MSNBC's Warren: Blago and Burris have cynically cornered Reid
By David Neiwert Tuesday Jan 06, 2009 10:00am
MSNBC analyst Jim Warren, discussing the Rod Blagojevich-Roland Burris mess, sounded a deeply cynical note yesterday on Hardball with Chris Matthews and Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times. Cynical, but probably right:
Warren: And one vision you didn't -- along with, you know, Lynn's vision of what might happen tomorrow, one we should have that would make us slightly dyspeptic, is that of Rod Blagojevich back there grinning like a Cheshire Cat, because -- the Saturday Night Live caricature aside, the bipartisan animus toward him aside, the likelihood that he will be indicted aside -- he has every legal right to do this. And I think he has pulled one over on Harry Reid and Dick Durbin. And Harry Reid is left looking like some parent huffing and puffing and warning his kid that there's gonna be big punishment unless he does what he says, and then the kid doesn't stop doing it, and then Harry Reid doesn't have anything left to go to, unless what? He's going to send it to the Rules Committee? And Chuck Schumer, head of the Rules Committee? Who wants Al Franken seated ASAP because Minnesota's gotta have two senators on that floor as quickly as possible. Boy, I think Blagojevich has really played this in the most cynical but adroit of ways.
Sweet goes on to suggest that Reid may cave if Burris agrees not to run in two years, but then Warren appropriately notes that Burris doesn't believe he has anything to negotiate.
I'm not sure why Burris needs it explained to him that Blagejovich himself tainted the process of selecting this Senate seat by his own actions and words, and that anyone he chose would be similarly tainted. It's kind of sad, really.
Let's just say that this is not an auspicious start to a Senate career, much less a Democratic defense of that seat. A better man would not have let himself be so tainted. Hell, even Danny Davis -- who hasn't enough sense not to take part in coronation ceremonies for Rev. Moon -- thought better of this.
Roland Burris may believe he has the legal right to this seat. But politically, it's another story. The voters of Illinois have no reason whatsoever to believe that he was chosen with their best interests in mind, because they have very good reason to believe Blago was only looking out for himself. They have no reason to believe otherwise now. This selection was Blago's, and because of that, it will always be about Blago.
Burris may force himself upon the Senate, but he may want to savor his two years while they last.
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I thought only dawgs marked their boundaries by peeing on corners.
He's a dog. That's what dogs do.
Spite is a two-edged sword. I'm betting that his games, here, are going to come back to haunt him - when he's pleading for the mercy of the court during the sentencing phase that follows his corruption conviction(s).
What a jerk.
blago--however corrupt, and pathetic he is--outmaneuvered reid.
the dem leadership has again exposed its weakness like some sort of old-man-in-a-trenchcoat flasher.
burris is unfairly tainted with the blago idiocy. and he legally should be seated. the dem leadership is just trying to protect their brand name.
Amen!!!
It didn't take much maneuvering because as funny as it sounds, Blagojevich has the law on his side and Reid does not.
the Illinois SOS, and when Burris does sue, he'll win.
So, senate Dems will be forced to seat Burris.
But at that point, Reid will have the political cover he wants.
Sorry state of affairs.
This is interesting:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30158
Reid to Blago: "Don't make me count to three! One......one and a half..."
And in exponentially decreasing amounts...
"Blagejovich himself tainted the process".
I believe it was Patrick Fitzgerald who tainted Blago when he jumped the Gun and used scant evidence to fashion a news blitz against him.
I'd bet my last dollar if Fitzgerald tapped the phones of more politicians he'd get the same tactics being used in almost every incident.
the reason Fitzgerald gave for moving so early was that the crime was about to take place, and he wanted to prevent the improper appointment by issuing the indictment. Ok, does that make sense though, in terms of what's happening now? NO! the appointment has been made, and there's no real legal ground to stop it. what could have stopped it? I don't know, maybe proof that there was bribery involved!!! which there NEVER WILL BE by now, by definition! Fitz's attempt to pre-empt the crime, made it impossible to stop Blagojevich from making an appointment. if he had just stayed on the case, and waited for the actual crime to be committed - he'd have 1) the evidence for a conviction on serious charges, which he appears to lack now, and 2) an instant, unquestionable legal justification for the Dems to refuse to seat the appointment. now he has neither, and its a circus.
