Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, says president-elect Obama’s Senate seat will stay vacant until Democrat Governor Blagojevich is removed and a new appointment can be certified:
“At this point we’ve clearly reached an impasse,” Durbin told reporters at his Chicago office.
That’s Democrat speak for the courts don’t see things our way.
Durbin also said the “Senate cannot waive a 125-year-old rule requiring the signatures of
both the governor and the secretary of state on any election or
appointment.”
Unbelievably, Durbin, made his comments after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled against the Senate Democrats. In its decision, the court found that Senate Rule II, the rule that Reid and Durbin cited as justification for the Democrat’s refusal to seat Senator Burris, is merely a recommendation, not a requirement the “Senate cannot waive”:
As their name indicates, these forms are merely recommended. State officials are not required to adopt them, but “they may use [them] if they see fit.” Standing Rule II, United States Senate, Committee on Rule & Administration.
In any event, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White signed a separate statement on Friday certifying that Burris’ appointment letter was legally filed with the state. The Illinois Supreme Court decision and Secretary of State certification aren’t good enough for Reid and company:
But aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it was not clear
if White’s statement would meet the Senate’s 125-year-old certification
requirement.
That’s Democrat speak for we don’t see things the court’s way.
The bottom line here is that the Democrats were afraid to call a special election and let the voters decide who should replace Obama because a Republican might have won the seat. Now, the Democrats are afraid to accept Senator Burris because a Republican might be able to beat Burris in 2010.
Easy Setup.....Check..................Obvious But Funny Comeback Zinger..... Check................ Ready, Aim, Fire !
Kenny Solomon Friday, January 9th at 11:05PM EST (link)Obama’s Senate seat was vacant the entire time when he was in it, so what’s the big deal ?
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
555! Priceless, Dan! nt
Vegas_Rick Friday, January 9th at 11:14PM EST (link)“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
Too much happy hour, Kenny, sorry. nt
Vegas_Rick Friday, January 9th at 11:15PM EST (link)“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
More important...
Fred Maidment Friday, January 9th at 11:17PM EST (link)There are particular rules for how things are done. Reid and Senate Democrats have worked hard to skirt those rules wherever possible to avoid this embarrassing Blagojevich appointment.
Burris was appointed by Blagojevich. The 17th Amendment specifically grants the Executive of a state the power to appoint Senators when a vacancy occurs. Blagojevich was the duly elected Governor of Illinois and had not been indicted or impeached at the time of the appointment.
If Mr. Reid and Mr. Durbin want to remove Burris, they must seat him, and then impeach him. But since Burris hasn’t committed any crimes (Blagojevich did) impeaching Burris would be improper. So they are stuck, and trying to find any way to avoid the embarrassment that would result from seating the appointee of a corrupt official.
If burris is not seated as Senator, then the rule of law has no meaning in the Capitol.
I wonder if it ever has?
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“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
- - Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791
Burris played in pay to play
Scope Saturday, January 10th at 7:58AM EST (link)Burris donated 15 grand to the Blago campaign, and, in turn received 300 grand to find qualified minority contractors to work on the infrastructure projects, as per Rush Limbaugh, who researches before he speaks. Isn’t that paying to play?
The whole Blago issue has not yet all played out. I suspect that the Illinois legislature, the Secatary of State and even Obama may know more about the Blago/Burris connection, but it just hasn’t hit print yet.
Obama asked Blago to resign, and he asked him not to seat a Senator. How ever this plays out, Burris will not be seated because the One said so, and the Libs are tripping over their feet to please him.
I just want it to stay alive and on the front page as long as possible.
In the media...
Fred Maidment Saturday, January 10th at 10:27AM EST (link)…is not the same as in the courts.
Blago made the appointment before he was impeached. That means that, unless you can prove that Burris gave the $15k to Blago in exchange for the Senate seat, it’s just normal politicking.
Seems to me like if there was any “Pay to Play,” it was so Burris could steer minority contracts to his buddies… Not ethical, but not related to the situation at hand.
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“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
- - Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791
Uh, No
IJB Friday, January 9th at 11:30PM EST (link)The SCoIL ruled on *Illinois law* that the signature wasn’t necessary.
