Sam Boyd

Sam Boyd is a former assistant web editor at the Prospect

Recent Articles

THEY DO SAY THAT SUNSHINE IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT.

Noted without comment:

He dismissed the notion that his pick would be tainted by the cloud of a federal investigation hanging over his administration.

Blagojevich says there is no cloud hanging over him, only "sunshine."

EMIL JONES: NOT SO SAFE.

Rich Miller and Larry Handlin point out that retired Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones has some serious problems of his own that might make him a poor choice to replace Obama in the U.S. Senate. Miller makes the case:

ILLINOIS SENATE UPDATE.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has given his longest and most detailed interview so far about who will replace Obama in the Senate to Lynn Sweet, but it just ends up making the picture less clear (for a roundup of some possible candidates see this piece by Adam Doster). First of all, Blago denies that he's ruled out a two-year placeholder appointment as Rep. Louis Gutierrez claimed last week, though he does say he'd prefer not to go that route.

SENATOR PALIN?

Politico reports on a new statement by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who warns Sarah Palin not to challenge her for the GOP nomination when Murkowski runs for reelection in 2010. Assuming Palin could win (not a sure thing, but probably more likely than not given Murkowski's ethical issues) would that help Palin win the GOP presidential nomination in 2012? I doubt it.

GUTIERREZ DECLINES SENATE SEAT, BUT WHY?

Rep. Luis Gutierrez said yesterday that he was asked by Gov. Blagojevich if he'd like to be appointed to Obama's Senate seat, but declined because the governor wanted someone who would run for reelection in 2010. If that's true, it probably rules out Emil Jones as a candidate. Valerie Jarett also seems to have taken herself out of contention. It also probably means Jesse Jackson Jr. has a better shot at the seat than I might have thought.

Pages