Blagojevich to name Burris to Senate
Source: Chicago Tribune
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.
Full Version: Blagojevich to name Burris to Senate
QUOTE(ap215 @ Dec 30 2008, 12:54 PM) 
Blagojevich to name Burris to Senate
Source: Chicago Tribune
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.
Source: Chicago Tribune
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.
Man......Blago has gonads, doesn't he?
The New York Times Politics Blog 'The Caucus' is confirming this announcement as well:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12...te-replacement/
December 30, 2008, 12:30 pm
Blagojevich Names Obama Senate Replacement
By Monica Davey
Updated 3:15 p.m. Eastern
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois has named Roland Burris, a former state attorney general, to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the United States Senate.
Mr. Blagojevich, who faces federal corruption charges including allegations that he tried to sell Mr. Obama’s former senate seat for a high-paying job or money, had not been expected to try to fill the seat. As recently as ten days ago, his lawyer, Edward Genson, said he would not attempt to make an appointment, since Senate leaders had indicated they would not accept anyone whom the beleaguered Mr. Blagojevich had appointed.
The Democratic leaders of the Senate repeated that view on Tuesday, issuing a statement saying it was “truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Governor 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 statement continued, “We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris’s ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.”
The leaders concluded by saying the appointment was “unfair to Mr. Burris, it is unfair to the people of Illinois and it will ultimately not stand.” They called on the governor once again to resign.
Mr. Burris, 71 and a Democrat, is a longtime political player in this state, who has run for governor before, including mounting a primary challenge against Mr. Blagojevich. Mr. Obama backed him over Mr. Blagojevich in that race.
An aide to Mr. Obama said Tuesday that the news came as a surprise. The president-elect, who is vacationing in Hawaii, had no immediate comment, but a spokesman referred reporters to the statement Mr. Obama made two days after Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest on Dec. 9, saying that the people of Illinois “deserve to know that any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way.”
Governor Blagojevich held a news conference in Chicago at 2 p.m. Central time (3 p.m. Eastern) to make the announcement; Mr. Burris spoke at the press conference, asking Illinois voters to place their faith in him as they had when they elected him to state office.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who would become governor if Mr. Blagojevich resigns or is removed, is scheduled to hold a press conference an hour later in the same room in the Illinois state office building in Chicago, and will presumably address the issue of the senate seat.
Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest in December prompted national and local political leaders of both parties to call for his resignation. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, warned him that he should ”under no circumstances make an appointment,” and Senator Dick Durbin, a fellow Democrat and the senior senator from Illinois, said that “no appointment by this governor could produce a credible replacement.”
The United States Constitution makes each house of Congress “the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members,” but cases of either house refusing to seat a new member, either elected or appointed, have been rare. An extremely close race in New Hampshire in 1974 whose outcome was reversed twice on recounts led the Senate to refuse to seat the candidate eventually recorded as winning by two votes, and to call for a fresh election to settle the issue instead.
Mr. Burris has been senior counsel at the Milwaukee-based law firm of Gonzales Saggio & Harlan; a capsule biography of him is posted on the firm’s Web site.
Jeff Zeleny, Sharon Otterman and David Stout contributed to this post.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12...te-replacement/
December 30, 2008, 12:30 pm
Blagojevich Names Obama Senate Replacement
By Monica Davey
Updated 3:15 p.m. Eastern
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois has named Roland Burris, a former state attorney general, to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the United States Senate.
Mr. Blagojevich, who faces federal corruption charges including allegations that he tried to sell Mr. Obama’s former senate seat for a high-paying job or money, had not been expected to try to fill the seat. As recently as ten days ago, his lawyer, Edward Genson, said he would not attempt to make an appointment, since Senate leaders had indicated they would not accept anyone whom the beleaguered Mr. Blagojevich had appointed.
The Democratic leaders of the Senate repeated that view on Tuesday, issuing a statement saying it was “truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Governor 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 statement continued, “We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris’s ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.”
The leaders concluded by saying the appointment was “unfair to Mr. Burris, it is unfair to the people of Illinois and it will ultimately not stand.” They called on the governor once again to resign.
Mr. Burris, 71 and a Democrat, is a longtime political player in this state, who has run for governor before, including mounting a primary challenge against Mr. Blagojevich. Mr. Obama backed him over Mr. Blagojevich in that race.
