Well, Burris has been turned away. Legally, except for Lawrence Tribe, most experts believe Burris will win this in the end. Who knows, but Senate Democrats look like idiots.
On another plain, in another state, Caroline Kennedy has fallen from grace, at least in popularity among New Yorkers. From PPP:
When it comes to whether they would prefer to see Kennedy or Andrew Cuomo appointed, 58% now prefer Cuomo to 27% for Kennedy.
However, the only New Yorker that matters on this one is Gov. Paterson.
I’m sad to see that the Senate has deemed it fit to turn Mr. Burris away. While I’m no fan of the Illinois governor he has not been convicted of any crime (I still believe in the concept “innocent until proven guilty”) and in my humble opinion he is still the governor. The Illinois legislature has not impeached him so the way I look at it he was more than likely correct in appointing Mr. Burris to the Senate seat vacated by PE Obama. Once again the Democrats have seen fit to make themselves look like a bunch of “jerks.”
As to the NY Senate seat to be vacated by SOS designate Hillary Clinton I am not in agreement with the choice of either Caroline Kennedy or Andrew Cuomo. Maybe I’m making too much of a comparison with Hillary but Ms. Kennedy just can’t press the flesh like Hillary did nor does she seem accessible to the people as Hillary was. For all the years I followed Hillary (and when she was on her listening tour prior to her Senate run I literally followed her all over NYS) every time I met her she remembered my name. Of course I was somewhat of a PITA but I guess she expected and accepted that some of us would be that interested and she took great care to treat us as though we were a part of her family. I sometimes think if someone touched Ms. Kennedy she’d be inclined to run home and immediately shower. I know she’d never remember my name. I hope our Governor makes an independent decision otherwise if he chooses Ms. Kennedy there will be questions and many people will believe that someone twisted his arm to do so.
The first order of business should be to replace Harry Reid. He is the absolute worst.
Kris – what is it with these democrats? They have no spine.
AND why is Joe Biden being sworn in as Senator? I understand Hillary but not VP Biden.
I know JA. It is embarassing as far as I’m concerned. I was hoping it might be different this time but for god sakes it seems worse.
There has to be a logical reason for that one. Otherwise it’s wasting time.
Where the hell is the change that I was promised? It’s still the same ol’ same ol’.
I’m truly becoming a cynical and pessamistic person. I have absolutely no faith in the Congress at this point.
It is the same ol’. It better get under control or the next couple of years could turn out to be a disaster.
I haven’t had faith in Congress for sometime. I think both Pelosi and Reid have been the worst leadership I have seen. Obama better get a grip on the both of them.
JA – what do you think of the Panetta pick for CIA?
Biden is being sworn in because he has not resigned his Senate seat. He is also not yet Vice President.
djjl | 01.06.2009 – 12:07 pm | #
Thanks for that djj1. I had a feeling it had to do with something like that. But why hasn’t he resigned his seat? It’s not as though he needs confirmation. Again probably some protocol I’m not aware of.
He’s probably taking his seat so he can do his “fact finding” Congressional trip Pakistan and Afghanistan that he has planned.
hi djjl: I was about to say the same thing. Until he’s sworn in he is the Senator of Delaware. But I do agree with everyone, the dems are looking like idiots over the Burris situation. Why are the so adamant when more than likely the courts will tell them they have to seat him.
JA – what do you think of the Panetta pick for CIA?
kris | 01.06.2009 – 11:58 am | #
I was somewhat shocked at the pick but in retrospect after reading comments from yesterday am inclined to accept it based on the fact that he has good management skills and the CIA has been running amok but more important I think it’s a total break with the Bush administration’s philosophy. As long as Panetta follows the Geneva Convention and adheres to the law regarding torture I am all for it. We need to take the moral high road on this otherwise we’re going to look like nothing more than hypocrites.
My understanding is that Burris was not able to submit proper authorization from Illinois.
