Unbelievable-Blagojevich to name Burris to fill Obama seat

[retailguy]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/blagojevich-to-name-burris-to-senate.html

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.

Blagojevich, who has sole authority to name a replacement senator, scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference at his downtown Chicago office.

Blagojevich's criminal defense attorney Ed Genson had said Blagojevich would not name a Senate successor to Obama. The governor had indicated he agreed with other Illinois politicians that the best option might be a special election to fill Obama's seat. But state lawmakers have not taken up the necessary legislation.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada previously warned Blagojevich, following the governor's Dec. 9 arrest, that Senate Democrats would not seat any appointment the two-term Democratic governor made. Reid's warning was contained in a letter signed by all 50 sitting Democratic senators, including the No. 2 Democrat in Senate leadership, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Federal authorities, citing secret wiretap recordings, allege Blagojevich sought a Cabinet position, an ambassadorship or a high-paying job from the incoming Obama administration in exchange for naming a candidate favored by the president-elect to the vacancy. An internal report by the Obama transition team found no offers of any quid pro quo in conversations held by incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and Blagojevich and the governor's staff regarding the seat.

Burris became the first African-American to win statewide office in 1978, when he won the first of his three terms as comptroller. But Burris repeatedly stalled in his quest for bigger political office. He failed in three consecutive runs for governor--1994, 1998 and 2002, when he ran against Blagojevich--in the Democratic primaries.

Burris, an attorney in private practice, could not be reached for comment at his home today.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Blagojevich has a very impressive head of hair. I wonder if it is a weave or something.

[red]

how this guy still has a job just baffles me

why hasn't he been stripped of his powers?

better yet, why isn't he already in jail?

[sheepshead]

This guy is totally whacked. Burris has run for everything here and lost. Reid has said they'll push anyone blago appoints back to Rush Street. We need to follow the state constitution on this one, but there is no one standing in the way of impeachment. Might take a few weeks.

[Harlan Huckleby]

how this guy still has a job just baffles me

why hasn't he been stripped of his powers?

better yet, why isn't he already in jail?

We are a country of laws, not call-in polls.

As far as I can tell, he didn't break any laws. Maybe he intended to break the law, but somebody (the press?) blew the whistle before catching him in the act. I suspect the FBI is furious. And the comments he made are not so strange to the culture of Chicago - he expects to get something for political favors.

It is not that simple of a situation.

[bobblehead]

how this guy still has a job just baffles me

why hasn't he been stripped of his powers?

better yet, why isn't he already in jail?

As a general rule (about 90-10 and 10-90) Democrats will fight to the bitter end when caught and republicans will step down. Stevens would be an exception as would the NY guy with the hookers on the other side.

That jefferson dude was caught on wiretaps and had 90k cash in his freezer. He won re-election and Pelosi tried to give him a cherished seat before the public outcry.

[Harlan Huckleby]

As a general rule (about 90-10 and 10-90) Democrats will fight to the bitter end when caught and republicans will step down.

Like Larry Craig? Dick Nixon?

This is a silly theory. I'm sure you can come up with many examples to support your theory, but somebody who cared could find an equal number to contradict.

[sheepshead]

As a general rule (about 90-10 and 10-90) Democrats will fight to the bitter end when caught and republicans will step down.

Like Larry Craig? Dick Nixon?

This is a silly theory. I'm sure you can come up with many examples to support your theory, but somebody who cared could find an equal number to contradict.

Dick Nixon didnt step down?

[digitaldean]

Blagojevich has a very impressive head of hair. I wonder if it is a weave or something.

Either that or he has Jimmy Johnson's hair spray supply.

[digitaldean]

how this guy still has a job just baffles me

why hasn't he been stripped of his powers?

better yet, why isn't he already in jail?

As a general rule (about 90-10 and 10-90) Democrats will fight to the bitter end when caught and republicans will step down. Stevens would be an exception as would the NY guy with the hookers on the other side.

That jefferson dude was caught on wiretaps and had 90k cash in his freezer. He won re-election and Pelosi tried to give him a cherished seat before the public outcry.

Thankfully Jefferson got voted out this time around. Even Louisiana voters can't stand that type of overt corruption.

[texaspackerbacker]

There is a little thing called due process of law.

The Dem leadership in the Senate, to their credit, has stated they won't accept and seat anybody appointed by Blagojevich. I heard on the news today, though, somebody (it may have been Mort Kondracke) say that if that happened, there is a strong chance the Supreme Court would overrule the Senate--that a duly elected governor's appointment can't be rejected just because there is a cloud of corruption hanging over the appointing governor.

If you think about it, the Senate rejecting this choice would be a pretty bad precedent. It is one step away from the Senate rejecting somebody they just plain don't like on partisan grounds.

This guy, Burris, whatever his politics, would seem to be an acceptable compromise candidate, as he is 71 years old. He probably would finish out Obama's term, and then not run again. From a partisan Republican point of view, nobody decent is gonna get appointed regardless, and at least this guy isn't some hot shot long term safe to be re-elected type.

[MJZiggy]

I thought they were rejecting not because he has corruption surrounding him, but because he was under Federal indictment, specifically for trying to peddle THIS seat. Wouldn't that automatically make any appointment a conflict of interest?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Dick Nixon didnt step down?

not until he was completely abandoned and had no choice.

[Harlan Huckleby]

There is a little thing called due process of law.

The Dem leadership in the Senate, to their credit, has stated they won't accept and seat anybody appointed by Blagojevich. I heard on the news today, though, somebody (it may have been Mort Kondracke) say that if that happened, there is a strong chance the Supreme Court would overrule the Senate--that a duly elected governor's appointment can't be rejected just because there is a cloud of corruption hanging over the appointing governor.

If you think about it, the Senate rejecting this choice would be a pretty bad precedent. It is one step away from the Senate rejecting somebody they just plain don't like on partisan grounds.

This guy, Burris, whatever his politics, would seem to be an acceptable compromise candidate, as he is 71 years old. He probably would finish out Obama's term, and then not run again. From a partisan Republican point of view, nobody decent is gonna get appointed regardless, and at least this guy isn't some hot shot long term safe to be re-elected type.

I agree with most of what you say. But why praise the Senate Democrats on this one? Their position makes some sense, but it is not wise. Burris is a completely acceptable appointment. Baggy made it just to help his own position, true, but so what. Why get into a pissing match with the guy? It creates a legal nightmare, and interferes with the public interest.

The Senate should forget the posturing, even if it is justified, and let the appointment stand. Baggy will get whats coming to him.

[bobblehead]

Dick Nixon didnt step down?

not until he was completely abandoned and had no choice.

Kinda my point....the republican party abandons corrupt pols while the dems constantly talk about letting things come to a legal conclusion. Next thing you will be telling me that republicans steal as many elections as democrats.