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Da Coach Tinkin' 'bout da Senate
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| MisterOpus1 |
Well, why not? I mean he should know all about "strategery", right? He'll just break it down like this: the GOP are the "X's", and everyone else on the planet are the "O's".
JUST RUN RIGHT THE OVER 'EM COACH! MOW THEM ALL DOWN!!!!!!
| quote: | Some in Illinois Want Ditka for Senate
Tue Jul 13, 7:17 PM ET
By MAURA KELLY LANNAN, Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO - In a measure of the Illinois Republican Party's desperation and Chicago's devotion to Da Bears, a movement is afoot to draft the team's brash, tough-talking former coach Mike Ditka to run for the U.S. Senate.
Ditka, a Hall of Famer who led the team to the 1986 Super Bowl and now spends most of his time on TV as a football analyst and pitchman for a casino and an impotence drug, has said it is an exciting idea, but he has not made up his mind.
"I am very conservative, and a lot of people aren't going to like that. I am very outspoken, and a lot of people aren't going to like that. But that's me," Ditka said in Tuesday's Chicago Sun-Times. "I want the best for this country, the best for this state, the best for this city, that's what I want. It's simple."
What started out almost as a lark has become a real possibility to the Illinois Republican Party, which has been unable to find anyone of stature who wants the Senate nomination.
The GOP is still without a candidate nearly three weeks after Jack Ryan dropped out over embarrassing allegations in his divorce papers that he took his wife, "Boston Public" actress Jeri Ryan, to sex clubs before they split up.
The party's top choices have refused to run, leaving GOP leaders scrambling to find a replacement with the money and recognition to beat state Sen. Barack Obama, a Democratic rising star, with less than four months to go before the election.
"I think Da Coach would be a great U.S. senator, and I'd love to see him on the floor of the United States Senate," said GOP Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, whose retirement is creating the open seat. "The question I would have is: Would he want to give up the wonderful life he enjoys now to take on the chores of being a public servant and having 12.6 million bosses?"
Ditka would just be walking onto another gridiron, said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
"I'd say, `Mike, you've had several bruising experiences in your life. Be prepared for another one,'" McCain said.
Ditka has become known as a conservative Republican since his years with the Da Bears, the nickname for the team drawn from the local patois and memorialized in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch.
In 2000, he warmed up a crowd for then-candidate George W. Bush by saying the W "stands for women. I believe women want a man for president of the United States."
If he ran for Senate, Ditka could energize the Republican base as well as independent voters, and possibly put Illinois back into play for Bush, Fitzgerald said.
Ditka, 64, said a potential run is very much on his mind, even though his wife, Diana, has been telling the media: "I wouldn't bet on it."
"I'm getting excited about it and I'm just thinking about it," Ditka told WGN-TV from his Chicago restaurant on Monday.
Thousands of fans have weighed on the www.draftditka.com Web site — created to urge Ditka to become the state's GOP chairman but transformed into a Ditka-for-Senate movement.
Even Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, thinks Ditka would be a good choice, though he predicted Obama will win no matter who runs against him in November.
Blagojevich noted Ronald Reagan (news - web sites) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) made the transition from movies to politics, and former sports stars have done the same. "If they can do it, Mike Ditka can do it," Blagojevich said.
But Ditka, who recently joined ESPN as an NFL analyst, could lose his endorsement deals if elected. He also has a new clothing line and his restaurant. He said he plans to decide on a Senate run by the end of the week.
Mike Lawrence, interim director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, said the GOP's fascination with Ditka is understandable.
"In some respects, the Republicans are in the position where it looks as if they're going to have to throw a Hail Mary here," he said, "and Mike Ditka was an All-Pro end."
Associated Press Writer Dennis Conrad contributed to this story from Washington.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...illinois_senate |
I wonder if the Refrigerator Perry and McMahon will be on his staff? |
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| Shakka |
| What is it with celebs trying to get into politics these days? Rarely is it ever a good thing! |
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| MisterOpus1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
What is it with celebs trying to get into politics these days? Rarely is it ever a good thing! |
I agree, and it looks, at least on the surface, like Republicans are playing a popularity contest, rather than running on substance.
For example, the latest polls out in California have given Arnold Schwarzenegger very high approval ratings - 64%, but only 43% approve the state of the state in CA. 62% also believe that raising state taxes is ineviteable, even as Arnold and the CA Congress is borrowing the crap out of everything to stay afloat. Not to say that his aides aren't competent, but I personally want to see more critical, intelligent thinkers in government positions, and I just don't see Ditka fitting this bill.
Just to be clear, I would be just as critical if Ditka was runnin' on the Dem. ticket. |
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| Shakka |
| quote: | Originally posted by MisterOpus1
I agree, and it looks, at least on the surface, like Republicans are playing a popularity contest, rather than running on substance.