They have *no* jurisdiction on the U.S. Senate, and the rules of the U.S. Senate. So the SCoIL ruling only had ramifications on this matter if they compelled the IL SoS to sign the certification document.
They didn’t, which means the ball’s back in the U.S. Senate’s court.
If the Senate rules are that they need both Governor’s and SoS’s signatures, then their hands are tied (or, at least, they can declare them “tied”).
I guess Burris could try and file in *federal* court that the Senate rule requiring SoS’s signatures in unconstitutional. But the odds of Burris getting a definitive ruling before Blago is impeached are astronomically small.
I guess, in the end, Reid did outmaneuver Blago & Burris, though with an assist from the (surprising) SCoIL.
And, FTR - I totally agree that a special election should have been held (and totally disagree with Warner Todd Houston on that…).
But, failing that, the Senate was totally within its rights not to seat Burris.
And, if people don’t like it, there’s a simple remedy - vote the Democrats out of the Senate…
(And, also FTR, I’m not convinced that whoever replaces Burris will be any less beatable in 2010 - I suspect that the IL Dems are in for a rough year, all around, in 2010.)
God Willing...
Fred Maidment Friday, January 9th at 11:57PM EST (link)“I suspect that the IL Dems are in for a rough year, all around, in 2010.”
Hopefully, that will be the case nation-wide…
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“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
- - Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791
They are absolutely not in trouble
Jack_Savage Saturday, January 10th at 8:16PM EST (link)Because Democrats are such idiots that they would probably re-elect Blago if he doesn’t get removed from office.
Corruption is simply par for the course and merely a distraction perpetrated by evil Republicans.
Dems in Illinois are not in trouble, and Illinois deserves all the hell it gets.
We need more such Reid victories - He has one less dem
Mike gamecock DeVine Saturday, January 10th at 9:58AM EST (link)vote with this victory
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Just did some re-reading...
Fred Maidment Saturday, January 10th at 10:36AM EST (link)Applicable text of the Seventeenth Amendment:
“When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.”
In other words, the Constitution defers to state law in the selection of appointments to fill Senate vacancies. This is the essence of a Federal System, where Senators are supposed to be representatives of the various states.
The only reason to not seat Burris would be if Illinois had managed to cobble together a special election before the new Senators were sworn in.
Rules of the Senate be damned; those rules are not above the Constitution.
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“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
- - Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791
Fred, with all respect, there's something you need to understand.......
Kenny Solomon Saturday, January 10th at 10:40AM EST (link)Most Democrats don’t care about The Constitution, The Bill Of Rights, or the rule of law.
What they look at when deciding anything is:
1. What do I decide to keep myself and our party in power - permanent,y.
2. When in doubt, see # 1.
Cheers !
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
I have no faith in the voters of Illinois any longer
izoneguy Friday, January 9th at 11:56PM EST (link)For Gods sake - they gave us Blago, Obama & Durbin.
And today Chicago had a rally in support of Hamas.
“When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
Thomas Jefferson
Obama seat to GOP
tjexcite Saturday, January 10th at 12:24AM EST (link)LOL, They could put some Sh** with a D behind its name and it would still win in Obama old seat. Same with Hillary’s. This may change when the “change” gets going and the GOP grow a pair but not now.
Long Live George W. Bush liberator of Millions
You heard it here first...
mbecker908 Saturday, January 10th at 12:32AM EST (link)1. Burris gets turned down by the Senate.
2. HotRod gets impeached. In RECORD time.
3. The new governor appoints Burris.
Oh, and...
mbecker908 Saturday, January 10th at 12:34AM EST (link)4. The Senate accepts Burris.
"Joe...just ignore it...for a couple more days..."
$peciallist Saturday, January 10th at 12:48AM EST (link)Blago's still the governor...
6eorge Jetson Saturday, January 10th at 8:33AM EST (link)as w/ Clinton, after impeachment by the House he needs to be tried and convicted by the Senate. I’m no legal expert, but I would think that the trial offers the defendant more options to stall/play games and I would imagine that the Dems still are worried about some of the cards/knowledge of graft in his hand.
