Blagojevich, Burris and More Problems for Illinois Dems [WaPoo lamenting a major Rat Spat alert]

Washington (Com) Post ^ | December 30, 2008 | Chris Cillizza

[Zakeet]

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's decision to appoint former state attorney general Roland Burris to the Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama further complicates an already difficult situation for state and national Democrats.

Blagojevich has been operating under the cloud of scandal for the past month -- since he was arrested following a series of wiretaps that seemed to show he was seeking to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Before Christmas, Blagojevich made clear he had no plans to step down and insisted he was innocent of the corruption charges against him. He had not made any public statement regarding the appointment prior to his announcement this afternoon in Chicago to choose Burris.

While Blagojevich is within his powers as governor to appoint Burris, early signs from Senate Democrats, who have control over who gets seated, are that any appointment by Blagojevich is a non-starter.

"He will not be seated," predicted one well-connected Democratic source.

Regardless of what Senate Democrats do, Blagojevich has forced the ball into their court by naming Burris.

Burris, the first African-American elected statewide in Illinois, is a well-known and credible politician. He is best known for his three straight unsuccessful runs for governor in 1994, 1998 and 2002; in that final race, Burris won the endorsement of Obama, then a state senator, but lost to -- you guessed it -- Blagojevich.

Rejecting Burris out of hand -- as Senate Democrats indicated they would do in a letter to Blagojevich today -- could create problems

[Zakeet]

Pop your corn.

Things are starting to get good in Barry's old stomping grounds.

[eureka!]

Blago’s going all in. I love it. Too bad it taints the 0ne with that ‘corrupt Chicago pol’ thingy. Oh well, the sheeple ignored the Reverend Wright, terrorist Ayers, criminal Rezco etc. This too will pass. But not for a while. ;^)

[screaminsunshine]

The perfect start for the wonderful world of Obama & Company. I will enjoy watching the MSM sugar coat it all.

[ETL]

From the article:

"Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), who attended the press conference with Blagojevich and Burris, praised the governor's decision and said it was an answer to his prayers..."

_______________________________________________________

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
PROFILE: BOBBY RUSH:

* Democratic Member of Congress

* Member of the radical Progressive Caucus

* In 1968, went AWOL from the U.S. Army

* Co-founder of the Illinois branch of the Black Panther Party

* In 1969, served six months in jail for an illegal weapons conviction

* Advocates reparations for African Americans

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1198
________________________________________________________

From the Maoist Internationist Movement:
[1960s/original] Black Panther Party [BPP] Archives
From the article: REVOLUTIONARY HEROES

"On May 1st, May Day [1969], the day of the gigantic Free Huey rally, two of Alioto's top executioners vamped on the brothers from the Brown Community who were attending to their own affairs. These brothers, who are endowed with the revolutionary spirit of the Black Panther Party defended themselves from the racist pig gestapo.

Pig Joseph Brodnik received his just reward with a big hole in the chest. Pig Paul McGoran got his in the mouth which was not quite enough to off him.

The revolutionary brothers escaped the huge swarm of pigs with dogs, mace, tanks and helicopters, proving once again that "the spirit of the people is greater than the man's technology."

To these brothers the revolutionary people of racist America want to say, by your revolutionary deed you are heroes, and that you are always welcome to our camp."

Source: Maoist Internationist Movement
Article: REVOLUTIONARY HEROS (May 11, 1969):
http://www.etext.org/Politics/MIM/bpp/index.html

[Paladin2]

The whole early morning arrest performance was drama queen misdirection by Fitz.

[sionnsar]

   

[eureka!]

Meaning what? More to come? Methinks so. Biggest pelt of all (in my dreams)...

[y6162]

Blago’s not done yet. He’s signaling that he’s not going to be a good boy and fall on his sword. And he knows where the skeletons are buried in Ill.

With the spectacle of Princess Caroline getting beat up in NY, maybe the next four years won’t be so bad.

[Seven plus One]

Blago’s not done yet. He’s signaling that he’s not going to be a good boy and fall on his sword. And he knows where the skeletons are buried in Ill.

Damn skippy. It's relevant that Daley isn't saying anything here. Until He speaks, all the rest is just so much noise anyway. Rod's still driving the bus here.

[freeangel]

All blago has to do is wait until Jan 20. 0 tosses Fitgerald under a bus and the whole thing goes away with burris installed as Senator—all in the name of racial harmony.

[eureka!]

Agreed. Hopefully, if the writing is on the wall, he will unveil those skeletons...

[bpjam]

please, please, please, pretty please let this go on as long as possible.....

[Arizona Carolyn]

Obama sent word this afternoon, he backs Harry Reid in not seating Burris — and Blago’s attorney just quit.

[itches]

Maybe the appointment isn’t a based on race and maybe it is.I can certainly see why it would be expedient to appoint a black man, but one thing is for certain; Bobby Rush is a RACIST and should be tried on anti-discrimination charges. Those 12 minutes proved what a disgrace Illinois is

[Common Tator]

The Supreme court ruled that congress does not have the right to reject some one elected to the house on any grounds not listed in the constitution.

Those are
1) each senator must be at least 30 years old,
2) must have been a citizen of the United States for at least the past nine years, and
3) must be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the state they seek to represent.

The senate may refuse to seat a person to the senate who fails to meet one or more of these criteria.

Once seated a senator be removed from the senate by a vote of the senate.

The Constitution permits the Senate to expel any member by a two-thirds majority vote. But they would have to seat the Blago appoinment and then expell him.

Consider the danger if the senate could vote to not seat any senator. Say the Demorats hold 51 seats in the senate. But lose enough so the new senate will only have 40 Democrats.

So the old senate refuses to seat all the newly elected Republicans... so the Democrats continue to have a majority of a senate with only 79 members becuase they refused to seate the 21 newly elected Republicans.

I look for the supreme court to overrule Harry Reid. And the new Senator selected by Blago to not be too interested in supporting anything that Harry Reid was for.

[utahagen]

It's even possible this may not pass. The media certainly want to see Obama actually sworn in as President, but there may be a few members of the media who put their own self-interest above Obama’s reputation after January 21. Let the games begin!

[Between the Lines]

If Blago had done this the week after he was arrested it probably would have worked in his favor.

[rod1]

Let’s hear it...Happy Days Are Here Again...

[rod1]

Imagine when Rush finally gets back. He will have to expand the show by an extra hour or two.

[PistolPaknMama]

"Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.),

Was this the elderly black guy who prattled on and on incoherently and said everything three times?