BREAKING 12:23 PM ET: Report: Blago To Appoint Roland Burris To Senate
Who is Roland Burris?
Blagojevich to name Burris to Senate
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.
UPDATE: It’s official. Mr. Burris says, “I accept.”
And out comes the race card?
Blagojevich snubs Senate, taps Burris for seat
Brushing aside charges that he tried to sell Illinois’ vacant U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the post today in defiance of Senate leaders who said they would not admit anyone he selected.
It was an abrupt about-face for Blagojevich, who had said after his Dec. 9 corruption arrest that he favored a special election to find a successor to President-elect Barack Obama. But Blagojevich said he acted after the Democratic-controlled General Assembly declined to approve legislation for a special election.
“Please don’t allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man,” Blagojevich said while introducing Burris at a downtown news conference.
Blagojevich’s move seemed designed to trump fellow Democrats who control the U.S. Senate and have unanimously warned him against making the appointment because of the criminal charges. His choice of Burris, Illinois’ first African-American elected statewide, presents senators with the dilemma of saying no to a replacement for Obama, who was the nation’s only black senator.
That point was driven home at the news conference by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Chicago, who said it’s a matter of national importance that an African-American replace Obama in the Senate.
“Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the Senate…this is just not a state of Illinois matter,” Rush said.
“I would ask you to not hang or lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer,” Rush also said. “Roland Burris is worthy.”
[.]
Burris said he spoke with Blagojevich Sunday night about the appointment.
“I was asked if he would appoint me would I accept and the answer is yes,” said Burris, who offered no comment on the governor’s legal situation.
Blagojevich praised Burris for his “unquestioned integrity” and “extensive experience,” calling him a senior statesman.
Blagojevich has not been convicted or impeached. Former Gov. Jim Thompson tells NPR’s, “All Things Considered” .. this (Burris) appointment to the U.S. Senate is perfectly legal.
In the cross hairs of an Impeachment Panel and U.S.Atty Patrick Fitzgerald, this move is a desperate PR stunt…to enhance an insanity plea.!!?!!
More legal questions to ponder:
Blagojevich has not been removed from office…
He was arrested but not yet tried in a court of law
Is still the legitimate governor to dispense all the powers of office.
…will Burris, the former Attorney general, accept and fight to keep the seat?
We live in interesting times.
Via TPM— the legal issue on the power of the Senate to refuse to seat an Appointee
we posted at about the same time. This is going to create a big mess.
Oh my.
Nothing like a Sh*t stirrer, eh?
My wish is that the rest of the hours left in 2008 pass quieter than a quartz clock…without hiccups.
obama got caught in this one. he’s been put in a lose lose situation, and has come out, rather forcefully, against burris’ appointment.
via nbc chicago.com:
trying to have it both ways. AG’s right, rahm’s going to prove to be a very divisive presence, and this has got his fingerprints all over it.
a repost of mine from BooMan’s thread:
Financial Times (UK-U.S Edition) article:
Obama has made his bed with the people chosen for him and under whose dictates he’ll move his lips.
a disappointing, cruel four years ahead.
this news gives one pause: fitzgerald wants 90 day blago incictment extension.
it would appear that there was pressure from somewhere to rush this out, for what l suspect are political reasons. there are certainly better ways this could have been handled, imo.
who’s side is fitz really on?
Fitzgerald had company today.
Imo, Senate Democrats should have left this alone. They’ve painted themselves into a corner they’ll not like. This fight (and the Coleman Franken mash up) will leave them two seats down – when all hands are needed.
From what I’ve read, the Illinois SoS can’t over-rule the governor. Senate Dems Plan B to have the Rules Committee investigate is to buy time; 90 days runs the risk of April 7, when the Gov is either impeached or indicted (a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich as goes the old adage) the fact remains this appointment is legal. In the event the governor is impeached will have no bearing on the Burris appointment. And if Blago cuts a deal with Fitz what is to prevent the new governor, currently Lt. Quinn from making his own appointment? Two claimants for the one seat!!!
The Illinois Supremes will most likely favor Burris since the Legislature looked at the Special Election scenario and decided against that route. Blago, like him or not, has the power to appoint. And it can be argued he was up against a deadline — to meet the date when new Senators are sworn.
Reid may end up having to court Burris …if he refuses to seat him and he sits as an Independent, next to Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Leave it to the Dems. They do one thing very well – experts at grabbing defeat from victory. They don’t seem to know who, when or where to fight.