LOL: Blago to Appoint Fmr. AG to Senate Seat

[Sam Spade]

This is a great political move for Blago.

Burris is a clean slate, announced his candidacy after the scandal broke as is promising to be a seatwarmer.  So now Reid or Jesse White have to decide whether they will turn down the perfect candidate

He's black.  Reid has to seat him.

[Sam Spade]

This is a great political move for Blago.

Burris is a clean slate, announced his candidacy after the scandal broke as is promising to be a seatwarmer.  So now Reid or Jesse White have to decide whether they will turn down the perfect candidate

He's black.  Reid has to seat him.

Wrong.

"The Senate will not seat Roland Burris if Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich attempts to appoint him, a Democratic leadership aide said.

Majority Leader Harry Reid views Burris as “unacceptable,” the aide said."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Senate_Leadership_Burris_unacceptable.html

Interesting...

[Sam Spade]

Congressman Bobby Rush:

"This is a matter of national importance. There are no African Americans in the Senate, and I don't think that anyone, any U.S. senator who's sitting in the Senate right now, wanna go on record to deny one African American from being seated in the U.S. Senate. I don't think they want to go on record doing that..."

[Sam Spade]

Well, Burris said on MSNBC that he'll challenge any decision by the Democrats to not seat him.

This is going to get ugly folks.

You see, one of the things that was quite clear to me when I first read up on Blagojevich after the indictment was that this is the type of guy who, if he's being taken down, will choose the option of "taking down everyone along with him he can", instead of "shutting up and taking one for the team".

I don't think I made the call on this forum (), but I told the GF that this guy was going to pick someone for that Senate seat after he's indicted.  I'm sure he has some more *gifts* coming.  Reason why this whole story is far from over.

Oh, and btw, after re-reading Powell v. McCormick, I agree with muon2.  He has to be seated - the only viable option is expulsion.

[Sam Spade]

Obama called Burris “a good man and a fine public servant” but said he agrees with Senate Democrats that any choice by Blagojevich isn’t binding because of criminal charges against him.

“The Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it,” Obama said in a statement.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16930.html

[Sam Spade]

In the face of Powell v. McCormick, Harry Reid's argument is pretty laughable.  So there.

[Sam Spade]

Democrats in IL are not going to pass a special election law because the odds are too strong that they would lose the election.

So, we head to court.  The Senate's position is incredibly weak, unless they expel him after seating him.  I'm not as familiar with the IL state constitution/statute - can the SoS choose to not certify a validly appointed candidate for Senate, or is there any language there which would not make him a validly appointed candidate?  muon2?

[Sam Spade]

also the GOP would have to, um, come up with a respectable candidate (do they have any in Illinois? Fortner? )

Mark Kirk has insane fundraising skills, is extremely moderate, has a base in the liberalish suburbs, has shown an interest in running in the special election, and is the person keeping the state Democrats awake at night.

He is the one and only person we talk about when we mention the GOP winning this seat.

Not to mention that he is one of the few candidates in either party who can and will specifically run on an anti-corruption message (and has the bona fides to back it up), which should play well in any special election held in the next six months.

The IL GOP will know who to put its cards behind in this situation.  Moreover, the IL GOP is such weak shape, I doubt that any of its other realistic candidates will play around in this one if the party tells them not to.  Schock is too young.

Of course, there could always be an angry right-winger willing to cause trouble (e.g. Oberweis).  This is actually a good time ask HardrCafe about this one - he's fairly knowledgable on Illinois politics.

I believe that's it.  Lunar and I are pretty much in tandem here.

[Sam Spade]

Nym:

I believe I made the point when referring to talk about a Texas senate special election, that anything can happen in these types of elections outside of general election time.

Now granted, since it looks like Franken will win in MN, the spectre of "60" likely makes it impossible for any Democrat to win in Texas.  But we have none of those same constraints in Illinois.

That is merely the point I am making and one which should not be forgotten.

[Sam Spade]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1360191,harry-reid-blagojevich-jesse-jackson-010209.article

Ah, looks like Reid called Blago personally in an attempt to block JJJ, Davis, and Jones in exchange for pushing non-black candidates.   Looks like Reid has put the hate down on Chicago's black political establishment

No Chicago negroes need apply??