Posted on 07/10/2004 7:14:23 PM PDT by RWR8189
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS -- Da Bears or Da Senate.
Most conversations involving fans of the Chicago Bears eventually revert to the 1986 Super Bowl championship and their ringleader, Coach Mike Ditka.
"Iron Mike," as he is known, won more than 100 games for the Bears from 1982 to 1992 after a distinguished playing career with the Monsters of the Midway.
Now 64, Ditka is making news outside the gridiron. It has been speculated that he may enter the political arena. The prize -- a U.S. Senate seat now up for grabs after incumbent Republican Peter Fitzgerald announced he would not seek re-election.
Jack Ryan, who won the Republican primary this spring, and was scheduled to face Democrat Barack Obama in Nov- ember, withdrew from the race amid pressure from party stalwarts.
Divorce records revealed that Ryan's ex-wife accused him of asking her to perform sex acts at various sex clubs. With Ryan apparently out of the mix, the Republicans are now looking for a candidate with name recognition to take on the highly-favored Obama.
Ditka could be that candidate. Other former athletes have made it big in politics -- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Bradley, Jesse Ventura, Steve Largent and Jack Kemp, to name a few.
"This is the first I've heard of it," said Jeff Hoch of Herrin, a self-described Bears fanatic. "At first glance, I like the idea, but when it comes down to voting, I go with my conscience. I'd have to know where Mike stood on some important issues like abortion, domestic partnerships, taxes, business, and stem cell research."
Hoch said if Ditka were to follow Republican Party lines, he might be inclined to vote for him. "What I do know is that Ditka is one who would stand up and be accountable. I believe him to be a man of integrity." Hoch added that the Republican Party is not only reeling from Jack Ryan's sex scandal, but also from former Gov. George Ryan's license for bribes scandal. "Either way, it's going to be an uphill battle," he said.
Amy Turner of Carterville said the Republican Party would be making a mistake by asking Ditka to represent the party in November.
"I think if they would stick a name out there that is friendly (to the voters), they would be doing so because they feel the pressure. Really, it would be a bad thing," she said. "Mike Ditka has no political background. I couldn't even tell you what he stands for. It's ridiculous. I'm not a fan of career politicians, but I'd like to have someone running for office with some political knowledge. I'm not sure Ditka has even served on so much as a PTO board."
A staunch Democrat, Turner said she would not vote for Ditka even though she is from Chicago, is a huge Bears fan, and is appreciative of the work he did as the team's head coach.
"I think Ditka's an intelligent guy, but I don't know if he has enough appeal statewide," Turner said. "I think he might offend too many people. I just know I wouldn't vote for him."
Turner's husband, Dan, stands on the opposite end of the political aisle from his wife.
"I absolutely would vote for Mike Ditka if he ran on the Republican ballot," Dan Turner said. "He definitely has some leadership qualities. Of course, I'd still like to see what his thoughts are. As opposed to Jack Ryan, I think he'd make an excellent candidate."
Josh Dunderdale of Herrin used to work for the Bears as a sales representative for their radio broadcast of games.
"I really don't have any strong feelings about Mike Ditka running for senator, but I would say he is a powerful person who I would describe as a successful leader. He seems to express himself well. How that would transfer to politics is hard to say."
Dunderdale said Ditka could garner a large percentage of the Chicago vote because of his immense popularity. "For me to vote for him, I would have to find out a lot more about him."
Maybe Sean asked 'do you know how many books I've written?' and J.D. is counting them.
Interesting. The Senate could use a Republican with some balls...they're getting scarce.
JD is a good congressman. Just look how he dwarfs Sean.
I hope he runs and wins. I can't imagine why anyone in Illinois would want to vote for Osama.
BTTT
Rhetorically, of course.
Ditka puts on his game face for first debate with DumDems...
Ditka prepares to cast deciding vote on gay marriage ban...
All the Grabowski's would vote for him!
Ryan doesn't have any political experience either. Ditka would do better handling the rabid press-he's used to it. I hope Ditka decides to run. Obama is a very left liberal. The Senate seat will go Dem unless Illinois Republicans pick someone like Ditka. It's bad enough we have to suffer with spineless Durbin.
I like JD but his voting record is sad. The JD in that photo dwarfs the JD of today, he has lost a lot of weight.
If he's conservative he should run. How anyone did not filter Ryan's past is beyond me.
As a Republican, we need to have leadership that has backbone.
I'm a little worried about the "sports tough guys." I always fear that on the big issues, they will go for what they think makes them look good in the media. Ditka has enjoyed almost exclusively positive media coverage post-football, why would he risk tarnishing his image by, say, voting for English-only education, welfare cuts, and immigration restrictions? If his convictions are as strong as his play was hard, then he'll be the greatest thing to hit the Senate in memory. If he's doing it for him, and not for the country, he'll only disappoint.
