Burris Predicts "Major Outcry" From People Of Illinois If He's Not Seated

Yikes!

because of all the bullshit going on with it.

as I would go.

Just for the sake of argument, what happens if Fitzgerald's investigation ends up accusing a lot of other prominent Illinois Dems of corruption? Under that scenario, the GOP might have a shot.

one of them care for PE Obama so they are tapdancing for Blago and fucking the democratic party at the same time.

in the last gubernatorial election. The Greens had their best election in years, because even a good many Dems could see where this was headed. The Dems in Illinois need to take a clear stand against corruption and move away from the corrupt Chicago machine.

The surprising thing is that Blago chose a good man with no hint of corruption for this seat. I'd like to see him seated. But then I'd like Dems from other states to stay out of this. Maybe I'll get one of my wishes.

Reid is right on this one.

You know nothing about Roland Burris, and this is not your business.

Looks like you two agree, actually.

it seems like Burris is clean. We need his vote in the Senate immediately. If we don't accept him how long will it take to get a Dem vote from Illinois?

Who will pay the legal bills?

It is a state function under the Illinois Constitution.

Our duly elected governor has appointed a qualified candidate according to the established procedure. Why the fuck shouldn't he be seated?

maybe because he was taken away with a big black stinky cloud over his head for being caught on tape wanting quid pro quo for whomever he "appoints" as the Senator?

I heard a US Attorney string together a bunch of points about horsetrading for an appointment, which every politician ever does, and which is not illegal. He strung 'em all together, and it was strong enough for the press and for a precious "complaint," but not strong enough for a grand jury. Curious, that.

In any case, he is our duly elected governor and has appointed somebody qualified to a vacant seat according to the established procedures. Why the fuck shouldn't that person be seated?

the constitution gives the Senate the power to unseat a new Senator if lacking in constitutional qualifications....eg....age, residency, etc. The Supreme Court has specifically ruled that the Senate can only act with regard to newly elected Senators who do NOT fulfill constitutional requirements. Burris obviously meets all Constitutional requirements.
This is a no-brainer, folks! We don't like Blago. But, until such time as the Illinois government strips him of such power (and ex post facto seems to be a phrase that comes to mind) I don't think there is any question that Blago has the power to nominate the new senator.

There is no legal way they can take this appt from Burris. Not even the US Senate can strip this from Burris.

Blago is innocent until proven guilty. He has the gubernatorial authority to appt the next US Senator. Burris is well qualified.

Burris will hold this seat imho. It will get ugly for Burris (who until now has a lovely service record) but obviously Burris sees beyond the immediate political ugliness and onto the legal realities. He wants that term as a US Senator under his belt and dammit, it appears he's going to get it.

for a Governor who is being investigated on charges of trying to sell that very same Senate seat?

Thanks.

this ever goes to trial. Blago is a creep. Whether he's criminally culpable (as in Richard Nixon's "I am not a crook!") isn't the issue here. He doesn't deserve to stay on as Governor, or to make this appointment.

Well, that seals it, then.

:eyes:

been available then. The standard for being Governor is higher than "not proven guilty."

Duly elected.

Hey, do you live here in Illinois?

:shrug:

They're disgusted by this, too.

Actually, they've been complaining about Blago for years, and about how corrupt he was, and I was hoping they were wrong.

That's sweet.

I don't understand how anyone can defend his actions.

Blago's amusing, Queen Righteousness.

And it's not my party, after all. :-)

many of the freepers -- enjoying the Blago spectacle and hoping to prolong it.

I like the veiled freeper business, though. Tres classy.

Why is this amusing? 1) Because Blago is putting up a fight, and I usually despise the way sheepish morons believe every allegation of the police apparatus, the prosecutor, and the media pack dogs, believing, as I do, that there is some value to due process and 2) because the fanclub that surrounded the mighty Fitzmas during the Libby episode was such a fucking embarrassment that the liberal blogosphere should still be hanging its head in abject shame, and it's funny to watch Fitzmas sputter and display his general incompetence yet again, despite the breathless heartthrobbing of all the fanboys and fangirls.