For example, the latest polls out in California have given Arnold Schwarzenegger very high approval ratings - 64%, but only 43% approve the state of the state in CA. 62% also believe that raising state taxes is ineviteable, even as Arnold and the CA Congress is borrowing the crap out of everything to stay afloat. Not to say that his aides aren't competent, but I personally want to see more critical, intelligent thinkers in government positions, and I just don't see Ditka fitting this bill.
Just to be clear, I would be just as critical if Ditka was runnin' on the Dem. ticket. |
And I think Ah-nold has no business in politics--though when it comes to California anything goes these days. All of the fruits and nuts are in California. |
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| xKaoSx |
Im glad he finally jacked the Indian Casino's for money.
Those ******s have been free loading and not paying forever.
Damn people sit on their reservations and get 40k a year for doing nothing.
He had to give up letting more slot machines into the casinos or whatever but who really gives a rats ass- |
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| Shakka |
| quote: | Originally posted by xKaoSx
Im glad he finally jacked the Indian Casino's for money.
Those ******s have been free loading and not paying forever.
Damn people sit on their reservations and get 40k a year for doing nothing.
He had to give up letting more slot machines into the casinos or whatever but who really gives a rats ass- |
True--that was a very smart(and VERY needed) move. He probably got the idea from Buffet. |
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| imokruok |
| If Ditka decides to run, don't shoehorn him into the mold of some stupid football coach. One of the reasons Ditka is legendary in Chicago is because of his press conferences, where he would fluently address several topics of the day, one of which just might happen to be football. |
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| Ang ' ela_ie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
What is it with celebs trying to get into politics these days? Rarely is it ever a good thing! |
Lets review some of the more popular celebs in politics:
Ronald Reagan
Jerry Springer
Arnold Schwarze-however the hell you spell his last name
Mike Ditka
No, rarely is it ever a good thing. In fact, with the exception of a few things Reagan did, I cant really say I know of anything good resulting as far as this list goes... |
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| Shakka |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie
Lets review some of the more popular celebs in politics:
Ronald Reagan
Jerry Springer
Arnold Schwarze-however the hell you spell his last name
Mike Ditka
No, rarely is it ever a good thing. In fact, with the exception of a few things Reagan did, I cant really say I know of anything good resulting as far as this list goes... |
Throw Sonny Bono and Jesse Ventura in that list and it makes it even more obvious--though Ventura did some good and had some good points, I just think he was out of his element when it came to politics. |
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| MisterOpus1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
Throw Sonny Bono and Jesse Ventura in that list and it makes it even more obvious--though Ventura did some good and had some good points, I just think he was out of his element when it came to politics. |
Hey, speaking of Ventura, anyone else gettin' pumped up about the new Alien vs. Predator movie (AVP)?
I saw the cardboard promo thingy right before walkin' into Spiderman 2 the other day, and nearly scared the crap out of the Mrs. yellin' "YEEEEESSS!!!!"
I can't wait. |
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| Q5echo |
| mutherflippin werd AVP! |
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| DaveSZ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
What is it with celebs trying to get into politics these days? Rarely is it ever a good thing! |
I can't think of a single example of when it was a good thing.
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
Throw Sonny Bono and Jesse Ventura in that list and it makes it even more obvious--though Ventura did some good and had some good points, I just think he was out of his element when it came to politics. |
Yeah Jessie has some good ideas - especially concerning how to end the war on drugs - but he was in over his head I think.
It's a corrupt and undemocratic system he had to deal with in the first place.
| quote: | Originally posted by MisterOpus1
I agree, and it looks, at least on the surface, like Republicans are playing a popularity contest, rather than running on substance.
For example, the latest polls out in California have given Arnold Schwarzenegger very high approval ratings - 64%, but only 43% approve the state of the state in CA. 62% also believe that raising state taxes is ineviteable, even as Arnold and the CA Congress is borrowing the crap out of everything to stay afloat. Not to say that his aides aren't competent, but I personally want to see more critical, intelligent thinkers in government positions, and I just don't see Ditka fitting this bill.
Just to be clear, I would be just as critical if Ditka was runnin' on the Dem. ticket. |
He also dropped the lawsuit against Enron instead of attempting to get the billions Enron stole from Californians by artificially raising energy prices back for them.
I used to like Arnold until I had read about that.
http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=283&row=1
| quote: |
Arnold Unplugged - It's hasta la vista to $9 billion if the Governator is selected
Friday, October 3, 2003
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It's not what Arnold Schwarzenegger did to the girls a decade back that should raise an eyebrow. According to a series of memoranda our office obtained today, it's his dalliance with the boys in a hotel room just two years ago that's the real scandal.
