Blago Considered Appointing Oprah As Illinois Senator
Illinois’ beleaguered Gov. Rod Blagojevich said today that when he was deciding who would take President Obama’s Senate seat he considered appointing talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, a suggestion that Winfrey says left her “amused.”
It makes sense to me. Who has more money than Oprah?
P.S. I heard a guy on the radio today mocking this as ridiculous. Of course, it is. But what’s more ridiculous is that, if she ran, she’d probably win.
Laugh if you like . . . but then explain to me why anyone took Caroline Kennedy seriously as a possible Senator.
Wouldn’t be any more ridiculous than Arnie or what’s his face in Minnesota. Or Kucinich for that matter.
Comment by Kevin (0f9223) — 1/26/2009 @ 8:31 pm
I wouldn’t vote for Kucinich if he were running for dog warden… unopposed.
Comment by John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/26/2009 @ 8:40 pm
Here is Blago’s appearance on The View today. Oh, my. Too bad the clip ends before Nancy Grace shows up.
YouTube: Blago on The View
Comment by Wesson (3ab0b8) — 1/26/2009 @ 8:41 pm
Actually, it would. At least Arnie and Al Franken (or maybe Jesse Ventura?) went through an election to get to their offices. Oprah being appointed to an office is way more ridiculous.
Comment by Steverino (b12c49) — 1/26/2009 @ 9:13 pm
What’s so bizarre about Oprah holding elective office? She has the same qualifications as Mike Bloomberg, success at the media business. That has always been considered sufficient to hold elective office. Her status as a talk show host is no more disqualifying than Ronald Reagan’s career as an actor.
She is also 1,000 times more qualified than Caroline Kennedy to be a Senator. Oprah is 100% personal achievement, while Kennedy’s sole qualification is her geneology.
Comment by Cyrus Sanai (4df861) — 1/26/2009 @ 9:44 pm
CS, your initial question holds an “understood” premise that is not valid. The discussion is not whether Ms. Winfrey can get elected to office. The discussion is about the suggestion she was considered a candidate to be appointed to that elective office. There is a huge difference there.
Comment by John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/26/2009 @ 9:52 pm
Bloomberg was a partner at Salomon Brothers before founding his information technology company.
It would have been entertaining to have Oprah in the Senate and have the MSM worry about her weight along with her loyal viewers.
Comment by daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 1/26/2009 @ 10:03 pm
Oprah is qualified, she would make a better senator than many other democrats (and certainly better than Sweet Princess Caroline). But this is all about Blago, not Oprah.
Still, he did what he had to do, avoid a special election and allow the GOP the chance to pick up a seat.
Comment by Joe (17aeff) — 1/26/2009 @ 10:05 pm
What’s laughable is the idea that Oprah would have accepted the appointment.
Comment by Nels (3e56d7) — 1/26/2009 @ 10:18 pm
What is risible is that Oprah is not only better qualified than Caroline but behind the veneer as an astute businesswoman she is better qualified than Obama. As for Blago, I’m rooting for the shameless S.O.B, the comedy value alone is better than Steward, Maher and the rest of the lib comics combined. Plus soon enough he will sing against his former friends and patrons. It’s going to be a hoot.
Comment by cubanbob (409ac2) — 1/26/2009 @ 11:55 pm
I don’t think anyone can seriously dispute that Oprah has a greater record of accomplishment than Caroline Kennedy. Ms. Kennedy’s modest accomplishments don’t particularly suit her, in my judgment, to be a high-level public servant, and neither do Ms. Winfrey’s. But at least there’s a strong argument to be made with respect to Ms. Winfrey that she’s been very, very successful at something (other than choosing her parents).
Comment by Beldar (ad70fd) — 1/27/2009 @ 4:18 am
Once all is said and done, how big an advance do you think Blago is going to get for his book?
Comment by Pablo (99243e) — 1/27/2009 @ 4:32 am
As for Blago, I’m rooting for the shameless S.O.B, the comedy value alone is better than Steward, Maher and the rest of the lib comics combined.
I’m with you. For sheer entertainment value this cannot be beat. Sort of like listening to Pelosi suggest that non-aborted fetuses from poor families are a drain on the economy. So we need to, you know, abort them. For the country, you know.
In the eight years since Clintoon I had forgotten the hilarity of having the Democrats front-and-center. If laughter is indeed the best medicine then my life expectancy has increased dramatically in the past several months.
Comment by KB (5a6552) — 1/27/2009 @ 5:30 am
Yet another red herring. Reagan ran for his offices. If Oprah throws her hat into the ring and gets elected, that’s great. But being appointed to a seat, where the voters don’t have a say in whether her qualifications are sufficient, is wrong.
Comment by Steverino (b12c49) — 1/27/2009 @ 5:56 am
I’m sure the Oprah revelation occurred while Blago was waiting backstage at GMA. He’s quite the name dropper, Ghandi, King, God.
Comment by Dan F (a67de7) — 1/27/2009 @ 6:54 am
“Her status as a talk show host is no more disqualifying than Ronald Reagan’s career as an actor. – Yet another red herring.”
No, this is exactly correct. It’s not red herring. “Running for office” is not a qualification for any office. Neither is holding it-victory in an election isn’t a qualification either.
“where the voters don’t have a say in whether her qualifications are sufficient.”
This is better. But then the comparison should be to Ford, not Reagan. Ford never ran for the vice-presidency. Voters were unable to consider him qualified or unqualified for that office.
tehag
Legislature after legislature filled with lawyers leads me to conclude that a law degree should be a disqualification for office.
Comment by tehag (862f4d) — 1/27/2009 @ 7:23 am
I never said running for office is a qualification, that’s a silly interpretation on your part.
Holding an office isn’t a qualification? Are you serious? So, experience at the job isn’t a qualification? I need to change my resume next time I go job hunting.
I’m not the one who compared Oprah to Reagan. My point is that if she ran for office and the voters decided she was a good candidate, that wouldn’t get my ire up so much as being handed a high-ranking politcal office simply because of her name.
Comment by Steverino (69d941) — 1/27/2009 @ 7:44 am
Oprah is working what 5 jobs now? (laughable to think she can take on the senate).
Kennedy is the Daughter of a past president, niece of a past Senator, and niece of a standing Senator.
While we’re comparing apples to oranges…….explain to me why anyone took George W. Bush seriously as a candidate for governor of Texas in 1994.
Comment by Oiram (983921) — 1/27/2009 @ 8:58 am
That’s right Oiram, no one should have taken George W. Bush seriously for governor as only the Democrats believe in hereditary office.
Comment by SPQR (72771e) — 1/27/2009 @ 9:13 am