And that Fitzgerald was no hero in the Plame affair. In this situation, though, I don't know that he's been incompetent. I doubt that he wanted this case to go public prematurely, as it did.

Burris is hardly worth noticing. He's one of the cleanest politicians in Illinois.

Whitewater, Paula Jones, etc....

In what way did any of those investigations nullify Clinton's lawful powers as president?

:D

i want two senators like everyone else. These are important times.

Burris is a fine choice.

He wants to run so fast away from Blogo-the-numb-skull that he forgets that this will leave Illinois with only one Senator....at a time when Illinois has plenty of workers who could be adversely affected if the new Senate makes the wrong moves with regard to the economy.

Sometimes it just amazes me how cowardly some Democrats are. The Constitution and Supreme Court rulings are clear. The senate can only turn away a new senator on constitutional qualifications....and Burris passes every Constitutional test.

Reid is out to lunch on this issue, sorry. His lunch....a chicken sandwich!

and as far as I'm concerned I think Burris should be seated.

Blago exercised his right to appoint Burris and from my perspective as an Illinoisan Burris has served this state well in the past and was a good choice.

I think Blago's lawyer - who said he took on Blago because he thought it would be fun - has counseled Blago and helped him make this move. I really think it was masterful politically for Blago - even though I don't like Blago and didn't vote for him - I admire the move as a political move - as in a chess game.

If I was Obama - I would have embraced Burris and said let's get on with governing and let Fitz deal with Blago. I'm sure Fitz has more goods on Blago than just the 'selling of the senate seat' claim. I think Obama's statement siding with Reid and the other Senators - was a mistake. It was exactly what Blago wanted Obama to do. Blago played him and won on this one.

If Burris is seated I wouldn't mind. If Burris isn't seated I wouldn't mind either. I just think it is fun to watch this game being played out. I got to give the today to Blago. It will be interesting to see the next moves in this game. In the end I think Blago will wind up in jail - but the path to that result is full of potholes for all who will take him on.

politicians do. These people are not gods you know. They are just as susceptible to pressure as anybody else.

who, unlike senators, serve for life.

If only he had been as eager to "unseat" them, we'd all be better off now.

if they seat him.

http://wonkette.com/405196/roland-burris-has-already-constructed-his-terrifying-death-chamber

rvablue posted it in GD. It's pretty funny.

I liked that he had "Trail Blazer" put on it. It's like something out of the Adamms Family. Politics can make some people kind of strange. :)

Nice work guys! Please pick up your Thorazine on the way out!

I understand Burris has done some lobbying, and donated a bit of money to Blago in the past, but he's also run in a primary against Blago to be governor in 2002.

Burris was also never on any of Blago's publicly released list of senate candidates for the seat, so Blago probably only first thought of seriously seating him after the scandal over the seat started.

On top of all that Burris has already said he's not running for reelection for the senate seat (and Burris hasn't even held public office since like 1995, and is in his 70's). Besides that, even if he tried to run for reelection, do you really think anyone appointed by Blago could even survive a primary at this point with how toxic Blago has become to both parties?

Besides, there's an added bonus to seating Burris for 2 years, Kirk is unlikely to run for the senate seat if he has to give up his house seat, and Kirk could capture the seat if he runs against the right candidate.

Politically I think it's best for us if the senate democrats make a show of trying to not seat Burris, knowing it'll fail, and then refuse to let him join their caucus.

B-rod knew perfectly well that Burris would give him the opportunity to cry racism if he weren't picked.

:eyes:
rocknation

Reid needs to butt out. Illinois deserves representation. Burris is qualified.

since the Illinois Secretary of State has already promised not to certify this appointment.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/dec/31/ill-leaders-puzzled-by-governors-senate/

"Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so."

Illinois can do without a Senator for the time it will take to either impeach Blago or force him to resign. I predict that the time pressure will cause them to impeach him before the start of the new term.

Same as if the Black Hawks were to win the Stanley Cup.

one look at that tombstone would be all that was needed.

I don't want to judge him, but his speaking about himself in the third person during the interview, and saying Blago is innocent until proven guilty is kind of a weird start. We have enough tone deaf Dem senators as it is!