Blago: The Gift That Keeps Giving

Blagojevich names Burris for Obama seat
By Hal Weitzman in Chicago and Andrew Ward in Washington
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d3b7b68a-d69b-11dd-9bf7-000077b07658.html

“As governor, I am required to make this appointment,” Mr Blagojevich said. “If I don’t make this appointment, then the people of Illinois will be deprived of their appropriate voice and vote in the United States Senate...Please don’t allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man.”

Democratic leaders in the Senate reacted angrily to the decision and warned that the appointment would ”not stand”.

This is rich! The same cesspool of politics that gave us Obamessiah is now condemned by DEMOCRATS for doing what Democrats have always done!!

If the senate refuses to seat Burris, he will be only the 5th individual denied a seat.

Without knowing about Burris, I like this move by Blagojevich. It shows he's not going easily into the night and bowing to the democratic leadership.

Burris brings a lot to the table. He placates Bobby Rush and others who demand that Obama's replacement be black.

He was the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois, having been the state's Attorney General as well as the state's Comptroller. He spends a lot of time downstate in Illinois, which distinguishes him from both Blago AND Obama.

In the past, he has even been willing to show himself more independent than many Democrats. I think Burris may well have been the best choice that Blago could make. I think we'll see a great many Illinois Democrats reversing themselves, and I agree with Aaron that this is yet one more indication that Blago is sticking around.

Do Harry Reid and the Democrat caucus have the constitutional authority to refuse to seat Burris?

http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/12/can_the_senate.html

I doubt they have such authority.

They may have talked themselves into a corner.

And Fitzgerald's editorial comments may come back to haunt him too.

They may not have the authority to refuse seating him, but once he's seated, by a 2/3 rd's vote, they can expell him.

Legally they could expel him, but politically I doubt it.

Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that. Republicans understand how politics work, they understand how leadership sometimes has to make decisions to keep members in line and force their will and given all that, I'm sure if Harry Reid went to Mitch McConnel and said, "I need 10 to 15 votes mininum", McConnel would deliver him the votes and pocket the favor.

In the end I do not think the Democrats in the US Senate will have the grapes to turn away Burris.

It will be excellent cinema however this plays out. I'm not thrilled about what has happened throughout Illinois and the country, but as a political junkie I'[m getting more than just the casual fix over here.

I think this is just another case where Harry Reid and the democratic leadership is showing just how inept they are at leading. For Reid to come out and say "We won't set any appointment from Blagojevich" was just ignorant.

It opened the door for the good governor to do something just like this, appoint someone the bulk of Illinoisans would support, that would otherwise have the support of the bulk of democrats and the approval of Barrack Obama.

Now if they don't seat Burris or if they find they have to seat him and then turn around and expel him, it is Reid and the Democrats who are going to take on the appearance of playing politics with the seat.

They won't expel him if he is seated. I think the best chance for Burris not becoming Senator right now is in the Secy of State Jesse White's statement that he will not countersign the appointment to the US Senate.

While I'm not clear if White's signature will ultimately be necessary, I think that if Burris makes it to DC, he's going to stay there until he loses reelection to a Republican named Mark Kirk, who is liberal socially except for the war.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1360191,harry-reid-blagojevich-jesse-jackson-010209.article

Well it looks like Reid did not just get off the turnip truck on this.

He has had his own wish list all along.

Does that make Reid the highest bidder?

I just wonder how bad democrats will come out looking in the end.

Burris, Rejected by Senate, 'Weighs Options'
Burris Shows Up at the Capitol Asking to Be Sworn In
By Z. BYRON WOLF and JONATHAN KARL
Jan. 6, 2009—


Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris was turned away from the Senate this morning after being told he does not have permission to be seated as the junior senator from Illinois.

"I am not seeking to have any type of confrontation," Burris said during a press conference that was held across the street from the Capitol building in the freezing rain. Burris' attorneys said they are considering their legal options, and said Burris would stay in Washington while they sorted things out.

Burris is set to meet tomorrow with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Whip and Illinois' senior senator, Dick Durbin.

The 71-year-old Burris was appointed by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich after he was accused of trying to sell the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

As promised, Burris arrived at the Capitol building earlier this morning and was escorted to Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson's office, where he stayed for about 15 minutes; he was told the Senate would not accept his certification.

"I presented my credentials to the secretary of the Senate, and I was advised my credentials were not in order and will not be accepted," Burris said.

Adding to the confusion outside the Senate Secretary's Office was a reception Dick Durbin was hosting for his own swearing in. A spokesman said Burris and all Illinoisans were invited, but Burris did not attend.

It is unclear what will happen next, since Senate Democrats said they would not recognize the appointment by a governor who had been accused of, among other things, trying to benefit from his power to fill the vacant seat.

source

Senate Democrats to swear in Burris this week
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer Liz Sidoti, Associated Press Writer
3 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Eager to put the scandal-tainted standoff behind them, Senate Democrats accepted Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's Senate successor on Monday and said they expect to swear in the new Illinois senator this week.

"He is now the senator-designate from Illinois and, as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a senator-elect," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said in a joint statement.

At a news conference in Chicago, Burris called himself honored and humbled to be the state's next junior senator. "I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve," he said and added: "I recognize that my appointment triggered a challenging time for many."

Monday's development prevented the impasse that has plagued Democrats from dragging on into Obama's inauguration festivities that begin this weekend, and it capped a grudging, gradual retreat by the Senate's top Democrats.

Initially they had tried to dissuade Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who faces a state Senate impeachment trial, from making an appointment and suggested that his pick would not be seated. Last week, Burris' credentials were rejected by Senate Democrats in a circus-like atmosphere that tarnished the opening day festivities of the new Congress.

But Reid and Durbin said they now anticipate that Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, will be seated this week, barring objections from Republicans.

They made the announcement after Burris' lawyers delivered to the Capitol documents certifying his appointment to Obama's seat, and the secretary of the Senate determined that the paperwork met Senate requirements.

While a victory for Burris, the move is a major reversal for Senate Democrats.

source

He could have gotten seated quicker at Denny's.

Everyone knew he was going to get seated. This was Harry Reid trying to act like he actually had a say so in the matter. He had to give especially since he was trying to tell Blagojevich who not to appoint before pay to play ever came into question.

IMHO, this is just one more example of poor leadership that has been displayed by senior Democratic officials. Why this joke is majority leader is a mysery to me.