Burris "Humbled" To Be Next Ill. Senator

Eager To Move Beyond Scandal-Tainted Standoff, Senate Democrats Accept Blagojevich Appointee As Obama's Successor

(CBS/AP)  Roland Burris says he's "humbled and honored" to be Illinois' next junior senator, and is thankful for the opportunity to serve.

The former Illinois attorney general thanked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois at a news conference Monday and said their scrutiny was motivated by trying to do the best thing for the chamber.

Senate Democrats said earlier Monday that criticizing Democratsthey'll accept Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's Senate successor and expect to swear him in soon.

Even though Burris doesn't stand accused of wrongdoing, Senate Democrats initially rejected Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick. Blagojevich is accused by federal investigators of seeking to trade the Senate seat for personal favors.

The impasse has served as a distraction for Democrats trying to tackle an ambitious agenda.

"He is now the senator-designate from Illinois and, as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a senator-elect," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said in a joint statement.

The two senators said they anticipate that Burris, a former Illinois attorney general appointed to the post by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will be seated this week barring objections from Republicans.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve," Burris said later at a press conference. "It will be my honor to serve with them and to learn from them," he said of Sens. Reid and Durbin.

The senators made the announcement after Burris lawyers delivered to the Capitol documents certifying his appointment to Obama's seat, and the secretary of the Senate determined that the paperwork met Senate requirements.

Burris, in Chicago while his lawyers met with Senate officials on Capitol Hill, scheduled a news conference later Monday.

While a victory for Burris, the move is a major reversal for Senate Democrats.

They initially objected to the appointment by Blagojevich, who is accused by federal investigators of seeking to trade the Senate seat for personal favors. Senators feared that any appointee would be tainted.

Even though Burris does not stand accused of wrongdoing, Senate Democrats rejected Burris last week only to quickly backpedal after Obama himself privately weighed in and senators fretted that the situation was diverting their focus at a critical time.

Indeed, much to the chagrin of Democrats who expanded their House and Senate majorities in the November elections and won the White House, the impasse stretched into the new Congress' second week in session and has served as a distraction for Democrats trying to tackle an ambitious agenda.

It includes weighty tasks like holding confirmation hearings for Obama's new Cabinet while negotiating both the second installment of last fall's $700 billion financial bailout package and the president-elect's mammoth new spending plan aimed at jolting the economy.

As the Burris appointment took on the feeling of a political sideshow, Senate Democratic objections to seating Burris softened. And, Reid said the Senate would vote on Burris' appointment after Senate lawyers reviewed necessary documents and Burris' testimony in the Illinois House that he promised Blagojevich nothing in exchange for the seat.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled last week that under state law, Burris' appointment paperwork was valid and that it was up to the Senate to decide whether to seat him. But Reid and other Democrats had contended that it violated Senate rules unless the appointment was signed by both the governor and the Illinois secretary of state.

Lawyers for Burris and the Senate met for under an hour in the Capitol to review the documents and determine the next steps.

In their statement, Reid and Durbin said they had spoken with Burris to tell him they were satisfied both with the documents and with Burris' testimony before the impeachment panel that he did nothing wrong.

A date and time for Burris' swearing in has not been set.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna quickly released a statement criticizing Democrats for not keeping Blagojevich from making an appointment. Illinois Republicans pushed for a special election to fill Mr. Obama's seat in the wake of the Blagojevich scandal; had one been called, the seat might have ended up in Republican hands.

"By failing to strip Rod Blagojevich of his senate appointment power, Democrats chose to trust a madman over the people of Illinois," said McKenna.

