Blagojevich bulldozes ahead with selection of Burris for Obama seat
By David Neiwert Tuesday Dec 30, 2008 10:02am
Now that's what I call chutzpah:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.
Shortly after Obama's Nov. 4 victory, Burris made known his interest in an appointment to the Senate but was never seriously considered, according to Blagojevich insiders. But in the days following Blagojevich's arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor's support.
Though he is 71, Burris has said that Obama's replacement should be able to win re-election and he has noted that despite a string of primary losses in races ranging from Chicago mayor to governor and U.S. senator, he's never lost to a Republican.
All this shows what a complete screwhead Blagojevich is. Burris is an old-school Chicago politician who, within the Democratic Party in Illinois, is considered well on the other side of the aisle from Obama. Early word from the Senate indicates that Burris will not be considered acceptable -- especially if he has Blago's blessing.
What a mess.
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That dude is whack. It's sad but entertaining like watching Scarborough get spanked by Zbignew.
Burris be the best senator money could buy?
There is a simple solution to this whole Blago mess. Does anyone know how to get hold of Tonya Harding's ex husband?
Blagojevich's credibility is similar to a steaming pile of shit on a hot summer's day here in Chicago. Burris is a classic "Daley machine" soldier from the past. This is just another of Blago's manipulations...kissing up to Obama's black voters, and traditional local Democrats.
If this asshole had any honor, he wouldn't have made any selection.
Sitting at my desk a few blocks from Wrigley Field I think that I have had the best laugh in about six weeks. Oh good Lord Roland Burris is going to be my senator, hahahahahhahahaha. Folks I will tell you this right now, NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
That's what I wish someone would explain to us.
What would be the legal procedures to nullify Blagojevich's selection of Burris?
but I think the appointment still has to be approved by the Senate.
The key in that case is who will Obama and Dick Durbin endorse because the majority will most likely swing along with their wishes.
Jesse White, who is the Secretary of State here in IL has already said he will not certify Burris if he is appointed. That in itself would make his appointment null and void. Burris has a decent track record of public service here but that was long ago and today, he is simply not the best choice. Chutzpah is certainly the right word here, our malignant Governor has turned into a Frankenstein's Monster bent on wrecking our government.
replacement for a black senator?
Somebody wanna make sure Patrick Fitzgerald's not getting the medal of freedom for this stunt?
This has the indelible stench of Rove all over it...
Anyone progressive would suffice. Sorry Woody, us black folk don't care about as much as you want to believe we do. Tammy Duckworth would be a perfect choice....Iraqi war vet(lost both her legs in a helicopter crash) Illinois Veterans Affairs Director, etc.
innocent until proven otherwise.
If I had the largest brass balls in the world and that was the defence I was going to use, I would CERTAINLY act as if I were innocent. That would include doing my gubernatorial duties. Which would include appointing that new senator.
Blago has a HUGE set. Makes Colbert's small in comparison.
TPM http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/ has a good article on this. According to the article, Burris, 71, is squeaky clean. Blago sure knows how to play politics. A black, respected prior Attorney General, apparently above the fray. I'll be watching spineless Reid try to spin this one. Kudos to Blago on calling everyones bluff.
Please pass the popcorn!
I'll give him the innocent until proven guilty thing because that's only fair and just. However, this is the point where I would say, "You've about done lost your damn mind!" Good luck on getting that guy in the Senate. The day Blago gets someone appointed to the Senate is the day that Satan's skating.
Pure and simple. Any choice Blago makes is tainted. Burris is crazy if he accepts.
Even if he only serves out the remainder of Mr.O's term, he's eligible for the eternal Congressional pension, health-care, and other perqs.
Sheeit, he'd be crazy NOT to accept it...
By rejecting the appt, he sets himself for being the front-runner for the seat after the gov is impeached. Which I think will happen, sooner rather than later...
I more or less disagreed with you across the board...
hm...
Seems like it is time that all candidates get reviewed by a panel of mental health professionals.
I suspect what Blago is accused of is not at all out of the ordinary in these cases. That doesn't make it right. I just don't think it's the scandal the MSM is making it out to be. If he's even guilty. I would rather have him appoint this Burris joker than have a special election and give the Reps a chance to steal that seat.
Everyone in Congress has ethical hurdles. Loads of them.
Blagojevich was arrested instead of indicted, that leads to questions. It should send up red flags about the prosecutor.
Blagojevich must be supposed innocent until proven guilty.
If no one talked white or black we wouldn't have Clarence Thomas. Who could have been worse?
I don't know what the answer is.
You might try judging candidates solely on the basis of the contents of their character, if that is not too problematic from a substantive or conceptual standpoint.
Politics can lead to sleaze. Sleaze leads to results in sleazy politics.
If Patrick ("Fitz-Mas") Fitzgerald is on the list for this year's Medals of Freedom, I'd start to get apprehensive...
The fact that Blago was arrested rather than indicted does NOT lead to questions, or at least, it shouldn't, and it certainly doesn't send up "red flags." First of all, the overwhelming majority of criminal defendants are not indicted. Grand jury proceedings are expensive, and from a defense standpoint, they're a joke - essentially, the prosecutor is presenting the information they want the jurors to know, and asking them to agree that the accused should be charged and tried. Even a half-witted prosecutor can get an indictment. In fact, the cliche is that a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich. This case basically will skip that farce, and go directly to a preliminary hearing in front of a judge, where the defendant's attorney can actually present a case, and even see and hear the testimony of the witnesses. That's actually an advantage for the defense.
