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Question of the day

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Illinois

* The setup, which is from last week…

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett plans to run for Illinois attorney general in 2010 - even if incumbent Lisa Madigan seeks a third term…. Birkett… said the attorney general position is his best fit, regardless of whom he faces on Election Day.

* The Question: Now that Madigan has decided to run for reelection, do you think Birkett drops out of the race or stays in? If he drops out, what does he run for? And how does he explain himself?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:24 pm

Comments

Impossible to predict what a guy like that does, but doesn’t really matter. He’s done as a statewide contender.

Comment by Just sayin Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:30 pm
he would be well-advised to just drop out now. let the media make fun with him and get it over with, rather than dragging this out only for the media to make fun of him all along the brutal way.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:32 pm
He should stay in. Once you jump onto a roller coaster, you can’t get off until the ride is over.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:33 pm
Rich,

Hasn’t Birkett done a flip like that when he ran for LG, focusing on another office then settling in on LG and then tried to explain away his new candidacy? Please help. Thanks.

Comment by In the Land of Silos and Cows... Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:33 pm
Burkett could still win this thng…Lisa Madigan was the chief law enforcement officer in this state. How could she allow Blago to get away with all his shenanigans? Madigan and all the politicans in Springfield knew there was something fishy was Blago reported raising such huge sums of money in an off year. And yet, she let it just slip by?

Comment by Carrie Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:38 pm
He should cut his losses and admit what is blatantly obvious to everyone. There’s little to be gained from getting beaten in a general election, except a feeling of deja vu.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:39 pm
Didn’t Birkett just say that Lisa has done a great job as Attorney General?

Comment by AGforLife Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:40 pm
Dillard doesn’t even think Birkett can win.

“Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard kicked off his run for governor in Hinsdale today, where Madigan was a topic of discussion.

“She’s been a good attorney general and if she wants to stay there, that’s fine,” Dillard said. “With Lisa Madigan out of the race, it clearly makes this at least an even, if not a Republican-tilting field. Personally, I’m glad she’s not going to be my opponent in the general election. I believe my chances are better with Pat Quinn or someone else than Lisa Madigan. I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I’m the governor.”

Dillard clearly forgot about his own party’s announced candidate for attorney general: DuPage County State’s Atty. Joe Birkett.” http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/07/madigan-to-seek-reelection-as-attorney-general.html

He’ll probably pull out after a month or two.

Comment by HK1979 Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:41 pm
Carrie,

I understand your logic, however Lisa stood on the sidelines because the Federal Boys asked her to.

Comment by Speaking at Will Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:42 pm
I bet today’s announcement might put a little crimp in his fundraising efforts. He should probably just move to Iowa. He’s a prosecuotr, you know. Maybe they need one.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:42 pm
Plenty of politicians have run in races against “unbeatable” opponents and run.

Who thought Carol Moseley Braun could have beaten Al Dixon in a primary?

Jane Byrne against Michael Bilandic?

George W. Bush vs. Ann Richards in the general election in Texas?

Comment by John Ruberry Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:45 pm
2nd run—should be “won.”

Comment by John Ruberry Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:46 pm
come on now people, let’s be honest birkett didn’t even think that birkett could beat lisa madigan in 2010. he stated last week that he declared ONLY because he was certain that she would run for something else (e.g., senator or governor).

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:47 pm
Birkett is currently going into cardiac arrest with the thought of having to face Lisa Madigan again. If I were him, I wouldn’t bother running. This race is the biggest lock there is: MADIGAN.

Comment by nice kid Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:48 pm
He should run for Guv and explain its because he needs to let Kirk Dillard know who he is. The hard way.

Comment by Kamp Krusty Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:50 pm
John Ruberry,

Birkett ain’t got nothin’ on Madigan like what was goin on in the races you mention. There is no Al the pal controversy or snow involved. Ann Richards was just conservative enough for Texans until a “real” republican came along.

Birkett better say that he was mis-quoted, just kidding or find a cute kitty to point to - he’s toast. He’s a prosecutor - what else is there? He has a chance at getting re-elected. He should stick with what he knows. That’s what Lisa is doing.

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:52 pm
Birkett’s statement should read:

“Ive decided to stay in my current position, where I can continue to do fun stuff like sending innocents like Rolando Cruz to death row. Hey, stop whining. At least the courts got that one right eventually”

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:53 pm
Perhaps that’s why he announced on the Friday before the Fourth of July…

And Carrie, in addition to Speaking at Will’s note that the Feds asked Lisa Madigan to stay out of it as they investigated Blago, she as state Attorney General does not have as many powers as they do to investigate in the first place.

The end of this 2008 TIME magazine article has one mention of a Blago investigation that the Attorney General opened, but then turned over to US Attorney Fitzgerald at his request. That happened in 2006, during Blago’s reelection campaign, and may have been why Lisa Madigan never endorsed Blago’s reelection.

Comment by Rob_N Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:55 pm
Birkett is in a lose/lose situation. If he drops out, it paints him as a coward, a flip-flopper (after saying he’d wring regardless of Lisa’s decision), and a repeat political offender after the 2006 race. If he runs and gets his teeth kicked in, and he would, that makes him a three-time loser, and a three-time statewide loser at that.

As much as I’d love to not have him be the SA out here anymore, he just cant hack it statewide.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:56 pm
Edit: “wring” should be “running.”

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 12:58 pm
A couple more losses and Joe Birkett will be giving Jim Oberweis a run for his money!!

