# Impeach Roland Burris **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870 "2009-02-14T21:54:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/21 "2009-02-15T00:04:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > So at least I have the comfort of knowing the rest of you will be in Heaven with me. Er, yes, “heaven…” ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/22 "2009-02-15T00:11:51Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Burris is a toad, but I’m not sure on what the impeachable/resignation-worthy offense here is supposed to be. From reading the article I get that he was asked to make a campaign contribution, but it was not explicitly linked to the senate seat. He did not make a contribution, and he was appointed to the seat. Apparently the offense is being asked, under oath, some version of _did anyone from the governor’s team ask you for money?_ and denying it. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/23 "2009-02-15T00:22:29Z")
The guy had to be a piece of shit to accept the Senate seat in the first place. What happened to the Dem caucus all signing a statement pledging that they wouldn’t seat someone appointed by Blago? Why did Obama cave on this? Why didn’t the GOP grow a spine and oppose this? I’m not impressed with the current state of politics in Washington. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/24 "2009-02-15T00:23:07Z")
We’ll all go together when we go… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/25 "2009-02-15T00:23:41Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Apparently the offense is being asked, under oath, some version of did anyone from the governor’s team ask you for money? and denying it. :_rubs hands enthusiastically at the thought of “apparently” being revealed as definitively"_: ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/26 "2009-02-15T00:27:36Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > The guy had to be a piece of shit to accept the Senate seat in the first place. What happened to the Dem caucus all signing a statement pledging that they wouldn’t seat someone appointed by Blago? Why did Obama cave on this? Why didn’t the GOP grow a spine and oppose this? Did President-elect Obama have a role to play in the process? Is a characterization of him “caving” meaningful in any way? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/27 "2009-02-15T00:40:54Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Why didn’t the GOP grow a spine and oppose this? Why would they? This whole thing made most of the Democrats in DC look bad. The longer that went on, the better for the Repubs. And, of course, anybody Quinn appointed would be a lot more able to defend the seat in 2010. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/28 "2009-02-15T00:59:05Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > The guy had to be a piece of shit to accept the Senate seat in the first place. What happened to the Dem caucus all signing a statement pledging that they wouldn’t seat someone appointed by Blago? Why did Obama cave on this? Why didn’t the GOP grow a spine and oppose this? > > I’m not impressed with the current state of politics in Washington. Blago called their bluff. They knew they couldn’t legally prevent Burris from being seated for being a douche or for being appointed by a scumbag. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/29 "2009-02-15T01:25:42Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Burris is a toad, but I’m not sure on what the impeachable/resignation-worthy offense here is supposed to be. Perjury. From the Sun Times: > [@](#): > > State lawmakers are calling for a criminal investigation into whether U.S. Sen. Roland Burris committed perjury before a state impeachment panel, in the wake of a Sun-Times exclusive story published online today. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/30 "2009-02-15T01:31:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Fortunately, when I swore off being evil, I left in place the > > ::checks inventory:: > > seven separate doomsday devices intended to destroy the Earth upon my death. So at least I have the comfort of knowing the rest of you will be in Heaven with me. Did you just threaten the entire world with death? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/31 "2009-02-15T01:43:41Z")
It’s a cliche to say that a dishonest politician lies when the truth would serve him better, but in this case it appears to be true. All Burris had to say was that he was approached and refused to contribute, and he would have looked good. Now he looks like a douche. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/32 "2009-02-15T02:04:08Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > (Please be Jim Oberweis! Please be Jim Oberweis!). 😃 It is my understanding that after his latest defeat the “Milk Dud” has decided to “retire” from politics (if by retire you mean “never again try something I’ve failed at too many times to count”). I heard this before the whole mess with Blago, however, so as far as I know Obee may be planning his run for governor as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/33 "2009-02-15T02:20:39Z")
Shit, he’s even retired from doing his own milk commercials. His kid’s doing them. To be fair, everybody I know who knows Jim thinks he’s a real nice guy, and that includes my daughter. I just don’t want him in politics. And I take some pleasure that, shortly after closing our company down, my former boss torpedoed through hubris and incompetence the event where Hastert endorsed Oberweis, thus handing a few more votes to Foster. For future reference, always have plenty of parking for everybody, especially the press. And good audio, especially if your former company DID that, ferchrissakes. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/34 "2009-02-15T03:34:33Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > Perjury. From the Sun Times: > > > [@](#): > > > > State lawmakers are calling for a criminal investigation into whether U.S. Sen. Roland Burris committed perjury before a state impeachment panel, in the wake of a Sun-Times exclusive story published online today. Oh please, Og in heaven, let it happen. I’ve hated that [piece of scum](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10657653#post10657653) from the get-go. Self serving arrogant prick. I, too, might worry about dying as a result of agreeing with **Carol Stream** , but since I called it first, I’d prefer to see it as she agreeing with me. That makes it not so awful. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/35 "2009-02-15T03:42:23Z")
[Uslaw.com](http://www.uslaw.com/library/Ethics/Burris_Claims_Mandate_God.php?item=340362) Who are we to decide? He was chosen by god to the seat. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/36 "2009-02-15T05:53:00Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Fortunately, when I swore off being evil, I left in place the > > ::checks inventory:: > > seven separate doomsday devices intended to destroy the Earth upon my death. So at least I have the comfort of knowing the rest of you will be in Heaven with me. > [@Smeghead](#): > > Did you just threaten the entire world with death? What are we going to do, execute him? On the subject of Burris: I hope he committed perjury…because being a dick isn’t an impeachable offense. Situations like this ALMOST make me think recall systems are a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/37 "2009-02-15T06:06:32Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Apparently the offense is being asked, under oath, some version of _did anyone from the governor’s team ask you for money?_ and denying it. I expected to see a reference in the article to his being asked that question, but the closest it came was: “He disclosed just one of those contacts when asked Jan. 8 by state Rep. James Durkin (R-Western Springs) during the impeachment hearings to name any contact he had with Blagojevich’s people **about the seat**.” [emphasis added] If he demonstrably lied to congress **about being asked for money** , the Sun-Times is guilty of not just burying the lead, but omitting it altogether. > [@Telcontar](#): > > being a dick isn’t an impeachable offense Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/38 "2009-02-15T07:32:20Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > … hope he committed perjury…because being a dick isn’t an impeachable offense. … Sure it is, if the Senate says it is. But then, about 4 Senators would have to impeach 96 others, and that’s just not practical. Oh yes, and perhaps for the first time ever, I agree with the OP. Burris needs to go. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/39 "2009-02-15T07:45:26Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Sure it is, if the Senate says it is. But then, about 4 Senators would have to impeach 96 others, and that’s just not practical. On the other hand, each of those 96 senators is probably convinced that it’s 5 against 95 or better. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870/40 "2009-02-15T07:50:47Z")
It feels WEIRD to agree with **Carol Stream**. Of course, I was saying they shouldn’t seat him way back when this was a raging controversy so, like **Shayna** , I’ll consider **CS** to be agreeing with ME instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeach-roland-burris/485870.md?page=3)