# Roland Burris Denied Obama's US Senate Seat - Now What? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 6, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105 "2009-01-06T17:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/1 "2009-01-06T17:09:55Z")
Ya gotta give it to us here in Illinois - [we sure do know how to put on some fabulous political theater.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_go_co/senate_burris) So what happens now? Was Burris the best choice for the Senate under the circumstances? Probably not, but given how things have gone down with Blagoevich, many more qualified candidates were inevitably going to think twice about accepting such a tainted appointment. Given all the insanity that has led us to this moment, however, whither Obama’s Senate seat? (This will all make a fabulous novel or screenplay someday. In the meantime, however, one would hope that the legislative branch could commence on its to-do list for the session with a full house, erm, Senate. ) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/2 "2009-01-06T17:17:13Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > (This will all make a fabulous novel or screenplay someday. Or made-for-TV movies. Like the Amy Fisher story, only not as classy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/3 "2009-01-06T17:19:59Z")
Now he goes to court and they squabble about who has the right to do what, as Blagojevich’s impeachment proceedings and criminal investigation continue. I’m sure we can count on Bobby Rush saying something charming any minute. The problem isn’t Burris, really, although it’s not helpful that we know he gave money to Blagojevich’s campaign fund recently. The problem is that someone who stands accused of trying to sell a Senate seat should not be allowed to appoint someone to the same seat. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/4 "2009-01-06T17:29:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The problem is that someone who stands accused of trying to sell a Senate seat should not be allowed to appoint someone to the same seat. And the problem with that is that the law apparently requires him to act in a timely fashion and he has neither been impeached and removed from office nor convicted of the crime of which he is accused. Ideally, he would have looked at his hand, stuck to the elbow in the cookie jar, and resigned with the minimal grace he possesses. Unfortunately, he apparently likes the drama, (or has a Hussein-like belief in his invincibility), and has decided to tough it out, splattering as many other people as he can, (such as Burris), with mud. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/5 "2009-01-06T17:36:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The problem is that someone who stands accused of trying to sell a Senate seat should not be allowed to appoint someone to the same seat. And here I am now sort of regretting my vote not to have a new Constitutional convention. BTW how the hell did that ballot initiative on whether we should develop a process for recalling governors end up there without my knowing about it until I was in the voting booth? At whose behest did that happen? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/6 "2009-01-06T17:43:37Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > And the problem with that is that the law apparently requires him to act in a timely fashion and he has neither been impeached and removed from office nor convicted of the crime of which he is accused. > > Ideally, he would have looked at his hand, stuck to the elbow in the cookie jar, and resigned with the minimal grace he possesses. Unfortunately, he apparently likes the drama, (or has a Hussein-like belief in his invincibility), and has decided to tough it out, splattering as many other people as he can, (such as Burris), with mud. Though Burris could have had the common sense to take two steps back and let the mud fall short. He’d have gotten a little dirty, but it would have been minor. If Blago had not been able to find someone willing to consider a Senate seat from his hand, he may have decided that the cards were not going to fall in his favor. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/7 "2009-01-06T17:51:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The problem is that someone who stands accused of trying to sell a Senate seat should not be allowed to appoint someone to the same seat. That may be a popular opinion, but it’s not backed up by any law. Since Blagojevich has been convicted of nothing, there is no _legal_ reason for the state to block Burris’ certification, and I think he wins in court. I still don’t really see why the Dems are objecting to this appointment so much. All they’re doing is feeding into the distraction they wanted to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/8 "2009-01-06T17:54:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That may be a popular opinion, but it’s not backed up by any law. Nor is it intended to be. > [@](#): > > Since Blagojevich has been convicted of nothing, there is no _legal_ reason for the state to block Burris’ certification, and I think he wins in court. Which is why I think they’d be better served to seat him, kick him out tomorrow and tell Blagojevich, “we told you so, you asshole.” But there are many reasons I’m not in the Senate, or ever likely to be, and I guess that’s one of them. > [@](#): > > I still don’t really see why the Dems are objecting to this appointment so much. All they’re doing is feeding into the distraction they wanted to avoid. They can let it be a distraction now, or they can let it be used against them in the midterms. Secondarily, blocking the guy might actually be the right thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/9 "2009-01-06T17:55:44Z")
G-Rod should just reappoint him. Burris is a fine politician and Obama sucks for not supporting him. G-Rod is the problem not Burris. Burris would be a good Senator, not like Obama who basically just did nothing but run for president. The US Constitution should be amended to call for election of Senators or Representiatives who resign or are terminated before their term ends. Illinois has gone two years without a Senator since Obama was too busy running for president to devote any time to doing his job. This whole things shows we need to reform the election processes. Starting with not letting people hold office and run (with the VP as the only probably exception) But that won’t happen, it’s a shame, cause Burris would’ve been excellent ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/10 "2009-01-06T17:59:19Z")
