Battle Lines Drawn Over Blago Nominee

Obama, Senate Dems Blast Move To Appoint Former State AG To Senate Seat; Congressman Warns Not To Obstruct It

(CBS/AP)  A defiant Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday named a black political trailblazer to Barack Obama's Senate seat, a surprise move that put the governor's opponents in the uncomfortable position of trying to block his choice from becoming the Senate's only black member.

Blagojevich's appointment of former state Attorney General Roland Burris injected race into the drama surrounding the embattled governor, who repeatedly sought to distance his selection from charges that he tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder.

"Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint a good and honest man," the governor said, turning to the smiling 71-year-old standing by his side.

"This is about Roland Burris as a U.S. senator, not about the governor who made the appointment."

Burris was the first African-American elected to major statewide office in Illinois, serving as comptroller and running for governor three times - the last time losing to Blagojevich.

He said he has no connection to the charges against Blagojevich, who was arrested earlier this month.

Even before the announcement, which was leaked several hours before, the governor's move ran into opposition.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And Senate leaders reiterated that they would not accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich.

In a statement Tuesday, Senate Democrats maintained that Blagojevich should not make the appointment because doing so would be unfair to Burris and to the people of Illinois.

"It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety," the statement said.

"Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic caucus."

Obama struck the same tone.

"Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision," the president-elect said in a statement.

Senate leaders, who were scattered for the holidays, immediately convened a conference call. Some involved in the call were wary of being seen as denying a black man a seat in a chamber where, with Obama's departure, there are no blacks, according to two officials knowledgeable about the talks who requested anonymity in order to speak freely.

"We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris' ability, and we respect his years of public service," the leaders wrote. But the issue is not about Burris, they said. "It is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat."

Rep. Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat who was invited to speak at Blagojevich's news conference, urged Senate leaders not to block Burris. In fact, he almost dared them to try to stop Burris' appointment.

"There is no rhyme or reason why he should not be seated in the U.S. Senate," Rush said. "I don't think any U.S. senator ... wants to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate."

He told reporters that Senate Democrats should not "hang and lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer."

"Bobby Rush didn't play the race card, he dealt the whole deck," CBS News Senior Political Analyst Jeff Greenfield said. "He said, 'How can you not seat the only African American who will be in your body for something he didn't do?'"

Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 after federal prosecutors allegedly recorded conversations in which he discussed appointing someone Obama favored in exchange for a position in the new president's Cabinet or naming someone favored by a union if he got a high-level union job.

The governor has faced a flood of calls for his resignation, and the Illinois House has begun impeachment proceedings. He maintains his innocence, and has vowed to stay in office.

Blagojevich's own lawyer said recently that there would be no point in the governor naming someone to the Senate because leaders there would reject his appointment.

[duhwally]

Good luck to the DEMS in 09 looks like your going need it.Let the Court Hearings begin.Lawyers linig up like Qualification day at INDY.You all need a Community Organizer.Getting Algore would be a perfect choice.I mean come on since global warming is over and ths Planet is cooling off.He saved the Planet by just running his mouth.Maybe he can help.Think of this.Watching Dingy Harry,when Blagos buddy gets to The Senate.I cant wait to see THE GREY WORM do the Clinton Shuffle.I want to hear the words"Crisis"and"Concern" TIL I PUKE.Arent you all looking forward to that.If we can get just one more Kennedy in the Senate,she cant speak but I nope she doesnt dirve.Then we have Smash Mouth Alfonzfrakin to the Senate,Comedy Central should be proud.I know you all thought the next few years was to be about Change.Some Court dates will change,but at least The Circus cant compete with this line up.

[generey]

Could get interesting!

[rushlimpdrug]

This is a black and white issue.

A black gets nominated and everyone
is as innocent as the white snow.

Chicago will be chicago, and Illinois will
be *** for it.

[spinproof]

The Feds have hours of recordings of Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich talking about "pay to play" and planning to commit a crime is a crime in and of itself which is Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, so the Feds didn''t need to wait until Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich actually involved himself in a pay to play transaction, just talking about it is a crime! What the Feds need now is time to put their case together against Gov. Blagojevich who should see prison. This business as usual attitude by Gov. Blagojevich and the appointment of former state Attorney General Roland Burris to Pres.-elect Obama''s vacant Senate seat has only angered and motivated US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to go after Gov. Blagojevich even harder and at a minimum any possible Plea Bargaining is dead now. While many have called for Gov. Blagojevich''s head and claim he is not worthy of remaining Governor, Roland Burris''s acceptance of a Senate appointment from Gov. Blagojevich re-validates his authority at a time when many want it taken away which demonstrates bad political judgment by Burris.

[erb0087]

Does Blago have a Blog ?

[themajority1]

But now it''''s down to just william and me.

And you can imagine how that''''s going.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by txgrouch2008

Not a nice image.

[ofbyfor3]

Like I''''ve been used and thrown away.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 06:14 PM : Dec 31, 2008

Gee, sorry tx. Where''s the other board? I''ll join you there, lol.

[ofbyfor3]

Good grief! Another board totally taken over by Rowdyfreakazoid and her paranoia...

Hire a therapist, Rowdy! You can pay them to devote all their attention to YOU for an hour since that''s what you seem to need.

