Edgar says no to governor run (IL)

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/edgar30.html

Dashing the hopes of Republicans who wanted him to make a political comeback, an emotional former Gov. Jim Edgar said today he will not run against Democratic Gov. Blagojevich.

Choking back sobs and wiping away tears, Edgar also said he will never entertain a return to politics again.

“Today I say ‘never.’ This is it,” Edgar said. “This is my last political press conference.”

???

camp this evening.

he's pretty much a shoo-in now

unless he gets a strong primary challenge

Edgar is a solid candidate. Better than anyone the pukes currently have. Good news indeed.

Bloggo is the Democratic example of an embarrassment worthy of Ohio GOP. We had (and have) some superb democratic candidates, and still have a bunch of honest, straight-shooters in the pipeline. Bloggo is more concerned with his presidential run and his headlines, not with doing his job. In fact, he has rarely, if ever, done his job.

I have many close friends in state govt in Springpatch. They are horrified by what he has done to it. The shreading of working elements will only begin to show this and next year. It will be in tatters.

Overall, the rumors of "buying" a state top job with at least a $40,000 donation to his campaign were much more true than false.

Blago is a tool. Edgar knew how to reach out to the other side. Blago recently signed a med mal tort "reform" bill, and I will never forgive him for that. But it's still better to have dems ion charge than the pukes.

to begin with. To the contrary, Little Richie is happier with the GOP than with any Dem agenda.

In fact, the guys who are dems are either in congress or the Senate.
Edgar never allowed his personal feelings to interfere with his public duties - a non-drinking, non-gambling, non-swearing dude who kept his nose and his administration clean.

Bloggo only wishes he had talent like that. I really hope some smart Dems run against him in the primary. The mess Bloggo has made has actually energized the radical ultra-fundie right in Illinois. gawd forbid that he be our candidate, possibly allowing a pissed off Illinois electorate insert one of them morans.

ever voted for in my life.

At the time I felt he was really the best choice.

Speaking for all of us in Maryland, we'd be more than happy to lend him to you again!

sufficiently impressed last year. Thanks for the offer though.

But who in the hell can we field in place of Blago?

and for a lot of reasons

He can't stand the scrutiny if he runs, and he knows Blag will use it against him. Edgar did the smart thing to stay home.

Read here for some info on Kemper and its relationship with Edgar:

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:0B4oE15ir7UJ:www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/65689.asp+%22jim+edgar%22+%22Kemper+Insurance%22&hl=en


Laura

Ex-Ill. Gov. Says He Won't Run Again
Sep 30 11:23 PM US/Eastern


By MAURA KELLY LANNAN
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO

Jim Edgar, the popular two-term Illinois governor who had become the GOP's perennial dream candidate since leaving office in 1999, said Friday he will not seek elected office again.

Edgar ended months of speculation that he might challenge Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2006, saying he made the decision with his wife, Brenda.

Edgar, 59, wiped tears from his eyes with a handkerchief as he made the announcement, calling it the most difficult decision he ever made because of its finality and what he considers Blagojevich's mismanagement of state government.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/30/D8CV02GO1.html

he was making some real money as a lobbyist and couldn't afford to run, until I read this:

"Edgar said he was confident he could have beaten Blagojevich, but made his decision because of his good quality of life, teaching at the University of Illinois and serving on corporate boards."

Edgar does NOT want any examination of that and he knows damn well it will come up if he runs for anything again...

Here is a cached story from the Springfield Journal Register that refers to it. Frankly, it is pretty ugly stuff and Edgar knows Blag will not only use it, but will blow the doors off of the story.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:0B4oE15ir7UJ:www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/65689.asp+%22jim+edgar%22+%22Kemper+Insurance%22&hl=en

Edgar's BANK ACCOUNT really IS much healthier if he doesn't run, I suspect.


Laura