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."
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.
I the "Da Senator" could kick some liberal butt.
Maybe even bring in "Fridge" Perry as an aide
Mike is a legend here in Illinois. He would make a great Senator!
Ditka could be the man you want then. I can't imagine him letting anybody push him around.
I'm all for his candidacy. I would rather have a professional (successful) football coash as my senator than a lawyer.
I fear that we are "raising" our legislators as opposed to our founders' idea of them coming forth from the general populave.
Just because Mike wasn't born with a "weasel's tongue" doesn't mean he couldn't make some accomplishments.
Da' Bears have always been my team. I'm a former resident of Des Plaines (where you can grow excellent tomatoes) and, later, Schaumberg.
The Devil made me move down here to Florida.
"A mere rest stop, I might add, on the road to the foregone conclusion which shall heretofore be known as: 'THE DITKA PRESIDENCY.'"
We agree! I would vote for Ditka in a heartbeat!
'Da Coach', has what the leftists call "an anger management problem" - or what normal people consider appropriate reaction to a personal insult, an old fashioned butt kicking.
>>I love 'Da Coach', but this is utterly ridiculous.
Because you say so?
Maintaining control of the Senate is far from ridiculous.
He'd be the only sitting Senator that had ever paid for my dinner and bar tab directly, if he was elected.
At least I should hear him out, no? ;^)
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