BREAKING: Rod Blagojevich Names Obama's Successor
Politics Daily — ... The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the scandal-plagued governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich has gone ahead and named former state Atty. Gen. Roland Burris as Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate. ...

Fruit Falls from The Poison Political Tree
Taylor Marsh — BY TAYLOR MARSH --updated-- video via ProgressIllinois Forgive me, but I find this down right hilarious. ...

Have A Seat?
Hotline On Call Part Deux — The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) is set to name former IL AG Roland Burris as Pres.-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the Senate. He made his interest in the seat known shortly after Obama's 11/4 victory. Blagojevich has scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m. EST. Burris, 71, has had a long career in IL politics, breaking the color barrier as the first African American elected to statewide office. He served as state comptroller from 1983 to 1991, and IL AG from ...

Blagojevich to name Burris to Senate
Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News — ... seriously considered, according to Blagojevich insiders. But in the days following Blagojevich's arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor's support. Though he is 71, Burris has said that Obama's replacement should be able to win re-election and he has noted that despite a string of primary losses in races ranging from Chicago mayor to governor and U.S. senator, he's never lost to a Republican. Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/blagojevich-... [image] Roland Burris in April 2007 ...

Blagojevich to Name Obama Senate Replacement
The Caucus — ... to try to fill the seat. As recently as ten days ago, his lawyer, Edward Genson, said he would not attempt to make an appointment, since Senate leaders had indicated they would not accept anyone whom the beleaguered Mr. Blagojevich had appointed. Mr. Burris, 71 and a Democrat, is a longtime political player in this state, who has run for governor before, including mounting a primary challenge against Mr. Blagojevich. Mr. Obama backed him over Mr. Blagojevich in that race. The Chicago Tribune and the ...

Blagojevich to appoint Burris
Political Animal — ... charges in the Illinois House, just called a press conference for 2 p.m. Chicago time at the Thompson State of Illinois Center. Burris was the first African American to win statewide office in Illinois when he was elected comptroller, serving from 1983 to 1991. He served as Illinois Attorney General from 1991 to 1995. Burris previously ran and lost bids for the U.S. senate and governor. If tapped as planned, Burris would be the sole African American in the U.S. Senate. Burris, who is 71 , has sought higher office before, but lost in Democratic primaries in races for Chicago ...

ROLAND BURRIS: Who Is Blagojevich's Pick For Illinois Senator?
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... As reported, disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to appoint former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to President-elect Obama's former Senate seat: ...

Blagojevich to appoint Burris to Obama's seat
Daily Kos — Via the Chicago Tribune: Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said. According to the Tribune story, the 71-year-old Burris, the first African-American to win statewide office in Illinois when he was ...

Roland Burris
The Corner on National Review Online — [image] [image] NRO BLOG ROW | THE CORNER | ARCHIVES SEARCH E-MAIL PRINT RSS [image] Tuesday, December 30, 2008 [image] Roland Burris [ Kathryn Jean Lopez ] appointed to the Obama Senate seat. 12/30 12:49 PM [image] [image] [image] © National Review Online 2008. All Rights Reserved. Home | Search | NR / Digital | Donate | Media Kit | Contact Us

**Blagojevich to Announce Obama Replacement at 3 PM**
The Page by Mark Halperin — ... and here. **Announcement expected at 3 pm ET.** ...

Report: Bold Blago Rides Again, Appoints Burris to Senate Seat
Weekly Standard Blog — There's a 3 p.m. news conference scheduled for today. This guy is not joking around: Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said. Shortly after Obama's Nov. 4 victory, Burris made known his interest ...

Blago v. Reid
Swampland — ... Harry Reid has warned that the Senate will not seat anyone appointed by disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Now comes word that the Governor has picked former Illinois AG Roland Burris, who would be the only African-American in the Senate: ...

Blago Picks Burris
The Stump — ... In his choice of former Illinois attorney general and repeated failed-candidate Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich demonstrates further his intention to be a major pain in the a** to his adversaries. But I don't see any reason to think that Harry Reid and the Democrats won't abide by their promise not to seat anyone tapped by Blago. The talking point that they would be blocking what would be the sole African-American member of the Senate doesn't seem powerful enough, especially when Burris or Jesse Jackson Jr. or another African-American could be tapped by a Blago ...

SOME EXCITEMENT FOR THE NEW CONGRESS: Blagojevich will name Burris to Obama’s seat: “Gov. Rod Blag…
Instapundit — ... SOME EXCITEMENT FOR THE NEW CONGRESS: Blagojevich will name Burris to Obama’s seat: “Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.” Will Harry Reid seat Burris, allowing Blagojevich the last laugh? Or will he refuse to, putting the ...