[cattiej]

The Democrats have made another grave mistake in saying they will accept Roland Burris to be our U.S. Senator from Illinois. The majority of the people of Illinois do not want Burris to be seated. Anyone who is appointed by Gov. Blagojevich was not to be accepted. True to their courrupt, greedy ways, Senator Richard Durbin and Senator Harry Reid changed their minds. The people of Illinois have NOT changed their minds. We don''t want Burris in office. (another news flash, Burris employed Rod Blagojevich wife for $75,000 per year. Add this to his lobbying for the casino industry, lobbying for an investment firm, and being so morally inept to accept Rods appointment, what you get is another greedy, corrupt politican. I hope they all end up in prison with George Ryan.
To all Illinois voters, don''t vote for Richard Durbin. He doesn''t care about the voters, he like all the rest just wants to line his pockets.

[blog_fever2]

First! How you like me now?

[cattiej]

Burris has never been "humbled"in his life. Check out his king size monument at the cemetary in south
Chicago.

[godofredo29]

Burris''s problem isn''t that his appointment isn''t legal. It''s that it isn''t ethical. This is problem lawyers often have.

[spiritwalk]

In the end it doesn%u2019t matter that Burris got a seat. The only way you can tell one crook from another in the Senate is the same way you tell one chicken from another in a hen house and that is by where it perches. The only difference between a senator and a chicken is that after gobbling up all it can get the chicken may produce an egg out it%u2019s a**, while a senator will only produce smoke out of its a**.

[notopennshut]

Let us see how humble he would be when he is further linked to Blago, or when he is kicked out by his **** in a couple of years! He is not morally qualified even if he has residency and other qualifications. Anyone who would accept such a post which is so tainted is the same color as the guy who appointed him. Shame on Burris for his lack of judgment and ethics. The IL voters should definitely approve of this appointment by kicking him out next round.

[endurorob]

Let us see how humble he would be when he is further linked to Blago, or when he is kicked out by his **** in a couple of years! He is not morally qualified even if he has residency and other qualifications. Anyone who would accept such a post which is so tainted is the same color as the guy who appointed him. Shame on Burris for his lack of judgment and ethics. The IL voters should definitely approve of this appointment by kicking him out next round.


Posted by notopennshut at 07:05 PM : Jan 12, 2009

I totally agree. If you want to about this guys character look up his little memorial to himself.

[lili5044]

I wonder if he left room on his tombstone so he can have have Senator etched on it too............LOL

[sogaman]

Democrates change you can believe in, yeah right! Looks like a lot of SSDD. The two party system is as broke down as Wall Street. It is all greed and mememememem....neither party cares for the average American. Work your butt off and send us your money. Burris is a joke for taking this seat and it just shows his true colors, I Want Mine....

[lili5044]

I gotta wonder who is he humbled to? No one from Illinois voted for him. He demanded a seat in the Senate. If he is humbled to Harry Reid what the hay! Old Harry is about as dirty rotten scoundrel as they come. Good Grief! What have we done????

[spinproof]

Now Roland Burris can add this tainted Senate appointment to his gigantic life sized Resume he has craved on expensive brick impersonating a Tombstone! Looking at this shameless self promotion, no way can you come away thinking Burris is even remotely capable of being humble! All the Senate Democrats see is another Senate Vote and to hell with how they go about getting it!

[bob1_tx]

what a piece of garbage this Roland Burris is.. No integrity whatsoever... Fits with the rest of the garbage in Washington.. ... Reid.. Pelosi... Murtha.. god help us...

[edintex]

The feds should check Blago''s freezer for frozen green paper wrapped in foil!!! I''m SURE the democrat leaders have counseled him not to keep it THAT way.

[erasmus606]

Hey, on a TOTALLY UNRELATED topic, the new President gets sworn in just a WEEK AND A DAY from now.

Isn''''t that exciting.

Posted by repo_man_08 at 07:41 PM : Jan 12, 2009

Yes, that is VERY exciting.

[mnbass1]

Burris Sshould have never been seated. He is about as arrogant as I have seen. And we all know he bought the seat from the Governor. Our Senate is so messed up. Can''t wait to see whats next. I thought Obama was going to be the breath of fresh air we needed but now not sure anymore.

