Seems like the corruption of the disgraced former Illinois governor is continuing with the Washington Post's revelation that U.S. Sen. Roland Burris lied about prior contact with the ousted Rod Blagojevich prior to his appointment to the senate seat.
According to the Post, Burris filed an affidavit last week that Blagojevich contacted Burris several times last year - starting in October - asking Burris to raise money for the governor. Burris also said he talked with John Harris, Blago's chief of staff, about the Senate seat back in October - prior to President Barack Obama's victory. Burris also said he asked Harris about a state job for his nephew.
Who knows if the affidavit filed by Burris is truthful, after all, he did swear in a previous affidavit he had no contact with the governor prior to his appointment to the seat.
The Illinois House is calling for an independent investigation into Burris' perjury.
Not only is Burris' revelation more mud on the name of clean politics in Illinois, it's also egg on the face of President Obama who, along with others, urged Senate leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to allow Burris to take the seat. With the latest revelations, it's possible Reid will seek retribution and seek to have Burris step down from the Senate - of course that will hurt the Democrat's numbers in the Senate if they were to lose any of their majority.
Illinois Republicans will surely use this to their advantage in the 2010 elections. While the nation called for change from GOP leadership in 2008, the people of Illinois may do the same in the next election by giving Republicans a chance to clean up the state.
Showing posts with label U.S. Senate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Senate. Show all posts
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Senate set to back down on Burris appointment
It seems the U.S. Senate Democrats are prepared to cave on the Senate appointment of Roland Burris. After President-elect Barack Obama met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., earlier this week and the Senate Democrats backed down from their refusal to allow Burris to take the seat he was appointed to.
It's an outcome that was almost assured from the get-go. Burris was appointed by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich who has been accused of attempting to sell that seat to the highest bidder. Now it is true that Burris donated money to the Blago gubernatorial campaign, according to an article in Sunday's Chicago Tribune, but Burris has not been accused of any wrongdoing. And Blago, as corrupt and ineffective as he seems to be, is still governor of Illinois and it is in his legal power to appoint a replacement for Obama.
Several things were at play in the Senate's backing down. First, Reid, who prior to Blago's Dec. 9 arrest, pushed for someone other than Burris to receive the appointment, does not want to start off the new session with a hostile relationship with the Obama administration. Obama took a personal interest in his former seat, and Reid is not going to go against the wildly popular president-elect.
Secondly there are legalities involved. Election law experts told ABC news that senators may not have the constitutional power to refuse to admit Burris into the Senate without some indication that his appointment was corrupt. In 1969 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. House must seat Adam Clayton Powell who was accused of corruption. The high court ruled the House did not have the authority to refuse his entry because he was legally elected to the House.
Thirdly, race plays a big role in the appointment of Burris. Obama was the only black member of the U.S. Senate. Burris is black. Democrats do not want to refuse to seat a black man who has not been accused of any wrong doing. The political backlash could create a rift between Democrats and the black community who overwhelmingly vote Democratic. U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Il., a former Black Panther, urged the Senate to allow Burris' appointment because of his race. Of course Rush backed a white politician for the seat when Obama ran for it, which negates his call for the need of a black man in the Senate. But this is politics where the winds of change are constantly blowing - especially for people who have no principle.
So look to Burris being the next U.S. Senator from Illinois. Of course he most likely won't keep his seat when it is up for grabs in 2010. Democrats and Republicans alike are salivating for that fight.
It's an outcome that was almost assured from the get-go. Burris was appointed by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich who has been accused of attempting to sell that seat to the highest bidder. Now it is true that Burris donated money to the Blago gubernatorial campaign, according to an article in Sunday's Chicago Tribune, but Burris has not been accused of any wrongdoing. And Blago, as corrupt and ineffective as he seems to be, is still governor of Illinois and it is in his legal power to appoint a replacement for Obama.
Several things were at play in the Senate's backing down. First, Reid, who prior to Blago's Dec. 9 arrest, pushed for someone other than Burris to receive the appointment, does not want to start off the new session with a hostile relationship with the Obama administration. Obama took a personal interest in his former seat, and Reid is not going to go against the wildly popular president-elect.
Secondly there are legalities involved. Election law experts told ABC news that senators may not have the constitutional power to refuse to admit Burris into the Senate without some indication that his appointment was corrupt. In 1969 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. House must seat Adam Clayton Powell who was accused of corruption. The high court ruled the House did not have the authority to refuse his entry because he was legally elected to the House.