A staunch Democrat, Turner said she would not vote for Ditka ...
Would she feel the same demand for experience for Hillary or for yet another spawn from the Kennedy clan.
Right about here, I would guess...
Why not. The Republican Party in Illinois is in shambles. What have they got to lose?
Along that same vein, hope that Guiliani is going to try to put the stake through Hitlery in 2006 - victory would never be as sweet.
Nobody ever accused Ditka of being spineless. Bad tempered, maybe?
Dan Reeves, a fellow football coach, likes to tell the story of a card game where Ditka stood up and threw his chair so hard that it stuck in a wall.
I'm sure the media will replay the clip of him grabbing Otis Wilson by the Jersey during a game.
Then there was Ditka throwing a clipboard to the ground during a game, his chewing gum at a heckler in the stands and his famous, "Ditkuth? Ditkuth? What's a Ditkuth?".
I'm not sure how Conservative he'd be, but he'd liven things up a bit.
We can only hope.
A guy like Ditka could really get under Hillary's skin. This has potential.
Daaaaaaaaaaa Senate.
Mizz Turner's negative spin is laughable.
Ditka has character and integrity.
"Why not. The Republican Party in Illinois is in shambles. What have they got to lose?"
Dittos on that. They are about to write off this race anyway.
Ditka has name ID. Oberweis has money but no name ID. Any other candidate they pick will lose in obscurity...
Vet Ditka for brains, political spine, and for being able to articulate a GOP political position, then get him in the ring. He's likely more qualified than some of the loser senators in there (Murray the dimbulb, Shrillary, Barb check bouncer Boxer, KKK Byrd the Senile).
And I cant believe he's as bad a RINO as Arnie S. is, another case of the party getting "saved" by a celebrity candidate. Anyone who enjoys a big cigar and spent his life ordering 300 lb men around cant be *that* wussy. :-)
SuperFreeperfans: [ beer mugs raised ] Da Bears!
Bob Swerski: With me as always are the SuperFreeperfans. Gentlemen, how was your week? Any heart attacks?
Carl Wollarksi: I had one.
Todd O'Conner: Had a couple.
Bob Swerski: Alright. That's too bad.
Todd O'Conner: Thanks, Bob. Ya know, believe it or not Bob, according to the odds-makers, San Fransisco is favored to win the Super Bowl.
Bob Swerski: San Fransisco huh? Well, you know who's gonna be happy about that then. Da Democrat queers!
SuperFreeperfans: Da queers!
Bob Swerski: Alright. Now, as you can tell, we're celebrating Ditka's impending election to Cangress here at Ditka's cause...it's appropriate.
Pat Arnold: Absolutely!
Bob Swerski: We're getting ready to watch Ditka annihilate Osama, Subama, whataver. And it's important to remember that there are other elections out there, for example, dis guy Kerry. He's terrible!
Pat Arnold: With a really bad haircut.
Carl Wollarski: It really makes you want to shed da tears.
SuperFreeperfans: [ beer mugs raised ] Da tears!
Bob Swerski: Alright. Now, gentlemen, if you'll indulge me a bit, I've got some family here, myself. Like Ditka, she's a winner - the current Miss Southside of Chicago, my daughter, Denise Swerski.
Denise Swerski: [ walks out with a plate of food ] Hey, what's up! Hey, Dad! Brought you this all-American apple pie from home!
Bob Swerski: Thank you, darling.
Denise Swerski: Just a few more minutes before Ditka starts kicking some ass, huh?
Bob Swerski: Some girl, huh, guys?
Carl Wollarski: The girl's got spunk.
Pat Arnold: You know, she's got a real Mrs. Senator Ditka quality.
Carl Wollarski: Hey, Denise.. [ stands ] Look at this! [ pulls up his shirt ] Rush Street, after the Niner's game. I was kicked by a cop's horse, trying to pin a Ditka fer Senate button on him.
Todd O'Conner: Oh, yeah..? [ stands ] Check out this! [ pulls up shirt ] four years ago, Miami-Dade City-County Building, after the Bears humbled da Dolphins 110-2. I threw myself in the doorway of a meeting room so the dirty Dems couldn't steal the vote for Gore.
Denise Swerski: Now, that's.. my kinda guy..
Todd O'Conner: Maybe you'd like to come here and back that up!
