Burris' Resume Carved In Stone

By: David Morgan
Topics: In The News

Roland Burris is now a major protagonist in the complicated political dance unfolding in the Illinois Capital and the U.S. Senate. While fighting off impeachment proceedings following his federal corruption arrest for trying to sell the Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Burris to fill the spot, stirring up more controversy.

Burris comes into the limelight with his own peculiar resume, which the Chicago Tribune and CNN unearthed at Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery.

The 71-year-old has built a mausoleum listing his achievements. The granite structure, with two columns supporting a covered area and three tablets, list his political and business accomplishments — "First African-American in Illinois" to become the attorney general, state comptroller, vice president of Continental Illinois National Bank, etc. — with the term "Trail Blazer" chiseled in large type above.

Burris is hoping to add "U.S. Senator" to the list (and there is room in the granite for it), but there are several roadblocks on the way to Capitol Hill.

CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports that Senate Democrats oppose seating Burris in their chamber (fearing the taint of Blagojevich).

On Wednesday, Burris asked the Illinois Supreme Court to force Secretary of State Jesse White to certify Blagojevich's appointment of him to Obama's Senate seat. He also told CBS News that he expects to be sworn in next week.

Both sides are willing to put their cases before the Supreme Court.

David Morgan
David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

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by spinproof January 2, 2009 12:57 AM EST: SamTheTVCat:

Your 2 Post need to be connected as they are close to addressing your confusion. The timing of US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald''s disclosures are synchronized with Pres.-elect Obama''s inauguration process and seem timed to disrupt them. You yourself make the point US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has been working on this for 4 years so why bring this out now, his initial answer was to prevent Gov. Blagojevich from appointing someone to Pres.-elect Obama''s vacant Senate seat, well as we can see that didn''t work, the appointment was made anyway! US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says Pres.-elect Obama is not implicated in the Gov. Blagojevich complaint, but what US Attorney Fitzgerald may do is implicate Pres.-elect Obama in the Tony Rezko case! US Attorney Fitzgerald is prosecuting both the Blagojevich and Rezko cases and has already connected Blagojevich to Rezko in pay to play schemes and may connect Obama and Rezko in pay to play schemes since Obama could not afford his new House without Rezko''s help and in the end may connect Blagojevich, Rezko and Obama all together which technically he already has but US Attorney Fitzgerald knows all too well its not what you know, its what you can prove! This can still get very messy if Rezko turns State witness and implicates both Blagojevich and Obama for immunity and a Plea deal.; Reply to this comment


by scallywag8 January 1, 2009 11:59 PM EST: There''s something wrong when someone tries to force their way in.; Reply to this comment


by scallywag8 January 1, 2009 11:57 PM EST: Anyone who tries to force their way in is not for the people but for themselves. Let the people of Illinois speak for themselves.; Reply to this comment


by samthetvcat January 1, 2009 11:52 PM EST: ---"I don''t like any of this personally, its designed to go after Obama"---
Posted by spinproof

I followed you until you got to the idea that somebody''s after Obama - I''m confused by that.

As for Fitzgerald, if you can already tell based on the wiretaps that he''s guilty, then why the need to let other guilty people off the hook with plea deals in exchange for testimony.

In the very least he''s grandstanding, looking to make his mark with a big splash of overwhelming evidence - which is selfish given the time-sensitivity of the issue.

Again, I ask is this about justice or his career?; Reply to this comment


by spinproof January 1, 2009 11:15 PM EST: I''m suspicious - 90 days, given that he''s been building his case for like FOUR YEARS, why does he need SO much extra time? Why not just 30 days?

