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Angry Democrats Blame Obama And Reid For Burris Scandal
Pat Dollard | Young Americans — Politico: Democrats angry over the botched handling of the Roland Burris imbroglio are putting the blame on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin and President-elect Barack Obama — even as new legal developments in Illinois throw the issue back to the Senate again. Democratic sources say that Reid and Durbin underestimated the storm that would be caused by their attempt to deny a seat to a 71-year-old African-American. “Reid operates in this tight, little circle with Durbin and [Sen. Charles] ...

Illinois Supreme Court Tosses Burris Problem Back to Senate Dems (Updated)
Weekly Standard Blog — ... Senate Democrats are squirming and lashing out at leadership, even citing Barack Obama's legendary stand-back-and-watch leadership as problematic: ...

Reid Doubles Down On Burris, But He’s Playing With Your Money
Firedoglake — ... Read the Politico rundown of the entire fiasco.  It will scare the bejesus out of you to think these guys are in charge of anything more complex than scrambling eggs.  But I think this was my favorite part: ...

Burris takes a step closer to the Senate
Political Animal — ... following Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's (D) move to certify the appointment by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). White's signature approving the appointment came hours after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that White' signature of certification was not necessary for the governor's appointee to be considered legally able to take office as Senator. Harry Reid really wanted to punt this mess to officials in Illinois. The officials have clearly punted it right back. The Politico ...

WTF? After all this, Jesse White certifies Burris.
Daily Kos — ... under state law. Dick Durbin still says no way. The certificate's not signed, and that's that. So now, Jesse White says he'll sign -- at least something certifying that the Governor's document is official, if not the actual same document -- even though he doesn't have to and it isn't necessary. This looks like absolute shit for everybody involved, with the possible exception of Roland Burris and Rod Blagojevich, which is astounding. Politico agrees. But then Politico will agree with any "Dems in disarray" ...

Durbin Folding on Burris? Already?
Firedoglake — ... I'm still shaking my head after reading the Politico article that recounts how Senate Democrats sent a "strongly worded letter" to Blago telling him he should step down and they wouldn't seat any appointment he made. "After sending their letter, Senate Democrats thought the matter would then fizzle away." ...

Tom Watson: Blago! (The Musical)
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... Rod Blagojevich deftly out-flanked Senator Reid in appointing Burris, the former Illinois Attorney General who seems a decent - if a bit obsessed with grave rubbing and divine ordination of appointments - semi-retired public servant. Now, Blago faces his own public trial by the Illinois Legislature...and you have to wonder if that August body, production plant for Lincoln and Obama, has fallen into yet another clever Blagojevich trap. The incoming President (who has a Swiss watch of a political instinct compared to Reid's primitive sundial) can hardly be happy about the ...

This Is Fun
A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days — This is fun, fun, fun : Democrats angry over the botched handling of the Roland Burris imbroglio are putting the blame on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin and President-elect Barack Obama -- even as new legal developments in Illinois throw the issue back to the Senate again. Democratic sources say that Reid and Durbin underestimated the storm that would be caused by their attempt to deny a seat to a 71-year-old African-American. "Reid operates in this tight, little circle with Durbin and [Sen. Charles] Schumer and [Sen. Patty] Murray," ...

This Is Fun
RedState: Conservative News and Community — This is fun, fun, fun: Democrats angry over the botched handling of the Roland Burris imbroglio are putting the blame on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin and President-elect Barack Obama — even as new legal developments in Illinois throw the issue back to the Senate again. Democratic sources say that Reid and Durbin underestimated the storm that would be caused by their attempt to deny a seat to a 71-year-old African-American. “Reid operates in this tight, little circle with Durbin and [Sen. Charles] ...

Free Roland Burris! He's going to be seated
Crooks and Liars — ... I was writing a post earlier called "Free Roland Burris" because Harry Reid has turned this whole episode into a bad joke and an embarrassment, but it now looks like he will be seated and fast. ...