Blagojevich to name Roland Burris to Obama's Senate seat

LaMidRighter said:

I completely agree. I think a special election is the current best scenario and Buress should be given consideration in said election, but the situation as it stands is definitely suspect no matter what is done by the current Il governer.

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That is just assine. I am so sick and tired of politicians that try to rewrite laws, retrospectively, to suit their whims in the present. Currently he is ACCUSED of wrongdoing. That is it. He needs to have his day in court or impeachment as the case may be. IF they find him guilty THEN we will not have to explore alternative options, he will be removed from office. Until then follow the law. The law says it's the governor's job to appoint and he did, get over it.

Have a seat on the Jury:

Direct to Blagojevich about John Harris


How many years has John Harris worked for your?
A. X Years

Have you ever talked to lawyers about Campaign Contribution laws as the laws affect fundraising from entities with contracts with the State of Illinois?
A. Many times, Ihave consulted XY and Z attorneys

Have you made an effort to learn campaign fundraising laws and regulations?
A. I have studied Books and publication C, D and F.

Have you ever discussed your knowledge of the laws regarding campaign contribution with John Harris?
A. I have had extensive conversations with Mr. Harris about laws and regulations regarding Fundraising.

Did John Harris have a good understanding of your knowledge of Campaign contribution Laws?
A. Mr. Harris was entirely familiar with the laws, and kept up with the publications on campaign financing laws.

Did John Harris have a clear understanding that you had every intention of abiding by campaign fundraising laws?
A. Mr. Harris knew that over X years that I have always placed compliance with the laws as a top priority,

Did you ever discuss possible options for illegal activities regarding fundraising?
A. I trusted Mr. Harris, and let him know about all offers and opportunities for fundraising, both legal and illegal. Mr. Harris knew that any discussion of illegal fundraising activities was purely conjecture, and was not being seriously considered.

Did John Harris have any way to know whether you were seriously considering an illegal act regarding campaign fundraising?
A. In the course of conversations, illegal options would come under discussion. I had sufficiently established with Mr. Harris, that when actual decisions were being made, that Legality was paramount. I did not need to remind Mr. Harris each time that we discussed illegal fundraising activities that this was just a discussion of possibilities, and it was clear between us, that when illegal actions were discussed, that no such illegal actions would be undertaken. I did not need to remind Mr. Harris in each conversation that illegal approaches were just a matter of discussion, and not being seriously considered.

So you admit that you had discussions with Mr. Harris about possible options for illegal campaign fundraising activities?
A. Yes I had discussion of both legal and illegal options for campaign fundraising with Mr. Harris. Sometimes I would Rant about my frustrations with the restrictions on campaign fundraising. Sometimes I would tell Mr. Harris that I was going to violate some law, as a means of overcoming my shyness about asking for campaign contributions. It is difficult for me to overcome my shyness, and I sometimes fanaticize taking illegal actions, in an exaggerated manner. Like “Kill the Umpire!!” in baseball, But my conversations were intended to be private, and not to be taken out of the context, of two men frustrated with the campaign fundraising laws, but dedicated to abiding by the letter and the spirit of the laws and regulations.

Phoenix said:

That is just assine. I am so sick and tired of politicians that try to rewrite laws, retrospectively, to suit their whims in the present. Currently he is ACCUSED of wrongdoing. That is it. He needs to have his day in court or impeachment as the case may be. IF they find him guilty THEN we will not have to explore alternative options, he will be removed from office. Until then follow the law. The law says it's the governor's job to appoint and he did, get over it.

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I agree that it is the governors duty, gave you a thanks because you made some good points, the overall point though is that he is accused of a crime related to the appointment so it is suspect by all stretches of the imagination, I don't have a problem with some of his powers as governor being temporarily suspended as they relate to the charges. Anyone accused of a crime awaiting trial can be given a cease and desist order by their professional regulatory agencies, so why should an elected leader be any different?

While I think that ex-Black Panther Rep. Bobby Rush's playing the race card is an unfortunate choice, it IS one of the few cards of any kind that Burris' supporters can possibly play in this matter.

Burris is innocent and honest and qualified and Black.

His innocence counts for nothing. His honesty counts for nothing. His qualifications count for nothing.

What's left???

The people (and let it be noted that these people who are blocking Burris' nomination are the detestable far left and most liberal wing of the Democratic Party) who are so petty minded that they would seek to 'convict' Blago before he is arrested or convicted, and so juvenile as to try to crap on anything and everything he does, are immune to any other influence BUT the race card.

It's like they are playing a game of Limbo Stick with Blago and the Governor lowered the bar by nominating a perfectly acceptable candidate. Then the Dems lowered the bar by saying they wouldn't accept this qualified guy. Well, Rush has just lowered the limbo stick even further and issued the challenge to the Dems, 'how low can you go?'

The race card is low but it may be the only thing to make sure that this good, decent, qualified, honorable and innocent man, Burris, reaches the Senate.

If you were Burris you'd fight for the chance wouldn't you?

He's like Rocky.

He deserves his chance.

bhkad said:

Where does the rule of law play into your rationale?