Thirdly, race plays a big role in the appointment of Burris. Obama was the only black member of the U.S. Senate. Burris is black. Democrats do not want to refuse to seat a black man who has not been accused of any wrong doing. The political backlash could create a rift between Democrats and the black community who overwhelmingly vote Democratic. U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Il., a former Black Panther, urged the Senate to allow Burris' appointment because of his race. Of course Rush backed a white politician for the seat when Obama ran for it, which negates his call for the need of a black man in the Senate. But this is politics where the winds of change are constantly blowing - especially for people who have no principle.
So look to Burris being the next U.S. Senator from Illinois. Of course he most likely won't keep his seat when it is up for grabs in 2010. Democrats and Republicans alike are salivating for that fight.
Monday, January 5, 2009
GOP should sit back and watch Democrats fight over Illinois Senate seat
As the comedy of errors is set to begin tomorrow in Washington, D.C., the republicans would be smart to sit back and let the Democrats handle the Illinois Senate seat.
Roland Burris is on his way to Washington to claim the seat he was appointed to by disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich despite having his paperwork rejected by Senate Democrats. Earlier today Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson rejected Burris' certificate of appointment to the Senate as invalid. Before flying off to the nation's capital, Burris told reporters that he is the state's junior senator and that his appointment by Blago was legal and constitutional.
Burris plans on going to the Senate on Tuesday to be sworn in despite having been told by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he would not allow Burris to take his seat in the Senate. Reid, D-Nev., said he would not allow Burris to be sworn in due to the controversy surrounding Blago's alleged attempt to sell the seat to the highest bidder. However, with reports that Reid attempted to sway Blago's appointment (prior to Blago's arrest) Reid is walking a thin line of piety.
So while the Democrats squabble over the Illinois replacement for President elect Barack Obama, Republicans should sit back and watch the fireworks. The Democrats have backed themselves into a politically correct corner. Can they afford to refuse a black appointee - to a seat held by a wildly popular black legislator (the only black member of the Senate) simply because he was appointed by a disgraced governor? The GOP, which has been marginalized in Washington and Illinois, should quietly hope for Illinois lawmakers to hold a special election for the Senate seat. Playing a petulant game of hardball over Burris and Blago will only remind voters of why Republicans lost overwhelmingly in November - and can remind Illinois voters of possible compliance during the corrupt administration of Republican Gov. George Ryan . If a special election is held in Illinois, that's when Republicans need to turn up the heat and remind Illinois voters of Blago's corruption and the corruption of the Chicago Democratic Machine. Remind voters they wanted change in DC, which brought about the election of Obama, but that change is needed in Springfield and the Illinois GOP offers that change.
Roland Burris is on his way to Washington to claim the seat he was appointed to by disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich despite having his paperwork rejected by Senate Democrats. Earlier today Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson rejected Burris' certificate of appointment to the Senate as invalid. Before flying off to the nation's capital, Burris told reporters that he is the state's junior senator and that his appointment by Blago was legal and constitutional.
Burris plans on going to the Senate on Tuesday to be sworn in despite having been told by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he would not allow Burris to take his seat in the Senate. Reid, D-Nev., said he would not allow Burris to be sworn in due to the controversy surrounding Blago's alleged attempt to sell the seat to the highest bidder. However, with reports that Reid attempted to sway Blago's appointment (prior to Blago's arrest) Reid is walking a thin line of piety.
So while the Democrats squabble over the Illinois replacement for President elect Barack Obama, Republicans should sit back and watch the fireworks. The Democrats have backed themselves into a politically correct corner. Can they afford to refuse a black appointee - to a seat held by a wildly popular black legislator (the only black member of the Senate) simply because he was appointed by a disgraced governor? The GOP, which has been marginalized in Washington and Illinois, should quietly hope for Illinois lawmakers to hold a special election for the Senate seat. Playing a petulant game of hardball over Burris and Blago will only remind voters of why Republicans lost overwhelmingly in November - and can remind Illinois voters of possible compliance during the corrupt administration of Republican Gov. George Ryan . If a special election is held in Illinois, that's when Republicans need to turn up the heat and remind Illinois voters of Blago's corruption and the corruption of the Chicago Democratic Machine. Remind voters they wanted change in DC, which brought about the election of Obama, but that change is needed in Springfield and the Illinois GOP offers that change.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Blago to name former attorney general to Senate seat
What in the world is Gov. Rod Blagojevich trying to accomplish?