Bob Swerski: Hey, hey, hey, Todd.. easy, pal.. come on, that's my daughter, huh?! Hey! Don't make me go over there and inflict some damage Ditka-style! Alright, enough. We're all very fortune to live in the world's greatest democracy, and that's the real message of this election season. So let's all join in the Election night prayer.
SuperFreeperfans: [ beer mugs raised ] Da prayer!
Bob Swerski: We thank Ditka, and God, for all they have provided, for the food we eat, the air we breathe, and for the electoral domination enjoyed by a certain coach, from a certain town...
Todd O'Conner: Hey, hey, Fox is getting ready to report turnout.
Bob Swerski: Alright, alright, we'll get back to that later. Okay, by my watch, we're about five minutes from da polls closin. Now, let go around the room for some predictions. Pat?
Pat Arnold: Ditka, 68 to 46.
Bill Swerski: Okay. Pat. It don't add up, but okay. Todd?
Todd O'Conner: Ditka. 100-zip.
Bill Swerski: Oh, really? You don't think that Obama will get a single vote?
Todd O'Conner: No, I do not! Ditka's campaign is like a wall. You can't go through it!
Bill Swerski: Alright. How about you, Carl?
Carl Wollarski: I say Ditka, 52 to 48.
Pat Arnold: Oh, what?! Come on!
Carl Wollarski: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I gotta give Obama's supporters credit - I think they'll steal enough votes to give Ditka a game!
Bill Swerski: Alright, leave him alone, that's his prerogative! Okay, gentlemen, another scenario: Da Pubbies, they don't make it to the polls.. and the only one who shows up is Ditka. Ditka versus all the Democrats. Okay, what is da result, gentlemen.
Pat Arnold: Alright, I gotta say Ditka 84, Obama 16. Ditka just barely gets by.
Bill Swerski: Alright, that sounds exciting. Perhaps, you know, a late Ditka groundswell.
Carl Wollarski: Yea, just Ditka? I say he wins by 800,000 votes.
Bill Swerski: There ya go. Well, here's Fox calling the election with da exit polling, and it's Ditka. Ditka, Ditka, Ditka. Say hello to Senator Ditka!
SuperFreeperfans: [ beer mugs raised ] Senator Ditka!
He's probably only one who could keep the seat for the GOP in Illinois. Whether he can overcome Obama Barack by November is the $64,000 question. One only Mike Ditka can answer.
Wonder why he left out J.C. Watts?
Has Coach Ditka himself made any public comments about a possible candidacy?
I seriously doubt Ditka is a RINO.
If nothing else, he has donated over $17,000 to Republican campaigns in the past 15 years, including $1500 to Bush/Cheney '04.
The real question is if he is willing to take a massive pay cut.
Over the winter I watched an interview with him by Bob Sirott (who I met many, many years ago) on the show Chicago Tonight. He impressed me as a guy who simply says what he thinks. Ditka isn't dumb, he just doesn't care about the "niceties". It would be great to see him get up and call a shovel a shovel.
"If nothing else, he has donated over $17,000 to Republican campaigns in the past 15 years, including $1500 to Bush/Cheney '04. "
Good enough for me!
I have no idea...I'm in GA, just having fun with this post!
I the "Da Senator" could kick some liberal butt.
Maybe even bring in "Fridge" Perry as an aide.
That was most excellent! My congratulations on turning that out so quickly!
Amy Turner, A STAUNCH DEMOCRAT from JIMMY Carterville, said, "The Republican party would be making a mistake by asking Ditka to represent the party in November."
Notice how the Dem's are always trying to help us out by giving us wise political advice.
Wouldn't it be great to see Bush and Ditka campaigning together in Chicago?
Wouldn't it be sad if Kerry had to spend a lot of time and money trying to hold on to Illinois? A state that I'm sure he was thinking was safe.
Yep. And if they see him as a mistake, that makes him an excellent choice.
Ditka would probably be the only Republican who could pull any votes out of the Chicago area. From what I hear from some of my Illinois co-workers from downstate is that are just waiting for a "non-democratic" savior to come along and deliver them from the clutches of the "evil Chicago cabal".
Ping
Not being from IL you are excused for not knowing how things work here.
'WE' have this thing called the 'combine', they're movers & shakers of NO political convictions and are really who select who will be on all the tickets. And if you've ever ticked off the 'combine' you can't be elected dogcatcher in Cairo (pronounced 'kay-row').
The 'combine' consists of crooks and cronies, bag-men and bribers who 'vote' for anyone who will line their pockets with the most cash, and who will give their relatives the highest paying gubmint jobs. They change parties like we change our socks.
And FYI, IL is truly an equal opportunity corruption state. Dems, Republicans, makes no difference. The combine 'runs' them both.
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