Oh, this better not be true:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.
Shortly after Obama’s Nov. 4 victory, Burris made known his interest in an appointment to the Senate but was never seriously considered, according to Blagojevich insiders. But in the days following Blagojevich’s arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor’s support.
Who is Roland Burris?
Roland W. Burris is a politician and statewide officer in the U.S. state of Illinois. Burris served as Comptroller of Illinois from 1979 to 1991 and as Attorney General of Illinois from 1991 to 1995. He now maintains a political consulting firm called Burris & Lebed Consulting, LLC.
Burris was the first African-American to win statewide office in Illinois. He might make a fine U.S. Senator, but the Senate has already made clear that they will not seat a Blago-appointed pick. All this will do is embarrass the Democratic Party and make a mess of everything.
I am VERY PLEASED about this. This guy is CLEAN. He is a PLACEHOLDER. We NEED ALL THE DEMS IN OFFICE on 1/20.
Please DO NOT get confused. This is GREAT NEWS. Not a SINGLE SEAT should be empty, and this is a placeholder candidate.
I heartily approve this darkhorse selection. And Booman, rethink your attitude. Would you prefer 58 Dems or 59 on 1/20?
Did you not read the part about how he will not be seated?
They said that 2 weeks ago.
I predict he will be seated. Reid will determine that 59 > 58.
As an IL resident, I want 2 senators.
how do you walk that cat back?
reid is a professional cat backwards walker
There’s this little nugget that taints Burris all by his own doing:- (my emphasis)
{.}..in the days following Blagojevich’s arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor’s support.
indicative that Burris doesn’t give a pinch of sh*t how he gets the seat…so maybe he’ll fight to be seated. Two rotten peas in the same pod.
Saying that he wants the seat makes him rotten? That’s silly.
He’ll be seated.
not to disagree with you, but what do you base that on?
First, there’s nothing wrong with Burris, there’s no reason not to seat him. There’s no reason to think he paid for the seat.
Second, my knowledge of Harry Reid. How will Burris be seated even though Harry Reid says the Senate won’t seat any appointee of Blago? The same way everything that Harry Reid doesn’t want to happen … happens. It just happens. Enough Democrats disagree and it happens. Harry Reid doesn’t care if he looks weak – I’m convinced he even gives them unstated permission to vote the “wrong” way.
Watch for the IL legislature to give Burris a “confidence” vote or some such thing. Then the Senate Dems will decide that fighting over the seating of a Democratic senator is just a “distraction” from the more important business of the Senate and the people of Illinois can sort it out in 2010. Watch.
Harry Reid says this is “unaaceptable”.
Which means it’s a done deal. Burris will be seated because Harry Reid is the worst Senate leader the Dems have ever had. The GOP will have a field day with this, and it’ll be nobody’s fault but the Dems themselves.
Okay, try walking that back. Has Durbin commented?
Don’t have to walk it back. Just going on Reid’s lawn-chair folding acts over the last several years.
if we still have a system of innocent ’til proven guilty, Blago has not been impeached or convicted. He still occupies the office of governor, attending all functions. If a bill requires his signature or such other action required in the business of State the Legislature will not and cannot object. Let’s pretend Blago had to declare a state of emergency, would the Legislature say no you can’t!
Given that Burris (btw, a lawyer and former state Atty General) pursued this Senate appointment after Blago’s arrest, I’m inclined to think Reid and colleagues have a fight on their hands all the way to the Supreme Court. Most likely, Burris did some legal case research.
And btw, this appointment is made before any conviction or impeachment/removal from office. Reid has a hard hoe to lift.
Until the SC rules, Illinois will be left at one Senator.
IT’S NOW OFFICIAL: confirmed in Blago’s presser
I am an IL resident. There is a huge rush to judgement going on, and there is a House impeachment hearing going on. If and when the House moves an impeachment bill, then we may have something to think about. But they have not done so, and until they do, Blago is the duly-elected governor of the State of IL, and can function as such.
This includes the power of appointment, which he has exercised, for good or ill.
your former Gov. Jim Thompson tells NPR’s All Things Considered”, the appointment of Burris is perfectly legal.
Financial Times, (UK-US Edition) reports
Imho, that observation is interesting. Reid and colleagues are boxed in to seat Burris. With a slim majority, and some with health issues, every walking suit added to the margin increases getting legislation passed.
IIRC Burris lost his last two attempts at statewide office because of racist remarks. He is extremely vulnerable at election time.
Not to mention hubris like this.
Harry Reid’s letter:
Keeping in mind that,
A) Reid is spineless
B) Reid said they would exercise the authority to DETERMINE WHETHER to remove, not that they would definitively exercise the authority to remove.
C) Burris is an accomplished, qualified African American who has nothing to do with the sins of Blago.
…Burris has a better than 50% shot of being seated.
That was the “sternly worded letter” that actually said nothing. Typical. Full of loopholes.
There is going to be a lot of pressure from the people of IL to have a second senator. As there should be. If there’s nothing wrong with Burris, there’s no reason not to seat him just because Blago appointed him.
This is such a smart pick by Blago you have to wonder who really made the decision.
Standby for Reid’s Update –
Consider
We’ve consulted with legal scholars and Attorney General Judge Mukasey…In the interest of a speedy resolution, to avoid lengthy court challenges that would deprive full representation to the people of Illinois, all innocent bystanders, ..the Honorable Senate-appointee Burris will be seated. We withdraw all objections.
blago seems to have balls the size of idaho
This was a brilliantly cynical move. All I could do is shake my head and laugh. Because while I think Blago’s a little crazy, he’s not completely stupid.
And at the end of the day, what we’re so outraged about is nothing compared to the sins of the 8 year crime syndicate known as the Bush Administration. Right now, Blago is only guilty of giving voice to his delusions of grandeur when he had to know that he was being watched.
There’s nothing dumb about Blago. The sanity part is another question. To all appearances, his motive is to cause as much damage as possible.
Tell him “Seat Burris. Help Obama”
I don’t think that any of us are constitutional lawyers with sufficient knowledge of the prerogatives of the Senate vs the powers of appointment. I think that this will be an interesting battle, but as an IL resident I welcome a second senator.
As obnoxious as Blago seems to be, he is the sitting gov with the power to appoint – why fight that battle. Burris seems adequate for a junior Senator. He’ll be up for reelection in a short two years. If he screws up, the Illinois voters can fix it. Who knows, he might turn out to be a great senator – it’s up to the voters.
By the way, in our anxiety to get Obama into power to fix Bush Mess, we fixate on minor issues like Blago and Warren (yes, two douche bags). Let it go. That light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming locomotive.
There was NOTHING to stop this from happening. In fact, since Blago is still the Governor, it was his duty to do this. As an IL resident, I am pleased. I want a Dem in every seat possible in the Senate.
just interviewed.
What a shame. An insane governor manages to detract from Obama’s inauguration, demean the US Senate even further, sow strive within the party, and put a dull but decent political professional in a position he’ll regret. Any Blagojevich appointment is tainted from the getgo. You can argue that that’s wrong, but it’s the way it is. Burris will be seen a illegitimate throughout his term. Any bill that passes by one vote will be attacked by the Reps as bogus.
Blago was right, as far as I know, in calling Burris a good and honest man. He’s also a pol whose perennial candidacy for almost every office in the state has given him a certain air of desperation. Which perhaps is how a good and honest man comes to misjudge the consequences of accepting such a tainted appointment.