Comments on: No room in the Senate for Burris http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/ The metro columnist writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:01:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Percy Kution http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2211 Percy Kution Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:44:42 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2211 What difference does it make? One more crook is not going to make any difference one way or the other. Last week, ALL the Democrat polipigs said absolutly NO, he wouldn't be seated. This week, they say they'll "negotiate". What they have, or will, "negotiate" about is how much CASH they get to drop their opposition. Pure and simple. ' What difference does it make? One more crook is not going to make any difference one way or the other. Last week, ALL the Democrat polipigs said absolutly NO, he wouldn't be seated. This week, they say they'll "negotiate". What they have, or will, "negotiate" about is how much CASH they get to drop their opposition. Pure and simple.
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]]> By: Henry Hale http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2205 Henry Hale Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:08:11 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2205 If fingers need to be pointed, they should be pointed at Harry Reid, the US Senate Democrats, and the Illinois Legislature. First, Sen. Reid and the Democratic Caucus forcefully said they didn't want Illinois to have a special election to fill the seat vacated by President Obama (it safe to call him that, since the man who supposed to be filling that seat until Jan 20th has all but disappeared from running the country). More importantly, the Illinois Legislature had the power to strip the authority from Governor Blagojevich by voting to decide to fill that seat by holding a special election, before the governor chose Mr. Burris. They intentionally decided not to take a vote on that measure, thinking that Blago wouldn't have the temerity to appoint someone. Since that is the governor's duty in this case, what did he do? He went out and found two of the cleanest politicians in the state, Danny Davis & Roland Burris,to ask to be appointed, and, by the way, it didn't hurt his cause that they were both Black. Davis turned him down, but Burris gladly accepted and had Bobby Rush, former Black Panther leader turned Congressman, come to the dais and co-sign the appointment. As Chris Cilizza pointed out on Hardball last night, this was one of the most brilliant political moves by a supposed weak politician(Blago) he'd seen in some time. "Charlie", my humor comes from people not doing any research on the topics they are supposedly speaking about, not on Mr. Burris being called a lightweight. Even I had to do more detailed searching of this man's political career and found that he's been in political life over 35 years. If that's not a "lifer", then I'm not sure what you mean. If you're encouraged by a new face coming to the Senate that will be part of real change, then you should be applauded, but, by calling someone a lightweight, your intentions are vague. Still, your comments started with, "As far as I know", so you gave the impression you didn't know much at all about the man or his political life and was speaking just to be making a statement. From your last post, that still seems to be the case. If fingers need to be pointed, they should be pointed at Harry Reid, the US Senate Democrats, and the Illinois Legislature. First, Sen. Reid and the Democratic Caucus forcefully said they didn't want Illinois to have a special election to fill the seat vacated by President Obama (it safe to call him that, since the man who supposed to be filling that seat until Jan 20th has all but disappeared from running the country). More importantly, the Illinois Legislature had the power to strip the authority from Governor Blagojevich by voting to decide to fill that seat by holding a special election, before the governor chose Mr. Burris. They intentionally decided not to take a vote on that measure, thinking that Blago wouldn't have the temerity to appoint someone. Since that is the governor's duty in this case, what did he do? He went out and found two of the cleanest politicians in the state, Danny Davis & Roland Burris,to ask to be appointed, and, by the way, it didn't hurt his cause that they were both Black. Davis turned him down, but Burris gladly accepted and had Bobby Rush, former Black Panther leader turned Congressman, come to the dais and co-sign the appointment. As Chris Cilizza pointed out on Hardball last night, this was one of the most brilliant political moves by a supposed weak politician(Blago) he'd seen in some time.

"Charlie", my humor comes from people not doing any research on the topics they are supposedly speaking about, not on Mr. Burris being called a lightweight. Even I had to do more detailed searching of this man's political career and found that he's been in political life over 35 years. If that's not a "lifer", then I'm not sure what you mean. If you're encouraged by a new face coming to the Senate that will be part of real change, then you should be applauded, but, by calling someone a lightweight, your intentions are vague. Still, your comments started with, "As far as I know", so you gave the impression you didn't know much at all about the man or his political life and was speaking just to be making a statement. From your last post, that still seems to be the case.