Of course
Achance Saturday, January 10th at 12:36AM EST (link)And when Blago tries to kiss and tell, and I bet he’s got a lot to tell, he’ll just be a disgraced and disgruntled former Governor trying to curry favor with the prosecutor and the MSM won’t carry a word of what he might say.
Blago’s got a hard, hard lesson to learn; the second you close that office door after resigning, getting fired, or losing an election, you are absolutely NOBODY. The only time anyone will even remember you is if something goes wrong, they’ll blame it on you.
In Vino Veritas
The special prosecutor will remember Blago
char Saturday, January 10th at 2:16AM EST (link)And will pay close attention to what he says. And really, that is the only person who matters.
The special prosecutor is just an afterthought.
mbecker908 Saturday, January 10th at 12:44PM EST (link)You don’t actually think that on the morning of Jan 21 he is going to be allowed to keep this case as a high priority do you? The line will be something to the effect that the IL Senate will impeach HotRod, he will take a plea for the good of the children in IL and we need to move on.
Don't underestimate Pat Quinn's
cookcountyconservative Saturday, January 10th at 3:08AM EST (link)ability to throw a curve ball in this down the road. He has said he is open to the idea of an interim appointment followed by a special election.
Oh, and he can wax poetic too…
Doubt it.
mbecker908 Saturday, January 10th at 12:41PM EST (link)That works out to a “retroactive law”.
As far as the impeachment trial, I think the Ds in IL (and DC) want this guy to just disappear and they are going to ram this through the IL Senate so fast your head will spin. And somebody may make HotRod a deal behind the scenes, to the effect that he gets to live to a ripe old age if he keeps his mouth shut.
Are you just complaining for the sake of complaining?
borts Saturday, January 10th at 2:25AM EST (link)I don’t get it. I think most of America is happy that they aren’t seating Blogojevich’s appointment.
And honestly. I mean, HONESTLY, is there any chance you guys wouldn’t be complaining if they HAD seated him.
I think maybe you’re just upset that you can’t use Burris as a punching bag. At least for now, they may end up seating him. I for one hope they don’t.
No, we're sitting back eating popcorn watching Democratic corruption
6eorge Jetson Saturday, January 10th at 8:24AM EST (link)in full view.
So where does it follow that we should throw another $1 trillion into this cesspool.
“Because that’s where the money is” –Bankrobber Willie Sutton
Actually, no
bs Saturday, January 10th at 9:00AM EST (link)This is a sweet situation for the GOP. We can mock you guys no matter how it transpires, and you look equally foolish. In fact, I may send Dingy Harry and Blago each a box of Omaha Steaks to thank them for the entertainment.
Decorum is fo’ suckas
No we are having fun watching
antisocial Saturday, January 10th at 10:40AM EST (link)dems tying themselves in knots. We are just trying to point out that Democrats don’t believe in constitution. And they don’t have guts to face the electorate. They try to avoid that as much as possible. And yes they have some of the most RACIST folks as leaders. They are not allowing a BLACK leader to take Barack’s seat. And that ALL Chicago democrats are corrupt. I hear Blago’s wife closed the house deal for Obama. Is Obama involved in this pay-to-play scheme? How abt Rahm Emanuel? I wonder why he lied abt his contacts with Blago… Is he involved in pay-to-play? We can’t wait for Blago to start singing.
Nobody but democrats could have provided such entertainment. FREE!!!!
No you can’t - Moe Lane
——————————
The Emperor has no clothes!!!
——————————
Republicans who lost the Crap-and-Raid fight in the House -
Mary Bomo Mac (CA-45)
Mike Castle (DE)
Mark Kirk (IL-10)
Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
John M. McHugh (NY-23)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Blago knows where all the bodies are burried
Scope Saturday, January 10th at 8:10AM EST (link)and the fact that he was willing to use Rham Emmanuel’s name in his presser (quite sarcastically) yesterday, that was just a starter. He will not go down without at least trying to take others with him. Fitzpatrick threw a monkey wrench in the Chicago politics as usual machine.
