Obama agrees with not seating Burris

"Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy," said President-elect Obama.

Throwing everything they have against corruption. This is something you don't see with Republicans.

I think the preemptive swipe by the Dems in Congress will negate this appointment. I hope Quinn is charged with filling this seat because the Republicans would love nothing more to get their grubby paws on it through a special election.

This whole thing sucks 'cause blago is acting like a repuke and I've read he voted like one too when he was in Congress.

"no comment" on Israel/Gaza.

not a place holder anyway. Or they may not win an open seat there. The person appointed needs to use the rest of this term to propel them to re-election

Mr. Burris should really have declined the invitation.

The IL Sec of State, Jesse White, said he will not certify Blago's appointment.

Jesse White and Roland Burris are both African americans from Chicago but that's about the end of their similarities. Jesse White has a very good reputation while Burris less so.

Furthermore, Roland Burris has personally give $$ to Blago as has his wife and other friends. So the odds of Burris actually becoming the Junior Senator from my state are very, very slim.

Thank God.

Illinois law gives him no discretion. He is legally obligated to certify a legally made appointment

That's the question - I'm sure the SoS has teams of lawyers trying to find some legally-credible way of saying this appointment was not legally made. At the very least, the question itself could stall the appointment until after Blagojevich's impeachment and removal.

It may go to court, but unless Blago is impeached and convicted there is nothing that can be done...ultimately he will be forced to certify the choice...

Interview with former Governor Jim Thompson on NPR this afternoon. He knows what he is talking about made it pretty clear there is no wiggle room

The IL Attorney General already tried this trick, and the IL Supreme Court ruled against her. Blegojevich is scum, but he is legally entitled to fill this vacancy at this time.

And should help insulate Dems in the Senate from those critical of them taking action...

Bobby Rush's comments were way out of line...Obama should slap him down quick...

he needs to get his priorities in order.

As others have pointed out, he took time to speak out re the governors task of appointing a new senator for IL but he couldn't find time to comment on Israels massacre of civilians in Gaza.

an international conflict? Bush is barely opening his damn mouth. why take on problems before you have to?

children.

That may not matter to you but it does to me.

the bombings. And this is also the type of conflict where you certainly don't want Obama and Bush out there sending different messages. And if you're Obama, why on earth would you want to even give either side a clue about what your policy is going to be right now?

with Bush holding the reigns of power, still.

going on with the situation over there. I thought Obama's people did put out some sort of statement, or am I thinking of something else?

hate to say it he's wrong. Let that man be seated and leave well alone

Can you suggest any way he could have opposed this appointment in a non-assy way? Or is everyone who sees this problem different from you ipso facto an ass?

Why do Dems constantly eat their own? Yeah, Blago is an idiot and corrupt, but dems need to find a way to deal with Burris QUIETLY and try not to ruin him in case he has to run for re-election in 2010. Burris only has a cloud if dems keep insisting he has one.

and create a racially-tinged shitstorm if the Senate Democrats decide not to seat this guy.

By appointing someone for the Senate Seat, Blago actually did the right thing - for himself, as a governor, and for the dem party.

Once again, I am not defending Blago - I don't know if he is guilty or innocent of the indictments presented against him.

But as a Governor, he HAD to appoint a successor to Senator Obama or Blago would have been negligent in his duties.

Independent of what Reid and the Illinois Legislator has said, this appointment presents an immediate response that will actually accelerate the appointment of a replacement Senator. And, in reality, that is what the US Senate needs right now is ONE MORE DEMOCRATIC Senator seated to be counted on to vote on the issues we/they face.

Not having anyone appointed could/will prolong this appointment and that is detrimental to having as many voting Dem in the Senate as possible.

On the one hand, you can't trust an appointment made by a man who expects payment for his decision and has stated so in so many words. So it taints ANY decision HE might make.

On the other hand, Burris may be a fine Senator, who rises above this scandal and proves himself to be more than the sum of his connections and circumstances and ascendancy.

But ultimately, a Senate seat is NOT something to gamble with, especially with such a fine balance already in the Senate.

I say no, not at this time.

I also thought Blago did the best thing, short of resigning of course. And, as bad as the released taped excerpts of Blago's alleged extortion look, it's just out-of-context fragments, without any of the possible exculpatory info that may be part of the picture. Blago's situation needs to be more carefully resolved over time.

And when I was watching Quinn make his statement, I thought I was watching someone who, above all else, wanted to be governor himself. Could be wrong, but that was my impression.

I don't like the special election path. It'll take too long, and gives the repubs a chance at the seat that they're not really entitled to.

Obama is going to need every possible vote in the senate when he takes office, ASAP. The repubs have already said they won't support the stimulus unless it incorporates republican ideas. Great. I can't wait to see what they are. Republican ideas got us into this mess.