The reason given to deny Burris (no Illinois Secy. of State signature on certificate) sets a precedent that will come back to bite Democratic Senators in their arses when they try to seat Al Franken later today or tomrrow, as Al will also show up without a signed election certificate. Today’s move was very dumb move, IMHO, for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/11 "2009-01-06T17:59:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That may be a popular opinion, but it’s not backed up by any law. Since Blagojevich has been convicted of nothing, there is no _legal_ reason for the state to block Burris’ certification, and I think he wins in court. What’s more important is that Blagojevich is still the Governor of Illinois. Until he’s been impeached or has resigned, he can carry out the duties of that office. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I still don’t really see why the Dems are objecting to this appointment so much. All they’re doing is feeding into the distraction they wanted to avoid. Yes. Burris may not be the best possible candidate, but he does seem like a good safe choice, including the colour of his skin (since he will be the only African-American Senator if he takes office). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/12 "2009-01-06T18:01:11Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Burris is a fine politician and Obama sucks for not supporting him. Somehow you left the Senate Democrats out of this equation. > [@](#): > > G-Rod is the problem not Burris. And who appointed Burris? Say it with me now… > [@](#): > > But that won’t happen, it’s a shame, cause Burris would’ve been excellent Maybe so. It’s a shame, because he knew this was coming and could’ve turned the job down, as several others did, and just run in the special election next year. He sounds qualified and capable, from what I’ve read. The only thing casting doubt on him is the appointment itself. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/13 "2009-01-06T18:03:11Z")
My annoyance with the whole deal is that we don’t know how many qualified candidates WEREN’T considered or didn’t run because they wouldn’t play along with Blago. I don’t know if Burris did play along, but I know that Blago got what he wanted because Burris has an ego. The whole thing boils down to a court case that will determine if the Senate _has_ to seat anyone. From my understanding, they don’t have to, but IIRC it has never been addressed in court. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/14 "2009-01-06T18:16:32Z")
The Senate did not seat him because his paperwork was not filled out properly in that Jesse White did not sign it. I believe Burris has already requeste a writ of mandamus or somesuch to force Jesse White to sign. I imagine the court will rule in favor of making him sign, and once he signs Burris will be admitted. He may well then be immediately kicked out(for appearing to have bought the seat), or he may not. This in no way sets a precident for Franken, unless Franken doesn’t have all his paperwork filled out correctly. Personally, I think Burris is a lousy choice. He was part ofthe Jeanin Nicarico fiasco and likely did not persue a credible confession from someone already in custody because he was running for governor. His resume in stone also makes me think he would not have his priorities straight. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/15 "2009-01-06T19:03:38Z")
Hey, this is great! Now all the Senate Majority Leader has to do is “refuse to seat” any members of the Opposing party, and no more worries about super-majoritys or dissenting views! He has no right to do so, Blago or no Blago. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/16 "2009-01-06T19:14:10Z")
> [@lee](#): > > This in no way sets a precident for Franken, unless Franken doesn’t have all his paperwork filled out correctly. Franken isn’t showing up to the Senate [until everything is settled it appears](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/06/franken-stays-washington-coleman-prepares-legal-challenge/). ---
**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:** [January 6, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/17 "2009-01-06T19:30:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Hey, this is great! Now all the Senate Majority Leader has to do is “refuse to seat” any members of the Opposing party, and no more worries about super-majoritys or dissenting views! When a governor auctions an appointment to the highest bidder, he doesn’t get to take a Mulligan and make another appointment. _The process has been compromised_. The Senate is completely correct and within its constitutional powers to refuse to seat Burris–just as you wouldn’t seat the winner of an election if there was evidence that half of the voting machines had malfunctioned–and I hope it continues to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/18 "2009-01-06T19:34:57Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > G-Rod should just reappoint him. “Today I am pleased to announce that I’m nominating Mr. … uh … Mr. Roland **Curris** to be the next senator from the great state of Illinois…” “No? Plenty more where that came from, people.” ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/19 "2009-01-06T19:35:50Z")
> [@lee](#): > > This in no way sets a precident for Franken, unless Franken doesn’t have all his paperwork filled out correctly. If Coleman goes ahead with his stated plans and files suit contesting the state canvassing board’s certification of Franken, then Minnesota law prohibits the state’s Governor and Secretary of State from signing the certificate of election. So, if Normie files suit, as he has said he will do, then Al will NOT have all his paperwork filled out correctly. For those who care, Normie is slated to speak to the media today (Tuesday) at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Then we’ll know for sure what’s up his sleeve. Or maybe not. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105/20 "2009-01-06T20:06:08Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > When a governor auctions an appointment to the highest bidder, he doesn’t get to take a Mulligan and make another appointment. _The process has been compromised_. > > The Senate is completely correct and within its constitutional powers to refuse to seat Burris–just as you wouldn’t seat the winner of an election if there was evidence that half of the voting machines had malfunctioned–and I hope it continues to do so. But let’s visit fantasy land for a moment, and fast-forward to the day of Blago’s acquittal on the impeachment. Is the process de-compromised, all of a sudden? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roland-burris-denied-obamas-us-senate-seat-now-what/480105.md?page=2)