My understanding is that Firzgerald moved ahead because the Chicago Tribune revealed that he had Blago's lines tapped the Friday before.
cause Fitz has said it was to prevent a completed bribery/appointment, and then others around him have given the Tribune work as the real reason. I gotta say, a leaked story doesn't hold up so well as an explanation. "what, me? tapping the Governor's phone? ha! good one!" - that's about all Fitz would have needed to say in reaction. I guess I'd need to learn more about the Tribune's sourcing - who in Fitzgerald's operation leaked this info, and why? its all too weird, my brain is melting.
There's another way of describing the justification for Fitz's actions, and it is used all the time: probable cause. Fitz had probable cause by the boatload.
why someone would want to make an ass of himself to the degree that Burris is, but really, the more you look into the guy's life and past, the more he seems like your typical self-aggrandizing pompous ass anyway.
but that isn't the question. the question isn't about the "taint" of Blagojevich either - he has not been tried or convicted of any crime, and if what's in his indictment is all that Fitzgerald has, then Blago is probably going to avoid conviction of any real charges. there's nothing particularly illegal in there, just a lot of elaborate shit-talking which didn't turn into anything. bad, yes. illegal, probably not. Burris is a fool to be playing this role for a creep like Blago, and why anyone would want a tainted Senate seat - well, I think we all know why he wants the seat, its a damn Senate seat! there is no other way in hell he'll ever get a chance at another one, so he's giving it all he's got now. disappointing, but not too surprising, really.
and let's not forget - the media circus this has turned into is all the fault of Harry Reid, who had to go and mouth off about what he was going to do to stop all of this by claiming powers he never had and should have known better than to claim. right now it looks like Dems are trying to bend/break the law, in order to deal with a future episode of a conviction of Blago. idiots! really, it wasn't easy for Reid to be out-played on this one, he really had to go out on a limb with teh stoopid. but our boy Harry is always ready to get stupider than you ever thought possible. even stupider than Rod Blagojevich. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. it should scare you.
There is no taint. Stupid Democrat leaders are scared of their shadows. Blago is innocent until proven guilty.
Reid and Pelosi need to be expelled more than Blago. Those two have harmed the party with pussyfooting and caving. Let's get real leaders. If they can't stand the heat, they should stay out of the kitchen. All they can serve is cold soup.
Who do I contact to urge to initiate leadership change>
No. They all need to go, I will not make excuses for that loser, Blago.
who was duly elected!
Or, Limp Noodle Reid would seat him, too.
This is why the American people hate the Congress. Bird flu is more popular than Limp Noodle Reid and Nanny Pelosi.
Burris is a boob and a fool. He's a complete loser and doesn't even realize that. Burris was not unfairly tainted by Blago. Anybody that was dumb enough to accept this appointment would come across as an opportunist. Burris seems to revel in that label. Plus, looking at his record for running for office shows that nobody wanted him for what reason who knows, maybe incompetence?
He stands up there arrogantly pretending that this shit is on the up and up, just so he can put U.S. Senator on his fucking resume. Blagojevich playing race cards everywhere is the real villain in this calamitous event...not Reid. Blago has nothing to lose.
forget whatever motives you attach to his actions, why shouldn't burris be seated?
...damage and division this is causing. Rep. Danny Davis(my rep. here on the westside, and certainly not a boy scout)was Blago's first choice and he turned it down saying it was "dirty".
As I have said before, Burris is taking fruit from a rotten tree. This is only helping Blagojevich, Burris is a willing pawn in a race game. It's not unlawful, but it is wrong.
A Governor under indictment for the possible selling of a Senate seat for profit shouldn't be allowed to select the next Senator for that very seat.
burris has decided to play chicken with his political career no doubt. and not bowing out like DDavis might be political suicide.
as far as a 'fruit from a rotten tree', i can't disagree with you there. but, when push comes to shove, all politicians take 'fruit from rotten trees' in the guise of corporate contributions, and from other unseemly contributors.
but, like you said, it is not unlawful, which is how blago outmaneuvered reid.
my opinion: as long as it can be proven/demonstrated to a reasonable doubt that there were no deals/bribes burris should be seated. to be sure, though, it is one ugly effin' problem for the dems.
Blago hasn't been INDICTED yet. It's the law that he choose a replacement for Obama. If he didn't then the IL congress could also slap another charge on him for not doing his job as assigned. This is a real mess and I'm sick of messes in our government!
I thought I'd take a look at Burris and who is he is. My conclusion on reading about his political and professional life... He's an ass.
This sums it up:
Burris built a family tomb in Oak Woods Cemetery on Chicago's South Side. His tombstone proclaims, "Trail Blazer," and includes a list of his accomplishments, with space left for future ones.
Who does that!?
"First African-American Illinois Man Appointed To Senate For Sheer Spite."
That's REAL "trail-breaking."
