This Press Conference In Chicago Should Be A Lesson To David Patterson

don't appoint someone clueless to get them tossed to the wolves.


This Burris guy looks like someone strapped to the front of a train that just jumped the tracks.

What an awkward press conference.

i'm from new york, just giving a heads up to DP.

I picked up this story from Yahoo.

>>>>>snip
The Democratic governor can announce Burris as his pick, but it may be an empty gesture. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And in a statement issued Tuesday, Senate Democrats reiterated that they wouldn't accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.

"It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety," the senators said.>>>>snip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081230/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor

where Bojo got up and praised Burris and said "now, don't let the allegations against me affect your view of him."

then Burris gets up, says some prepared remarks and takes some questions and looks terribly stunned that people would question whether or not he'll be tainted by being tapped by a guy under federal indictment.

Then someone else gets up and says Burris is the best guy for the job and don't judge him by the guy who appointed him.

all while what had to be dozens and dozens of reporters were screaming questions.

Burris just looked completely overwhelmed and not ready for this.

In my link it seems that Burris has had many failed political runs over the years.

I didn't know that about him. This whole thing is a mess it seems.

to be US Senator?

If you could post that link here I'd really appreciate it. I've watched C-Span - some of those senators could bore you to tears they are such horrible speakers. Bob Casey Jr. is probably one of the worse speakers I've ever seen and if you look at his track record - one of the more liberal senators in Washington (and defeated Rick Santorum, who is much more charismatic than Casey, by 19 points.

I would rather vote for a bad speaker with a great voting record than someone who comes across trying to sell me snake oil.

I just think he looked completely overwhelmed. He appeared like what I imagine he is - a mid-level career government official who was thrust into the spotlight of national politics who is in no way ready for it.

It's one thing for Bob Casey to put himself out there and run and be judged by the voters. It's another thing to be tapped for an important position by someone under federal indictment.

None of the top-tier candidates would, in their right mind, want to be associated with Blojo. So he tapped the first guy who probably said yes to him. Blojo probably thinks he's pretty smart, but then again, he seems like the type of guy who doesn't question his own intelligence or judgement.

We had the same thing happen here in Delaware. Gov. Minner appointed one of Joe Biden's old Chief of Staffs to replace him. He's probably just a seat warmer until Beau Biden gets out of the Army.

I don't know what is going to happen but I really get the impression that this guy was the least affected by the scandal and is pretty much a seat warmer until the special election happens.

saying he's the least affected by the scandal is, IMO, missing the point. ANYONE Blojo appointed was going to be connected with the scandal. He's accused of trying to sell the seat. Now everyone is going to be wondering what this guy has to do with that.

It could turn out to be nothing, but the stain is still there, and now its on him, regardless of whether he's doing anything shady.


Anyone who Blojo offered the position to should have refused it.


The reason Patterson should be concerned is that if he taps someone like Caroline Kennedy, and she bombs, then that looks bad on Patterson. Just like this dude who Blojo tapped looks bad just because he's connected with him.

I'm sure he'll have enough opportunity to reacquaint himself with folks in Illinois, as will any NY candidate.