Blagojevich chooses Obama successor

Published on December 31st, 2008

MSNBC- Defying U.S. Senate leaders and his own state’s lawmakers, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder, praised the 71-year-old Burris’ integrity and asked that the corruption allegations not “taint this good and honest man.”

“The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington D.C.,” Blagojevich said. “As governor I am required to make this appointment.” Burris, standing at the governor’s side, said he’s eager to get to work in Washington. He said he has no connection to the charges against Blagojevich, who was arrested on Dec. 9 and accused of trying to profit from appointing Obama’s replacement.

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 won’t accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.

If I were Burris, I wouldn’t start redecorating the office yet.

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# 1 Buzz said, on December 31st, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Vitch, forced into doing the right thing, caved.

# 2 deowll said, on December 31st, 2008 at 12:57 pm

No doubt he selected the most shining example of a person with a clean record he could find and played the race card.

I’d say the guy made a smart move.

I’m sure this man was nowhere on his list before the scandel broke.

# 3 Digby said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:01 pm

What, no Chinese women in Illinois?

# 4 smartalix said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:02 pm

Too bad, Burris is a great choice otherwise.

# 5 gquaglia said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:11 pm

You can’t trust this appointment. Was it paid for? Some are also trying to make this a racial issue.

Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois told reporters that Senate Democrats should not “hang and lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer.”

Hang or lynch? Talk about a racially charged statement.

# 6 Paddy-O said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Deft maneuver by the Gov.

# 7 bill said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:24 pm

The Gov. was right… and he looks like a good pick.

# 8 Montanaguy said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:25 pm

This guy reminds me of Hitler, madly planning to save the fatherland from the inevitable up to the last days.

# 9 pedro said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:27 pm

This is part of the Dems. “Change” strategy

# 10 contempt said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:29 pm

No Republican in sight to lay blame. Accusations of lynchings if Burris is not accepted.

The entertainment value is priceless when Democrats are forced to deal with problems they themselves have created.

# 11 GigG said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:45 pm

#10 That’s what I love about the Dems. They usually will sooner or later eat their own.

# 12 Paddy-O said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:47 pm

# 10 contempt said, “No Republican in sight to lay blame.”

Not true. Repubs ended black slavery in this country and thus enabled Obama to have the senate seat. Obama helped this gov get power & it is HIS seat that all the noise is about.

So, it is the Repubs fault.

# 13 ECA said, on December 31st, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Can i ASK,,
WHAT EVER happened to RETIREMENT AGE??

# 14 Ah_Yea said, on December 31st, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Ok, so Blagojevich has proven himself to be not entirely stupid.

This was a good move. Put a truly good and competent guy in the senate seat and then play the race game to keep him there.

So, assuming that Blagojevich is simply corrupt and greedy, but not stupid, then why is he trying so hard to keep Burris in this seat?

Blagojevich has some end game planned for this move which keeps him out of jail and in the money, and in some way Burris plays into this.

It should be interesting to see where this all goes!

# 15 contempt said, on December 31st, 2008 at 2:18 pm

#12 Paddy-O

>>Obama helped this gov get power & it is HIS seat that all the noise is about.

We are talking Chicago so if the dead are allowed to vote and remained counted, how difficult would it be for Obama to appoint his successor without those pesky voters getting in the way.

# 16 Mr. Fusion said, on December 31st, 2008 at 2:28 pm

#10, contempt,

Enjoy it. The right wing loonies will remain on the outside looking in for quite a while.

# 17 contempt said, on December 31st, 2008 at 3:25 pm

#16 Mr Fusion

The left is so use to attacking, it should be great fun watching them drown try to defend the monumental amount of screw-ups on the Obama horizon.

Should be great fun, at least until the vise tightens on us all.

# 18 pedro said, on December 31st, 2008 at 4:27 pm

this is fun in so many levels.

How much of a “decent” guy can Burris be if he accepts being nominated by this white sheep

# 19 Special Ed said, on December 31st, 2008 at 5:22 pm

I’m not sure but I think this guy is a knee grow too!

# 20 Jetfire said, on December 31st, 2008 at 8:03 pm

#14 “Put a truly good and competent guy in the senate seat and then play the race game to keep him there.”

If he was such a Good and Competent guy. He would have stopped lobbing for the senate seat after Blagojevich arrest and turned the offer down. Instead he lobbied harder for the spot after the arrest. The man deserves no respect.

# 21 Delphi@yahoo.com said, on December 31st, 2008 at 8:57 pm

I think the Senators should be just like the anchorpersons we all have to put up with. With this in mind, the new Senator from Illinois should be a beautiful Asian babe, with long, shiny black hair, gorgeous come hither eyes, and a willowy figure. What’s with this aging black-hack? Give us what we REALLY want….How about Elliot Spitzer’s whore?

# 22 CountSmackula said, on December 31st, 2008 at 9:03 pm

Race? Who’d bring race into the issue? Certainly not Illinois Rep Bobby Rush!