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 07:31 PM : Jan 01, 2009

US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has over 2 years of telephone recordings where in many of them Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich incriminated himself with pay to play conversations. It is a federal crime to discuss committing a crime, it''s called Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, its false to think you have to actually commit the crime first in the U.S., in the U.S. it''s a crime to even talk about committing a crime, especially from an elected Official! 2 years is a lot of recorded material and US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald needs the extra time to interview those in those recorded conversations and obtain sworn statements and to work out plea bargaining deals. Knowing Fitzgerald he is probably working out deals with key players who will be granted immunity if they plead guilty and testify against Blago so he can indict Blago, Fitzgerald wants the big fish and probably any other big fish he can snag in the process which is why Burris doing business with Blago is risky since he contributed to Blago''s war chest and is now what may be perceived as receiving his reward? I don''t like any of this personally, its designed to go after Obama, but Illinois should still be able to survive the fishing expedition and its embarrassing that it can''t!!; Reply to this comment


by samthetvcat January 1, 2009 10:31 PM EST: ---"The fact is, Fitzgerald is fishing and stalling and anyone with sense knows it."---
Posted by harbinger09

I''m suspicious - 90 days, given that he''s been building his case for like FOUR YEARS, why does he need SO much extra time? Why not just 30 days?

Is justice his top priority or is it job security? I could swear in reading the transcripts Fitzgerald tipped team Obama off sometime before they were about to put their foot in it.

I don''t know . . .; Reply to this comment


by samthetvcat January 1, 2009 10:25 PM EST: ---"The Dems need to stop trying to act holier than thou"---
Posted by harbinger09

That''s where Blago makes a fool of them - he''s being accused of abusing power by not putting the people of Ill. first. The Ill. State assembly and Harry Reid got stuck avoiding holding an election and are ignoring the law to avoid having the people of Ill. have their say so that they can retain greater power.

What makes Blago more insidious than the rest of the imperfect bunch of politicians is that he abused power for PERSONAL gain - Harry Reid in some perverse way I think feels he''s actually got the greater good in mind because he wants to more easily pass legislation that he believes would be better for everybody.

I just don''t think it''s his call IN A DEMOCRACY to make if THE PEOPLE have different ideas of wanting a representative sooner rather than later from a party different from Harry Reid''s.; Reply to this comment


by xlib January 1, 2009 9:51 PM EST: Uh, to the poster who refereced Cheney needs some schooling. Just what politcian doesn''t have a mega ego. Why, look bubba, look at your messiah, look at bien. That is when biden isn''t watching the telecast of FDR addressing the American people on TV in 1929. Get off the Republicans, this is your guy, and only your guy.
Say, where''s the ex-black panther who just a few days ago came out and said that any appointment by your guy blago would be "tainted". So, where is he now?? Typical dem, will get away with anything. In this case it''s to take the heat off of your chosen one.; Reply to this comment


by anillafield January 1, 2009 9:35 PM EST: Clearly, Mr. Burris has the ego that challenges even the VP Cheney. Building monuments for one''s self is something only the idiot dictators like Saddam Hussein would do.

However, his acceptance of the nomination by Blagojevich indicates that Mr. Burris is easily manipulated by the politically unethical. Also his change in the attitude toward Blago is an unethical conduct; he has accepted the nomination in exchange for providing support for Blago. As a former DA, he will be a useful tool for Blago in the impending lawsuit.; Reply to this comment


by harbinger09 January 1, 2009 8:34 PM EST: If Blago is so concerned about the people getting represented, he should RESIGN.

Any appointment he makes is necessarily tainted after he WAS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES.

He should step down and address his personal problems WITHOUT HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT HOSTAGE by PARALYZING THE U.S. SENATE over the personal issues of a man who isn''''t even a member of the federal government.

Which is what he''''s doing.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:44 PM : Jan 01, 2009

WRONG. Fitz as yet--has NO CASE, which is why he had to have an extension and asked for more time to find something. The fact is, while selling a seat is illegal, talking about selling a seat is not--it is hot air. Fitz acted too quickly and blew the whistle--now he does not have enough to bring to a grand jury so needs more time to find something. This is like that Duke LaCrosse scandal--Fitz may have in the end, harmed both himself and the Dem zealots who tried to rush to justice before there was even a true case to try. If this happens--Blago will have malicious prosecution and both Obama and his team of merry Dems will be looking like reactionary, holier than thou, lynching idiots.; Reply to this comment