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* Slate has Attorney General Lisa Madigan on a list of 20 possible US Supreme Court nominees. I kid you not…

Lisa Madigan, 42, is a rising star in Illinois politics, a friend and former colleague of Barack Obama’s from the Illinois state Senate, and the current attorney general of the state. She is said to be considering a run for governor, and the New York Times named her among a roster of down-the-road candidates for the first female president.

Consider this for Madigan’s column: She successfully argued a case before the Supreme Court, the first attorney general to personally do so in 25 years—while seven months pregnant. The case, Illinois v. Caballes, gave police the authority to use drug-sniffing dogs on the outside of a stopped vehicle without a warrant or reason to suspect possession.

As Law.com notes, Madigan has other serious law-and-order bona fides, such as advocating for stricter supervision and registration of sex offenders, stronger methamphetamine laws, and scrutiny of the state’s gaming industry… Like Obama, Madigan has a background in community organizing. She also taught young women in South Africa during apartheid.

Pat Quinn can only hope, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I was him. Thankfully, I’m not.

* The Toronto Star’s Washington bureau believes Chris Kennedy is a go…

Others close to Kennedy, 45, say the decision to run is a done deal and that in 2010 he will seek the Democratic slot for Obama’s old Senate seat, currently held by controversial appointee Roland Burris.

* Republican gubernatorial hopeful Joe Birkett takes yet another shot at fellow hopeful Bob Schillerstrom…

“I haven’t seen him anywhere in the state other than DuPage and Cook,” Birkett said. “I’m the top Republican vote-getter in the state of Illinois for the past 10 years. I get more votes per dollar than any candidate and that’s a fact. And the reason for that is I have strong record and strong roots here in Illinois.”

Highlighting your perennial candidacies is probably not the greatest idea in the world.

* Speaking of perennial candidates, David McAloon is running for the 11th Congressional District.

…Adding… Springfield Alderman Frank Edwards is running for governor? I don’t get it.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:32 am

Comments

Lisa Madigan’s attacks on the NRA would certainly be brought up.In Illinois,they might not be a big deal but in many parts of the country:it would be a big problem.

Comment by Steve Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:38 am
Birkett can make all the arguments he wants… but he consistently runs into one problem: he has never won a state-wide general election post. He has become a perennial candidate like Oberweis. He should just become content with being the DuPage County State’s Attorney, since that is likely the highest office he will ever hold.

Comment by nice kid Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:38 am
I can only share this: I met Chris Kennedy once at a fundraiser for an out-of-state Dem race and he struck me as a pretty sharp guy and even though his background is in business he definitely has stayed abreast of politics and current events. In other words, he’s no Caroline.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:39 am
===In other words, he’s no Caroline. ===

You can say that again.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:40 am
PS — I don’t mean to smear Caroline Kennedy, just that she didn’t seem like she’d be an effective candidate — if you had told me Chris Kennedy was [insert season pol here] I wouldn’t have noticed.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:40 am
“I don’t know” Joe and “Boss Hog” Schillerstom are both non-factors. Short of announcing that Rolando Cruz is his running mate, Birkett goes nowhere.

Comment by John Bambenek Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:42 am
Enough with the royal families and nepotism in Illinois. You’d think we had a population of 200 or less with the same families in power here.

Lets try something radical like electing someone with no family ties in government, OK?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:49 am
V Man

Since when does a persons name disqualify them for public office? Any and all candidates should be judged on their qualifications.

Comment by MOON Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:56 am
Lisa would be the perfect choice

Comment by Reddbyrd Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:56 am
That would be Frank Edwards.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:56 am
Illinois needs to start fresh with new people in government., Illinois needs to put a cap on how many years one person can serve in office. I think 2 terms should be the max one person is in office.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:56 am
Lisa’s got the most important quality any president wants in their SC nominee — youth.

Seriously, making the list is a nice bump for Lisa from the Madigans’ Chicago friends, but Obama’s got too many heavy-duty UofC and Harvard candidates at the moment.

Still, I’m no actuary, but when you look at the current court, you can see how Obama might be pulling out that list a couple more times sooner rather than later.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:00 pm
Moon, The problem with judging a candidate on their qualifications is that the people of Illinois don’t look at it that way. They go to the election and if they see a name they recognize they will vote for them. I elect a person on their qualification and I do research on that person but I really don’t think every day people of Illinois will do that.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:00 pm
Hey Joe,

Both of you were at Aurora’s Lincoln Day event in Kane county about 2 months ago…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:02 pm
Statewide elections are won and lost in the suburbs..& thats where Schillerstrom has the name ID..so I see that as a plus.

As for Joe Birkett, just go for AG.

Comment by scoot Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:03 pm
I dunno if I want Lisa ‘Drug Dog’ Madigan on the Supreme Court.

I value my civil liberties.

Comment by Leroy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:11 pm
I am pooling for Teresa Lynn Roseborough. She is understanding about how silly some of these lawsuits can be…at least you would think.

Better yet, I am pulling for my daughter. She is 4, an outsider, has no Ivy league education, not a judge and has a good temprement.

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:16 pm
Also, we already had Arne Duncan given a position he didn’t qualify for, is Obama trying to empty out IL? What’s next, Todd Stroger for Commerce Secretary?

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:27 pm
I saw Kennedy speak at Chicago City Club and was not impressed. Watching him read his speech and fumble it when he turned two pages rather than one was painful. He should stay at the mart to avoid further damage to the family name.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:34 pm
It’s always interesting when international newspapers know more about our local politics than we do. The British tabloids are particularly good at this.

The entitlement to office the kennedy’s feel is stunning. None of the generation below Teddy have done much of anything in political office aside from the rhode island guy destroying a barrier on capitol hill with his dui.

Lisa Madigan isn’t in the same class with Roberts, Alito,Souter and Clarence Thomas. Going from single a baseball where your family is backing you to hitting hall of fame pitching in the supreme court is a bit much.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:38 pm
I can’t believe that Wumpus wants to put his daughter on the SC when she probably hasn’t paid any taxes in the last four years. Typical Obama pick.

Comment by ThreeSheets Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:48 pm
What’s not to get about Frank Edwards? Everyone else already out there or looking to run, has run & lost. They are all long time politicians who have never connected.

Hopefully there are more folks like Frank who pop up for statewide office and give the GOP ‘tried & died’ crew a run for their money.

Comment by SangamoGOP Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 12:56 pm
Actually, the Obama-Illinois “brain drain” has been far less severe than many of us expected. Duncan and La Hood are more exceptions than rules.

In the transition team lists that floated around the intertubes after the election, and in various commissions put together since then, I’m amazed at how few names come from Illinois and Chicago.

Comment by Zora Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:02 pm
Outside of the black tie, gallery opening crowd who the heck has ever seen Chris Kennedy? Yes, he can raise money, but his generation of the Clan has a decidedly lousy record in public office and elections. His sis got beat for Gov of Maryland and his cuz got beat in a primary for Congress in MD and both were elected officials at the time. His brothers in, or formerly in, Congress are poster children for Kennedy dysfunction. Chris may be a saint, but his name isn’t going to be worth too much and the electorate is in a pretty cynical mood right now. Legacies and empty suits are definitely not what Illinois is looking for.

Just as New Yorkers (much more inclined to be pro-Kennedy) turned thumbs down on Caroline, this has the makings of a lead balloon. The Dems better think this thing through.

Comment by Abe Froman Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:22 pm
BOSCOBUD

Your comment leads me to conclude that the voters are lazy and do not care. Are you sugesting that the citizens should not select their representatives in elected office?

If the voters choose a well known name, then so be it. That is their right under our constitution and rule of law.

Comment by MOON Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:22 pm
@Zora

Not to mention Emmanuel and Duckworth…

Comment by Ben S. Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:23 pm
I think this was well covered yesterday but looking at 2010 - every possible Senate candidate has to be happy Kirk is slowly walking away from that opportunity. Kirk would have made an impressive run against any of the Democrats mentioned.

