The Sun-Times editorial board enters the debate over how to fill Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat:

It is time to go beyond partisan politics, to let the voters select who they believe can best represent Illinois in the Senate -- with diligence, competency and, above all, honesty.

A special election will be costly, but it is absolutely necessary now to lift the confidence of voters in their government.

As we noted over the weekend, Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan agree that a special election is the way to go.  Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn appears to be considering a proposal that splits the difference: allowing him to appoint a temporary senator who will serve until a special election could take place next year.

Also, has Sen. Dick Durbin really "flip-flopped" on this issue?  Here's what he told Roll Call, after originally calling for a special election:

“My preference is [a special election]. But I’m dealing with the reality of schedules, as one General Assembly leaves and another starts, of elections that are currently scheduled in 2009 and whether we can catch up with them to piggyback on, or the cost of them, if we can’t if we have to do an independent special election,” Durbin said. “All of these are elements that I’ve talked to the legislative leaders on, and they are wrestling with that.”

Durbin appears to be considering whether his "preference" is feasible. But I haven't seen any reporting proving that he has totally abandoned the idea of a special election.