The wannabe governor has yet to deny that on May 17, 2001, at the Peninsula Hotel in Los Angeles, he had consensual political intercourse with Enron chieftain Kenneth Lay. Also frolicking with Arnold and Ken was convicted stock swindler Mike Milken.
Now, thirty-four pages of internal Enron memoranda have just come through this reporter's fax machine tell all about the tryst between Maria's husband and the corporate con men. It turns out that Schwarzenegger knowingly joined the hush-hush encounter as part of a campaign to sabotage a Davis-Bustamante plan to make Enron and other power pirates then ravaging California pay back the $9 billion in illicit profits they carried off.
Here's the story Arnold doesn't want you to hear. The biggest single threat to Ken Lay and the electricity lords is a private lawsuit filed last year under California's unique Civil Code provision 17200, the "Unfair Business Practices Act." This litigation, heading to trial now in Los Angeles, would make the power companies return the $9 billion they filched from California electricity and gas customers.
It takes real cojones to bring such a suit. Who's the plaintiff taking on the bad guys? Cruz Bustamante, Lieutenant Governor and reluctant leading candidate against Schwarzenegger.
Now follow the action. One month after Cruz brings suit, Enron's Lay calls an emergency secret meeting in L.A. of his political buck-buddies, including Arnold. Their plan, to undercut Davis (according to Enron memos) and "solve" the energy crisis -- that is, make the Bustamante legal threat go away.
How can that be done? Follow the trail with me.
While Bustamante's kicking Enron butt in court, the Davis Administration is simultaneously demanding that George Bush's energy regulators order the $9 billion refund. Don't hold your breath: Bush's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is headed by a guy proposed by … Ken Lay.
But Bush's boys on the commission have a problem. The evidence against the electricity barons is rock solid: fraudulent reporting of sales transactions, megawatt "laundering," fake power delivery scheduling and straight out conspiracy (including meetings in hotel rooms).
So the Bush commissioners cook up a terrific scheme: charge the companies with conspiracy but offer them, behind closed doors, deals in which they have to pay only two cents on each dollar they filched.
Problem: the slap-on-the-wrist refunds won't sail if the Governor of California won't play along. Solution: Re-call the Governor.
New Problem: the guy most likely to replace Davis is not Mr. Musclehead, but Cruz Bustamante, even a bigger threat to the power companies than Davis. Solution: smear Cruz because -- heaven forbid! -- he took donations from Injuns (instead of Ken Lay).
The pay-off? Once Arnold is Governor, he blesses the sweetheart settlements with the power companies. When that happens, Bustamante's court cases are probably lost. There aren't many judges who will let a case go to trial to protect a state if that a governor has already allowed the matter to be "settled" by a regulatory agency.
So think about this. The state of California is in the hole by $8 billion for the coming year. That's chump change next to the $8 TRILLION in deficits and surplus losses planned and incurred by George Bush. Nevertheless, the $8 billion deficit is the hanging rope California's right wing is using to lynch Governor Davis.
Yet only Davis and Bustamante are taking direct action to get back the $9 billion that was vacuumed out of the state by Enron, Reliant, Dynegy, Williams Company and the other Texas bandits who squeezed the state by the bulbs.
But if Arnold is selected, it's 'hasta la vista' to the $9 billion. When the electricity emperors whistle, Arnold comes -- to the Peninsula Hotel or the Governor's mansion. The he-man turns cat and curls up in their lap.
I asked Mr. Muscle's PR people to comment on the new Enron memos -- and his strange silence on Bustamante's suit or Davis' petition. But Arnold was too busy shaving off his Hitlerian mustache to respond.
The Enron memos were discovered by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, Los Angeles,
www.ConsumerWatchdog.org
Greg Palast is author of the New York Times bestseller, "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" as well as "Regulation and Democracy" (with Theo MacGregor and Jerrold Oppenheim), the United Nations guide to utility deregulation. Read Palast's commentaries at www.GregPalast.com. Reprints permitted. Contact: [email protected]. The Enron memos were discovered by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, Los Angeles, www.ConsumerWatchdog.org. |
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/utilities/pr/pr003708.php3
| quote: |
NEWS RELEASE
Oct 03, 2003
Enron E-mails Confirm Schwarzenegger-Ken Lay Meeting
Enron E-Mails Show Arnold Met With Ken Lay During Energy Crisis
Santa Monica, CA -- Internal Enron e-mails confirm that Arnold Schwarzenegger was among a small group of executives who met with Lay at the posh Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel in May of 2001, in the midst of California's energy crisis. View the e-mails. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which obtained the e-mails, is calling on Schwarzenegger to acknowledge the meetings and disclose the information that was presented and discussed. The meeting with Enron occurred ten days after rolling blackouts darkened California for two consecutive days; Schwarzenegger has previously said that he does not remember such a meeting. |
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