]]> By: Ed S. http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2204 Ed S. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:58:38 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2204 One counterpoint to Cindy's statement, "No matter the charges or actions of the lunatic Governor, he was within the law in the appointment and Burris was within his rights as the legally designated appointee." First I'd like to note that I have not been able to closely follow this story lately, so I'm not sure what, if anything has been revealed further about the Blagojevich investigation, or whether the appointment of Burris has been investigated and cleared of any connection to the alleged Gov's deeds. It is technically true that Blagojevich is Governor and has the responsibility of appointing a Senator. However, when a crime has been (potentially) committed in that action, does the action still stand? I would liken it to a police officer casually strolling up to you, shoving a bag of crack in your pocket, then arresting you for drug possession. Sure, what he did was illegal...but you *did* have crack in your pocket so the arrest was legit. Again, I haven't been able to follow the story. But I have seen many comments (not just here) that Blagojevich is still gubner, and that he still has the say regardless of what he has allegedly conspired to do. If the evidence against him is reasonable, I think it would be prudent to investigate his appointment of Burris. One counterpoint to Cindy's statement, "No matter the charges or actions of the lunatic Governor, he was within the law in the appointment and Burris was within his rights as the legally designated appointee."

First I'd like to note that I have not been able to closely follow this story lately, so I'm not sure what, if anything has been revealed further about the Blagojevich investigation, or whether the appointment of Burris has been investigated and cleared of any connection to the alleged Gov's deeds.

It is technically true that Blagojevich is Governor and has the responsibility of appointing a Senator. However, when a crime has been (potentially) committed in that action, does the action still stand? I would liken it to a police officer casually strolling up to you, shoving a bag of crack in your pocket, then arresting you for drug possession. Sure, what he did was illegal...but you *did* have crack in your pocket so the arrest was legit.

Again, I haven't been able to follow the story. But I have seen many comments (not just here) that Blagojevich is still gubner, and that he still has the say regardless of what he has allegedly conspired to do. If the evidence against him is reasonable, I think it would be prudent to investigate his appointment of Burris.

]]> By: charlie http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2203 charlie Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:38:31 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2203 Mr hale I stand by remarks about Mr Burris being a lightweight. It may humor you a bit to see him called that but if that is so then you must get one heck of a laugh when you take a look at all the lifers in our government. That was what I was comparing him to. He has had a political life but he is a long way from being a lifer in a continuing way.I see now that he is going to be seated,so maybe a little change will take place after all. Mr hale I stand by remarks about Mr Burris being a lightweight. It may humor you a bit to see him called that but if that is so then you must get one heck of a laugh when you take a look at all the lifers in our government. That was what I was comparing him to. He has had a political life but he is a long way from being a lifer in a continuing way.I see now that he is going to be seated,so maybe a little change will take place after all.

]]> By: Henry Hale http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2202 Henry Hale Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:30:47 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2202 The basis for the majority leader and others' opinion is very thin, and the Supreme Court had ruled in the Adam Clayton Powell case against a previous Congress using that Article in the Constitution to keep from seating him. The real reason is purely political and has to do with the 2010 elections. Many Democrats don't feel that Mr. Burris can be re-elected, being appointed by Gov. Blogojevich, to a full term. However, Senator Reid is putting himself in a bad light because all of the potential appointees he has opposed have been African-American, and that is giving a bad perception of the Democratic leadership in the Senate, even if he isn't trying to get one. Based purely on the legal argument and court precedent, he should be seated without delay, but they'll work on compromise for political reasons. It always humors me when people get on these threads and make pronouncements, such as "charlie" made about Roland Burris being a political lightweight. A cursory glance of the man's record of public service would have shown well over 25 years of political experience, with 3 terms as STATE comptroller (1979-1991) and one four year term as STATE attorney general. No Dona Wheeler, it's not the Hatfields and McCoys(hasn't that statement been used ad nauseum); this is the rough and tumble world of our political landscape. They govern our republic not fight over corn liquor. The basis for the majority leader and others' opinion is very thin, and the Supreme Court had ruled in the Adam Clayton Powell case against a previous Congress using that Article in the Constitution to keep from seating him. The real reason is purely political and has to do with the 2010 elections. Many Democrats don't feel that Mr. Burris can be re-elected, being appointed by Gov. Blogojevich, to a full term. However, Senator Reid is putting himself in a bad light because all of the potential appointees he has opposed have been African-American, and that is giving a bad perception of the Democratic leadership in the Senate, even if he isn't trying to get one. Based purely on the legal argument and court precedent, he should be seated without delay, but they'll work on compromise for political reasons.