“The Senate’s secretary has declared that Burris does not qualify for the seat — because the secretary of state of Illinois, Jesse White, has refused to certify the governor’s appointment. “
“The Senate’s secretary has declared that Burris does not qualify for the seat — because the
secretary of state of Illinois, Jesse White, has refused to certify the governor’s appointment.
“
djjl | 01.06.2009 – 12:21 pm | #
One discussion I heard on the news last night is that this angle will not hold water. The Sos certification is just that, verification that the Governor appointed him. It’s not discretionary.
The senators are making asses of themselves.
djjl | 01.06.2009 – 12:21 pm | #
You are correct on this but it seems Illinois’ SOS has kind of set himself up as a law unto himself. I don’t know how the Illinois Constitution reads or what powers the SOS has but it seems kind of ridiculous on the surface. The Governor has yet to be impeached or convicted. In the meantime the people of Illinois lack proper representation in the Senate.
The Sos certification is just that, verification that the Governor appointed him. It’s not
discretionary.
The senators are making asses of themselves.
justlen | 01.06.2009 – 12:30 pm | #
Bingo. If the SecState can withhold certification, it means he has a veto. Which means the governor doesn’t really have the absolute right to appoint.
This thing will get worse before it gets better. But in the end, Burris will be seated as the junior senator from Illinois.
The senators are making asses of themselves.
justlen | 01.06.2009 – 12:30 pm | #
I all honesty justlen it wouldn’t be the first time that the senators make asses of themselves. They seem to have a habit of doing this and almost seem to enjoy it. It’s as if they have nothing better to do – you know like the people’s business. The Dems are wasting their political capital on this. Who’s going to take them seriously?
Jane Austen and justlen
I agree with both of you on this. It seems to me that the problem is two fold. The SOS hasn’t certified him therefore the proper credentials are not available for the Senate. It would seem the problem is really in Illinois. I’m not certain what prerogatives the US Senate has in overlooking this.
I don’t see what the US Senate can do either. This is probably one of those rights that is left to the states so the Senate is caught between a rock and a hard place on this. I must say Blago was a very cunning animal doing this. I guess he knew what would happen.
BBL. The munchkin is making a mess.
Jane Austen,
Regarding Mr. Burris and Caroline Kennedy, I agree with you. From what I am hearing, Mr. Burris has the law on his side, speaking as a legal matter. I, like you, prefer Mrs. Maloney for the Senate seat, but Governor Patterson is no shoe-in for election so I think he will choose whoever benefits him the most – i.e. raising money, etc. That tends to point to Kennedy but I hope he makes his decision independent of all that, too. I just want everyone to get a fair hearing before him. We’ll see what happens.
I’m sure the right wingnut talk show hosts are having a field day with this. By the way, NBC cancelled Ann Coulter’s interview on the Today show, thanks to Media Matters campaign to stop the interview.
I find the Blagojevich/Burris mess incredibly amusing. Democrats are in this position because they were afraid of an election. That is bullshit. They deserve to squirm. That the race card is being played is all the better. You reap what you sow.
Jane, you’re in the middle of the pack. Gallup came out with the latest congressional approval rating……down to 19%!
Congress is managing to make Bush look popular. *haha
Psychodrew….I agree. Watching them jump too fast on the bandwagon and end up with their tails in a crack explains to me, anyway, just why they didn’t get what derivatives were when Freddie/Fannie were venturing into dangerous waters. They ARE responsible. And the notion that this bunch should choose the next senators for Illinois voters makes ME hoot.
They are idiots.
“Funds Tie Obama to Richardson Probe Figure”
President-elect Barack Obama took big money from a man at the center of a federal probe that has forced one of Obama’s top Cabinet picks to withdraw. Financial records show the Obama campaign got more than $30,000 from California financier David Rubin, the target of an investigation into donations and possible “pay-to-play” deals involving New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama’s pick for commerce secretary. Richardson removed himself from consideration for the post Sunday, saying the ongoing…”
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Politics/story?id=6586275&page=1
See what Richardson has drug in.
dj…..I outraged the progressives when I said, Obama’s endorsements were the second-grade bunch of insiders.