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Blago is planning on naming former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate - the same seat that Blago has been accused of attempting to sell to the highest bidder. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. today.
This will accomplish very little. The Democratic led Senate has already refused to seat anyone named by Blagojevich to that seat.
The new Congress will be sworn in in early January and Illinois will only field one senator until the seat held by President-elect Barack Obama is filled. Blago currently is the only one in the state who has the authority to fill that seat.
With all the legal trouble surrounding Blago currently, any candidate he puts forth for that seat will bear the taint of Blago's corruption.
Burris, who was the first black man to win statewide office in Illinois in 1978, would be wise to reject the governor's nomination.
And the state legislature would be wise to speed up their investigation into Blago and any impeachment hearings before Blago further drives the state into ruin.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Blago is planning on naming former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate - the same seat that Blago has been accused of attempting to sell to the highest bidder. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. today.
This will accomplish very little. The Democratic led Senate has already refused to seat anyone named by Blagojevich to that seat.
The new Congress will be sworn in in early January and Illinois will only field one senator until the seat held by President-elect Barack Obama is filled. Blago currently is the only one in the state who has the authority to fill that seat.
With all the legal trouble surrounding Blago currently, any candidate he puts forth for that seat will bear the taint of Blago's corruption.
Burris, who was the first black man to win statewide office in Illinois in 1978, would be wise to reject the governor's nomination.
And the state legislature would be wise to speed up their investigation into Blago and any impeachment hearings before Blago further drives the state into ruin.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Stevens loss not tragic, but a super majority in the Senate it
There are mixed blessings in the news that Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, lost his race for a return to Washington, D.C. The longest serving Republican senator is gone. And that's not a bad thing considering his recent conviction. Party affiliation does not matter when it comes to corruption.
The most obvious blessing from the announcement that Stevens lost the race to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, is a corrupt lawmaker is not returning to Washington, a city rife with corruption.
But there is a downside to this - the Democrats are one step closer to having a super majority (60 seats) in the Senate. If the Democrats achieve that magic number, then that body will be filibuster proof - and that's not a good thing for this country.
On Wednesday Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent who was the Democrats pick for vice president in 2004, is returning to his Democratic roots (most likely to retain his committee positions) despite being seen with GOP presidential candidate John McCain throughout the campaign.
With two other Senate races in doubt, one in Minnesota and one in Georgia, it's possible the GOP will be left out of decision making in Washington, despite promises by the Obama transition team stating otherwise. But the Democrats could easily show pettiness. If that happens there's nothing Republicans can do about it.
A filibuster proof Senate renders the Republican Party to less than an effective political party on the national scene. The GOP will be reduced to an impotent opposition party.
Of course many of the things the Republicans will wail and gnash their teeth about under an Obama administration are precisely the things that were accomplished under the Bush presidency. The fear of the Democratic authorized path to socialism has already been laid by the Republican establishment. As the great George Will put it:
Which again shows that the GOP needs to return to its roots. The party must reinvent itself to become viable in future national elections. That reinvention must begin at the grass roots level all across this nation.
Kicking out the corrupt, like Stevens, is a start.
The most obvious blessing from the announcement that Stevens lost the race to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, is a corrupt lawmaker is not returning to Washington, a city rife with corruption.
But there is a downside to this - the Democrats are one step closer to having a super majority (60 seats) in the Senate. If the Democrats achieve that magic number, then that body will be filibuster proof - and that's not a good thing for this country.
On Wednesday Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent who was the Democrats pick for vice president in 2004, is returning to his Democratic roots (most likely to retain his committee positions) despite being seen with GOP presidential candidate John McCain throughout the campaign.
With two other Senate races in doubt, one in Minnesota and one in Georgia, it's possible the GOP will be left out of decision making in Washington, despite promises by the Obama transition team stating otherwise. But the Democrats could easily show pettiness. If that happens there's nothing Republicans can do about it.
A filibuster proof Senate renders the Republican Party to less than an effective political party on the national scene. The GOP will be reduced to an impotent opposition party.
Of course many of the things the Republicans will wail and gnash their teeth about under an Obama administration are precisely the things that were accomplished under the Bush presidency. The fear of the Democratic authorized path to socialism has already been laid by the Republican establishment. As the great George Will put it:
Which again shows that the GOP needs to return to its roots. The party must reinvent itself to become viable in future national elections. That reinvention must begin at the grass roots level all across this nation.
Kicking out the corrupt, like Stevens, is a start.
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