I gotta ask
Reaper0Bot0 (formerly Han_Pritcher) Saturday, January 10th at 8:23AM EST (link)What are the odds you won’t use the fact that Blago appointed Burris against him in 2010, assuming he’s seated. I understand how much entertainment this must provide you guys (and I don’t hold it against you), but I really have to wonder how much of this is principle and how much of this is political opportunism and glee.
Anybody Blago appoints is suspect. Yes, the appointment appears to be legal (assuming no bribery was involved, which would involve an even greater level of insanity from Blago than I’d expected), but there is such a strong appearance of impropriety here that I’m not comfortable with seating Burris.
Obviously my opinion isn’t worth much as I’m not from Illinois. Just the same….
I’m a lying troll.
All that matters is the rule of law
Mike gamecock DeVine Saturday, January 10th at 8:59AM EST (link)The best ammo against democrats are their failed policies. The GOP makes mistakes when it gets off substantive issues.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
AMEN!!!
Fred Maidment Saturday, January 10th at 10:41AM EST (link)n/t
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“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
- - Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791
The Blago Affair provides a vivid example of the graft inherent in any govt program...
6eorge Jetson Saturday, January 10th at 9:45AM EST (link)be it Republican or Democratic.
Are individual Republicans suspect to siphoning graft activities? Yes, especially in an environment where staying in power is more important than facilitating freedom and competitive “pursuit of happiness”, not the guaranteed attainment of happiness. Why do leeches suck money out of authoritarian directed, top-down, feedback free non-competitive government programs? As bank robber Willie Sutton said, “Because that’s where the money is”.
I hope the adage “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” applies to the results of the 2008 elections. I do fear that the decidedly socialist turn we the US has taken, may in fact, kill American leadership as it will be very hard to reverse. (”If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can count on Paul’s support.”) I also believe that the 2008 election results will purge the critical mass of unprincipled RINOs from the party, Whether the resulting leaner, stronger, principled core will be able to stem and reverse the socialist momentum that will doom America to a poorer future, I don’t know.
brilliant point - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Saturday, January 10th at 9:50AM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Burris is tainted by more than
redneck_hippie Saturday, January 10th at 8:42AM EST (link)appearances. He has been alleged to have done certain things and been at the receiving end of certain things, all of which are indirect. But then doing them in a more direct way would have been the Blago way, not the Chicago way. Blago is a bada bing bada boom guy. Burris is a let my lobbyist take your lobbyist to lunch guy.
Side note, the lady at Edward Hospital in Naperville who dropped a dime on Blago’s dirty shakedown tactics deserves a Redstate Whistleblower Monument.
Streetwise? Caleb? Whoever?
http://www.edward.org/body.cfm?id=87&action=detail&ref=137
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/09/blagojevich-whistleblower-suspicions-case-way-governor/
It’s been five years in the making. Here’s to sharing salty snacks with my Redstate friends in and out of Illinois.
Now about that Monument. Pretty please? I’ll buy the mortar.
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23.
Roland Burris' Monument To Himself - GPS coordinates for mortar rounds.
Kenny Solomon Saturday, January 10th at 9:51AM EST (link)Area Of Operations: Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 East 67th Street, Chicago Illinois.
Center point…. 41.46.09.86 North x 87.35.58.27 West
West Boundary…. 87.36.20.08 West
East Boundary…. Varied - Residential subdivision - use on-site weapons plotting unit.
North Boundary…. 41.46.22.95 North
South Boundary…. 41.45.57.08 North
Target Photo: Roland Burris, Trail Blazer
Using all available visual satellite tracking, unable to determine exact location of target within area of operations boundaries.
Ground support required and possible laser target designation may be necessary on acquisition.
Redneck_hippie, as on-site commander, please be aware of the sacred covenant and trust cemeteries have within each of us and every community. Your target is to be the only, repeat, ONLY action item. Collateral damage is not acceptable under any circumstances.
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
Let Burris' mausoleum stand for now
redneck_hippie Saturday, January 10th at 11:18AM EST (link)It will make a nice inset photo for when he runs for (re)election and goes down in flames because the taint is still odiferous.
Trail blazer. Eye glazer, more like.
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23.
Here's the really sad part that no one has realized
Jack_Savage Saturday, January 10th at 4:00PM EST (link)Obama’s Senate seat has ALWAYS been vacant.