Senate Leadership: Burris 'unacceptable'

[cal04]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Senate_Leadership_Burris_unacceptable.html?showall

The Senate will not seat Roland Burris if Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich attempts to appoint him, a Democratic leadership aide said.

Majority Leader Harry Reid views Burris as "unacceptable," the aide said.


(snip)
However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has warned Blagojevich that Senate Democrats will not seat anyone the governor appoints, while Democratic sources told NBC's Chuck Todd Tuesday that Burris is not an acceptable choice.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28435846/



Within minutes of the report, Senate Democratic leaders were conferring over how to prevent Burris from actually taking office.

According to a Democratic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because discussions were ongoing, Senate leaders were preparing a statement Tuesday afternoon that would express regret for the appointment. The statement would also make clear that anyone named by Blagojevich would not be seated by the Democratic caucus.
http://cbs2.com/national/Gov.Expected.To.2.897095.html

[bigtree]

1. arrogant bullshit

The Senate should respect what Illinois does with the appointment and not try and dominate the situation.

[cali]

2. I agree.

They may not like it, but as long as Blagojevitch is Governor, he has the right to name a Senator to replace Obama.

[Marrah_G]

6. Blago is the arrogant one.

I don't want the senate seating ANYONE he chooses. That person will forever be tainted by the stink of his corruption.

[bigtree]

7. anyone?

Seems to me that person has the potential (and merit) to be judged on their own if their actual association with Blago is mostly tangential to their geography and party.

[Marrah_G]

12. Whoever he picks, the question will always be there as to how they got picked.

So yes, anyone.

[Critters2]

17. No one in Illinois doubts Burris' ethics. I'm surprised Blago made such a good choice,

but there's no question that nothing unethical took place.

[LynneSin]

19. I think Blago did the smart thing and picked someone totally unrelated to this mess

and I see alot of blind quotes from people not named along with a statement made by Harry Reid a few weeks ago. Let's see what happens when Harry Reid and/or another official democrat opens their mouth

[malaise]

14. He is still the Governor

It is his decision.

[madrchsod]

3. both the democrats and the republicans in this state would accept burris as a two year senator...

now reid has given the republicans in this state all the shit they need to make the special election a 50/50 shot.

there`s going to be one less democrat in the senate until some time this summer...i guess reid does`t give a shit if he has that seat to pass what obama wants....

[MiniMe]

4. The quote from Reid is old, not recent

However, if Blago appoints somebody, they will be tainted through no fault of their own. Even if Blago makes a great appointment.

[gratuitous]

5. Kinda dumb

First, Burris is of a rather advanced age (not that that's an impediment to serving in the Senate), but he might be a fine placeholder. Second, Blagojevich, for all his sleaziness, hasn't been convicted of anything. I'm not sure why Sen. Reid holds the governor of Illinois to a higher standard than he does for members of the Bush administration, who have been accused of far more serious crimes. Third, Blagojevich appears to be following the law in this instance, and if Burris isn't going to run for the seat in his own right (due to age), it would be a fine example to follow the law and act as if everyone is operating in good faith, something that I strongly suspect the likes of Karl Rove, Mitch McConnell, Dick Cheney and others too numerous to mention have not done. Yet Reid has rolled over for the Bush administration time and again when he knew damn well (or should have known damn well) that they weren't dealing fairly.

Dumb, dumb, dumb, Mr. Reid.

[madrchsod]

8. burris is a seat warmer untill 10 when we can decide by the primary

illinois and the parties can not afford a special election. this is going to piss off a lot of people here in illinois and the people are going to take it out on the democrats. reid does`t give a shit if he loses the seat to a republican

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Senate leadership can eat a dick

Burris will be the duly appointed replacement, and he's clean as a whistle. Harry Reid should really stop pandering to the GOP crybabies already.

[MineralMan]

10. Reid is wrong...

Until and unless the Governor of Illinois is removed from office, he remains the legal Governor of Illinois, and may appoint a replacement senator for the interim.

That is the law. We have not removed the due process business from our laws quite yet, although it's getting nibbled at all the time.

Reid should STFU and let the Senate decide whether or not to seat this man. I predict he will be seated, once a little thought is given to the Constitution here.

This is the United States of America, at least for now.

[acmavm]

11. Would the guy make a good Senator? Is he ethical? Is he intelligent?

Now Harry wants to go all bad-ass on everyone. He kept his mouth shut all these years and never spoke out against the biggest criminal cabal on the planet, in fact he aided and abetted their every move. But now Harry finds his testicals...

[Critters2]

16. He is both ethical and intelligent. There've never been ethical questions about Burris,

and in this state that's saying something! And yes, intelligent. Graduate of Howard University Law School, three term state comptroller, state Attorney General. He's a good man. Too bad he has the Blago stench now.

[malaise]

13. Reid has no such authority

and apparently he is waiting for the Supreme Court to tell him just that.

[RB TexLa]

15. He has been appointed in a manner required by the laws of Illinois

Reid needs to shut up.

[LynneSin]

18. Ok folks, I hate these blind comments from "an aide of Harry Reid"

The quotes about seating someone were made a few weeks ago and that first comment is from a blind source NOT from Harry Reid.. And the last comment from a "Democratic Officia who spoke on the condition of anonymity".

Seriously we'll wait and see.

It seems Blago picked someone who was very remote from all these scandals and looks to be nothing more than a seat filler until the special election comes up (I think someone mentioned the primaries in 2010 is the next scheduled statewide election - this doesn't have to happen in November).

When I see official comments from named sources that are either Harry Reid or noted as being someone who works for Reid or the democratic party - then I'll form an opinion