* This assertion by Ed Genson has to come as a relief to Democrats who were worried that Gov. Blagojevich was just crazy enough to think he ought to fill Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat…

Gov. Rod Blagojevich will not fill the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, an appointment federal prosecutors say he tried to sell to the highest bidder, according to a news report.

Mr. Blagojevich’s lawyer said Wednesday that the governor would not name someone to fill the vacancy created when Barack Obama was elected president, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

“(U.S. Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid said that they’re not going to accept anybody he picks. Why would he do that?” said Ed Genson, Mr. Blagojevich’s lawyer. His remarks came at a news conference that followed an impeachment hearing in Springfield.

* The Sun-Times adds its voice to the growing chorus calling for a special election…

Apparently hoping you’d be distracted, state Democratic officials have reversed course on holding a special election early next year to fill the state’s vacant Senate seat.

Never mind, the Democrats say.

Costs too much.

It is stunning to see that little more than a week after our governor was charged with letting base considerations undermine public policy, members of his own party have jettisoned principle and let base considerations undermine public policy.

We thought we’d get a reprieve. A little bipartisanship. A bit of consideration for what’s best for the people.

But no, Democrats are afraid that if the seat goes up for election, rather than have a new governor fill the spot, then the voters might choose someone who’s not a Democrat. Namely, a Republican.

* The Pantagraph counters with a slap at the Republicans…

The last thing Illinois needs in the midst of turmoil following the governor’s arrest is having either party playing politics.

To borrow a phrase often used by Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, this is a time for statesmanship not partisanship.

Yet the Illinois Republican Party is sending out messages with alarmist phrases such as, “Don’t let the Blagojevich Democrats appoint our next senator.”

Talk about guilt by association.

We suppose there are some “Blagojevich Democrats” left out there - such as soon-to-be-retired Senate President Emil Jones - who did Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s bidding.

But there also are a lot of Democrats who dislike the governor as much, if not more, than Republicans. After all, the vote to form an impeachment committee was unanimous. […]

We also wouldn’t consider House Speaker Michael Madigan a “Blagojevich Democrat.” He is certainly a Democrat, so it’s no surprise he supported Blagojevich over Republican Judy Topinka in the last gubernatorial election, even serving as a leader in Blagojevich’s campaign.

But considering his opposition to Blagojevich on numerous issues, there’s no way he is a “Blagojevich Democrat.”

* And the Rockford Register Star slams the Illinois Republican Party for misrepresenting facts in its latest TV ad…

Although the ad does not specifically say we endorse a special election, it strongly implies that we do.

We see no need for a special election and said so in an editorial published Tuesday.

We think Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is qualified to select Barack Obama’s replacement as Illinois’ junior senator. We think a special election would deprive the state of representation too long and be too expensive.

The ad also would make you think the president-elect favors a special election. He has not said whether he favors a special election or whether he thinks Quinn should make the selection. […]

The ad also tries to tie Quinn with Blagojevich. “Now Blagojevich’s lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, wants to handpick our senator, going back on his word.”

Quinn is not Blagojevich’s lieutenant governor; he’s the state of Illinois’ lieutenant governor. Quinn has been a frequent critic of Blagojevich and has no relationship with the governor. The two men have not spoken to each other in 18 months.

*** UPDATE *** The RR-Star complains today that their earlier editorial was completely misrepresented by the IL GOP, but I took a look at the editorial and here’s what it says…

Anyone whom Blagojevich appoints would be tainted by whispers the seat was bought rather than earned.

A special election is the only way to ensure the seat is given because of merit instead of money.

Yes, it was about making sure Blagojevich didn’t appoint somebody, but they did say they liked a special election. They doth protest too much.

[ *** End of Update *** ]

* The Peoria Journal Star, which endorsed a Senate President candidate favored by Gov. Blagojevich, whacks the Dems hard for backing the governor in the past…

It reminds us of a conversation with some local Democratic Party leaders in 2006, when we expressed dismay that they could back any candidate who, it was alleged even then, seemed so corrupt. The answer we got was disappointing. Essentially it was a shrug, accompanied by a-Democrat’s-gotta-support-a-fellow-Democrat explanation. We warned then that theirs might be a short-term gain, long-term loss, that Rod Blagojevich could very well take the party down with him - just as now-imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan did his - no matter how weak the alternative

* And Tammy Duckworth is let off the hook by the local media…

A woman who’s name has surfaced as a possible contender for president-elect Barack Obama’s senate seat was in Bloomington Wednesday.

Tammy Duckworth, who is also the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, was presenting the “Veteran of the Month” award.

Duckworth said she didn’t want to comment on the ongoing Blagojevich investigation or the status of the vacant senate seat, but she did want to clear one thing up.

“I have not spoken to the governor about the senate seat, I have had no conversations with him, I’ve just been focused on my job,” she said. “My name has been floated but that’s not anything I have ever put forward myself.”

* On a semi-related topic, an ultra conservative columnist claims that House GOP Leader Tom Cross is…

a pro-abort who was Blagojevich’s college roommate

The two men never went to college together, so they couldn’t have been roommates.