What will Harry Reid do now?
Betsy's Page — Apparently, Rod Blagojevich plans to nominate former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Obama's Senate seat. Will Reid carry through on his vow, signed by 50 Senate Democrats, to refuse to seat anyone nominated by Blagojevich when the nominee is a black man? As ...

Blago To Annouce His Choice For New Illinois Senator Today
TalkLeft — Via SusanG, Blago is really something: Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said. I do not know anything about Burris except he seems willing to stain himself here in this farce. I assume the Senate will ...

Blagojevich expected to name former Illinois Atty. General Roland Burris as Obama’s Senate successor.
Think Progress — ... The Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Attorney Gen. Roland Burris, the first African-American to win statewide office in 1978, to replace President-elect Obama in the Senate. The move comes after Democratic leaders criticized the prospect of Blagojevich going ahead with the appointment process. “ ...

Who Is Roland Burris?
TPM Election Central — So who is Roland Burris, the man who will reportedly be appointed by Rod Blagojevich to Barack Obama's Senate seat? Burris is an experienced and respected hand in Illinois politics, who offered himself up as a potential appointee about two and a half weeks ago, soon after the criminal complaint first came down alleging that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to sell the Senate seat. Burris said at the time that he was "appalled" by the allegations, and that he only wanted to serve as a caretaker Senator and not seek election in 2010. In 1978, Burris became ...

IL-Sen: Blagojevich Names Roland Burris
Swing State Project — Well, he isn't quite as obscure as Tim Ted Kaufman, but Blagojevich has named his pick for the vacant Illinois senate seat and it's someone who wasn't on anybody's watch list: former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris. Burris is the first African-American to win statewide office in Illinois, elected comptroller in 1978. He's failed to win the primary in three separate gubernatorial runs, including in 2002 against Blagojevich. ...

Psycho Blagojevich to Fill Obama's Senate Seat With Apparent Fellow Psycho Today
Tennessee Guerilla Women — ... The Chicago press reports that their psycho governor plans to appoint someone to Barack Obama's senate seat today. That would be former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris, yet another apparent psycho. ...

Blue On Blue...Reid Won't Seat Hot Rod's Pick Roland Buriss
Gateway Pundit — Blue vs. Blue... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced this afternoon that he will not seat Hot Rod Blagojevich's pick for Barack Obama's Senate seat Roland Burris. Hot Rod and Roland Buriss (Breaking News) Breaking News reported: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said in a statement this afternoon that the Senate will not seat anyone Gov. Rod Blagojevich chooses to fill Illinois' vacant Senate post, amid word that the ...

Important Announcement
Shakesville — Rod Blagojevich is nutz. Harry Reid slightly less so.

Arrogance personified
Sister Toldjah — ... Despite the heap of legal troubles he’s in, Governor Blago today announced his pick for Obama’s Senate seat (and no, it isn’t ...

Senate posturing vs. State sovereignty
The Moderate Voice — ... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stated that Blagojevich’s pick of Roland Burris “unacceptable” and that Burris would not be seated by the Democratic caucus. While that may be a political deterrent to the State of Illinois to approve the nomination for Burris to be seated, it does not mean that Burris will not be a member of the United States Senate. ...

Burris Appointment Video
PoliBlog: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts — ... “Please don’t allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man,” Blagojevich said while introducing Burris at a downtown news conference. (Source) ...

Today's Blago-HaHa
Riehl World View — ... Blago is starting to look like Obama's crazy uncle who stopped in for the Holidays and is now refusing to leave. Let's see - did his Senate appointee Burris raise money for Blago, along with not being able to win in several primaries? ...

Reid Balks at Blagojevich Senate Choice
Pajamas Media — ... by stepping aside now and letting his successor appoint someone who we will seat.” The statement was endorsed by Illinois’ senior senator, Dick Durbin, who has been calling for a special election to fill the vacancy — something many local Democrats wish to avoid due to the possibility that a Republican might win. On the heels of Reid’s denial of Burris’s appointment, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White stated flatly that he would not certify any candidate offered by Blagojevich, saying: As I have previously stated publicly, I cannot co-sign a document that certifies any ...

Blagojevich To Senate: Dare Ya!
Blue Crab Boulevard — ... The Senate Democrats warned Rod Blagojevich that they would not seat anyone he appointed. But Blagojevich made an appointment anyway, apparently . He also is daring the Senate Democrats to try and block his appointee - who is black. Brushing aside charges that he tried to sell Illinois’ vacant U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the post today in defiance of Senate leaders who said they would not admit anyone he selected. It was an abrupt about-face for Blagojevich, who had said after his Dec. 9 corruption arrest ...

