In order for Blago’s choice to be honored in the Senate law requires that the Governor AND the Illinois Secretary of State sign the credential. Jesse White said he won’t sign it, but then it gets confusing:
What the hell does that mean? White needs to sign a piece of paper, he didn’t, what is ‘registered intention’ mean?
I don’t think it’s that clear that White’s signature is really necessary, but I guess that is the centerpiece of the Democrats’ refusal to seat Burris. I don’t know why they can’t just seat him and then kick him right out instead of wading into such muddy waters. Maybe Reid doesn’t think they can get the Republican votes to expel him?
It’s a matter of principle, I think; Blago, in their view, has lost the trust of the people, and thus can no longer legitimately exercise the office of Governor. Thus, any appointment he makes is invalid, and Roland Burris has no right to be admitted to the Senate for any length of time.
Oh my God no, expulsion is reserved for cases of gross moral turpitude. The proper response to a flawed appointment process is to refuse to recognize the appointment, not to expel the appointee.
Refer the challenged appointment to a U.S. Senate committee and let it wither and die there while Blago is impeached and goes on trial in the state senate.
I think this thread already shows it is unclear whether the Senate can refuse to seat Burris. There’s no practical difference between refusing to seat someone and expelling him right after he’s seated anyway - especially if he can’t be refused.
I don’t accept that he can’t be refused. The Senate should be willing to take that chance with the Supreme Court.
Given the manner in which expulsion has been used over 220 years of Congressional history, it would be grossly unfair to Burris. It would class him with felons and traitors.
That would be unfortunate, but it would be his fault for accepting the job under these circumstances and after the Senate already made it clear they would not recognize an appointment made by Blagojevich.
Yeah, any stains on Burris’s character are his own responsibility, after he chose to lie down next to this pig. No sympathy.
If nothing else, they can use an appeal to all available legal and constitutional authorities as a way to laboriously run out the clock. Hell, it’s exactly what Coleman is planning to do to Franken, preventing him from being seated while all the bureaucratic machinations clank away. Same goes here. Actually, it even more goes here, because Franken’s swearing-in is inevitable, and Coleman’s just being petulant; blocking Blago is at least a legitimate end. Point is, the means would be similar.
How was that made clear? I don’t recall a vote on this topic - and without one things certainly aren’t clear - especially with the Powell case on the books.
And…Reid folded. Burris will take his seat. Whether he keeps it long is an open question, but I’d bet against it.
That was a hand played poorly by everybody in the game, and the people likely to win in the end probably haven’t anted up yet.
Reid said no appointment by Blagojevich would be acceptable and said he shouldn’t make an appointment. Obama and Durbin said the same. I have to say I’m starting to understand why people are down on Reid, he seems to fuck everything up. He should not have told the Illinois legislature to back off on the special election idea; that’s more democratic and fair anyway and it was an easy win for the Democrats, but he was afraid of losing the seat.
The last two years have given me the suspicion that Reid took a lot of “on-demand” falls when he was boxing…
Has anybody else seen Burris’s grave? It was featured on [a news show that was excerpted and replayed on] The Daily Show last night and it’s incredible. The man has already built his mausoleum, which in and of itself isn’t odd, but…
Under the inscribed words
TRAIL BLAZER
he essentially inscribed his CV (scroll down), evidently omitting “winner of Mrs. Beech’s 4th Grade Bee for correctly spelling HYACINTH” and “Venerated discoverer of Lake Michigan” due to an increase in engraving costs. It’s that cheesy polished granite also when it really begs for hieroglyphics on giant chunks of sandstone. The man doesn’t lack for self-esteem.
By contrast, the graves of Malcolm X and even MLK (not counting the center built around it- by OTHER PEOPLE) seem a bit tame.
The man’s a clown, but to grapple with Blago he’d have to be.
I am pleased that the legislature finally had the critical realization that will allow them to go forward with the impeachment. The panel’s report said, “While the governor’s silence could not be held against him in a criminal case, the opposite is true in a non-criminal proceeding such as this impeachment inquiry.” Blago has indicated he won’t respond to the legislature for any of the charges in the impeachment, so this shold be pretty quick. Of course, if he does respond, all the more evidence for the criminal prosecution.
I think you did the same thing I did on seeing Burris’ monument. I was not surprised that King’s grave is much more restrained. That guy didn’t have to pad his resume.
What’s more, the House committee could require that any statement be under oath, and then nail him for perjury when (of a certainty) he lied. Win-win!
The MLK tomb link seems to be broken. Try here: File:Martin Luther King Jr Coretta Scott King Tomb.jpg - Wikipedia
Personally, I’m mapping this phrase to F11 on my keyboard.
Maybe it should just become a verb.
“Looks like I can’t watch football withyou guys on Sunday, I have to go with the wife to pick out paint for the baby’s room.”
“Dude, you totally reided.”