[mnbass1]

But then I am from Minnesota, We elect transvestite Governors and can''t make up our minds who the Senator should be.

[DragQueenWhatDragQueen]

peace4321 shut up and sit on this pop icicle and guess the flavor, you whiny republican loser. Deal with it, isn''t that what you all said to the Democrats. What goes around comes around, and now YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!!!!

[DragQueenWhatDragQueen]

Republicans have run AMUCK for 6 years with their Toad King Bush. Broke laws, Treaties, and the MIDDLE CLASS. And they now want to say Democrats are playing dirty, GOOD! We stole a page from your playbook and now you can''t take it.....

[sincity_q]

This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only are the Democrats incapable of policing their own rank and file, they are equally goping to be useless at guarding us against abuses of power and influence from the Whitehouse down.

Our government us utterly and completely corrupt. They need to be replaced just as Thomas Jefferson would subscribe. But now they have control of the armed forces and will turn them against the people to hold on to their corrupt power.

America is screwed and there is nothing we can do but sit back and watch the show.

[flsunjnky]

I bet he''s humbled, after being appointed by a looser like Blogo!

Take that Harry.

[brianbwb-2009]

"By failing to strip Rod Blagojevich of his senate appointment power, Democrats chose to trust a madman over the people of Illinois," said McKenna.

The GOP had best keep their mouths shut about madness, their leader has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands, and more harm to hundreds of millions, and like Blagojevich, he did it for profit.

[brianbwb-2009]

"The negro is corrupt." Posted by editorCBS

As are your parents.

"...Isn''''t that fascinating." Posted by repo_man_08

No, Bush lives in Texas, so what?

Now he''s proven himself to be just another politician.
No real human being is "humbled" by becoming a senator.

[erasmus606]

BTW, did you know Burris and the President-elect came from THE SAME CITY????

Posted by repo_man_08 at 09:07 PM : Jan 12, 2009

NO, I didn''t!


"Isn''''t that fascinating."

If you say so.

[mikejacobskc]

This story is a tempest in a teapot. Blago will get what''s coming to him in due time, but the law is the law, and Burris was chosen by the current Governor. As long as there was no connection between Burris and Blago, there was little to be done. Very cynical political move by the Gov. picking an African-American....but it worked. Blago 1 Senate Dems 0

[spinproof]

As a former Attorney General well versed in the Law, Roland Burris knows he should not accept this tainted appointment strictly based on ethics and principle and should not involve himself in the middle of this scandal. What Roland Burris has done instead in throw ethics and principle out the window and used his knowledge of the Law and race based politics to be seated, and while he may not have played the race card directly, others did it for him while he benefited and played innocent. What really rubs me the wrong way about this entire matter is the fact that Roland Burris strikes me as the type of person who would be opposed to Illinois Gov. Blagojevich selecting Pres.-elect Obama''s Senate replacement if he were not personally benefiting from it! Because Roland Burris is the one being seated and personally benefiting, he''s willing to hold his nose from the bad smell and look the other way. Roland Burris knows this is wrong, no one has to convince him of that, he already knows!

[otrama]

spinproof,
A very well thought out and well written analysis.
It was refreshing to read.

[Scooter68]

Translation - The Dems initial outrage and rejection was nothing more than eyewash. They knew all along they were going to seat Burris but they wanted to put on a show of being righteous.
As to the GOP silence - Why should they fight it. If Burris the senator is like the old Burris, he''ll be dumped in the next election and unless a Dem runs aginst him in the primaries (VERY unlikely) the GOP has a shot at putting a Republican in that spot.

[samthetvcat]

I wonder whether he''s called the tombstone guy to update his monument :o

Burris is corrupt...one can see it from a distance. He is joining the corrupts. Fair is fair...HA HA HA!
Soon he will be parroting the same filth as Repubs and Demotics. Get in line to get your corruption crumbs. Join the system and sell your soul. Law and Order for everyone but themselves. Play the game folks...sell your souls Fools.

