Via CNN: Secretary of the Senate rejects Burris appointment
The secretary of the U.S. Senate on Monday rejected the certificiate of appointment for Roland Burris, named by Illinois’ controversial governor to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat, according to an aide to the secretary.The aide said Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson rejected Burris’ appointment because it does not conform with the Senate rule requiring that the secretary of state — in this case, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White — must sign the certificate of appointment along with the governor.
While on paper, I have no argument with Burris’ qualifications for the seat, I continue to marvel that he was willing to permanently link his political fortunes with Blagojevich. He had to be pretty desperate for the Senate seat to allow himself to become a pawn in this game. Granted: that doesn’t disqualify him from the seat, but it is still raises questions about his character and motivations.
In regards to the entire mess, and after some thought, I have to say that I think that should this drag on long enough, the Senate will have to seat Burris. However, it is smart politics to slow the process down as much as possible in the hopes that Blagojevich is impeached and removed before all is said and done.
On the hand, I have to admit that a) Burris is constitutionally qualified and b) Blagojevich still has the legal authority to make an appointment. On the other, given that Blagojevich has been catch on tape talking about selling the Senate seat in question, it is hardly unreasonable to want his influence nowhere near the seat.
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January 5th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
When you’re closing in on 72 the idea of permanence may not have the same sting as to someone younger.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
While on paper, I have no argument with Burris’ qualifications for the seat, I continue to marvel that he was willing to permanently link his political fortunes with Blagojevich. He had to be pretty desperate for the Senate seat to allow himself to become a pawn in this game. Granted: that doesn’t disqualify him from the seat, but it is still raises questions about his character and motivations.
Given Blago’s comments from the criminal complaint, the default HAS to be that Burris is crooked.
In fact, he has personally given Blago contributions, received state contracts, and his own clients from his lobbying firm have given thousands of dollars to Blago’s campaign.
This is all public record. So we have a guy who has contributed directly (or through clients) to Blagojevich, gotten contracts from the state, and now has gotten a Senate appointment from a guy who has been tapped by the feds saying that he is selling the seat.
Burris shouldn’t get a free ride here.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Buckland, no but one’s legacy does.
Ratoe: a legit issue worthy of further investigation.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Burris talked to reporters before departing from Midway Airport Monday - TPM has a link to a long version (about 9 minutes). Revealing and pathetic IMO.
Burris is an accounting/finance guy.He was comptroller, and attorney general. I doubt that he did anything sloppy. I further doubt that any donations will be tied directly to the appointment (ie as illegal quid pro quo) .
But anything to delay seating the egotistical numskull will be appreciated by us irate Illinois citizens. I hope this lights a fire under the Illinois legislature to make removing Punkavitch their top priority.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:32 am
“… I continue to marvel that he was willing to permanently link his political fortunes with Blagojevich. He had to be pretty desperate for the Senate seat to allow himself to become a pawn in this game. Granted: that doesn’t disqualify him from the seat, but it is still raises questions about his character and motivations.”
One of the lessons from the Bush administration has been that once you’re in, the rules are only for the little people. Hopefully, this will change, but I can see lots of people looking at the way the system presently works, and going along with it.