2009.01.08
Discuss Thursday's commentary and letters
An empty bookshelf
John Long
Long, a Roanoke Times columnist, is director of the Salem Museum and teaches history at Roanoke College.
There are a lot of ways to measure the accomplishments of a year gone by, but one I like to consider is "what worthwhile books did I read in the last 12 months?" I read a fair amount, though not nearly as much as I used to. These days, much of my available reading time is taken over by student research papers and bluebooks, or by the same children's books read over and over and over at bedtime -- much to the mutual delight of reader and readees.
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Senate refusal to seat Burris has no basis in law
David H. Eisenberg
Eisenberg, of Buchanan, has been a lawyer for over 24 years. He has taught constitutional law classes at Stony Brook University as an adjunct instructor.
The refusal of the U.S. Senate to seat Roland Burris, the senator appointed as a replacement for Barack Obama by disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is a much greater disgrace. Right now, as far as the Senate is concerned, we have a government not of laws, as Americans proudly boast, but one of powerful men and woman who decide who shall be in power unencumbered by law.
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Read Thursday's letters here.
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Eisenburg is right but you can't blame Reid. Burris was never vetted by the campaign process. The words "ethical Congress" were no sooner out of Pelosi's mouth than William Jefferson got busted with a wad of cash in his freezer. Worse yet, Jefferson refused to resign which left Pelosi in a real lurch. That killed that whole ethics process. You can't blame Reid for being uneasy about a pick from a guy who is knee deep in scandal. If Burris explodes in scandal and refuses to resign, Congress can kiss any ethics hearings goodbye.
Luckily for Reid, it looks like Blagojevic is going to walk.
Comment by Henry — January 8, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Mr. Eisenberg is right. This silly notion about the Sec. of State not signing off was just egotistical cover. The Sec. of State, as well as Attorney General of Illinois have both stated the sign off is not required by law. The Supreme Court ruling in the Powell case is THE guide here, as well as the Illinois state laws. As distasteful as Bloggy is, his pick is still valid legally, in all ways. And as Mr. Eisenberg pointed out, Blogojevich has not been indicted, convicted, or impeached for ANYTHING. I recall President Clinton (who was impeached) made many appointments after his impeachment. Is Harry Reid going to negate all of Clinton's appointments after impeachment? All this shows really is what kind of uninformed, petty leader Mr. Reid is. Burris has looked like a class act, while Reid has looked like the class clown.
Comment by Bill McClure — January 8, 2009 @ 1:49 pm