Let's play a round or two of "Fill The Senate Seat".

[Stinky The Clown]

We have two seats to fill. A replacement for the junior Senator from Illinois and the appointment of a new junior Senator from Delaware. I understand both suddenly have other, more pressing commitments.

Who would you like to see?

[kanrok]

1. Sarah Palin

For both seats. She is too big politically for only one senate gig.

[KamaAina]

3. Hell, let's create a fourth branch of government

executive, legislative, judicial, and hockey mom.

:sarcasm:

[KamaAina]

2. A third seat may open up if and when the Senate refuses to seat Ted Stevens (R-Convicted Felon)

but thanks to the repukes' flagrant abuse of the appointment process (see under Murkowski, Lisa), Alaska law now provides for a special election. So Bible Spice can't appoint herself.

In DE, Vice President Biden's son Beau, the state's Attorney General, would do fine save for one minor glitch: His Guard unit has been called up to Eye-rack. Also, outgoing Gov. Ruth Ann Minner is not, to my knowledge, faced with an Alaska-style restriction, and so, assuming the VP resigns his seat before she leaves office, could appoint herself to the seat.

IL is wide open. Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces some ethical issues of his own. It's anyone's guess what he might do.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I'm betting on Beau and Jesse, Jr.

But you're right. Things remain, as they say, fluid.

[KamaAina]

7. Jesse, Jr. would rule!

Did you see how proud Jesse, Sr. looked last night? Imagine his son going to the Senate on top of that!

[RoyGBiv]

6. OMG!

Bible Spice!

:spray:

:rofl:

Oh, that's excellent. :)

[kanrok]

8. As I read the law in Alaska

it allows for the Governor to fill the senate seat within five days of the seat being vacated by "any qualified person." I looked for the definition of "qualified person" but couldn't find it. I presume it means "qualified to run for US Senator." The person so named would be the interim Senator until the special election occurs (within 60-90 days of the seat being vacated). It's a small window of opportunity, but it appears she actually can name herself.

[SoCalDemocrat]

10. Governor appoints replacement - Sarah Palin ?

[kanrok]

11. Blago will do whatever is politically expedient

He's a tool. More interesting to me is what Obama will do vis-a-vis Patrick Fitzgerald. As you know, Blago (and others) are under increased federal heat. The investigation will likely result in an indictment of Blago and maybe his wife. There will likely also be others caught up in this investigation by Fitzgerald. Many of them are dems. Some in Chicago are hoping Obama keeps Fitzgerald as US Attorney for the Northern District so these bipartisan corruption investigations will continue. Obama pledged he would keep Fitzgerald in that position. It will be interesting to see how much influence Rahm Emanuel will have on this decision. Removing Fitzgerald and appointing a US Attorney who is "friendly" to local pols will certainly stand to benefit Blago. So look for him to do whatever he is told (and hence is politically expedient for him) on the Senate appointment.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. We'll have a lot more seats than that.........

Rumor has it that John Kerry wants Sec of State (I don't know if it'll be offered to him, though) and that Obama likes one of the Dem Governors; Kaine, Napolitano, Patrick and someone else for AG.

[IntravenousDemilo]

9. Jesse Jr sounds like a good bet, but terrya (visiting me from Chi) wants Jan Schakowsky. n/m

And if President Obama thinks waaaaaay outside the box and appoints John McCain as SecDef, there'll be a seat opening up in Arizona as well.