Senator Ditka?

July 9, 2004 1:44 PM

With Jack Ryan dropping out of the Illinois Senate race due to the sex club allegations, who should replace him on the ballot? For one group of Illinois Republicans, there's only one man for the job, a man who already has plenty of name recognition and knows a little something about winning...Mike Ditka.
posted by SisterHavana (25 comments total)

It should be noted that although Ditka hasn't said whether he'd be interested in running, several likely Republican voters like the idea. Even Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is all for the idea.
posted by SisterHavana at 1:49 PM on July 9, 2004

Oh my God. Is there a bigger idiot in the city of Chicago than Mike Ditka? It boggles the mind.
posted by psmealey at 1:55 PM on July 9, 2004

We'll see how much they like it when he trades The L, Soldier Field, and Comiskey Park for Ricky Williams.
posted by trharlan at 1:57 PM on July 9, 2004

Winner? He coached the winning super bowl team in 1985 (back when players still wore leather helmets, I think). Aside from that, he's as mediocre as any other coach and an awful choice for Senate. But then again, my home state elected a former wrestler so what the hell do I know...
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:00 PM on July 9, 2004

I know that Mike Ditka has been to the same sex club as Jack Ryan.
posted by the fire you left me at 2:05 PM on July 9, 2004

Some recent gems from Da Coach:

Secondhand smoke "might make your hair smell, but it's not a proven health risk", Bears-coach-turned-restaurant-owner Mike Ditka said Thursday, leading the charge against a proposed restaurant smoking ban in Chicago.

Reminded that smoking has been banned for years in California restaurants and bars, Ditka said: "That's fruits and nuts. That's what they are. A lot of liberals. . .. All the do-gooders in the world. The people in California who abolished smoking are the same people who want to legalize marijuana. Come on. Give me a break."

On preview: and the team carried Buddy Ryan off the field after the Super Bowl win. Come to think of it, did Ditka ever coach a winner when Ryan wasn't on his coaching staff?
posted by psmealey at 2:06 PM on July 9, 2004

Sigh, I miss Jim Edgar.
posted by gyc at 2:15 PM on July 9, 2004

From a guy that wanted sex too much, and in public, to someone that can't even get it up--too funny

Bayer's Bryan said Ditka has had erectile dysfunction in addition to a heart attack, making him the perfect spokesman for a men's health campaign.
posted by amberglow at 2:22 PM on July 9, 2004

When Republicans get all excited about having people like Mike Ditka or Arnold Schwarzenegger run for office - I wonder if they're the same people who complain that Barbra Streisand, Madonna, and Alec Baldwin should keep their mouths shut about politics because they're just entertainers.
posted by dnash at 2:33 PM on July 9, 2004

As soon as Jack Ryan dropped out, I started hoping for a write-in campaign for John Terrence Kelly (aka John Clark).
posted by alumshubby at 2:39 PM on July 9, 2004

Hypothetical situation... Mini Ditka vs. the Senate.....
posted by qDot at 2:42 PM on July 9, 2004

sex scandal? are you guys the fucking thought police?
posted by Satapher at 2:50 PM on July 9, 2004

Well, Oberweis came in 2nd and should be the GOP candidate but he's not as hardline anti-abortion as they would like. His criticism of Bush's immigration reform also makes him an unfavorable alternative.

There is no way Ditka will run.
posted by john at 2:57 PM on July 9, 2004

alumshubby - heh, nice.
posted by GriffX at 3:03 PM on July 9, 2004

qDot made me laugh.
posted by pemulis at 4:14 PM on July 9, 2004

draft Steve@Linnwood
posted by matteo at 5:51 PM on July 9, 2004

These guys are behind this, methinks.

Polish sausage, anyone?
posted by jonmc at 6:25 PM on July 9, 2004

I grew up eating Oberweis ice cream, and I'll fight anyone to the death who says its not the best in the world, but Mr. Oberweis is a brainless reactionary. Go Dik-ah.
posted by thebigpoop at 6:30 PM on July 9, 2004

News tonight suggested Andrea Barthwell - former Deputy Drug Czar - may be jumping in.
posted by ao4047 at 8:46 PM on July 9, 2004

Oh my God. Is there a bigger idiot in the city of Chicago than Mike Ditka? It boggles the mind.

The Mayor.


I grew up eating Oberweis ice cream, and I'll fight anyone to the death who says its not the best in the world

I buy the milk, but his ice cream is made of corn syrup. Not really interested in another death match tho.
posted by thirteen at 11:40 PM on July 9, 2004

I think the idea of Mike Ditka running for the Senate absurd but could have done without the faux Drudgery of sex clubs and erectile dysfunction, myself.
posted by y2karl at 12:38 AM on July 10, 2004

The coach that popularized the perfect play for 3rd and long (the 2 yard Draw).



Mike Ditka is the only coach to turn a dynasty into a 1 hit wonder through sheer force of his idiotic will. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE draft him Republican party, he'll take you far.
posted by sic at 3:57 AM on July 10, 2004

more on Ditka and other contenders
posted by amberglow at 12:25 PM on July 10, 2004

damn.. remind me never to become a politician. i want to be able to go to these clubs, should the opportunity arise
posted by shadow45 at 6:21 AM on July 11, 2004

Oberweis came in 2nd and should be the GOP candidate but he's not as hardline anti-abortion as they would like.

Plus, he's anti-Mexigan immigrant, which might work in some neighborhoods, but there is no way he'd get elected on that platform.

As far as Ditka goes, he may have a lot of fans in Illinois, but most people seem to be aware that he'd be a complete joke as a senator. We're not California, after all.
posted by me3dia at 9:11 PM on July 11, 2004