“This is a matter of national importance,” Rush said. “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 wants to go on record to deny one African-American for being seated in the U.S. Senate. … And so I intend to take that argument to the Congressional Black Caucus.”

ROFLMAO!

# 23 Mr. Fusion said, on January 1st, 2009 at 8:17 am

#17, contempt,

The left is so use to attacking, it should be great fun watching them drown try to defend the monumental amount of screw-ups on the Obama horizon.

Not quite. The “left” is so used to coming after a Republican administration and repairing the damage. Both Carter and Clinton had to do it, now the current President Elect has the worst mess of all.

I fully expect the Obama Administration to make some mistakes. No matter though, by 2012 this country will be much better off than it is today.

Burris should be accepted and seated. Everyone opposing his taking his seat is doing an injustice to the Constitution. In their zeal to appear righteous, the Senate Democrats will only end up playing the Republican game. They are better than that.

# 24 Greg Allen said, on January 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am

If this guy didn’t pay “Blago”, the Senate should seat him.

Fist check with Patrick Fitzgerald, of course, but this is a perfectly legal appointment and the Senate has a lot of work to do.

The recalcitrant GOP obstructionists would LOVE to see the Senate waste Obama’s honeymoon on a huge legal fight.

# 25 Paddy-O said, on January 1st, 2009 at 9:40 am

# 24 Greg Allen said, “The recalcitrant GOP obstructionists …”

Actually, it is Dem obstructionists who are slowing things down. The Repubs have no part or say in this situation…

Nice try but can’t pin this on Repubs. It is purely a Dem meltdown.

# 26 Greg Allen said, on January 1st, 2009 at 9:45 am

>> Paddy-O said, on January 1st, 2009 at 9:40 am
>> Actually, it is Dem obstructionists who are slowing things down. The Repubs have no part or say in this situation…

I was talking about the last two years, when the GOP’s only strategy was to block EVERY attempt at progress or problem-solving in the Senate.

# 27 bobbo said, on January 1st, 2009 at 9:50 am

#25–Paddy==I was all set to condemn Greg for acting like a mindless Repuglican shill, but his post #24 does not claim the recalcitrant GOP obstructionists ARE CURRENTLY doing their anti-USA game, merely that those who are and do would love to see the turmoil. Too bad, you almost got a point to start off 2009. Instead, its a fail.

# 28 doug said, on January 1st, 2009 at 9:54 am

Burris should not be seated. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that Blago does is tainted by his absolute and utter corruption. The Illinois Legislature should impeach Blago post-haste and then Quinn can appoint someone.

It is absolutely disgraceful the way both Rush and Burris have played the race card in this situation, especially since Obama has said that Burris should not be seated.

# 29 MikeN said, on January 1st, 2009 at 10:54 am

Why do you all say Burris is qualified?

This guy already lost various races before, and has been described in local media as a typical Chicago political hack.

Plus the real disqualifier is that this guy has literally built a monument to himself.

# 30 contempt said, on January 1st, 2009 at 10:58 am

#23 Mr Fusion

>>Burris should be accepted and seated.
>>Everyone opposing his taking his seat is doing an injustice to the Constitution.

Why? Just because Blagojevich appointed him?

The real injustice to the Constitution is to bypass the voters and allow a corrupt Chicago Governor to appoint a Senator.

# 31 soundwash said, on January 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pm

———————————
preface:
first off…for those blinded by “federal government is for the people”

Blago claims innocence on the senate seat sale if only because this is how politics is done in all *51* states.. what do you think lobbyists
and campaign donations are used for? -just advertising? -do you think Obama, *a complete unknown* -got $700m-$1bn in donations without strings attached? -

you people do remember that he ran against NO ONE to get his senate seat.. how do you think this was accomplished? payola.

(just look at the ted kennedy obama endorsement and the resulting caroline kennedy fiasco here in NY in regards to hillary’s senate seat. how does someone with ZERO official public service get fast tracked to the top contender to fill a senate seat? payola.

to think Blago is guilty of anything other than business as usual is extremely naive.
-and divisive.
———————————-

i guess the hopes of years of democrat infighting ending is still a wet dream at most..

me thinks one of the reasons blago is still sitting in the gov’s seat is because he probably has a crapload of dirt he can unleash at the drop of hat on the majority chicago politicos.. -and they’re all still trying to figure out how unseat him without him exposing the whole lot of’em.

i still say this started because on Dec 5th, Chicago based Republic Windows and Door had to close it’s doors because Bank of America closed
it’s credit line with them.

-this resulted in some 15 or so city council members along with Blago stating they’d boycott
BoA (cutting all financial ties with the slimebank) until BoA used some of that fat TARP money it got from The Fed for it’s intended purpose…to get get credit flowing again..

low and behold, Dec 9th, the following tuesday,
the Blago senate seat scandal emerges out of the blue…effectively wiping the boycott off the map..