And while Blago must be presumed legal in court, that presumption of innocence doesn't apply to the rest of his life, only to the court proceedings.
G-Rod will give Obama's seat to a man who wont vote for change and it's a shoe in for a Republican to win the seat at Election time. Next G-Rod will do the same with Emanuel's seat so he can then tell the Democratic Party to bleep themselves. Look for Alan Keyes to show up as the only Black Republcan standing ready to fall on the sword for his Party.
At first I was against this (or any) appointment by Blago for all the same reasons as everyone else. But why take a chance that the Repubs pick up a seat in a general election? Why even give them the opportunity?
Americans have a very short attention span, and an even shorter memory for these sorts of things. There will be political hell to pay in the short term, especially given the fact that the MSM seems determined to make this scandal seem bigger than Watergate or Iran-Contra.
I say it's wiser for the Democrats to take the political hits now and early while there's still alot of good will to be had.
Your Corrupt Governor Update
"got whipped three times running for Governor and once running for Mare of Chicago"
----
NICE!
You know, when this whole scandal broke out, I said I wanted the seat to be filled by someone from Southern Illinois. Burris is a native of Southern Illinois, Centralia to be exact. This was not what I had in mind. Just goes to show that you better be careful what you wish for. :-p
Imagine what Paul Simon (who was from Wauconda) would think of this if he were alive today. In my view he was one of the finest politicians ever to come from Illinois. All the good things he tried to do are being squandered by a political hack from Chicago. It makes me sick.
just read at TP:
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
If only Reid had Blago’s balls, we would be sitting pretty as the Democratic party!
ah-yep!
to say something similar earlier. He may well go down in flames, but some of the p*ssy Dems could take a page from Blagos book.
And read Paul Simon's instead, who was truly the gold standard for public service in our state. Simon recognized that ethics and honor were inviolable principles for being in public service unlike our current governor who is little more than a clone of Boss Tweed. I agree that assertiveness and vision are valuable assets in public service today, but honesty and integrity are absolutely essential principles that must guide us first.
just pointing out that when (some of) our current crop lacks both, having the round ones at least get one noticed. Too bad Pelosi, Reid, etc lack both qualities, IMO.
BTW, what is the likely gubernatorial fallout if Blago does go down?
The Dems in this transition appear to be in a coma and missing scores of political opportunties. Obama hasn't even taken office yet and the Jimmy Carter comparisons are already creeping in from all sides. That's scary.
At the first sign of weakness, the Republicans are going to roll over Obama and the rest of the Democratic majority like a hardwood rolling pin over puff pastry dough.
Dems have an opportunity here to take an unpopular stand, support the ugly appointment and tell the American people simply "it's time to get this behind us, there are more important things ahead."
Instead, we'll have Reid, Pelosi and the entire Obama camp join the Republican and MSM choir in shock and embarrassment over Blago.
Democrats are great at preparing the rope for their own hanging.
My prediction is that the Democrats will cower as usual, and let the MSM and the Republicans dictate our strategy, even if it means handing over a Senate seat to the Republicans. How unfortunate we are in such desperate times to have such spineless leaders such as Reid and Pelosi.
Burris is an old-school Chicago politician who, within the Democratic Party in Illinois, is considered well on the other side of the aisle from Obama.
According to whom? This is the kind of outside Illinois, know it all thinkspeak that burns me up! I voted for Burris over Blago back in the Dem Gov primary in 2002. Burris is apart of the machine, but those who know him (Ill voters like me) found his service to this state beyond reproach.
He would make a fine caretaker replacement regardless of the Blago connection. We need to move from this.
...just like Jessie White, Emille Jones, John Stroger, etc. Obedient black men who accepted their place and were rewarded for not rocking the boat. The only two black men in this state's history who didn't play machine politics, or fought the system were the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Obama....all the rest played the game...period! The choice of this submissive, career Democratic soldier is political poker played by a desperate Governor trying to appear as if all's well. Burris is being used...again.
But Burris is acceptable to me only as a caretaker and his ability to be at least competent in the interim. We need to get past this distraction and on to bigger matters.
Why would our very suspect Governor select a 71 year old quiet, black man known all of his career to having "taken one for the team" and not have some alternate motive? I can't believe that you trust any of Blagojevich's decisions at this point...he is up to something and will use anyone to save own his crooked ass.
Word here in Chicago/Illinois is that the Secretary of State's office is saying that they (or, more accuratesly, Sec. White) will refuse to certify the appointment, essentially nullifying it, as the Secretary's certification is required in order to seat a Senator.
Blago has no friends anymore. At least, none that can do him any favors, it seems.
You're correct that the ball is in the court of the Illinois Democrats. But a clear signal from Obama to let this go through for the good of the party and the country might go a long way.
Either way it's test for Obama, you can be sure of that.
With the Middle East in flames and the world economy in the toilet, do you think the American people really give a sh*t about this Illinois soap opera? It's a MSM story...nothing more.
Obama sticks to the brush they're painting this story with. Otherwise, few care. And I was born in Chicago.
how could Burris even accept the nomination? Who would want to be connected with Blago? Given Burris has been shown to be part of the same IL politico machine as Blago, does he think he will get any respect in the Senate?
He should not accept the seat, point blank.
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