to get Duckworth into the administration.

“If Tammy was offered the Secretary of the VA, she’d excel at it,” said Jon Soltz, the head of the veterans group VoteVets.org and one of the leading advocates for a Duckworth appointment. “She uniquely understands the issues facing not just older generations of veterans, but our newest veterans as well.”

Indeed, Duckworth would be well situated to take on the post. Not just because she has served in Iraq (where she lost both her legs) and currently heads the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, but also because she has strong ties to Obama’s inner circle.

* Congressman Danny Davis recently expressed his interest…

“Yes, I am interested. Yes, there are people who have suggested to me that they would be supportive and that they are supportive of an effort to convince the governor to appoint me to fill that vacancy,” Davis said.

“I couldn’t think of any reason I wouldn’t be interested.”

* And in a different contest, this maneuver would be far, far tougher to do now than back in the “old” days…

Meanwhile, there’s an intriguing wrinkle in the race for Mr. Emanuel’s seat: talk that he really only wants to serve as chief of staff for two years, and wants a mere seat-warmer who would give the job back when Rahm so requests.

Mr. Emanuel’s spokeswoman terms that talk “false and ridiculous.” But at least one source, who claims to have discussed the possibility with Rahmbo personally, says he really was reluctant to give up the seat and really would like to keep his options open to reclaim it down the road.

If that talk is true, look for municipal finance banker John Borovicka, Mr. Emanuel’s chief of staff, to run for the House and for Mr. Emanuel to cut lots of Chicago-style deals to get it for him. (Mr. Borovicka, who also has never run for anything, says he’s thinking about running but has “no plans” to seek it.)

Mayor Daley helped put Emanuel in Congress, but his organization ain’t what it used to be since the Sorich patronage office prosecutions. Rahm might have talked about a place-holder, but pulling it off will be tough, especially considering all the people who are lining up to take the seat.

* Somewhat related…

* Illinois won’t get extra inauguration tickets

* Treasurer proposes Obama resolution

* Giannoulias pushes plan to recognize Obama

* Illinois senators remember Obama in their midst

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