[robert7562]

I wonder whether he''''s called the tombstone guy to update his monument :o

Posted by SamTheTVCat

Good one Sam.
For those that don''t know, Burris has already had a mauseleam(sp) built to house his body after he dies. Along side of it he has a "plaque" listing his gov''t service "achievements" that he had the contractors leave room to add any additional "accomplishments" he may do before he dies. I wonder if after his "senate achievement", there is still room for his presidential dream to be listed.............

[brianbwb-2009]

"You know, the babies all you DumboCrapheads ran through the Baby Slaughtering Houses that are funded and supported by your party." Posted by I_H_Libturds

And after all your racist invective, no one should believe you care one bit about the babies, you are so happy to see abortions in the 50th trimester, especially if those aborted don''t look like you.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by Winstrv

I realize you neo-nazis have abandoned the rule of law, but the rest of the country has not. The appointment was legal, even if the motives are suspect, and if there is cause, the senate can remove Mr. Burris, but not before Mr. Burris has committed acts justifying removal.

Should the Democrats refuse to seat Mr. Burris, that would have been a breach of law. Now if they want him out, they must discover a crime justifying removal, and not a second before that.

That is the law son, live with it.

[robert7562]

1st: I will claim no party as "mine", because all have (more than) their share of corrupt polticians.

So, hatemongers and trash talkers, please tell me why it would matter if one was Rep, Dem, Lib, Conserv, or even pink with purple polka dots, as long as they truly served the people and did what was actually in the best interest of OUR COUNTRY???????????

[brianbwb-2009]

"the democrats are already ''''full steam ahead''''" Posted by MrNegrodamus

And it is about time.

Btw, does Mr. Paul Mooney know that you, in your lack of originality, are infringing his copyright?

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by robert7562

And this is relevant, again why?

It is perfectly legal if a man wants his tombstone to list his accomplishments, only someone with a cowardly hidden agenda would find this illegal, or otherwise grounds to deny the man a post he obtained legally.

[robert7562]

And this is relevant, again why?
It is perfectly legal if a man wants his tombstone to list his accomplishments, .....Posted by brianbwb

My apologies to you, Brian, and all, for this was simply some dark, graveside humor.
I should have prefaced it with that.

If you have read my later post, you will see that it does not concern me who fills any post, or their color, or even their party affiliation, so long as they actually serve the People and Our Country, not their personal interests, which all politicians are to leave behind in the service of the public.

I will add that I also beleive this appoiment was legal, and he should be seated, although I am afraid that ANY appointment made by Blago, which still is totally legal, will carry a shadow of doubt with it.

[spinproof]

I realize you neo-nazis have abandoned the rule of law, but the rest of the country has not...

Posted by brianbwb at 02:53 AM : Jan 13, 2009

The National Geographic Channel just aired a 1 hour program about the American Neo-Nazis, its a little unnerving how they grow and operate virtually unchecked, abusing and misusing American Freedom of Speech Laws, while these same activities in other nations would land them in jail, most notably Germany who complains the U.S. allows neo-nazi materials, music and hate to be exported via normal shipping which is not allowed in Germany, not to mention hating on the Jews which is also illegal. Neo-Nazis are notable for using illegal immigration and hot button issues as rallying cries to boost recruitment and this perceived "tainted" Roland Burris appointment adds fuel to an already out of control fire since this movement is also hating on Pres.-elect Obama and recently tried to plot against him. Some don''t like Judges who legislate from the Bench but in this case I would approve since a common sense Judge would rule Gov. Blagojevich should not be allowed to decide on a Senate seat he has been Impeached for trying to sell and neo-nazis can''t abuse freedom of Speech to hate on Jews or overthrow the government, whereas a strict constructionist would rule its legal because he is still in power and neo-nazis have rights too. Its complicated but you see my point, no need to give neo-nazis and their ilk unnecessary ammo!

