# Who will replace Obama or McCain in the Senate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2008, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616 "2008-10-26T06:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![unclelem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ac91a4/32.png) [@unclelem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclelem)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/21 "2008-10-27T19:09:38Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > I assume they are no longer eligible to retain their seat in the Senate. So, who takes the winner’s seat? The governor of their state will appoint a replacement until the next election is held. In Texas when Tom Delay left office, we ended up voting for both a person to finish out the current term and for a person to fill the office in the next term in the same election. ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/22 "2008-10-27T19:46:03Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > Speculation abounds (just do a quick Google search for countless names) over whom would be chosen. The choice is up to the governors, as **DtC** mentioned. > > For Obama, Gov. Rod Blagojevich [D] of Illinois. Illinois state politics are a mess right now, so it’s anyone’s guess. Some have suggested that the governor might just appoint himself, since he’s not too popular at home anyway. > —SNIP Is this legal? If the governor can just appoint themselves, then would it be legal for SP to appoint herself if sen whassisname is convicted of the bribetaking and leaves office? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/23 "2008-10-27T19:56:05Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > If you have any sympathy for the good people of Illinois, this is a very good reason to vote for McCain. Blahblah is an idiot, and supposedly to be indicted at some point. He would appoint one of his crooked political hack buddies from Chicago. As a Chicagoan I hear much in the media about how low the opinion of Blago is, but they are always very sparse on specifics. Do you have insight on exactly what it is that he’s done that’s so fubar? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/24 "2008-10-27T21:49:46Z")
> [@gurujulp](#): > > Is this legal? Don’t know why it wouldn’t be. Although the 17th Amendment gives state legislatures the authority to grant the governor the appointment power in this instance, so presumably the Illinois legislature could implement a rule which prevents the governor from appointing himself. > [@](#): > > If the governor can just appoint themselves, then would it be legal for SP to appoint herself if sen whassisname is convicted of the bribetaking and leaves office? Same answer. (Except to mention that sen whassisname did get convicted today. He still has to stand for reelection next week in what was already a close race, so there’s a good chance the situation won’t arise at all.) –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/25 "2008-10-27T23:13:50Z")
> [@gurujulp](#): > > If the governor can just appoint themselves, then would it be legal for SP to appoint herself if sen whassisname is convicted of the bribetaking and leaves office? In Alaska, the Governor can’t appoint to a vacant Senate seat…there wouild have to be a special election. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/26 "2008-10-28T00:24:40Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > As a Chicagoan I hear much in the media about how low the opinion of Blago is, but they are always very sparse on specifics. Do you have insight on exactly what it is that he’s done that’s so fubar? [Do you want that list in order of importance, or alphabetical?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich#Controversies) I think the real controversy is that he seems very, very tied into Rezko’s maneuverings, including being “Public Official A” in the scheme involving consultants picked to present funds for the state pension. There’s an ongoing investigation into him, and maybe Rezko will try to get his sentence cut by talking. He’s also been accused of covering for extortionists in his employ who solicit “campaign donations” and other money from people who work with the government. Not to mention he screws up many of his attempts at Doing Great Deeds, like illegally importing from outside the US extra flu vaccine that went unused, or declaring that the CTA must provide free rides to senior citizens (it used to be a greatly reduced fare), unbalancing the budget they’d finally hammered out and preventing a lot of needed equipment upgrades. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/27 "2008-10-28T06:34:56Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > [Do you want that list in order of importance, or alphabetical?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich#Controversies) I think the real controversy is that he seems very, very tied into Rezko’s maneuverings, including being “Public Official A” in the scheme involving consultants picked to present funds for the state pension. There’s an ongoing investigation into him, and maybe Rezko will try to get his sentence cut by talking. Word is that Rezko is talking. > [@](#): > > He’s also been accused of covering for extortionists in his employ who solicit “campaign donations” and other money from people who work with the government. “Pay for play” is an unfortunately familiar phrase in Illinois politics. > [@](#): > > Not to mention he screws up many of his attempts at Doing Great Deeds, like illegally importing from outside the US extra flu vaccine that went unused, or declaring that the CTA must provide free rides to senior citizens (it used to be a greatly reduced fare), unbalancing the budget they’d finally hammered out and preventing a lot of needed equipment upgrades. And a possible IRS investigation, because he remains a resident of Chicago, and uses state planes to go to Springfield, which they might consider a taxable perk and come down like a hammer on his head. And he wants to shut down state parks, most (if not all) he has never visited. I hear he is contemplating running for a third term. I convulse with laughter. Ms. Mattigan is clearly preferable, and I might have to hold a gun to my head to vote for her. His “Gross Receipts” tax would have killed the agriculture industry in Illinois - which is a significant part of Illinois’ economy. I could go on… ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/28 "2008-10-28T16:45:42Z")
> [@Convict](#): > > I don’t think that Blago and Pat Quinn are buddies so I don’t see Quinn appointing Blago to the spot (should it open). Quinn is advocating for a recall provision to be added to the state constitution so that… certain politicans… could be removed from office if the public so desires. My money is on Jesse Jackson Jr. I used to hear Tammy Duckworth’s name being tossed around but I doubt it. Some conspiracy-minded folks have suggested that he’d appoint Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the senate just to get her out of his hair. Ms. Madigan, when questioned on the radio, said (paraphrased): “He’s not going to reward me with a senate seat for making his life difficult.” ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/29 "2008-10-28T17:44:17Z")
The Chicago Defender calls for Jesse Jackson Jr to replace Obama. Except for the Schiavo vote and the third airport nonsense, he’s been good to my area. But that puts my district into play… :eek: Blago has been interesting. I think he had good intentions, but truly cannot govern–not even his own party. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616/30 "2008-10-29T22:59:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Although Blagoejvich was elected on a promise to end the corruption in Illinois government which led to the federal indictment and conviction of former Governor George Ryan and others, his administration has been plagued by similar controversies. \*\*Polling completed on October 13, 2008 put Blagojevich’s approval rating among Illinois voters at 4%. Blagojevich ranks as “Least Popular Governor” according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers. \*\* > > **On October 23, 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported that Blagojevich suffered the lowest ratings ever recorded for an elected politician in nearly three decades of Chicago Tribune polls.** The survey of 500 registered likely voters conducted showed that 10 percent wanted Blagojevich re-elected in 2010, while three-fourths said they didn’t want him back for a third term. The survey also showed only 13 percent approved of Blagojevich’s performance, while 71 percent disapproved. Only 8 percent of the state’s voters believe Blagojevich has lived up to his promise to end corruption in government. Sixty percent of Democrats did not want him to serve another term in office, and 54 percent disapproved of the job he had done. Among independent voters, 83 percent disapproved of his performance and 85 percent of them rejected a Blagojevich third term. Source: [Rod Blagojevich - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich) If he wants to stay in politics, Blagojevich will nominate himself just to get out of Dodge, and then continue with his stupidity in the big leagues. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-replace-obama-or-mccain-in-the-senate/469616.md?page=1)