I feel vindicated.
GeoT
From where I sit (in Illinois), I have the following viewpoint.
Fitzgerald announced his potential indictment, to soon, trying to stop Blago from appointing Obama’s successor. His case, which largely depends on things from the last three years, is not built on the senate-seat-pay-to-play, but other misdeeds. The pay-to-play thing was the most newsworthy, and that is what everyone is running with. Due to the fact he has asked for a 90 day extention, he does not have all his ducks in a row yet, and everyone expected Blago to ‘do the right thing’ and go away quietly in the night.
That was their first mistake, because what all of us in Illinois already knew, Blago is crazy like a fox.
the second mistake was by Dems, who could not wait to denounce Blago, and scream (to anyone who would listen) that they would not accept anyone who Blago appointed, because they would be tainted.
The second mistake, part two, was the failure of Dems to impeach Blago in the last three weeks. That was their only way of stopping him, and their only real power to stop him. That way Lt. Gov Pat Quinn, could have stepped in, and appointed the Senator, and we could have gone on with business with two Senate seats.
Also we find out that Harry Reid has been making calls to Blago (before the shit hit the fan), to tell him not to appoint Davis, Jackson or Burris to the open seat. He feared they would not be ‘electable’ in 2010. We have all heard this before, and it also goes a long way to explaining why Obama was the only Black Senator.
The electability argument is used often to disqualify candidates.
So now what does Blago do? He names one of the three people Reid does not want, because he knows he is legally still Governor, and theirs not a damn thing they can do about it. They can expel a Senator, but cannot block one.
As for Burris. He is 71 and this is probably his last chance at any major office (politicians have huge egos). So he took the chance, thinking it would blow over.
The sight of him being bullied by press (looking more and more like paparazzi, instead of journalists) was a very sad sight to see. Like I said earlier, he looked like a scorched cat. I actually felt pity for him, he looked so deflated.
In the end, he will probably be seated, and will probably have to promise Reid and co. that he will not seek re-election. Blago got the last laugh.
So, the same Senators, that gave Republican Senator Ted Stevens (a seven-time convicted felon) a standing ovation, are now trying to stand on moral high ground is hypocrisy at its finest.
I say, seat the old dude, and lets move on with fixing the economy, etc…
“Funds Tie Obama to Richardson Probe Figure”
. Financial records show the Obama campaign got more than $30,000 from California financier David Rubin
djjl | 01.06.2009 – 2:23 pm | #
how is that possible? Individuals are limited to $2300 for the primary and $2300 for the general. Oh wait:
“Rubin’s money went to a joint Obama-DNC fund ($28,500), the DNC itself ($26,200), and to the Obama campaign ($2,300)”
that’s what I thought.
that’s what I thought.
GeoT | 01.06.2009 – 3:24 pm | #
As usual, with these manufactured stories from our brillant MSM, there is no there there.
As usual, with these manufactured stories from our brillant MSM, there is no there there.
Audiegrl | 01.06.2009 – 3:36 pm | #
they asked the guy “what did you expect for your donation?”
he said: “Obama as President” done and done.
The Democrat Party sort of makes up their rules as needed. They certainly did during the primary. Burris and Franken should be seated, end of story.
Audiegrl, your analysis of this Burris issue is absolutely dead-on. I think you are absolutely right.
GeoT | 01.06.2009 – 3:24 pm | #
Debunking is so much fun, isn’t it? Actually, in this case, it was too easy. Like you mentioned, the $30,000 was a dead giveaway that this was a bogus charge.
Batter up!!!
ogenec | 01.06.2009 – 3:53 pm | #
it felt good to get that off my chest. LOL