Feinstein bucks Dems on Burris

Maybe its payback to Obama for naming Panetta, but. . .

Feinstein bucks Dems on Burris
By MANU RAJU | 1/6/09 1:27 PM EST

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) broke with her party’s leadership Tuesday in calling for Roland Burris to be seated in the Senate once his paperwork is signed by the Illinois secretary of state.

Feinstein, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said that not allowing Burris to be seated could broadly undermine future gubernatorial appointments.

“I can’t imagine the secretary of state countermanding a gubernatorial appointment,” Feinstein said. “The question, really, is one in my view of law. And that is, does the governor have the power to make the appointment? And the answer is yes. Is the governor discredited? And the answer is yes.

“Does that affect his appointment power? And the answer is no until certain things happen.”
-snip-

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17118.html

I think she's correct.

Is the IL SoS going to sign?

Diane Feinstein isn't a judge last I knew.

it just doesn't carry a lot of weight.

You still think the SOS has veto power over then Gov. ?

You still think the ILSC will give the SOS that power ?

Jeeeesh, no wonder our party is in trouble.

And I'll stand by that position until the courts rule otherwise.

http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec5.html

Article 1 - The Legislative Branch
Section 5 - Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment


Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

**************************


http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/12/10/all-50-senate-dems-sign-blagojevich-letter/

December 10, 2008

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

We write to insist that you step down as Governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment by you would raise serious questions.

It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be seated as soon as possible so that Illinois is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th Congress moves forward.

Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.

We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you to refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.

Sincerely,

Sen. Reid
Sen. Durbin
Sen. Schumer
Sen. Murray
Sen. Akaka
Sen. Baucus
Sen. Bayh
Sen. Biden
Sen. Bingaman
Sen. Boxer
Sen. Brown
Sen. Byrd
Sen. Cantwell
Sen. Cardin
Sen. Carper
Sen. Casey
Sen. Clinton
Sen. Conrad
Sen. Dodd
Sen. Dorgan
Sen. Feingold
Sen. Feinstein
Sen. Harkin
Sen. Inouye
Sen. Johnson
Sen. Kennedy
Sen. Kerry
Sen. Klobuchar
Sen. Kohl
Sen. Landrieu
Sen. Lautenberg
Sen. Leahy
Sen. Levin
Sen. Lieberman
Sen. Lincoln
Sen. McCaskill
Sen. Menendez
Sen. Mikulski
Sen. Ben Nelson
Sen. Bill Nelson
Sen. Pryor
Sen. Reed
Sen. Rockefeller
Sen. Salazar
Sen. Sanders
Sen. Stabenow
Sen. Tester
Sen. Webb
Sen. Whitehouse
Sen. Wyden

was so intent on process, why did she sign the letter posted above for Blago to resign?

She is obviously very P O'd today, and in a very argumentative mood. Maybe she wants to take over for Harry Reid, or something, maybe she's jealous of Pelosi's power in the House.

Well, this is a tempest in a teapot for Di Fi, she needs something more exciting to do with her time than argue with the will of the President Elect and the Senate President in her own party.

:shrug:

I honestly wonder who is forcing his hand here.

Who wants to keep Burris out? Senate Democrats or Obama? People seem to think that denying Burris might get Blago to resign. Unfortunately for them, Burris seems more than willing to fight this himself, rather than rolling over and punting the issue back to Blago.

It's fun political theater right now, but I suspect the fun is about to wear out.

My hometown is Detroit so, um, suffice it to say that I feel your pain. *cough*Kwame*cough*

The SoS should not be able to deny the governor. If it's the governors job to appoint, then the SoS should be forced to sign a legal order. I still don't think Burris should be seated.

It's not what she says but the way that she says it.

She's publically disagreed with Reid twice in two days. I wonder if she's speaking for herself, or on behalf of other Democratic Senators.

over when I find myself agreeing with LIEberman in a Skirt.

Whats her problem????

First moaning about being excluded on the pick
about Panetta and now Burris, its like a little
kid with a candy cone showing off how she has
candy than the others.

Need to put her ego in check.