Benjy / July 9, 2004 2:43 PM

I sure hope he doesn't! I dont' trust the stupid people not to vote for him because he's famous and the last thing we need is another evil GOP senator...

dragonflypurity / July 9, 2004 2:52 PM

Hell no. First Schwarzenegger then Ditka? What's next the Osmonds? We need to stick to politics and not let celebrities try to blind us with their million dollar smiles and hollywood persona to get into office.

Naz / July 9, 2004 2:56 PM

Oh god.

Chris / July 9, 2004 2:58 PM

No, just because he is famous doesn't make him an ideal political figure. People who vote for him based on him simply being famous are idiots.

Vit / July 9, 2004 3:03 PM

I'd rather eat glass than be governed by Ditka.

amyc / July 9, 2004 3:14 PM

How sad (or, if you prefer, hilarious) that the state GOP can find no better candidates for office than apolitical washed-up jocks with distressing facial hair. I would hope the Amazing Obama could still mop the floor with someone like Ditka, but the spectres of Jesse Ventura & Schwarzenegger loom ominously.

Andrew / July 9, 2004 3:24 PM

No. God no. Hell no.

jennifer / July 9, 2004 3:30 PM

I'll second Andrew's "No. God no. Hell no."

I do know about 40 people who would vote for him though and they're all members of my family who would vote for him based on the fact that he's famous and not on political merit. I love my family but they're not smart sometimes.

That being said, Mr. Ditka, please stick to your career in erectile dysfuntion endorsement. Methinks you have more experience in that realm than in the arena of politics.

Benjy / July 9, 2004 4:54 PM

Doesn't Dikta have a few DUIs in his past? Or is that part of the GOP "Family Values" platform?

Steve / July 9, 2004 5:24 PM

In all honesty, Ditka is just about as qualified to be a senator as our preznit is to be president. And he's more articulate than Chimpy, too.

And Benjy, ain't you heard? GOP values are only applicable as a lens through which to heap scorn at Dems. Just spend five minutes with The Drudge Report for a taste of that....

Benjy / July 9, 2004 5:35 PM

I missed this over the holiday weekend, but I guess former Bears safety Dave Duerson also was rumored to be mulling a run at the seat! His name was submitted to the GOP party leaders for consideration. However, Duerson claims to be lean more Democratic than Republican and is supporting Obama.

A lex / July 9, 2004 11:55 PM

Ack, I say!

brian / July 11, 2004 12:36 AM

Free Levitra for everyone!

paul / July 11, 2004 9:51 AM

Besides the dysfunction issue, and the DUI issue, doesn't anyone remember that Ditka was a raving lunatic during the last few seasons he coached here? His press conferences during that period, as fun as they were, contained an amazing display of psychosis.

Also, are all his supports so enchanted by 1985 that we forget what a loser a coach he was afterwards?

'That Ian' / July 11, 2004 9:57 AM

Hell no.

Ramsin / July 11, 2004 9:55 PM

If he could win, yes, of course he should. The guy was able to work with Buddy Ryan, he can work with anybody. I'd vote for him, to be sure.

I wonder if people were as worried about Jack Kemp and Bill Bradley running for office.

lyle from lisle / July 11, 2004 10:19 PM

If he does, I'm writing in my vote for Ditka predecessor Abe Gibron (1972-74, 11-30-1), who's both Arab American and deceased. Make it count!

Cynical / July 11, 2004 11:35 PM

The repubs are in such disarray and so full of it, it really doesn't matter who they run. I personally think Fitzgerald should go for the second term and "take one for the team". He can then write his own ticket for whatever he wants to do next, since even some republicans I know like Obama.

Has everyone been getting the "Keep Ryan" spam, day and night?

Joseph J. Finn / July 12, 2004 1:08 AM

Why, is he hard up for work?

(Yes, I'm a little ashamed of this joke...)

Pete / July 12, 2004 9:22 AM

Of course, he has every right to do so. But should anybody vote for him? Hell, no. It's a very sad comment on the current state of American political discourse that Ditka is being seriously considered as legitimate Senate material by even a small minority of the population.

Joe / July 12, 2004 9:23 AM

No way! This is the United States...our ruling class consists of trial lawyers and people from rich 'old-money' families. If just ANYONE could run for the Senate, who knows what kind of havoc would be created.

Leave the ruling to the ruling class.

amyc / July 12, 2004 11:01 AM

Or, how about we leave the ruling to people who actually have an interest in politics, and not celebrities or dilettantes who are just looking for a way to stay in the public eye? If Ditka really wants to be a senator -- and do all the unglamorous grunt work and comprimise his constituents require -- let him run. Somehow I doubt any bid for office on his part is really about creating policy and attending subcommittee meetings.

Phineas / July 12, 2004 11:15 AM

Ditka? No.

William 'The Refrigerator' Perry? Yes.

And when it's time for the next gubernatorial election I'm voting for the statue of Harry Caray outside Wrigley Field.

Naz / July 12, 2004 11:21 AM

Phineas - with or without his minions that are trapped at his lower torso? Scariest. Statue. Ever. Harry Caray is a chimera, a leviathan!