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The Chicago political machine is obviously corrupt. You'd think that he'd be right at home in the senate. That's not right, but it's real.
Please ! NO, and not because of him, the entire state of Illinois is crooked. EVERY elected/pd for official. I expect this fm Repub Reic
It would be refreshing to follow the law/rules for a change. There are already FAR too many cases of disastrous shortcuts taken
Burris was probably the highest bidder for the seat and Blagojevich pocketed the money. Absolutely not! Burris should not be seated!
Guess the Democrats don't mind shaming themselves in political theatrics with this Senate rejection for the time being. Good start, Dems!
typical , throw down the race card. Do not minority candidates understand they only hurt themselves and progress when they use the "card"
I am a citizen of Illinois. I am humiliated by our governor and Burris. Sometimes ethics are more important than what is legal.
His character comes into question when a corrupt official is the one placing him in office. It begs the question, is he corrupt as well?
At this point, it's not about Blago anymore. It's about him. If I were from IL, I wouldn't want the guy representing me.
This whole thing is scandalous. The Governor knew that the race card would be played when he choose Burris. The charge of racism is absurd.
The governor is innocent until proven guilty. That means his appointments are valid.
#1 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:33 PM ESTI wrote about this vaste waste of political time, energy and capital on my blog . It's about the economy, stupid - and the environment - and global social unrest....
I thought the voters were pretty clear - no more politics as usual.
#2 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:36 PM ESTIt is my understanding that the governor has the authority to appoint the senator. Not the secretary of state. The governor has not been stripped of his power at this point- so whether you like him or not- he still has the authority to appoint. The Majority leader of the senate should have no say so!! Really boils down to the democrats not recognizing the authority of the state versus the central government. Interesting though, that the democrats would deny the population of Illinois, that they so vehemently say they fight for, any representation. They just don't get it!
Somebody promised something that is not going to happen! And now they are throwin' a big ol' fit!
#3 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:37 PM ESTLet Burris serve. I guess the senate isn't capable of embarrassment! I'm embarrassed for it.
#4 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:37 PM ESTIf nothing else this action of trying to be seated in the senate shows Burris is not a person who uses good judgment. What person in their right mind would accept an appointment by a governor about to be impeached because he has been caught telling the world the seat is open to the highest bidder? To many people Burris looks like he must have been the highest bidder. He would have a cloud hanging over him for months if not longer. No, this governor's ability to appoint someone has been tainted and it must be turned over to the people of Illinois to properly elect a successor. Although admittedly, the people of Illinois don't exactly have the best track record of picking public servants and No, I don't mean Barack Obama.
#5 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:38 PM ESTWhat shows lack of judgement is the thought that you should turn down a perfectly good job, something that you have aspired to all your life, and you may never get a chance like this again in your lifetime, just because the person who offered you the job may or may not have done something wrong. I can't believe how many people, jounalists, commentators and so called political analysts actually don't get the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The federal prosecutor who started this mess has slinked back into his hole and won't show his face for another 3 months. Yet he has ruined this mans career on purpose I believe. This prosecutor knew that he did not have any evidence other that some comments made in private to people who worked for the governor. Now if he had any evidence he would not have used the media to convict the governor he would have done that all by himself. This prosecutor has spent years trying to get Blogojevich and couldn't so he resulted to letting the media do his dirty work for him. After he has made sure that Blogojevich has no career to revive then he will come out and say he can't bring charges at this time but he will continue his investigation. What a load of cow dung that will be.
If nothing else this action of trying to be seated in the senate shows Burris is not a person who uses good judgment. What person in their right mind would accept an appointment by a governor about to be impeached because he has been caught telling the world the seat is open to the highest bidder? To many people Burris looks like he must have been the highest bidder. He would have a cloud hanging over him for months if not longer. No, this governor's ability to appoint someone has been tainted and it must be turned over to the people of Illinois to properly elect a successor. Although admittedly, the people of Illinois don't exactly have the best track record of picking public servants and No, I don't mean Barack Obama.