Then he'll have lots in common with many of his fellow Senators!
"I'd rather be in Philadelphia."
Harry secretly likes to get his bottom spanked by Nancy.
Reid's taint into this too, I beg you.
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/41968/detail/
LMAO!
Was it too long?
It's funny as hell...and every time I hear the word taint...that sketch pops into me head.
This has been blown up by the media. This is really an internal problem for Illinios. It doesn't really affect anyone else.
When the Senate Dems vote to reward Joe Lieberman with continued Chairmanship of the Homeland Security/Govt. Oversight Committee, when they voted to screw the Constitution by legally immunizing telecom carriers for helping Bush Jr warrantlessly spy on, and datamine, their own customers, when the Senate Dems consistently put appeasing knuckle-dragging neocon Repubs above their own constituents-see legal immunity for telecoms via FISA-when they do all that, the Senate Dems show no desire to punish backstabbers and tormentors like Lieberman.
So, Blagojevich figures he can screw with the Senate Dems and not pay any price for it, and he's right.
For his actions in seeking to carry out the death penalty on Rolando Cruz, completely innocent of the crime of raping and murdering 10 year old Jeanette Nicarico(?), Burris shouldn't be elevated to Senator, but at the same time, I shed no tears for the Senate Dems, they've brought this mess on themselves for standing against us libs while bowing to the Republicans without even a fight on far too often a basis.
Jane Hamsher was right, Blago punked out the Senate Dems.
Spot on!
yeah, true, unfortunately. this is what they get for laying down for the Repugs.
Couldn't agree more! Imagine, the dems wouldn't compell the major criminal karl rove to testify but they block a perfectly legal appointment of one of their own!
the vichy dems are more concerned about bad pr from the likes of limbaugh than the rule of law!
Call reid's office and raise hell: 202-224-3542
they block a perfectly legal appointment of one of their own!
----------------------------
Burris is a piss poor candidate.
Yeah, I still think Burris could be kept out. Courts aren't going to be too eager to jump into this and will at least drag their feet. If the Illinois legislature gets moving on impeachment and the Lt. Gov appoints a new senator, that would be the end of Burris.
But, as I've said elsewhere, Blagejovich made a good bet in guessing the senate would fold in the face of a strong breeze. You can't help but admire the way he's stuck it to Reid. The key is that, in Illinois, politicians don't back down because they've been maneuvered into a position that's going to make them look bad. In Illinois, the only way you look bad is by backing down; you're generally better off making some orphans homeless than looking weak. Blagejovich may have thought twice about this if Lyndon Johnson (or Mayor Daley) were in charge of the senate.
Burris isn't all that important but Harry Reid may want to take a lesson from Illinois here. He's going to get crap no matter what he does, so why come out of it looking weak? Showing he's capable of putting his foot down would be a first and might do him some good in the future.
n/t
thanks alot for appointing Burris. Which GOP senator can we look forward to from Illinois in the future?
The voters of Illinois have no reason whatsoever to believe that he was chosen with their best interests in mind, because they have very good reason to believe Blago was only looking out for himself.
Please name the last person to get elected to ANYTHING who WASN'T mainly looking out for themselves?
IDF shells UN school in Gaza killing 30 and wounding 55 more.
IDF uses white phosphorous shells in Gaza attack.
Russia cuts off natural gas to more Europeon countries due to dispute with Ukraine.
You have to hand it to Blagosonovabitch though. He is sly like a fox.He has backed the Dems into a corner with his appointment of Burris. The frightwing talking heads will scream "racism" while ignoring the obvious legal and moral issues.
Burris is going to be the next Illinois senator. The dems can't stop Blagojevich from appointing him. They need to accept Burris and move on.
Had Blago not been exposed by Patrick Fitzgerald, then Burris would be "...a fine attorney general with outstanding credentials to assume to the office of US Senator"...blah, blah, blah.
This is a no-win situation that needs to end pronto.
Dems need new distractions to move on. After the inauguration, the attention should be Obama's plans, not Blago's indictments and shenanigans.
Bigger problems on the horizon...let's settle this one so we can focus on the more urgent matters.
The Senate has the ability to refuse to seat a senator. The last time it happened was during the Reconstruction Era.
Even at that, the Secretary of State in Illinois is refusing to sign the certificate of appointment.
