Blago just won't give up

[freckles and boo]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081230/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Defying U.S. Senate leaders and his own state's lawmakers, Gov. Rod Blagojevich was expected Tuesday to appoint a Senate replacement for President-elect Barack Obama despite federal charges that he tried to auction off the seat to the highest bidder.

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones said Blagojevich has chosen former state Attorney General Roland Burris for the job. Jones, a Chicago Democrat, said Burris told him of the governor's decision in a telephone call Tuesday morning.

Blagojevich scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference, but his aides would not comment on the topic.

The Democratic governor can announce Burris as his pick, but it may be an empty gesture. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And U.S. Senate leaders reiterated that they wouldn't accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges

More at the link.

I don't have a problem with Burris but he hasn't been around for a while. Unfortunately, even if he is a good candidate for the job, he will be tainted simply by the appointment.

 

[chris1gill]

The Senate should not allow any appointment by Blago, regardless of who it is. The Ltn. Governor is the only one not tainted here. Reid has already said today they will not seat an appointment by Blago, I hope he sticks to that.

 

[Becky2005]

I'm not surprised he did it but DUH!!!!

Anyone with half a brain (OK, I know we are talking politics but still...) would in no way approve anyone he appoints to the Senate seat. No matter what, whoever he "appointed" even if they didn't have any hands in the cookie jar and would be the best person in the world for the job would always be under suspicion for how they got the seat.

I'm just glad there are approvals in place.

I wasn't sure how it worked, if he could just say I want Person X to have the seat and then Person X automatically gets the seat.

 

[HakunaMatata2]

You gotta love Chicago politics!

 

[mrsv98]

Any other Illinoian want to put a bag over their head? Geesh. At least Jessie White said he won't certify the appointment and Harry Reid said the Senate won't either.

And how disgusting of Bobby Rush to try and make it a racial issue. It has nothing to do with the fact that Burris is black, it is that Blago is an idiot and anyone he nominates is tainted.

Yuck...I feel like I need a shower....

 

[susan514]

And, let's not forget Bobby Rush was a Black Panther in the 60's.

 

[freckles and boo]

I didn't catch the Bobby Rush stuff. That is too bad. He's my representative and has done a pretty good job.

 

[chris1gill]

Any other Illinoian want to put a bag over their head? Geesh. At least Jessie White said he won't certify the appointment and Harry Reid said the Senate won't either.

And how disgusting of Bobby Rush to try and make it a racial issue. It has nothing to do with the fact that Burris is black, it is that Blago is an idiot and anyone he nominates is tainted.

Yuck...I feel like I need a shower....

I totally agree, I'm sorry, this is not a race issue, nor should Rush have tried to make it one.

I'm glad White won't certify it and I'm glad Reid said the Senate wouldn't either.

Blago needs to get a grip, I seriously think he has a psychological problem.

 

[freckles and boo]

Blago needs to get a grip, I seriously think he has a psychological problem.

I think there is something to this. He really seems delusional. My husband swears there is some kind of neurotoxin in the ventilation system of the governor's office.

 

[Becky2005]

Oh geesh!!! I didn't catch the race stuff.

HELLO? Anyone realize it has 100% to do with our Gov. trying to sell the seat no matter *what* someone's color is? That is so totally not relevant. It wouldn't matter who was nominated even if they were purple! It's because of WHO is trying to appoint them and the circumstances.

Frankly, if I were in politics and really wanted the seat, I would run away screaming from the Gov. so there would be no connection whatsoever.

There was a *reason* they had an article during the presidental election that nobody wanted the Gov.'s endorsement. It would have not been a good thing.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

As much as I dislike Blago and hope he gets whats coming to him, it bothers me that the Sec of State has the power to veto an appointment by the Gov. This doesn't seem to be a correct system of checks and balances to me. Theoretically down the road a Sec of State could just not sign off on the selection of a Gov if they're of a different party and they wanted to play partisan games??? The Sec of State isn't it's own branch.

The morons in the Illinois Congress should have stripped him of the power to make an appointment earlier in the month and moved faster with the impeachment proceedings.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I think Burris is senile.

 

[Becky2005]

I think there is something to this. He really seems delusional.

That has been true for a while. He seems to think we like him & think he is doing a good job (and that's without any scandal showing up!) I'm not sure what alternate universe he is in but I suppose there are a handful of people that think that way. I see something entirely different.

 

[Becky2005]

As much as I dislike Blago and hope he gets whats coming to him, it bothers me that the Sec of State has the power to veto an appointment by the Gov. This doesn't seem to be a correct system of checks and balances to me. Theoretically down the road a Sec of State could just not sign off on the selection of a Gov if they're of a different party and they wanted to play partisan games??? The Sec of State isn't it's own branch.

The morons in the Illinois Congress should have stripped him of the power to make an appointment earlier in the month and moved faster with the impeachment proceedings.

That's true too. I don't know the process but I really thought it was if any Gov. picks person X for the job then as long as person X accepts it, they get the job.

Obviously, I'm not well versed in politics (Hey, I live in IL...it's all messed up anyway!).

Does the person have to be affirmed or something by the rest of the IL Congress or is it truly just the Gov. & Sec. of State?

 

[freckles and boo]

I think Burris is senile.

Why do you think he is senile? I know he hasn't been on the political stage for a few years.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Why do you think he is senile? I know he hasn't been on the political stage for a few years.

Just from listening to the press conference. And because he actually accepted the job.

At the press conference, he just didn't seem that sharp, like when the reporter was asking him about the money his law firm has given to Blago, and he was like, really, that much?? I didn't know we had that much money!