#6 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:40 PM ESTBurris himself stated just a few short weeks ago that no appointment by the embattled governor should be valid or recognized beacause of the suspect circumstances surrounding the governor. Of course, he made this statement before the governor selected him. What a hypocrite Burris is proving himself to be. Illinois should hold a special election - period. Burris should run if he wants a chance at the senate seat. Let the people decide.
#7 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:43 PM ESTToo late for that the Illinois state legislators already dismissed that Idea even after Blogojevich said he would go along with the special election. Why because the Democrats were afraid to lose a seat. So the governor did his job and now everybody has an opinion. Burris should be seated because its the law and all of you flag waving constitution hugging Americans should just accept it. As for the Democrats I am glad that Blogojevich threw that political dung pile right in their faces. Blogojevich may be thought of as a joke by a lot of silly people, but I think that not only did he out wit the Democrats, he also out witted the big time federal prosecutor who brought down Scooter Libby. LOL
I think that if White isn't signing the paperwork, there must be a reason why he isn't. Maybe he knows something that we don't know. But, until White signs the necessary paperwork, then he shouldn't be appointed.
I think it is kind of strange that a 71 year old man gets appointed to that position. What are the chances he'll get re-elected? Slim to none. We need some new blood in there. Someone that is going to be there for the long haul.
I think Burris should embrace life and retire. But, living in California he's not nor ever will be my Senator. So, I am not too concern about it.
#8 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:46 PM ESTWhite was grandstanding for his own reasons. The laws of Illinois state that the Illinois Secretary of State's signature is just a formality and not neccessary for Mr Burris to be seated. As for Mr Burris's age lets not forget how many of you wanted to vote for Senator John Mcain who by the way is 72 years old to be our next president, just how long did you think he was going to last in that position, with all the junk GWB is leaving on the white house desk for the next man. Thank god smarter heads prevailed and we didn't wind up with the inlaw of an accused drug dealer as our next vice president and possibly the next president if something had happened to Mr Mcain. Whew that was a close call America.
I think this guy is a moron taking the appointment in the first place, but let's move on here. Let him in - he will have no more power than one lone vote - and then let him get voted out (or in) in the next election. It seems that he wasn't involved in this profit scam, so he is just some schmuck wanting to be in the US senate. Can't blame him, I guess.
#9 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:46 PM ESTI feel that Burris should have not agreed to take the senate seat because of the turmoil that Blagojevich has caused. Blagojevich has entangled Mr. Burris in his web of troubles. I sure hope that these issues can be dealt with quickly so that we can get on with more important stuff like the economy.
#10 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:49 PM ESTJust another Republican ploy. Sore losers! I would think Americans would be more outraged at a confessed sex offender from Idaho still in the Senate.
Would you want your son or grandson in a public restroom with Larry Craig?
By the way, his conviction was upheld by the state of Minnesota the same day Illinois governor was charged. Did any of you pay attention to that?
#11 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:51 PM ESTHow in the world can you make this a Republican bashing issue? Many of Burris' fellow Democrats don't want his appointment to stand, because of the 'tainted' nature of it. What does that have to do with Republicans?
I agree Rustic, this has more to do with the Democrats than republicans, read the story Sharon.
Yea, it is the Democrat's that don't want him in.
Nice one Sharon, Republicans fault, Must have been Bush behind it, right!!! Burris knew this was going to explode, I guess being an attorney he just couldn't pass up the opportunity to give the country a show.
I can't believe Burris was naive enough to honestly think the appointment would stick! Give me a break! The point is that the nomination by the governer is tainted! If this is such a big deal, let the people of IL decide. Let them vote on who should be the next senator.
#12 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:56 PM ESTI can't believe that Blagojevich trired to even appoint someone after all of this ****.
Stop arguing over power, stop taking special interest money, start initiating bills to correct this sad situation we're in. Start listening to the people you supposedly represent. Kick those corporate lobbyists loose. Government is for the PEOPLE not the corporations.