An aide to Mr. Obama said Tuesday that the news came as a surprise. The president-elect, who is vacationing in Hawaii, had no immediate comment, but a spokesman referred reporters to the statement Mr. Obama made two days after Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest on Dec. 9, saying that the people of Illinois “deserve to know that any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way.”
Governor Blagojevich held a news conference in Chicago at 2 p.m. Central time (3 p.m. Eastern) to make the announcement; Mr. Burris spoke at the press conference, asking Illinois voters to place their faith in him as they had when they elected him to state office.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who would become governor if Mr. Blagojevich resigns or is removed, is scheduled to hold a press conference an hour later in the same room in the Illinois state office building in Chicago, and will presumably address the issue of the senate seat.
Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest in December prompted national and local political leaders of both parties to call for his resignation. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, warned him that he should ”under no circumstances make an appointment,” and Senator Dick Durbin, a fellow Democrat and the senior senator from Illinois, said that “no appointment by this governor could produce a credible replacement.”
The United States Constitution makes each house of Congress “the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members,” but cases of either house refusing to seat a new member, either elected or appointed, have been rare. An extremely close race in New Hampshire in 1974 whose outcome was reversed twice on recounts led the Senate to refuse to seat the candidate eventually recorded as winning by two votes, and to call for a fresh election to settle the issue instead.
Mr. Burris has been senior counsel at the Milwaukee-based law firm of Gonzales Saggio & Harlan; a capsule biography of him is posted on the firm’s Web site.
Jeff Zeleny, Sharon Otterman and David Stout contributed to this post.
From Obama
Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy.
Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy.
I think Burris is a great choice and then in a couple of years all the others can run
(and buy the election anyhow, which is how people get on the ballot anyhow...
I see no reason for a special election now where the repubs could steal the seat, seems wrong
but then repubs are anti-constitutional 100% of the time, so I wouldn't put it passed them
(and buy the election anyhow, which is how people get on the ballot anyhow...
I see no reason for a special election now where the repubs could steal the seat, seems wrong
but then repubs are anti-constitutional 100% of the time, so I wouldn't put it passed them
If they don't seat Burris, who is deserving, it is another lynching of a black hero
QUOTE(graham4anything @ Dec 30 2008, 06:34 PM)
If they don't seat Burris, who is deserving, it is another lynching of a black hero
Burris may indeed be a deserving man. However, he has demeaned his credibility by choosing to cozy up to a defiant Blago who takes a "my way or the highway" approach to everything. Blago is ignoring the directives of his own legislative body which is inexcusable. If Burris chooses to jump in that playpen, then let the cards fall as they may. He asked for it.
QUOTE(canjcat @ Dec 30 2008, 07:27 PM)
QUOTE(graham4anything @ Dec 30 2008, 06:34 PM)
If they don't seat Burris, who is deserving, it is another lynching of a black hero
Burris may indeed be a deserving man. However, he has demeaned his credibility by choosing to cozy up to a defiant Blago who takes a "my way or the highway" approach to everything. Blago is ignoring the directives of his own legislative body which is inexcusable. If Burris chooses to jump in that playpen, then let the cards fall as they may. He asked for it.
he is not beholden to them
they are independent of each other
until a judge sentences if found guilty, one is presumed innocent even if the person some considers is a jerk
also- the new Senate starts, and with all these open positions, what good will it be that Obama won a mandate if all the seats are not filled?
If you remember, they railroaded lynched Grey Davis in California basically the same way, and lo and behold, he was NOT GUILTY INNOCENT OF ANYTHING
QUOTE(graham4anything @ Dec 30 2008, 07:31 PM)
QUOTE(canjcat @ Dec 30 2008, 07:27 PM)
QUOTE(graham4anything @ Dec 30 2008, 06:34 PM)
If they don't seat Burris, who is deserving, it is another lynching of a black hero
Burris may indeed be a deserving man. However, he has demeaned his credibility by choosing to cozy up to a defiant Blago who takes a "my way or the highway" approach to everything. Blago is ignoring the directives of his own legislative body which is inexcusable. If Burris chooses to jump in that playpen, then let the cards fall as they may. He asked for it.
he is not beholden to them
they are independent of each other
until a judge sentences if found guilty, one is presumed innocent even if the person some considers is a jerk
Indeed -- but there's this thing called professionalism and respect. Blago possesses neither.
As for Burris? Just like my Momma always said, "Birds of a feather flock together."
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