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Sorry about the late response, totally missed this. I think that anything suspect at the moment by Blogojevich should be questioned at the least and blocked if necessary, I have no problems with the governor exercising his duties even now where there are no questions, but the one problem I have is the appointment and pay for play schemes, the appointment is a great one, but it is the problem of the vacancy and trying to sell it, I have no doubts Burress is innocent in all of this, but it is such a chaotic situation that it just can't be a credible pick no matter how good it was, I don't know, perhaps let the Lt. Governor pick Burress if Blogejevich is in fact convicted or let the appointment stand in the case of an aquittal.

The Seargant at Arms for the Senate is an old buddy of Senator-to-be Burris.

The Senate Seargant at Arms was a police chief for Illinois, when Burris was Attorny general.

Who has the real power in the US Senate?

Phoenix said:

He needs to have his day in court or impeachment as the case may be.

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Why? The appointment issue is a political matter. On the crminal charges he will have his day in court. This concept of innocent until proven guilty has no role in politics. IMO, what evidence we have of Blago's wrongdoing is sufficient to impeach and sufficient to block his appointment from taking a seat in the US Senate. It looks like Senate Democrats, including Reid, agree, and are threatening to block Blago's appointment.

I'm not persuaded that we should lay off griping about Blago's pathetic racial appointment to the Senate until he has his "day in court" or is impeached by the Illinois state legislature. This is a political matter, not a criminal investigation that could result in incarceration.

LaMidRighter said:

I don't have a problem with some of his powers as governor being temporarily suspended as they relate to the charges.

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There's no provision in state law for this. Nor should there be as it would invite improper interference in the Governor's appointment authority.

Anyone accused of a crime awaiting trial can be given a cease and desist order by their professional regulatory agencies, so why should an elected leader be any different?

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Well, what state regulatory agency or professional regulatory agency should issue such an order? :roll:

Fact is, there is no such state or other regulatory agency authorized to issue such an order.

Washington, Tuesday, January 6, 2009

"Vice President Dick Cheney, as president of the Senate, would ask whether anyone objects to the senators-elect being duly sworn. A Democrat would then object and propose that Burris' credentials be referred to the Rules Committee for an investigation of some period of time. If no one objects to that motion, the credentials go to the panel for a period of perhaps 90 days.

Burris in the meantime gets the privileges of an unsworn senator-elect, which does not come with a pay check, these officials said. The hope is that Blagojevich will be tossed from office and a new governor will have appointed someone else to the seat. Burris' appointment then would be moot, these officials said."

Senate Sergeant At Arms Expects No Trouble From Burris, An Old Acquaintance


Blagojevich pick to be given few privileges - Capitol Hill- msnbc.com


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"...successor, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, is likely to appoint an African- American, but likely not Burris, because of the taint form Blagojevich, or Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill), because he would be too controversial.

Sources said the choice is likely to be someone young and dynamic, like Dan Seals, who ran in a northeast Illinois House district in 2006 and 2008. It needs to be someone who would appeal to the white Republicans in downstate Illinois, to prevent the seat going to the GOP in a future election, they said."

"In his Supreme Court petition, Burris argues that the people of Illinois have “a great and urgent interest” in being “fully represented” in the Senate, and that the secretary of state has no authority to withhold his signature from Burris’ appointment paperwork.

Burris’ move came the same day that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White declined to sign papers certifying his appointment. "

"....with the Minnesota Senate race far from settled and the possibility that the Rules Committee may have to weigh into that dispute as well, Democrats may be short two votes until the Blagojevich mess is sorted out."


Burris takes his fight to court - Politico.com Print View


I have just searched for hte wording of articles of Impeachment for Blgojevich, but I don't see that any articles have been proposed.

No indictment of Blagojevich yet from the US Prosecutors.


Blagojevich indictment delayed - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com


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Gladiator said:

If the US has such a strong case against Blagojevich, how come they need three months to get an indictment?

"The U.S. attorney's office today asked a federal judge for an extra three months to formally indict Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his former chief of staff."

U.S. seeks more time to indict Blagojevich - Chicago Breaking News

:rofl:spin:


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Because it's an incredibly complex prosecution and extensions of time to file motions are common? Naw, couldn't be.

I credit Brit Hume and Bill Kristol on Fox News Sunday for these points:

Bill Clinton was actually impeached but his appointments were honored and all the bills he signed into law were upheld.

And the whole reason for the charges against Blagojevich was to PREVENT his making an appointment in exchange for financial or other considerations. Well, Burris is clean and honest, to everyone's agreement, yet the Dems seem to miss the point.

bhkad said:

Well, Burris is clean and honest, to everyone's agreement, yet the Dems seem to miss the point.

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He's also articulate and bright, and not like the rest of, y'know, his folk.

RightinNYC said:

He's also articulate and bright, and not like the rest of, y'know, his folk.

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I think he meant Burris is politically clean.

TOJ said:

I think he meant Burris is politically clean.

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Of course. But he had to clear up any ambiguities so I didn't bother protesting. Thanks for putting the matter to rest.

:2wave: