So Rod Blagojevich may say to hell with anyone and go ahead with his pick to replace Obama, and is signaling it might be Roland Burris. This causes the Jane Hamshers of the left to remark:
Blago is playing one heck of a game of chicken — the Senate ultimately decides who they will seat, and Harry Reid has suggested that they might not seat a Blagojevich pick.
Not to be too much of a smart-ass, but since when has anyone ever paid a political price for going against Harry Reid? Has it ever happened? On the other hand, jane may be right. In my limited time as a Democrat it sure does seem like the only time Democrats take a stand is when they are attacking… another Democrat. And, if you ask Joe Lieberman, they don’t even do it very well then.
As to Blagojevich, it really isn’t that ballsy of a move at all. The only thing he has going for him right now is the legitimate power he commands as governor. Democrats hate him. Republicans hate him. His approval ratings are lower than Bush. Patrick Fitzgerald has him by the short hairs on tape. All he can do is keep insisting he is innocent and act as if nothing has happened. He really has no other options.
*** Update ***
Maybe I am wrong, and someone will pay a political price for crossing Sen. Reid:
It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety. We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris’s ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.
And that someone paying the price will be Roland Burris. Praise the lord and pass the ammunition, let’s get the gang together and shoot ourselves in the foot.
If Burris is clean and a good pick otherwise, seat him. Blagojevich doesn’t give a shit what you do, and Reid can’t do anything to him. No reason to inflict maximum damage on yourself for no good reason.
And if I were Rod Blagojevich, and the Senate does refuse to seat Burris, here is what I would do- I would piss on the seed corn. I would, every single day at 1 o’clock, in front of every camera in the nation, have a press conference to name my pick. And each day, after they rejected my pick, I would announce a press conference for the same time the next day and I would choose someone else who was an up and comer in Democratic politics in Illinois. Why? because I am Rod Blagojevich and I don’t give a shit, and Harry Reid and the Senate really shouldn’t have any say in the matter.
El Cid
Hell, Blago should appoint Bernie Madoff just to see if Reid would resist.
gbear
He sounds like someone deserving of a Bush pardon.
elliottg
I laugh every time the DSCC calls. Torture, Lieberman, FISA, telecom immunity, Iraq, bailout, health care – you name it and the Senate Democrats have been rolled.
Nazgul35
There’s a very real possibility Harry Reid might not let him hang his coat up in the cloak room…
The Grand Panjandrum
Hamsher, and much of the MSM seem to think the Senate can reject a duly elected or appointed member. They cannot. Period. If this individual meets the qualifications set out by the Constitution their hands are tied. Recall Adam Clayton Powell Jr? They must seat him then they can throw him out but that is highly unlikely. This is mostly the dipshit media making up "news" because they are lazy and stupid.
TenguPhule
No.
This has been another edition of Simple Answers to Annoyingly Obvious questions.
Skullduggery
Democrats seem to have less political acumen than cable news pundits.
Not a rhetorical question: how can we fix them?
Zifnab
I’m honestly a little surprised he didn’t pardon his Lt. Governor, give himself the Senate seat, then have his Lt. Governor pardon him and give the entire rest of the nation a series of raspberries and middle fingers. Now THAT would be ballsy.
But what can I say, he’s no Republican.
MattF
Blagojevich appears to be using his brain, for a change. Dangerous. Almost… not like a Democrat.
ronin122
Hell if he appointed Ted Stevens to the seat (if he were from IL) Harry Reid would let him. Snark aside, I honestly don’t get why anyone is surprised or up in arms that *gasp* our Governor appointed someone to a senate seat as prescribed in our constitutions. The law is that Blagojevich appoints someone, plain and simple. Is it "democratic"? Of course not, neither is it a popular idea even without the current circumstances, but everyone’s call for a special election seems to ignore that it’d essentially be illegal to do so.
johnosahon
blago is getting SMART after his DUMB roll. He knows that the senate’s lack of diversity (ONLY 1 African America -obama- about 2 latinoes that’s all) is something that would cause HOT DRAMA, this would DEFINATELY remove the shit from his back temporarly while the RACE WAR explodes, BRILLIANT MOVE BLAGO, BRILLANT MOVE, could NOT have played it any better.
Reid’s spokewhore already replied "UNACCEPTABLE" to this decision.
binzinerator
The Illinois tollways have these iPass automatic toll collectors, which are sensors mounted on a bridge-like truss that spans over the roadway. On everyone of the damn things is a sign which proudly proclaims "Governor Rod R. Blagojevich"
Everytime I pass under one of these I look up, see the Blagojevich sign and I say to myself "Cha-ching! The ‘Bucks for Blago’ Rod R. Blagojevich Defense Fund thanks you for your contribution!"
elliottg
Bush cannot pardon state crimes and Blago cannot pardon federal crimes.
Punchy
Y’all —
Trust me when I say that Blago will be around for quite some time. Was in Chi-town over the ‘days, and while he was mentioned in the paper, pretty much the feeling was WGAF w/r/t his governing malfeasance. Unless Fitzy has some dynamite voice-mail or Blago prints on an official Bribe To Take Youz Moneh For Da Senate Seat document, I suspect he will ride this out and survive.
All of you expecting him to go down faster than a Vegas hooker will be incredibly surprised just how adept Illy pollys are at sidestepping landmines.
IMO.
Reverend Dennis
Another failure to learn from history:
GOP Leaders Oppose Haste On Stimulus
Yes, they should apply the same methodical process that they used during their years in the majority. They can hire Ted Stevens, Phil Gramm and Paul Wolfowitz as consultants – just to add some real Republican monetary insight.
The Grand Panjandrum
Who writes Politico headlines? Jesus, they need a new headline editor. They have continually fucked up. Here’s the latest:
Even a munchkin-like man made creature named Yoda knew there is no "try", only do or do not.
Montysano
Question for the legal minds: at what point does discussing bribery cross the line and become a crime?
Joe Buck
That’s a strange way to put it: instead of "Jane Hamsher remarked", you write "causing the Jane Hamshers of the left to remark". Did she clone herself?
Of course, you’re right about the famous spinelessness of Harry Reid.
Problem is, it appears that they’d need a 2/3 vote to expel this guy, and I don’t see how they’d line up the votes to keep the Senate African-American-free.
jenniebee
If Burris is a decent guy and didn’t pay to play or anything, why not seat him? There’s no chance that the new Senator will be elected (if so, it would be reasonable to argue that the fact that the person was elected matters more than the qualities of the person himself, as the continuation of democracy is more important than the quality of any particular government it produces), but does the importance of the quality of an appointer really overshadow the importance of the quality of the appointee?
John Cole
@Joe Buck: Jane Hamsher’s of the left is a running joke.
raff
After reading Steve Benen & TPM, it appears that Burris is apparently well liked & squeaky clean. Blago is actually being quite cagey with his pick. The problem is that Blago’s playing chicken with his own party’s leadership. Reid et al have stated in no uncertain terms that they’ll reject a Blago pick, so Blago offers a qualified, respected, scandal-free candidate — he’s saying: "your move, Harry".
Like I said, pretty canny move on Blago’s part, but to what end? There’s exactly nothing to be gained. Even if Dems cave & accept the Burris nom, it doesn’t change Blago’s situation. It doesn’t erase the charges against him. So, why?
The only reason I can come up with is that Blogojevich is a self-interested douchebag & if he’s going down, he’s going down kicking & screaming while trying to damage his own party in the process. Truly a class act.
Punchy
Glad to see a fresh face here for a change.
peach flavored shampoo
Thinkprogress.org is saying that a Reid aide has called the pick "unacceptable". I find this incredible. The governor’s mandate is to appoint an Obama successor. WTF does Harry think will take that seat if Blago continues on as governor? How does he expect a successor to be named? It’s pretty clear in the Constitution how this process works!!
I cannot believe Reid will attempt to eat his own. Democrats are so stupid some times, it hurts.
Reverend Dennis
I don’t. Reid consulted with the eminently acceptable Joe Lieberman and Lieberman gave Burris a thumbs down.
KCinDC
Zifnab, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn can’t stand Blagojevich, hardly ever talks to him, and isn’t involved in the scandal, so that might explain why your suggested sequence of events hasn’t happened.
J.D. Rhoades
When it becomes a conspiracy. defined as an agreement to commit an illegal act PLUS some overt action to carry it out.
Blago’s defense lawyer seems to be planning to use a theory of "he was just talking, nothing actually happened," but if the allegations in the Affidavit attached to the indictment are borne out (always a BIG if), they’ve definitely got conspiracy.
KCinDC
I think the assumption is that Blago is not going to continue for that much longer. He may eventually avoid a conviction in court, but I don’t see how his political career can survive.
So the idea is that either the lieutenant governor succeeds and appoints a replacement senator or the legislature provides for a special election. In either case the Senate seat will be empty for at least several weeks, unless Blago surprises us all by resigning.
sgwhiteinfla
Check this scenario even though I know its unlikely.
Mitch McConnell says if Burris wants to be a Republican he might (emphasis on might) support him being seated. Especially since at first glance it seems that Burris has never been the subject of any kind of scandal.
How fast do you think Harry Reid would take everything back and welcome Burris with open arms?
KCinDC
Are we sure Blagojevich isn’t talking about Plaxico Burress?
Crusty Dem
Fuck Reid. Really. He’s Joe Lieberman without the balls, just a giant bag of crap that you’re forced to keep in your own house (he’s a backed-up septic system). He’s Pelosi without the effectiveness. He didn’t resist the Republicans and I doubt he’ll be particularly helpful for Obama. I’d love to see him replaced by someone competent, or given that we’re talking about democrats here, someone who’s a useful tool, rather than a repub-lite tool. John Kerry comes to mind..
That said, would you even want to be appointed to the senate by Blago? Unless I thought it was my only shot at the senate, I’d prefer to avoid the taint.
jenniebee
BTW – googling "Jane Hamshers of the left" is very… enlightening.
And I hate to say it John, because you know I love you and would totally be your baby mama, etc etc, but norbizness really spanked the shit out of you. I mean, Vitter would pay a cool thou for the kind of punishment you took there.
DougL
My understanding was that the US Senate in general would not seat a Blagojevich appointment. That’s considerably more than just whether or not anyone has to answer to Harry Reid’s ire. Compared to whether there’s enough Senate votes to refuse to seat a Blagojevich appointment, it seems to me that whether Reid’s annoyed/pissed/whatever is fairly irrelevant.
bayville
Harry Reid?
The name sounds familiar but I can’t place the face.
JL
Somebody on Josh’s site is saying they need cause to expel. What would the cause to expel be? The guy is squeaky clean, supposedly and Blago has the right to appoint a replacement.
John Cole
@jenniebee: I was right about that. Period. If I said that the “Rush Limbaughs of the right are saying X,” every single one of you would agree I was right when Rush Limbaugh came in here and yelled “HEY- I never said that!”
Not going to argue this again.
peach flavored shampoo
Unless he’s fired (he cannot be), impeached (a hell of a lot harder than it looks), or dies (unlikely), he’s governor for as long as his term lasts. Effective? Doubtful. But will the paychecks continue? YBYA.
demimondian
@Zifnab: Illinois has a Lieutenant Governor — who is clean — as well as several Deputy Governors. The Deputy Governors are political appointees, but can not assume the actual Governorship.
So Blago hasn’t got that ploy, even for state charges. And, of course, given that Fitz is a federal prosecutor, Blago is SOL about federal charges, since he’s a Democrat.
Keith
Given Reid’s MO, I suspect *I* could walk into the Senate and seat myself, and all I would expect is a sternly-written letter from the man expressing his disappointment at me.
KCinDC
The Illinois secretary of state says he’ll block the appointment, but I don’t see how that can be possible.
Blago certainly isn’t giving anyone any reason to go easy on him.
KCinDC
Since the legislators are interested more in preserving their own political careers than in giving Blagojevich the benefit of the doubt, I don’t see why impeachment should be that hard.
blogenfreude
@The Grand Panjandrum: Josh had a commenter point that out: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2008/12/maybe_the_senat.php
Duke of Earl
@KCinDC: I know virtually nothing about IL politics but I wouldn’t be surprised if Blagoalphabet knows where one hell of a lot of bodies are buried and it’s pretty clear he won’t give a damn about taking a bunch of sideboys with him if he goes down.
Zifnab
That’s it, I’m starting "John Cole for Governor" right now.
thomas
raff @ 21 has it pretty close to correct. Roland Burris carries no baggage for Blago. This is an astute move for Blago and as usual Harry Reid is tripping over his dick (as if he won’t seat a Black appointment). Or he would trip over his dick if he had one, along with the balls he’s missing.
However, if Blogo thinks this will save his ass from impeachment he’s as delusional as reid is spineless. His attorney is currently trying to get the Illinois leg to treat this as a trial. It’s not. It’s an imprachment. And all the legislators know that they cannot face the voters is 2010 if the guy is still in office. He gone, na na na na, hey hey, good by!
The Moar You Know
Reid won’t seat anyone Blagojevich names, unless Blago names a Republican. You will then see Reid pull out the chair for the appointee, hand them a lit cigar, give them a foot bath and stand guard over the seat 24/7, for nothing is as precious to Reid as what a Republican desires.
C
Never liked the "those who fail to learn from history will be doomed to repeat it" quote.
We do repeat history, over and over again regardless.
The only difference is that we’ll be aware of what we’re getting into.
"Reid won’t seat anyone Blagoevich names, unless Blago names a Republican. You will then see Reid pull out the chair for the appointee, hand them a lit cigar, give them a foot bath and stand guard over the seat 24/7, for nothing is as precious to Reid as what a Republican desires."
Hah! Beautiful.
JL
@The Moar You Know: No kidding! Unfortunately, it is within the governor’s rights to appoint someone and he did.
Davebo
Ah, good times. A flashback to yesteryear when John was not only wrong most of the time but would talk your ear off trying to convince you he wasn’t.
For what it’s worth, I’m objectively pro the Jane Hamshers of the left.
Gitmo is surely in my future.
KCinDC
I’m no fan of Reid, but I don’t see how refusing to allow Blagojevich to pick a senator is shooting himself in the foot, especially since the Democrats seem united on the idea of blocking it (and would have to be). Burris is crazy to accept the appointment, and the fact that he has suggests the possibility that he may not be as clean as people say. I’m certainly not willing to accept his cleanness as obvious.
GSD
I hope someone primary challenges Reid from the left in 2010. Reid is a one man capitulation army.
He had one moment of glory when he closed down the senate a few years back.
Ever since then he’s been a gelatinous blob of cower and cover.
So long Harry.
-GSD
jenniebee
@John Cole: well, I’m not sure it’s going to enter the canon as a recommended rhetorical device, but I do see what you were trying to say/mean with it. It’d be fun to test the Limbaugh hypothesis sometime though, just to see what the response would, in fact, be.
mmmm… musing about other applications of the coinage…
"the Dennis Pragers of the misogynistic asshats" – nah, too repetitive.
"the Karl Roves of ratfuckery" would probably just be flattering to the uncredited ratfuckers.
I give up. In other news, half a mil of taxpayer $$$ being given to a Minnesota faith-based initiative that keeps teens off
drugseye of newt. Gotta give it to SoCons: their pork has much higher entertainment value than bridges and light rail and that other kind of socialist shit Democrats do.Brick Oven Bill
I had a Serbian roommate once. Decent enough guy but prickly. Sometimes I think there might be a biological aspect to the never-ending Balkan conflict. This Blago seems to enjoy sticking Harry Reid in the ribs. Should make for good TV.
Michelle, pass me a cigarette.
NonWonderDog
Roland Burris:
That and having Bobby Rush go up and praise Burris and God for allowing another black senator… this is the funniest press conference I’ve ever seen. Bravo, Blagojevich, bravo.
The Moar You Know
@GSD: He may be the best that we can get out of Nevada. Frankly, given what an awful job he has done, and given our current numbers in the Senate (58-59), I wouldn’t mind seeing him lose to a Republican and see the Majority Leader spot go to someone else.
AhabTRuler
I think it is really awesome the way democrats can take whatever power and influence they have accrued and squander it.
The Moar You Know
@Brick Oven Bill: I worked for a Serb who was a FUCKING PSYCHO. I’ve known a couple of others. They were FUCKING PSYCHOS. I also have known a Croat, who was a FUCKING PSYCHO. So, for the first time ever, BOB, I agree with you wholeheartedly.
peach flavored shampoo
I don’t think you know the situation. Blago is a strong Democrat in a very, very Democratic state. Punchy was right (above) in saying that many people in Illinois just arent all that concerned with it; clearly not as much as the rest of the country.
He may be gone (eventually), but if you think that voters will hold a non-impeachment of a Democrat against the legislators in a very democratic state, you’re crazy.
AhabTRuler
@The Moar You Know: anytime you mix land, religion, and ethnicity together, you get a charlie-foxtrot with strongly held, oppositional beliefs.
I would entertain opinions on the degree to which these factors are dependent on one another, but there are several current examples (NI, ME, Balkans, various parts of Africa).
Grumpy Code Monkey
Isn’t that redundant?
thomas
Dear Peach
I’m an Illinois Democrat. I’ve been a legislative aide and worked many a precinct. I know my people. Blago snowed just enough in ’02 (barely getting by with overwhelming $$) and was fortunate in his R opposition in ’06.
There is no way the lege cannot impeach and expect to get their own asses re-elected.
TimmyB
While posturing against everything Blago seems to be the current fashion, why Reid would keep a Democratic seat in the Senate vacant is beyond me.
Whoever Blago appoints will be a sure Democratic vote. If the person appointed is clean, he or she should be seated. Reid is shooting himself (and the Democrats) in the foot if he insists that the seat remain vacant. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
We have importaint votes coming up. The GOP will do everything in its power to obstruct the Democrats. The Congressional GOP can be rolled over. But in the Senate Reid will need every possible Dem vote. Seat Blago’s choice.
Comrade Stuck
Larry Craig said he could have his seat (not that seat, the other one)
The Grand Panjandrum
Blago gave EVERYONE, but mostly his fellow state Dems, the big middle finger. That line about having "no choice" was lethal. State legislators made a political gamble and lost when they did not act swiftly to take this choice out of Blago’s hands. Democrats deserve to lose in Illinois if they are as cowardly of that pansy rat-fucker Harry Reid.
smiley
@John Cole: BTW, John and Tim, congrats for being finalists for best major blog.
The Moar You Know
@TimmyB: You’re assuming that Harry Reid cares about the welfare of Democrats and the Democratic party. Call me crazy, but I don’t think that he does.
Dork Vader
John "piss on the seed corn" Cole sounds like the best f’ing governor I can imagine. I say all the Juicers in Illinois start a write-in campaign. "I piss on your seed corn" will be the "I drink your milkshake" of 2009.
AhabTRuler
He cares about continuing his power and prestige, but he can do the same math (actually better) that we can, and he knows that one or two seats aren’t going to make much of a difference. He isn’t going to stick his neck out on this issue.
I think it was Mayor Quimby who said "If that is the way the wind is blowing, then let it be said that I also blow!"
Chuck Butcher
There is a politcal rule, I’m not sure of its number:
Never make a threat you can’t follow up on
KCinDC
You’re assuming that associating the Democratic Party more closely with Rod Blagojevich doesn’t damage its welfare, which is not something I’m willing to bet on.
Cyrus
@The Moar You Know:
Reid may believe that having a Senator with such an appearance of impropriety to his appointment, especially in such a high-profile way from an important state like that, would be worse for the party than not having one vote for the next couple weeks or months. Legislation might not get passed, but the party will look more anti-corruption. However, if you had said "principles" instead of "welfare", I’d agree with you.
bernarda
As Jenniebee in 19 says, if Burris is OK, where is the problem.
This seems to be just another case of Democrats being wimps as usual. In the same circumstances Rethugs would say fine, and for once I would agree with them.
Comrade Jake
I don’t know. In the big scheme of things, refusing a Blago appointee seems pretty low on the idiotic scale for the Dems.
I’m willing to accept the notion that there’s nothing wrong with Burris. But that doesn’t mean he’s the best candidate for the spot. If we’re talking about someone who is, by all metrics, one of the top three candidates, then I think the discussion changes a bit. Until then I’m not going to get my panties in a wad over this one.
ET
I don’t under stand Blago’s motivations other than just to f**k with everyone’s mind. I doubt he cares about anything other than his own a**.
I also don’t understand by Buress would want to play Blago’s game. He has to know Blago is not necessarily thinking of the State or Senate’s welfare (if he was he would have stepped down) so why the buy in? Ego? Is Buress so desperate that when approached he let himself be talked into this? He is now the hot potato to be bounced between Blago, the Illinois Senate, the US Senate and any others who are standing around.
KCinDC
The question is whether he is actually okay. He seemed alright until he inexplicably accepted this appointment. If someone’s voluntarily jumping into a pit of sewage, you have to wonder whether he’s as clean as you thought.
KCinDC
Bobby Rush’s use of the word "lynch" was just vile.
John PM
This is even better than you guys know. Burris ran against Blagojevich in the democratic primary for governor in 2002. Also running at that time was Paul Valas, the then superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools. Valas was very popular and not part of the Illinois Machine. Valas had a very good shot at getting the nomination. Rumor had it that the Machine boys were nervous so they convinced Burris to run in order to siphon votes from Valas. Blagojevich squeeked through in the primary with 35 % of the vote and then won the governorship on his promise to clean up corruption. In retrospect, I wonder if Blagojevich’s motto wasn’t actually "clean up (by using) corruption."
jenniebee
@KCinDC:
Tru dat, but I see that he’s also in his 70s, which makes a bit of a difference. The man is looking to finish off a career, not to ‘gin one up. He’ll be 75 when it comes time to run for re-election, which puts him in for one short term in the Senate, two terms on the outside. More than that and we’re heading into Strom Thurmond territory.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he wanted this office as a cap to his life’s ambitions, but I don’t expect anybody to do much of anything out of pure altruism or sense of duty, and as ulterior motives go, ambition’s pretty benign. Besides, if his goal was to use public office as a launch pad to cash in in the private sector, the time for him to do it was ten years past. Just don’t see it.
Tonal Crow
So Harry Reid is finally standing up…against a fellow Democrat.
Where was his spine when Bush and the GOP were lying us into war, stealing elections, reading all our telecoms without warrants, issuing "signing statements", and torturing detainees?
Oh, that’s right: he was "keeping his powder dry, to live to fight another day".
What a lousy piece of GOP.
John Cole
I may be nuts, but for me, it really boils down to this:
Governor Blagojevich has the legal authority to seat the man. Them stopping this appointment, effectively smearing Burress (and don’t feed me the pick is tainted nonsense- he is not tainted until the Reid and the Democrats “taint” him- voters are not stupid. They didn’t buy the Obama is a stealth muslim socialist, either), is outrageous and in my eyes a power grab and akin to the Bush era of doing whatever they fuck they want.
Now, if the pick had been done under shady circumstances, if there is evidence Burris is not clean, that changes things. However, as it is now, if Burris is clean and legit, Harry Reid and the Senate need to stfu and work on the stimulus package and start undoing all the nonsense of the past eight years.
John S.
I was a waiter in a Greek diner in college, and one of the cooks was Albanian. He used to tell everyone about how great it was to fuck sheep (because according to him, they could turn their heads around enough to lick your balls). And he threw a knife at me when I tried to send back some food one time. Yup, FUCKING PSYCHO.
I also had a Croatian roommate in college. Aside from being a very irascible fellow and always being late on his bills, he got engaged to a woman, drained her bank account dry and hauled ass right before he stuck the rest of his roommates with his bills for 2 months. Another FUCKING PSYCHO.
So while I despise broad generalizations, I will limit my opinion to saying that all the people I have known from the Balkans were total FUCKING PSYCHOS.
TenguPhule
Can I have a pony too?
GailVortex
I once heard Roland Burris give a speech at the [then] Rosemont Horizon.
It was the commencement speech when my mother got her master’s, many years ago and I forget what state office he held at the time. I also don’t remember a single thing he said.
However, I do clearly remember the person introducing him bloviating how Burris was such a wonderful father to his son, Roland Jr, and his daughter, Rolanda.
So I’m thinking "ego" for why he accepted Blago’s offer.
Mike E
Being from Croatian and Montenegran descent, I have to sometimes stop myself from cooking and devouring my own offspring — I’ll vouche for the sub-standard wiring.
Having suffered as a Dem during the salad days of Mondale and Dukakis, I admit that Lucy’s football still looks appealing to me. As an unaffiliated voter, I’m going to wait for some evidence of spine before re-registering Dem.
I hear Cornyn will fight Franken’s seating. I’m writing to Reid to nominate Coleman for the IL seat — that’s compromise we can believe in!
Zifnab
That’s the problem. Burris’s pick is under shady circumstances by default. Any pick is under shady circumstances – its fruit from a poisoned tree.
That’s why Reid wanted Blago to stfu and wait for his replacement to make a pick. People don’t know how Blago came to his conclusion. Did he draw Burris’s name out of a hat, did he do it for some future political patronage, did he just say "Gimme $50 and we’ll call it even"? Who knows?
It’s like watching Eliot Spitzer walk out of a hotel room with an 18 year old girl in a mini-skirt and hooker pumps. It doesn’t fucking matter if they had sex.
At this point, if Blago did want to have some fun, he could embrace you’re "nomination a day" strategy just to drive the media crazy. But as it stands, Burris is stained as "Blago’s first pick". It’s like the SNL Bush Endorsement For President – the kiss of death. It just makes you look bad.
bayville
Maybe if Tom Coburn or Mitch McConnell endorses this Burris guy, Harry Reid will change his mind.
Maybe Harry Reid, for once in his political life, will compromise and allow Blago to select Obama’s replacement. To make everyone happy, Reid should insist the interim Senator is from outside Illinois, a Republican and someone who is approved by Imhofe and Bob Corker. That should satisfy everyone or atleast the GOP & The Village Elders.
Afterall, that is the only thing that matters in this whole event.
mellowjohn
KCinDC @ #39:
"The Illinois secretary of state says he’ll block the appointment, but I don’t see how that can be possible."
it isn’t. the sec of state certifies election winners, but has absolutely no authority over appointments made by the gov.
r€nato
I’d like to point out that Reid did not say the Senate would not seat him; he said the Democratic Caucus would not seat him.
While the DC runs the Senate, the DC is not the same thing as the Senate.
This seems to leave Reid wiggle room to allow Burris to sit in the Senate, have his votes on Democratic issues but still show official disapproval of Blago filling the seat.
Xanthippas
According to Eugene Volokh, the Senate can’t refuse to seat him.
TheHatOnMyCat
Wow, this Blago guy gives The Man a cockslap in the face.
Ballsy. Repugnant, but ballsy.
shortstop
Guys, please. Consider for a moment what the right would do if the Democratic Senate caucus accepted any appointment of Blago’s without kicking up a fuss. "Senate Dems roll over for crookedest guv in nation!" "Senate Dems welcome Dirty Blago’s pick with open arms!" "Senate Dems total hypocrites — give pass to Blago while bitching about Republican corruption!" Please. Not to mention that Senate Democrats join the rest of the universe in being legitimately fucking furious at Blago’s refusal to get out of the way.
There is some political theater going on here, and it’s absolutely appropriate. Reid and Co. can’t prevent Burris from being seated, and privately they’re probably high-fiving each other that it’s Burris instead of some creep. But they have to, and they’re right to, denounce Blago’s action and refuse to accord it respect.
demimondian
@John S.: And you know what? I used to work with a WASP from New England. Do you know what? He was FuCKiNG PSYCHO, too.
A bunch of FUckINg PsYCHOs, the lot of them.
Branch Water Bilge knows *all about* fucking psychos.
demimondian
@shortstop: Of course it’s appropriate. It will work best of all if Patrick Fitzgerald says "there’s no evidence that Mr. Burris engaged in any illegal activity"; that would give the Dems in the Senate cover to seat him without any fuss.
shortstop
You seem to have no idea how most Americans view this state’s politics and carelessly assume that everyone who comes out of this system is already tainted. (Probably too busy fending off brother-marries-his-sister comments about West Virginians to notice.) Add to that the fact that it’s Rod Blagojevich doing the picking, and there just isn’t any way anyone he names is going to be viewed without enormous suspicion regardless of his history and reputation. It ain’t fair. But that’s how it is.
shortstop
I don’t think you know the situation. Blago is a strong Democrat in a very, very Democratic state. Punchy was right (above) in saying that many people in Illinois just arent all that concerned with it; clearly not as much as the rest of the country.He may be gone (eventually), but if you think that voters will hold a non-impeachment of a Democrat against the legislators in a very democratic state, you’re crazy.
Absolutely wrong. The mood here, Punchy’s holiday trip notwithstanding, is overwhelmingly (90-plus percent) for impeachment. That people were talking about other things over the holidays is not an accurate reflection of the level of anger here among voters regardless of party. thomas has it exactly right.
mey
John, you need to come over to the (i)ndependent/no-party side. With the crap Democrats constantly pull, they don’t deserve anyone’s endorsement from saying you’re a member of their party. This way, you get to pick and choose any politicians from any side. Obama good. Pelosi/Reid bad. Paul good. Kucinich good. Lieberdouche bad.
Chuck Butcher
I’m not about to give any politician a blind pass on any damn thing, but there is a lot of criticism of Pelosi & Reid that is plain horseshit. You do not do anything without votes and you better believe that before they get way up on their horses they’ve counted votes. I know a Senator who got caught out very badly on something when he’d counted votes – and got adjorned on. He didn’t forget or forgive, especially since it caused real trouble at home.
Pelosi is one hard nosed woman, you might think from the blogs it isn’t so, but you might stop to think about the Republicans blaming her for the bailout failure. That wasn’t done because she’s easy. They loath her and with good reason.
Reid is in a tougher position altogether, the fillibuster makes life damn difficult. I’d like to see it played out in full more often, but business still has to be conducted; so fights have to be picked pretty carefully. There is a damn fine line between being seen as a wimp and being seen as an obstructionist – anybody remember the government shutdown under Clinton?
Defunding Iraq? Sure and GWB leaves the troops there, cuts everything else and when that’s not enough – leaves them anyhow; and then? Impeachment? Senate vote were counted so no conviction, so the House can do what? Sure vote for it and after a huge partisan dust-up have it go to the Senate and go down – guaranteed. If you remember, there weren’t a lot of people pleased by the Clinton impeachment and do that right prior to a Presidential election you should have reason to think you’ll win.
Damn, if you don’t want to be a part of the sausage making don’t get around the Rube Goldberg machine that flails about making a huge mess before a signed bill plops out. There are wheels within wheels within wheels grinding meat of odd character and your idea is that they’re just spineless fuckheads? They’ve got the fucking nerve to run for national office, much less leadership and they’re balless? Fine, when does your campaign start, I’m ready to go, but I ain’t cheap (unless you’re an OR Dem) and you’d better have a bunch more lined up that are actually expensive. Book keeper for FEC will hurt, alone. You’re gonna have a real rough next two years. If you’re facing entrenched opposition, they’ve already started, House and Senate. (sworn in or not)
/rant
There is nothing to say Burris has to sit in on the Caucus, it’s easy enough to backdoor that and not be public about it. Burris has been around long enough to be shown the reasons and get along with it – hell, he accepted – for the time being.
If I had to guess, I’d bet Blago went to the cleanest pol he could find for the utility of saying, ‘see that was all BS.’ He’s got a lawyer who is supposed to be pretty good, I’d bet he’s been listened to.
Chuck Butcher
Funny thing about those Dems, 04 they were the minority party, 06 a slim majority, 08 a nice majority & White House, smart politics and 10 might be something to behold. This is in the face of 30 years of Republican propaganda taken as common wisdom, with 2 wars going. They’ll sure take today’s news cycle whenever they can get it but they’re always looking 2 years out. If you don’t, you get the Republican Revolution (or whatever grandiose name they apply). {or on the other side you get 06, 08 and a Magic Negro Muslim in the White House}
If BO can get some of the bare knucks back stabbing out of politics I’m all for it. I’d say there’s a good sized chunk that ain’t goin’ along.
Chuck Butcher
Sure Mey,
remind me again which candidate you guys ran…
mey
"you guys"? It’s just mey. I don’t belong to a party, because one does not currently exist that I would support. I support individuals.
And Pelosi is a tool.
Comrade Stuck
@Chuck Butcher:
I agree with you Chuck on a lot of the criticism of Pelosi and Reid. Although some criticism is warranted on them. We are however a small minority of dems. From 2000 to around 2006 I was a complete and total C-span junkie. Every spare moment was spent watching the Senate and House to learn how they worked. And when they weren’t in session, I ran the videos or searched the web trying to educate myself, especially on the senate. Most people don’t get that far into the inner workings of congress and the rules they go by, especially in the senate. I don’t much try and argue with folks anymore on how difficult Reid’s job has been there with the numbers as they’ve been. Although, I agree with some of the complaints, like Reid giving repubs a standing filibuster and not making them vote for cloture, at a minimum. And Pelosi on the Fisa cave. But overall, I think they’ve been judged to harshly from the left. But now is the time to hold their feet to the fire with the numbers they have. They should be judged on that.
Comrade Kevin
I suggest you all go read Jonathan Turley’s post at http://www.jonathanturley.Org ; sorry for no direct link but I’m posting from my phone. It’s currently the top post.
Chuck Butcher
@mey:
So which candidate is it that you’ve run?
You seem to be inferring that you’ve voted or something, so where did those individuals come from? Ossmosis?
Lets do some simple shit
The House can pass a bill out with 50%+1
The Senate can pass one at 50%+1 if the opposition will vote cloture (not fillibuster)
If fillibustered it takes 60% for cloture
Then you’ve got the problem of a veto…
Now you need 2/3.
Anybody see something in these numbers that indicates balls or lack of balls? Leaders count and then they know and you want them to do what? Get a gun?
I’m a lefty, within the activist arm – DPO I’m a lefty (guns confuse people; why I don’t know). I don’t see my political view going real far in my lifetime, not because DNC or DPO won’t hold still for it, because voters won’t go there. Since I prefer ballots, that is the difficulty.
There are a lot of political centers, DNC & State Parties are ground troops and rules and lesser fundraisers. Then you get to fund raisers and power/policy centers DLC, DSCC, etc. It is a gumbo and negotiating it can get stunningly complex. You can throw rocks at DSCC, but plain and simple Sen Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wouldn’t have beaten Sen Gordon Smith without DSCC and Jeff is pretty left, as far as Senators go. Should he have told them to stuff their money? I’ve watched Jeff for 5 years and helped him and most of you would like him, as a person and politically.
ET
OK after looking at some of the videos of Buress on TPM – I have settled on ego as to why he is throwing himself into this clusterf**k. And after reading some of the later comments I am going to add a double hell yes to that.