#13 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:57 PM ESTAnyone who bothered to actually do some critical reading and research for themselves would recognize immediately that Roland Burris is one of the most classy Public Servants ever involved in Illinois politics. His integrity is unquestionable. He successfully retired from politics some years ago after a career marked by grace, pragmatism on behalf of the public good, and bipartisanship. RevDave, "many people", including perhaps yourself, might be better served if they bothered to read up on an issue rather than simply parrot pundits' opinons, regardless of those opinions' legality. The state is ill-served by allowing the senate to proceed without our full slate of representation, i.e. two (2) senators. Regardless of the accusations, Gov. Blagojevich is still, like anyone else, innocent until proven guilty of illegal acts. The released tapes certainly show a person using profanity and being otherwise crass in a private conversation but the legality of those conversations has yet to be decided in a court of law. One does wonder, though, how one can be arrested in front of a large invited media presence, and still not be actually indicted several weeks later. The thing is, this situation is not about the governor, it is about the Roland Burris, an honorable man, and the state of Illinois' vacant senate seat. It is cynical beyond decency for other politicians jockeying for position to, through the media, seek public mandate to ignore the same body of laws cited by the government in its decision to arrest the governor in the first place. What do these politicians have to gain(?) one asks? Well, some feel entitled to the position themselves, some have relatives and/or friends they'd like to see in the position, there may even be a pay-to-player still out there somewhere, but the honorable Roland Burris is not one of them.
Remember: "Readers are Leaders" means "with comprehension"...
#14 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 1:06 PM ESTThere is such a thing as good judgment and clearly this man did not use it. A man of integrity and self worth would have decline the offer; however, Mr Burris has put himself in this ridiculous situation and must pay the consequence. BTW, this has nothing to do with race
How much did Burris pay for the seat? Thats the only question.
#15 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 1:15 PM ESTIt doesn't matter how much money or favors, the real cost was his integrity!
I am not a democrat but I am sure that Burris should be seated. The sitting governor has not been found guilty of anything and has the legal authority to appoint the replacement Senator. When I hear people using words like "tainted" I would answer back with "kangaroo court." It is pretty bad when legal authority can be nullified by rumor and innuendo. We have to watch the extreme liberals as they believe a person is guilty by accusation and mob rule, not necessarily by facts and legal judgements.
#16 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 1:46 PM ESTIt would be refreshing to follow the law/rules for a change. There are already FAR too many examples of disastrous results from our political and business leaders not playing by the rules. America needs to get back on track.
#17 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 1:51 PM ESTIf you means this statement then join the people that want the so called president-elect to show the country his true birth certificate. Do not tell me that he has because I can get the same thing out of Hawaii myself and I was born in the mid-western part of this country.
Any person with ehtical and honest standards would have said NO to Blago when he extended the job offer. Mr. Burris has shown his true character - or lack thereof - and is ONLY interested in self promotion. If this deal they are rumored to be making is actually an ambassadorship after 2010, I will choke. My taxes for Mr. Burris, the circus clown? He was a milktoast public official who never did anything good or bad; never took a posiiton. Basically, he took his paycheck and went home and worked on his self-promoting mausoleum. Until this event, I didn't have a negative opinion. He has shown to be as much of a user as Blago.
#18 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 2:00 PM ESTAs of now the Gov. has not been convicted of anything nor has it been shown that Mr. Burris did anything wrong. They should have investigated Mr. Burris when the Gov. Appointed him. This should have been done very very quickly because of the outstanding charges against he Gov. Yes I do believe that all are innocent until proven guilty.Down the road they can remove both parties if is proven that a crime was committed,till then seat the man and then proceed and prove that either one was doing something wrong.With the info.they have on the Gov. I believe he will be convicted of a serious lack of trust. And if it is found later that Mr. Burris was guily of something than remove him as well.
#19 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 2:13 PM ESTBlago is bad news but Burris seems to be a decent man. Once the Sec of State signs on, Burris should be seated immediately. We need all the Democratic senators we can get.
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Yes, until there has been proven any wrongful intent on Burris' part, he should be seated.