Mike Ditka for Governor?

It’s a sad period for the state of Illinois — so sad that there is talk of putting our only recent symbol of football glory into the state’s highest office. Yes, if you haven’t heard Mike Ditka is being bandied about as a candidate to replace “Johnny Rotten” a.k.a. Rod Blagojevich as governor upon his likely resignation. It was reported in today’s Chicago Tribune that a 27 year-old suburban Chicago man, Shaun Radecki, has launched an internet campaign to get Ditka into office. If you go to dagovernor.com you’ll find the covenant:

“We da people of Illinois are sick and tired of scumbag politicians who think dat it’s their job to lie, cheat and steal. No more! We deserve somebody in charge who we can trust. Somebody who we can depend on. Somebody who we know understands the difference between right and wrong and won’t be afraid to kick corruption in the ass harder than da ’85 Bears beat down da Patriots in da Super Bowl! “

And of course the site is driven by an assortment of “featured products” all bearing the mustachioed pseudo-mobster sillouette of “da coach”  and reading “Ditka for Governor.” The effect is oderously similar to California’s “The Governator” yet slightly more tongue-in-cheek.

Given that I’m a long-time resident of Chicago’s Cook County (others say ”crook county”) I’m predictably not amused. Where others see “crusading” here, I see American greenbacks. Indeed given the stridently idealistic tone of the project, it’s ironic that products feature so prominently on the site. And there’s no indication that the funds reaped will go towards the campaign. Just in time for the Christmas rush I might add…

Bogus as Radecki’s endeavor may be, Ditka is no stranger to politics. He campaigned for the recent McCain/Palin ticket and was briefly considered as a viable opponent to Obama in the 2004 Senate elections. But does the 69 year-old Ditka with a history of heart trouble have the fortitude to operate within the Byzantine halls of Illinois politics? Likely not. Furthermore, he’s good at one liners but he doesn’t have the temperment for sustained debate, as witnessed in his clumsy attempt last year to get the NFL to fork over for ailing players of his generation.

At the end of the day, as with all things in Illinois politics, the outcome of Ditka as governor, will come down to money. He’s got a good thing going with his commercial ventures — particularly his three restaurants, which have thus far proved to be recession-proof. Why would he want to jeopardize his good name on such a position of ill-repute?

Explore posts in the same categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Blagojevich, Illinois, Mike Ditka

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.