Comment by Andy Warhol Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:43 pm
===Kirk is slowly walking away from that opportunity===

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 1:45 pm
Maybe Obama is counting Lisa’s Hispanic grandmother (mexico, with that recipe that Lisa touts) in his consideration for SC. He needs a Hispanic woman appointment to the court.

Comment by Amy Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:15 pm
Alexi or Jan would win a primary against Kennedy. He has no ground game, he has never run or held public office. Can he handle the hits that would come against him? I don’t think the unions would throw support to someone who has put union workers out of work.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 2:26 pm
Frank is my Alderman, he has done a great job in that capacity and I voted for him. However I think he would be better suited to try to unseat “Timmy the Tirant” before he would shoot for Governor. I don’t see him as haveing a snow balls chance. Just my humble opinion.

Comment by Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:18 pm
Birkett and Smilin’ Bob are to DuPage County politics as Hamilton and Burr were to Early American politics. The contempt is palpable. Neither man has much of a chance in any races beyond provincial DuPage, particularly Smilin’ Bob.

Comment by Jake from Bellwood Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 3:39 pm
Moon,
I am suggesting that a well know name is a powerful thing to have. Voters can be lazy, and I admit I was one of those when I was younger. Know I have learned the power research. I am suggesting that the voters look at there choices for the next election. Get all the information on some before you elect them into office.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:29 pm
Boscobud, looking at your last and 11:56 comments, are you saying then that term limits needed because voters are lazy?

Comment by Zora Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 4:53 pm
Zora,

No, I am saying term limits, for example when a professional basketball player is in the winter olympics competing for a gold medal and the other teams don’t have professional players, who is going to win? The Professional basketball team. Same thing in politics. When you have a seasoned politician up against a no name you guessed it the seasoned politician is going to win. I think we need term limits to give other people a chance and those people might have some great ideas that aren’t getting heard. As far as the voters this might give them a little more interest in politics.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 5:10 pm
Birkett isn’t even good at his present job. Bob Avellini walks from his third DUI in four years. Dupage SA can’t make a case? We don’t need Brickett’s dysfunction at the state level. He’d be one disaster after another.

Comment by friendofthedevil Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 7:00 pm
As far as potential candidates go, the race is Lisa Madigan’s to lose. She is the complete package and her biggest weakness at this point is her father. If she can convince voters that she will govern w/o the Speakers influence she can waltz into the Mansion.

Comment by southern illinoisan Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 8:50 pm
As of today, Clarence Thomas was the most underqualified nominee to the Supreme Court (one year as an appellate court judge, 3 years heading a B-level agency). Lisa Madigan would arguably be worse.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:07 pm
If Frank Edwards became governor, he’d never have to fly home on the state plane

Comment by Bookworm Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 10:58 pm
Lake, I hold no brief for Clarence Thomas, but a number of prominent SC justices would be under-qualfied by your standard.

William O. Douglas was never a judge and was chair of the SEC for just two years. William Brennan was a local New Jersey judge. Chief Justic Rehnquist was never a judge, just a Justice Department lawyer. Sandra Day O’Connor was an Arizona state politician who later served on state courts.

Just sayin…

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 7, 09 @ 11:06 pm
Lisa Madiagn does not have enough legal credentials/ecperience to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Slate is crazy for putting her on the list, and the idea is absurd!

Comment by Captain America Friday, May 8, 09 @ 9:20 am
It’s hard for me to take Kennedy seriously as a United States Senate candidate. He’s got money, connections, and a name, but probably not much political talent. I don’t see Illinois Democratic primary voters swooning because of the name.

Comment by Captain America Friday, May 8, 09 @ 9:27 am
Schillerstrom seesm a lot more credible as a gubernatorial candidate than Birkett.
At this point after multiple losses, Birkett’s aspirations seem like a pipe dream.

Comment by Captain America Friday, May 8, 09 @ 9:30 am