REID BALKS AT BLAGO SENATE CHOICE
My latest column at Pajamas Media is up. I look at Blago’s master stroke of changing the dynamics of his personal political situation and throwing the ball into Harry Reid’s court as far as the senate choice is concerned.
On the surface, this was a brilliant stroke by Blagojevich. By rolling the dice and naming Burris, he puts the onus of rejecting a supremely qualified African-American candidate smack on Senator Reid’s shoulders while perhaps even currying favor with Illinois blacks. In addition, if Reid were somehow to reverse himself, the drive for impeachment would slow considerably. The process had already been reduced to a crawl as a result of the holidays, and any urgency to impeach Blagojevich would dissipate because the idea was to get him out of office quickly so that he couldn’t name Obama’s successor.
To those who might wonder why this changes anything with regard to impeachment, it is important to remember that in Illinois politics all politicians are guilty until convicted. Then they are simply unelectable. Illinois House Democrats will move no faster than they have to. And if the Senate accepts Burris (or is forced to accept him), impeachment will proceed much more deliberatively.
Burris served from 1979-1991 as comptroller of the state and from 1991-1995 as attorney general. He is currently head of Burris & Lebed Consulting of Chicago, a high powered lobbying and consulting firm that, according to the Chicago Sun Times, has gotten nearly $295,000 in state contracts since 2004. Burris and his partners have donated more than $20,000 to Blagojevich since 2004.
In the news conference introducing him, Burris alluded to the idea that he was pleased Blagojevich had named another African-American to replace Obama and he pleaded with his “good friend” Senator Dick Durbin to talk with him about being accepted by the Senate. And it appears virtually certain that Blagojevich will fight to seat his choice, as Burris said during the press conference, “I welcome the challenge that awaits us.”
Read the whole thing.
Very well done. I agree Blago was brilliant. I imagine the defense, “I was targeted because my choice wasn’t the establishment choice,” will have some resonance.
I think we need to watch Reid’s kabuki here. He and other Democratic hacks would not allow a special election so in a sense they are, in fact, responsible for what has happened. As it has emerged, of course, the Senate may not have a choice but to seat Burris. Reid will then claim he did all he could but the law would not allow him to do what was right. He lost that opportunity when he and others opposed a special election, and he must not be allowed to get away with his two-bit Pontius Pilate act (which is what I believe this is).
Anyhow, good work per usual–with the exception of your bail out column yesterday, which you may want to reconsider. Okay, that was gratuitious but I couldn’t avoid it.
Comment by jackson1234 — 12/31/2008 @ 11:28 am
Blagovich is a corrupt politician and soon (hopefully) will be a convicted felon but I’m not sure I see any problem here. I believe in democracy. I would prefer that the people of Illinois hold a special election to choose their next senator. Unfortunately, that is not how this system works. It is up to the indicted governor of Illinois to appoint a senator. When that term expires the (never elected)incumbent will run again with all of the incumbent’s advantages and the people of Illinois will cast their votes in a regular election. If the incumbent wins democracy wins, if the incumbent loses democracy wins. My guess is that unless the incumbent was extraordinary he would be unelectable.
When a politician is indicted he must still perform the duties of his office until he resigns or is convicted. Unfortunately, for all Americans, and especially Illinois residents, this hasn’t happened.
The interesting thing here is not that Blago is maneuvering to keep his job, or that he thinks this appointment will help him do that, but, that Democrats have not found a legal and effective way to isolate Obama from the stink that is emanating from Illinois.
Finally, I do believe that if someone from the Obama team is guilty of trying to set up a “pay for play” arrangement, then they will be exposed in the criminal proceedings.
Comment by bs jones — 12/31/2008 @ 3:39 pm
If they block the choice, it will become a racial issue fueled by Bobby Rush. That’s the last thing the dems want prior to the inauguration of the first halfrican president.
Comment by Clay — 12/31/2008 @ 4:34 pm
That’s the last thing the dems want prior to the inauguration of the first halfrican president.
As I said in the comment section of IS BARACK “THE MAGIC NEGRO” RACIST?, President elect Obama is not a NEGRO or halfrican. He is “Yallar”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_yellow
As I implied in the above post, if Blago’s appointment gets seated in the senate, the rule of law will prevail in this instance.
Comment by bs jones — 12/31/2008 @ 7:11 pm