It always humors me when people get on these threads and make pronouncements, such as "charlie" made about Roland Burris being a political lightweight. A cursory glance of the man's record of public service would have shown well over 25 years of political experience, with 3 terms as STATE comptroller (1979-1991) and one four year term as STATE attorney general. No Dona Wheeler, it's not the Hatfields and McCoys(hasn't that statement been used ad nauseum); this is the rough and tumble world of our political landscape. They govern our republic not fight over corn liquor.

]]> By: Dona Wheeler http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2201 Dona Wheeler Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:40:37 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2201 Is it the Hatfields and the McCoys, or more simply the blind leading the blind. God help us.. Is it the Hatfields and the McCoys, or more simply the blind leading the blind. God help us..

]]> By: Cindy http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2199 Cindy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:39:44 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2199 I believe it was a travesty of judicial protocol. No matter the charges or actions of the lunatic Governor, he was within the law in the appointment and Burris was within his rights as the legally designated appointee. Furthermore, I think they (the governor and the senate) should be ashamed of themselves for allowing their feud to interfere with their duty to the citizens of their state. I'm disgusted by the whole mess. I believe it was a travesty of judicial protocol. No matter the charges or actions of the lunatic Governor, he was within the law in the appointment and Burris was within his rights as the legally designated appointee. Furthermore, I think they (the governor and the senate) should be ashamed of themselves for allowing their feud to interfere with their duty to the citizens of their state.

I'm disgusted by the whole mess.

]]> By: charlie http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/2009/01/06/no-room-in-the-senate-for-burris/#comment-2198 charlie Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:47:10 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/shannaflowers/?p=791#comment-2198 I believe that mr Burris should have been seated,the reasons for my thougt is many. For a few: 1.As far as I know this man is a political lightweight with little experence,isnt that what we want in the job to have change come about? 2. The man that gave him the job is the governor and by stopping Burris the powers to be are allready finding him guilty of a crime without a trial.3.Can anybody in that body that refused this man his seat,stand and say that they have done no wrong?No they cant. We have all done wrong and if change in washington is going to come about they need to start by giving him his seat and show the country that they are truly behind change for this country and are not mearly waiting for one of their hot shot buddies that knows how to play </strong>the game comes along and is seated. <strong>Actually, Mr. Burris is far from a political neophyte. He is a former state attorney general, comptroller and ran for mayor and twice for governor.--s I believe that mr Burris should have been seated,the reasons for my thougt is many. For a few: 1.As far as I know this man is a political lightweight with little experence,isnt that what we want in the job to have change come about? 2. The man that gave him the job is the governor and by stopping Burris the powers to be are allready finding him guilty of a crime without a trial.3.Can anybody in that body that refused this man his seat,stand and say that they have done no wrong?No they cant. We have all done wrong and if change in washington is going to come about they need to start by giving him his seat and show the country that they are truly behind change for this country and are not mearly waiting for one of their hot shot buddies that knows how to play the game comes along and is seated.

Actually, Mr. Burris is far from a political neophyte. He is a former state attorney general, comptroller and ran for mayor and twice for governor.--s

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