Comment by train111 Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:02 pm
He should drop out and run for governor or senator. Somebody’s going to win the GOP primary for those races. And this is probably his last go-round so he might as well go for one of the big jobs.

The fix is easy. He’ll just explain that “supporters from all over the state urged me to reconsider and run for xxx instead.”

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:06 pm
he should drop out and run for re-election, saying dupage needs him. maybe he could get some prominent dupage republicans to publicly beg him to do that?

Comment by been there Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:06 pm
Proposed Birkett Campaign Slogan: “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get… Oh sh!t, she’s staying in? Uh… never mind.”

Joe will back out gracelessly and stick with his spot at the top of DuPage County’s nepotism/patronage pyramid.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:19 pm
From Greg Hinz
And if you happen to see Joe Birkett in a bar today, buy him a drink. He could use it. He announced last week for AG, but now (if he proceeds) he will lose to Lisa Madigan even worse than he did seven years ago.

Comment by I'm Just Saying Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:28 pm
Birkett could beat Mark Kirk in a statewide primary for US Senate. If Joe stays in the AG race, he’s dead meat.

Comment by Reformer Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:35 pm
===Birkett could beat Mark Kirk in a statewide primary for US Senate.===

If that actually happened it would be one of the most telling events in regards to the ILGOP in a long time. Birkett has absolutely no credentials worthy of the US Senate. SA in DuPage? Give me a break.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:41 pm
What exactly are the credentials for running for US Senate, OBAMArama?

Comment by Kamp Krusty Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:43 pm
Birkett backs out and decides to run for LT Gov.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:58 pm
Birkett has been checkmated. He needs to beat Madigan. He has no other options. He will need to be a great candidate and hope that Daddy Madigan continues to soil the family name enough to win.

I highly doubt it, but Birkett has to be desperate.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 1:58 pm
The poor man will tearfully announce that due to a health problem (probably an ingrown toenail), he is abandoning his bid for Attorney General. Birkett will then ask the reporter present if he has any questions, only to find out the man is part of the custodial staff for the hotel ballroom he rented for the news conference, who came in to replace a light bulb.

Comment by fedup dem Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:04 pm
Kamp Krusty:

I completely understand the irony of my handle relative to my comment (and touché by the way). That being said, I would start with a demonstrated knowledge of the national/global economy, foreign relations and the administering of ANY level of educational services.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:11 pm
By virtue of the fact that Birkett announced his candidacy prior to and regardless of LM’s decision, it shows that he is deeply detached from the political reality.

Kirk may be a craven opportunist for sitting on the sidelines while waiting for the Madigan cartel to make a decision, but at least he’s acknowledged the current political climate.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:16 pm
Skeeter, Joe Birkett was not part of the Cruz prosecution. He wasn’t even the State’s Attorney at the time. It’s all public record go have a look.

Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:36 pm
After making his grand announcement in front of a tree, the day before a holiday weekend, Joe Birkett is likely having a bad day today.

I’m sure his campaign staff will make sure that the rest of the campaign runs this smoothly.

Comment by Todd H. Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:41 pm
===Skeeter, Joe Birkett was not part of the Cruz prosecution. He wasn’t even the State’s Attorney at the time.===

Wrong.

“Birkett was serving as chief of the office’s criminal division in 1995 during Cruz’s third trial.” Daily Herald, 2/24/02.

(from seizeliberty.com)

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 2:44 pm
Anon.,

If you look into the WHOLE court record you will find that Birkett was involved in post conviction activities which included continuing to support the conviction of innocent men by trying to link them with the REAL KILLER - Dugan. Birkett could have dropped the prosecution after the last successful appeal but continued to pursue the issue until a DuPage Judge dismissed the charges due to lack of evidence. So, he was involved - you just have to read the whole file - try it.

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:33 pm
Right on, DuPage Dan.

Additionally, he could’ve avoided a trial all together for Dugan (saving us taxpayers a little bit of dough) by accepting his guilty plea which was offered up in exchange for not seeking the death penalty. But since his reputation and ego were so badly bruised in the previous dozen years he sees this as an opportunity for redemption–a misguided idea to say the least.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 3:55 pm
Birkett stays in the race. The fiscal mess created by Blago, Madigan, Jones and Quinn will be much on voters minds in Nov. 2010, not Rolando Cruz.

Comment by cousin ralph Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:17 pm
Birkett WILL drop out-don’t think he will run for any other office. Too much money to raise and stress! Now who runs for Governor? That WILL be interesting! No one probably wants it at this point!

Comment by Fed UP!!!!!!!!!! Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 6:39 pm
Sorry, cousin ralph, but I’ll be remembering Rolando Cruz, and I’ll tell everyone I know about that whole sorry, messed-up saga.

Now, IF Joe Brickhead chooses to apologize to Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Cruz for their many years of false imprisonment for a murder they did not commit and were not guilty of,

and IF Joe Brickhead apologizes to the Nicarico family for selling them such a bill of goods as to who was responsible for their seven-year-old daughter’s murder (hint: it wasn’t two Hispanic gangbangers whom even the cops stood up for, it was a sex offender who committed a few more rapes and murders after he killed Janine),

then MAYBE I’ll consider voting for Brickhead Joe, and telling all my friends about his redemption. But if he pulls a Jim Ryan and refuses to apologize at any point for his active role in this whole sorry mess, I won’t vote for him, and I will actively campaign for the candidate running against him.

Comment by LynnS Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:13 pm