[erasmus606]

Posted by RowdynTex at 05:38 PM : Dec 31, 2008

And another thing. I wasn''t speaking about YOU until YOU start butting in and commenting on my posts.
You must have a real sad life that you can''t stand people enjoying conversations with other people.
I don''t see anyone else complaining but you. I don''t have people telling me that I''m a liar (except for you) or that I''m mentally ill.

[erasmus606]

La Grange is the title of a ZZTop song, which contains the line

But now, I might be mistaken, a hmm-hmm-hmmm.

And if you understand the history of the topic of the song (which was also a movie with Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds), you''''d understand the utter - something - ness of that line.

Sigh. Nothing ruins the humor of a joke like having to explain it in minute detail. And trying to do it without getting censored for it.


Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:53 PM : Dec 31, 2008

Huh?

[erasmus606]

Did you ever drive through La Grange?

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 12:01 PM : Dec 31, 2008


Where''''''''s La Grange?

Posted by erasmus606


It''''s a nasty little sinkhole in TX. Oh, wait, that''''s a redundant statement... it''''s in TX.

Posted by hatesthecolt at 02:34 PM : Dec 31, 2008


And so WHY were you asking me this, Grouchie?

[hatesthecolt]

Where''''s La Grange?


Posted by erasmus606

It''s a nasty little sinkhole in TX. Oh, wait, that''s a redundant statement... it''s in TX.

[spinproof]

If Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich was thinking and acting in the overall interest and good of the State of Illinois, the Democratic Party and Pres.-elect Obama and his staff, Americans and the World for that matter would not be witnessing the "dark side" of Illinois Politics, but its very obvious Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is only thinking about himself and his own selfish interest. Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is also missing a key point, even if he escapes a penalty he is now politically damaged goods, politically dead and politically toxic and anyone who does business with him from now on will be contaminated and suffer politically as well. Any smart Politician will avoid Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich like the plague. There is no positive outcome possible from this for Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

[erasmus606]

She doesn''''''''t makes sense, and she repeats the same cr*p over and over, so why is it that people continue to converse with her?

Posted by erasmus606 at 11:17 AM : Dec 31, 2008

The same reason YOU do. You love it, you little troublemaker.

Did you ever drive through La Grange?

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 12:01 PM : Dec 31, 2008


Me? A troublemaker?

How can you say that to me? You have hurt my feelings now.:( She is always the one that comes at me. I am usually minding my own business and then all of a sudden she springs and attacks me!


Where''s La Grange?

[ofbyfor3]

Wow, lots of nasty and partisan off-topic comments. I think I''ll try to come back later when things get back to topic.

[hatesthecolt]

texasbeta, The comment about being better was facetious (and based on your "who did more" question). But we''re not worse either and although there are a fair number of those who go in or stay in for the wrong reasons, there are those like most of my MI unit who were college grads who went in at a time when the economy sucked and the services were offering bonuses, interesting training/education opportunities (like language training at one of the premier language training facilities (the Defense Language Institute), and post-service education funds for those of us interested in grad school but couldn''t afford it.

The trade off is that you go in to provide defense for the country based on what the commander in chief decides needs to be done. It cannot be done by committee; right or wrong, you fight where you are told to fight against whom.

Frankly, I am not a big supporter of the volunteer system; I think EVERYONE should have to do some service with non-military options for conscientious objectors. And that means, if you object to killing you get to do public works projects instead,;But you don''t get out just because you don''t like what the current administration is doing, because defense is a public good that everyone takes advantage of, and everyone should have to invest something besides tax dollars in it so you have a real incentive to base your VOTE on defense issues in a meaningful way (because it will really MEAN something to you if it''s you or your kid).

[texasbeta]

Hatesthecolt - You very well might have done more, and/or might do more still if you haven''t yet. However, joining the service doesn''t make you or anyone else better. Curious...why did you join? Here is a question for everyone...is it more noble to fight for a lie, or to not fight for a lie?

[spinproof]

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was impressive in the way he handled his personal problem, he stared his problem directly in the face, owned up to it, took the blame, stepped down from office and was prepared to take his punishment. Night and Day difference compared to how Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich decided to handle his personal problem!

[hatesthecolt]

I was obviously a little harsh, but don''''t you think the latte comment was a little harsh as well? Did you sent rangerdahl a note saying he was a little "high and mighty"? I seriously doubt it.

Posted by texasbeta

you were more than a little harsh.. MOST soldiers are psychos or otherwise defective? Hard to see where you derived that without ever serving. The point is that you don''t know what you are talking about in terms of who is serving and why. But you feel free to talk trash about them in a really offensive manner.

[texasbeta]

Hey Grouch- 1 bachelor''s might have been something - 20-30 years ago. Things change...obviously, not you, but the rest of the world does. As for being full of myself...the statement and my feelings towards myself have no bearing upon each other. What school did you go to? I am just tired of everyone always playing the card that soldiers are beyond reproach. The thought that if you don''t serve, you can''t say anything. We are the only country like that. It is ridiculous. Several members of my family served...super for them. That doesn''t make them or any other soldiers better than anyone else. Some soldiers do amazingly heroic things, and that is awesome. However...nobody has a problem talking trash to the mother of 2, holding down 3 jobs to support her kids. Hell, what about the standard family...a mother, father, and kids...hell, that is hard enough just to live a good life and support your family, regardless of the circumstances. I was obviously a little harsh, but don''t you think the latte comment was a little harsh as well? Did you sent rangerdahl a note saying he was a little "high and mighty"? I seriously doubt it.