Durbin says Burris' resolution may soon be at hand

[struggle4progress]

Source: Chicago Tribune

... Durbin told CBS's "Face the Nation" that "point blank" the strategy was not to play a stall game and wait for Blagojevich to be removed from office so that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn could name a senator. Blagojevich's trial is expected to take weeks.

"To wait until Gov. Blagojevich is removed could be a matter of weeks," Durbin said. "I think Roland Burris' future and fate will be decided before then" ...

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-090111-pearson-link,0,7373327.story

---

Burris lawyers in Senate Monday
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 01/11/09 10:00 PM

Lawyers for Roland Burris will be in Washington Monday to meet with Senate attorneys and press their case for seating Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's (D) controversial appointee.

A senior Senate Democratic aide said the various legal teams will review documents that Burris has collected in recent days, which he believes meets an 1884 Senate rule requiring all senators to have certificates signed by their states' governors and secretaries of state.

Burris has his appointment papers by Blagojevich and a statement that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has signed that authenticates the appointment. He does not have both signatures of Blagojevich and White on the certification document, however, and Senate leaders have been using that as a means to bar him being sworn in ...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/burris-lawyers-in-senate-monday-2009-01-11.html

January 11, 2009
Burris' fate could be decided Monday
Posted: 06:32 PM ET
From CNN Congressional Producer Evan Glass

Senate-appointee Roland Burris' fate could be decided on Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The fate of Senate-appointee Roland Burris could be decided as soon as Monday, Democratic sources said, as the Senate's Parliamentarian and legal counsel worked over the weekend deciphering Senate rules to determine if Burris has met the requirements for admittance ...

Sen. Dick Durbin, currently the lone Senator from Illinois, told reporters on Sunday, "This thing changes by the day" ...

Democratic leaders say that now that the papers have been submitted, the next step is to wait for a decision by the Senate Parliamentarian. This could be followed by a debate and vote of full Senate.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/11/burris-fate-could-be-decided-monday/

Burris camp heads to Washington
Sunday, January 11, 2009 | 11:11 PM

... "I expect that all the matters will be cleared up, and I will be seated. That's all that we're concerned about because we must get about the business of representing the people of Illinois," Burris told ABC7 Chicago ...

"As time has gone on and we've looked closely, we want to be fair to Roland Burris. If he has the proper certification and papers, then we're going to take one look at the process and move forward from there," Durbin said ...

Burris says he might join his lawyers in Washington later in the week if necessary.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6598206

Burris supporters ask for meeting with senators
Associated Press - January 11, 2009 6:14 PM ET

CHICAGO (AP) - Supporters of U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris have asked for meetings with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The 12 leaders of the National Coalition for Fairness and Justice in the U.S. Senate said Sunday that they had sent letters to the senators requesting Burris be seated immediately.

In the letter to Durbin, the group accuses the Illinois senator of "playing political ping pong" ...

In a news release, the group said members planned a "massive mobilization effort" this week if Burris was not seated.

http://www.wandtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9654257

[cyclezealot]

1. Blago's desperation choice.

My question. Is Burris the best choice. I doubt that... Some how I' don't like him. Not withstanding his Blago connections.. I doubt he's the strongest pick. Blago likely chose him because he was angry and it's a choice made to get back at his political enemies. Not what , is the strongest senator for Illinois and the party..
Guess, there is nothing wrong with a two year , back bencher, seat warmer...and he gets to add another accomplishment to his memorial at Oakwood Cemetery.

[surrealAmerican]

5. I think Blaggo probably chose Burris because he was the ...

... one person he knew who would jump at the opportunity. Most of the other possibilities would have given him a "thanks, but no thanks". Nobody wants to be associated with Blaggo.
Burris is not a disaster, but he's clearly not the best person for the job.

[cyclezealot]

6. The question. Will he win the next election.

Just because he's an incumbent does not make him a shoe in. It'd be best of some how we'd install a winner ; before the next general election.

[surrealAmerican]

8. I'm not so sure he could win the primary for the next ...

... election. I somehow doubt that he will be able to look any more than merely competent as a senator.

[cyclezealot]

9. Republicans don't waste their time

appointing those who can't carry the next election.. They seem to have a better instinct at not wasting their time appointing losers.

[Wizard777]

2. Burris need to take this to SCOTUS. The Senate is using their rules to violate the Constitution.

The SoS is not even mentioned in the appointment process of the US or Illinios Constitution. In exercizing this rule in this manner. The Senetae is giving an extralegal veto power to every SoS over the Governors appointment. This extralegal veto power is not provided for by the Constitution.

[w4rma]

3. Fine with me. That should help run out the clock on that nutcase, Burris. (nt)

[Phred42]

4. Last week Hartmann predicted Burris would be seated by Tuesday (tomorrow)

[Myrina]

7. ... Maxine Waters said the same thing yesterday on MTP ...

so it looks like a decision has been made .