Burris can't really sue for a writ of mandamus; becuase, this same exact thing was already settle by Marbury v Madison.
n/t
the Senate can refuse to seat an appointee - if they don't meet the basic Senatorial criteria. Burris does.
the Sec. of State in Ill. has even acknowledged himself that he has no legal authority to refuse to sign, there's just no one in their right mind who would fuck with him over that refusal right now. but it won't hold up in court.
see other responder to the last bit. this kind of case was settled specifically in other suit, the name of which I forget. but according to the ruling, Burris is in there. it would be extraordinary if he were kept out at this point, would go against any previous ruling or statute.
He can put a man to death just to make himself look tough on crime. It doesn't make any difference to him if the man is guilty or not. Why in the hell Burris didn't go to jail for malfeasance is beyond me. Although what I REALLY don't understand is how anyone...his mother included...could vote for him for any office after that episode.
When did this happen?
It was back around '92 when Burris was Atty General. The case was enormously famous in Chicago and I'd forgotten Burris was the villain in that episode til the Tribune brought it up last week. The evidence (despite two convictions in two jury trials) of Cruz' innocence and of prosecutorial misconduct was so great that Burris' deputy resigned rather than pursue the death sentence in the Supreme Court. The Illinois Supreme Court eventually threw out the conviction over Burris' objections. A really shameful performance.
That's pretty messed up.
he wasn't the prosecutor, he was the Attorney General, legally bound to enforce the ruling of a jury that had (wrongly) found a man guilty. there was no real wrongdoing on Burris' part here. much as he is an ass.
defending this a-hole?! shame on you!
My head...it aches!!!
Burris is 72, after all.
Reid and his cohorts are like petulant children -- they don't like the law, so they think they can just ignore it. Blagojevich is still the Governor and legally has every right to appoint anyone who meets the criteria specified in the constitution. Don't like it? complain to the Illinois Assembly which should have impeached Blagojevich weeks ago. Reid has no legal right to refuse to seat Burris. If you accept the notion that the Senate has a right to refuse to seat a Senator when there is a charge of impropriety then be prepared for the next Republican Senate to cry ACORN and Voter Fraud to justify why they shouldn't seat a Democrat.
And please, don't tell me Reid is only worried about the appearance the 'integrity' of the Senate -- this same man stood for a standing ovation for Ted Stevens....
Reid is an idiot for every getting involved in this and for stating he won't seat a legally appointed Senator. If he would have kept his mouth shut and followed the law he would have one more member in his caucus, he would have allowed Illinois full representation, and he wouldn't have to look like a moron when he has to backpedal.
the guy is a MOLE, people (not a mole-person, although he may be one of those too). he is quite obviously working for the benefit of the Republicans, against the best interest of the Dems. he's lucky the Dems are so stupid and naive, he'd never get away with comparable actions on the other side of the aisle.
Given the passage of two years plus the advantage of incumbency, I expect Burris will be in a fairly good position for reelection especially if the Obama presidency is going well.
Actually, this is probably an easier way to start one off then having to win an election. John McCain has already amply demonstrated what a politician will stoop to in order to get the golden ring.
This crap with the Gov from Il is all political bullshit. Yes he is a jerk, but where were thr PRESS and The TV when bush was wire taping the people of the US befor 911. where were the press when we were lied in to WAR. Where were the Press and TV when the w/h said torture was ok. But let a dem do some stupid shit and there all over him. Let me see, did the actions of the Gov of Ill get thousands of people jilled, did the actions of the Gov of Ill put the US BILLIONS of dollars in the hole. think about it, what the press and TV should have done is look at the reasons bush and his crew wanted to go to war. They let it slid and helped them by pushing the if you are not for this war you are anti-american.
I wish Reid good luck extracating himself from this mess. Maybe he will learn that you don't show up to a gunfight with a knife.
But I bet he doesn't.
three politicians that got caught doing the right thing? I didn't think so.
one is a known crook, one has has admitted being bought and paid for by it's interests, and one is working his ticket like the monument he is to greed and corruption itself. Imagine, being nominated by the governor going down and trying to pretend you didn't buy the appointment? These tools were just dumb enough to get caught by the same people that play the game with them. Now that's dumb. And they are high ups. Guess being as truly stupid and ignorant as old reagan is still in vogue.
"Roland Burris may believe he has the legal right to this seat."But as you pointed out,its a tainted and deeply cynical power play.
This guy is a complete douchebag as far as I'm concerned.Blago's in good company.These two self serving jerks couldn't give a rat's patoot about the party.Real nice fellas.
Refuse Burris. Impeach Blago. Appoint me Governor (ok, I don't even live in Ill.)
Then I will appoint Burris, and after attending a noice paty in Washington celebrating the Burris seating, I will drunkenly piss on Harry Reed's rose bushes.
Is that wrong?
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