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by spinproof

Your point is well made, and contains a rationality seldom seen in these topics.

I would, however suggest a point that we do often miss when the debate comes to free speech and speech that we find objectionable.

In every sense of the word many of us have been in a war that has lasted for centuries, a war of ethnicity. In America, the war has been fought since the country was born, the forces of intolerance, genocide and subjugation against the forces of resistance.

In several blogs I have posited that free speech is constitutionally protected, if, for example, someone wants to call a group of "Black" women "nappy-headed w******" he should be free to do so, but also must face, without protection, the consequences of the words, the boycotts, firings, etc., all as deserved consequence of one''s choices.

For the first time in American history, freedom of speech has become linked with responsibility of speech. Those who complain about PC simple whine because they are now held to account, no longer can they spew hate with impunity.

Think about it, in war, wouldn''t you find it easier to spot the enemy if that enemy were not camouflaged?

So I say let then spew, they reveal themselves, and we know who to target for our response.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by FloydZeppd

Your own words show that you are the one whining about non existent affirmative action entitlements, which has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Whine on.

[pepperwood2]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. David Paterson''s secretive process to select Hillary Rodham Clinton''s successor in the U.S. Senate conflicts with his campaign promises to open up government, and New York''s top regulator of open government laws says it violates state law.

At least Illinois (Chicago) politics was exposed for what the people knew all along. Now the Liberals don''t want anything leaking to the press & people about their underground processes. All the People have the right to know how American Polictics 101 really works. Don''t they?? Is this the CHANGE we heard so much about? Why we haven''t even gotten to Biden''s replacement and that on going process. I know....more CHANGE as we know it.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by pepperwood2

You didn''t want the change in the first place, you voted McSame if at all, so now you whine that America is not made better instantly, before Mr. Obama even takes office.

You should be enjoying the last months of neocon-derthalism, your time is almost up.

Most rational people, realizing that it took 50 years of corruption, intolerance, and unnecessary war mongering to get to this point, are not expecting the disease to heal overnight.

But change it will, despite your wishes and efforts to resist it.

[robert7562]

But change it will, despite your wishes and efforts to resist it.

Posted by brianbwb

No matter what or how we personally feel about the incoming administration, we should pull for them to be successful, however we can,because if the new admin. fails, OUR country will fail.

[robert7562]

For the first time in American history, freedom of speech has become linked with responsibility of speech

Posted by brianbwb

ABSOLUTLY, responsibility and acountability have been LONG overdue. (In many more things than OUR right to free speech) Freedom of speech is not only a privilidge, but one of our RIGHTS. You are also perfectly entitled to have your own opinion, however tolerant or racist it may be. Just remember, when you exercise your right to free speech, to voice that opinion of yours, you are accountable for what you say (or type).

[pepperwood2]

Posted by brianbwb...But change it will!

With all due respect Sir, whether delusional or not, I suspect we''re going to end up being half right about this so called CHANGE taking place?? Call it reality! But I can still laugh about it Cackle Cackle Cackle......end of story.

[asamiller]

Burris'' appointment is legal. Blago may be crude and disgusting but it remains to be seen if he''s actually broken the law.

[runningralph]

Burris will fit right in with the Democratic congress. Another yes man for Obama. Obama could start redistributing farm land if he gets enough stroke in Congress. The only thing Illinois had going for it was farmland. Poor Illinois. They can''t get a decent politician.

[rafterman1]

===Just shows how pathetic the state of Illinois really is...but not quite as pathetic as Minnesota electing Al Franken..... We are in for a world of SH@T....what a bunch bof ret@rds....===
Posted by dumbocrap

If the Dems are a "bunch of ret@rds", then what does that say about the Republicans that LOST to the aforementioned Democratic ret@ards?

[krescera]

Lucky dog!! I too would be" humbled" if I win a huge lottery."Humbled" here means great astonishment at one''s own luck.