Think about it..as corrupt as US politics is, (not to mention chicago’s stellar reputation in the corruption business) -this was a simple case of David vs Golaiath…the little guy (chicago) going up against the behemoth that is The Banking Industry. (and it’s federal
govenment stooges)

(for all you simple-minded out there..go rent “it’s an Ant’s Life” for wonderfully simple prime example)

-had Blago and his council members succeeded in
gaining nationwide press on this issue..how long do you think it would take other states that are hemorrhaging debt rise up and take up the same cause..? -not to mention the millions of muted Americans (80%+) who already have voiced extreme
opposition to the bank bailout to begin with.

The Banks (plus the media & congress) *had* to stifle Blago & Chicago et al asap, or risk being exposed for tresonous slime that they all are.

Chicago could have been the catalyst for the first real, highly warranted united American uprising in decades.

it’s too bad, for a moment, there was a glimmer of hope the dummed down masses that is today’s America could have proven the world wrong..

alas, the powers-that-be prevailed and we’re back to left-right petty bickering over who’s slimeball is more worthy.. -just the way they like it.

it was a nice country while it lasted.

-s

# 32 pedro said, on January 1st, 2009 at 1:50 pm

#30 Dems. will only cry foul when something crooked is not done by them. In other words, they only complaint by sheer jelousy.

# 33 Paddy-O said, on January 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm

# 26 Greg Allen said, “I was talking about the last two years, when the GOP’s only strategy was to block EVERY attempt at progress or problem-solving in the Senate.”

You are a couple of years behind the times. Dems have been in control for a couple of years now. Add to this come Jan 20, the Executive. No excuses.

# 34 Mister Mustard said, on January 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm

#33 – Paddy-RAMBO

>>Dems have been in control for a couple of years now.

You call a razor-thin majority in Congress and complete opposition from President Cheney/ Rove being “in control”?

I guess you’re a “sub” in the sack, eh? Tee hee! Ironic, for a guy named RAMBO.

# 35 Paddy-O said, on January 1st, 2009 at 2:45 pm

# 34 Mister Mustard said, “You call a razor-thin majority in Congress and complete opposition from President Cheney/ Rove being “in control”?”

I call TOTAL control of all gov’t spending, total control.

# 36 Mr. Fusion said, on January 1st, 2009 at 3:11 pm

#35, Cow-Paddy,

You like to argue just to see your words on your monitor. The Republicans in the Senate have stymied Congress for the past two years. Then Bush has vetoed more legislation in the past two years than the previous six.

But I like seeing the right wing nuts whine. They usually squeal like the pigs they are.

# 37 Mister Mustard said, on January 1st, 2009 at 3:31 pm

#35 – Paddy-RAMBO

>>I call TOTAL control of all gov’t spending,
>>total control.

You’re letting your fantasies conflict with objective reality, RAMBO.

Quit yer whining. We’ve got a country to fix. 18 days, and the healing can begin.

# 38 Paddy-O said, on January 1st, 2009 at 3:47 pm

#37 Must suck when you can’t counter with facts. LOL

# 39 Greg Allen said, on January 1st, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Paddy-O said, on January 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
>>You are a couple of years behind the times. Dems have been in control for a couple of years now. Add to this come Jan 20, the Executive. No excuses.

That’s the GOP talking point but, in the Senate, the minority GOP very effectively blocked progress and problem solving.

I’m sure you are perfectly aware of the filibuster but maybe not the MASSIVE ABUSE of the privilage by the GOP:

“The 1999-2002 Senate terms both had 58 filibusters.[12] In the fall of 2007, the 110th Congress’ 1st session broke the record, for filibuster cloture votes, topping 70 as of Nov 15, 2007. It is on track to triple the number of such votes in 2008’s 2nd session. [13]”

http://tinyurl.com/oadkc

# 40 BigBoyBC said, on January 1st, 2009 at 7:11 pm

Hey Fusion,

Let’s see your proof, provide the links proving that the last two years Senate republicans have stymed Congress, that Bush has vetoed more legilation in the last two than the previous six. Otherwise STFU.

# 41 Mister Mustard said, on January 1st, 2009 at 7:23 pm

#39 – “big” Boy

Let’s see your proof, provide the links proving
>>that the last two years Senate republicans
>>have stymed Congress, that Bush has vetoed
>>more legilation in the last two than the
>>previous six. Otherwise STFU.

I’ll do half your work for you, “big” Boy:

http://uspolitics.about.com/od/electionissues/tp/Bush-Vetos.htm

That is, assuming you can add up numbers as big as 12.

Now why don’t you do the other half, or STFU?

# 42 Paddy-O said, on January 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 am

# 39 Greg Allen said, “I’m sure you are perfectly aware of the filibuster but maybe not the MASSIVE ABUSE of the privilage by the GOP:”

I’m sure that you are aware that the Dems have had 100% control over ALL spending, including the decision to continue the wars in Iraq & Af…

# 43 Mr Truther said, on January 3rd, 2009 at 1:08 am

I got a real problem with people that say a speciel election is to expensive. Some things you should not put a price on. Of corse if you are worried a repug might win this is a valid reason. sorry spell nazis I am not in the mood to look up words tonite.

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