Looking Ahead to a Constitutional Crisis
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... It’s likely that the Secretary of the Senate will receive Burris’ credentials from Governor Blagojevich prior to the start of the new Congress (and the objection of the Illinois Secretary of State is reportedly irrelevant to the issuance of those credentials). On that first day, the roll call of Senators to be sworn in will then include Burris’ name. Senator Reid — or someone else — will object to Burris taking the seat, and the Democratic majority will vote to refer the matter to the Senate Rules Committee for review. It is a foregone conclusion ...

Taint
The Glittering Eye — ... The sad thing about Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s nomination of Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois is that merely by doing so he inevitably taints a politician who’s always seemed like a pretty decent guy. And I disagree with ...

Is Harry Reid Bluffing?
Weekly Standard Blog — ... As I understand the rule, it only takes one Senator to call for action on Burris to force a Senate debate, and ultimately a vote on whether to seat him. If he is denied his seat--or if he's somehow denied a vote at all--Burris will presumably go to court to force the matter. And while there is a report that the Illinois secretary of state will refuse to certify Blagojevich's action, the secretary of state's own office has reportedly acknowledged that no certification is needed to make the appointment. ...

You knew that the race card would have to be played
Betsy's Page — As soon as we heard that Blagojevich is appointing Roland Burris who happens to be African American, it was clear that race was going to enter into the debate over the Democrats accepting his nomination. And cheers to Bobby Rush who was happy to throw down the race card as soon as Blagojevich made his nomination public. His choice of Burris, Illinois' first African-American elected statewide, presents senators with the dilemma of saying no to a replacement for Obama, who was the nation's only black senator. That point was driven home at the news conference by Democratic U.S. ...

Inside Blagojevich's bold, brash *&@#$% pick to replace Obama
Top of the Ticket — ... In the last hour before the announcement, Senate Democrats including Illinois' Dick Durbin realized they'd been outfoxed, hastily conferred by phone and tried to duck by desperately announcing they weren't gonna seat Blagojevich's pick anyway. ...

Show your support for Blago with the new 'Free Blago' blog widget!
Doug Ross @ Journal — I love this guy ! I'm convinced the man is innocent. Innocent as the driven snow, I say! You can show your support by adding a FREE BLAGO blog widget to your blog and other electronic correspondence. ...

How Can We Miss Him If He Won’t Go Away?
RedState: Conservative News and Community — I refer, of course, to Rod Blagojevich: Brushing aside charges that he tried to sell Illinois’ vacant U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the post today in defiance of Senate leaders who said they would not admit anyone he selected. It was an abrupt about-face for Blagojevich, who had said after his Dec. 9 corruption arrest that he favored a special election to find a successor to President-elect Barack Obama. But Blagojevich said he acted after the Democratic-controlled General ...

How Can We Miss Him If He Won't Go Away?
A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days — I refer, of course, to Rod Blagojevich : Brushing aside charges that he tried to sell Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the post today in defiance of Senate leaders who said they would not admit anyone he selected. It was an abrupt about-face for Blagojevich, who had said after his Dec. 9 corruption arrest that he favored a special election to find a successor to President-elect Barack Obama. But Blagojevich said he acted after the Democratic-controlled General Assembly declined to approve ...

Open Thread
NewsBusters.org - Exposing Liberal Media Bias — For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Blago picks a Senator! In a display of political bravado, disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich today appointed former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate, challenging national Democratic leaders to reject the appointment of an African-American to the seat that propelled Barack Obama to the White House. The defiant move tests the resolve of Senate Democrats who said they would not admit anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who is facing impeachment after being accused of trying ...

joie de fuck you
ArchPundit — ... I completely approve of Blagojevich’s decision to go ahead and name a new senator. Sure, he’s being an asshole, but there’s a certain “joie de fuck you” quality to the announcement that you just have to admire. This is a man who owns his asshole-ness. “Yeah, I have this stupid haircut, and you think I’m I’m going to jail, but here’s your motherfucking Senator, and if you don’t like it, bite me, suckers!” It’s the kind of attitude you see in, say, your more self-aware bass ...

WTF? After all this, Jesse White certifies Burris.
Daily Kos — Cross-posted from Congress Matters. Blagojevich gets arrested. The Senate leadership warns him not to appoint anyone to Obama's seat, and if he does, they won't swear him in, no matter who it is. Blagojevich appoints Burris, anyway. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refuses to sign Burris' certificate of appointment. Harry Reid and Dick Dubrin say no way, and he's definitely not getting in without a signed certificate. Burris sues to force White to sign. The ...