Roland Burris, Blagojevich Hold Nuttiest Press Conference Of 2008

So, Governor Rod Blagojevich just held a press conference where he gamely put forward Roland Burris as his appointment for the vacant Illinois Senate seat. It pretty much wins the award for the Most Nutlog Press Conference of 2008. And no poetry was read! Instead, there was utter, comical chaos, as Blagojevich gazed around like a deer in the headlights and Burris attempted to glibly sidestep questions over whether he'd ever be actually seated. Then, there were special guests, who said even crazier things.

The whole thing began with Blagojevich taking the stage, wishing everyone Feliz Navidad and insisting that he had to follow the law -- you know, starting today -- and make an appointment. Burris, he insisted, had an "integrity that had never been questioned." Left unsaid: the fact that Burris "stepped up his efforts to win the governor's support" only after Blagojevich ran into legal troubles.

"Please do not allow the allegations against me to taint this good man," Blagojevich said, futilely, as reporters peppered him with questions over contracts and contributions. On whether or not Burris believed Blagojevich should step down, the appointee had no comment.

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"I've enjoyed the limelight the past couple of days," Blagojevich quipped. But he sure didn't seem to enjoy it. Blagojevich and Burris stood on the stage, goggle-eyed, weaving back and forth, with no real indication that either of them knew whether to answer any questions or not. I felt terrible for Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet, stuck doing post-game in MSNBC's studio. This was like Woodstock for the Chicago press.

Then, things got even weirder! Congressman Bobby Rush soon drifted up to the dais, taking his place behind the microphone to tell the assembled, "Thank God for this appointment by Governor Blagojevich...my prayers have been answered." He went on to remind the reporters that there were not, at the moment, any African-American members of the Senate, and that there needed to be more, and I guess Rod Blagojevich should be allowed to appoint them all. Then he asked everyone to not "hang or lynch" Burris, in case the press hadn't gotten the point, which was YES WE ARE PLAYING THE RACE CARD.

Truly sublime, watching this Illinois political machine in action!

Comments

[ricland]

I'm black and I think this Burris character is such a thorough incompetent, I gotta wonder what's going on in Illinois. The man can't even do a press conference, didn't seem to know where he was, and than there's that reprehensible thing he did (or didn't do) with that innocent guy on death row.

Oh, and did I say he utterly unelectable?

Why I can't figure is why Blog even nominated a fool like this guy?

ricland

[iswideopen]

Blago IS INSANE!

[rvanders37]

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Skeetshooter]

I'm afraid Blago has outmaneuvered the Democratic leadership, and they should just bite the bullet on this one. It's a very short appointment, and Burris will have to run for the seat soon enough. Don't we have anything more important for Reid and Co. to fuss about? Like governing? They screwed up, now it's time to move on.

[carnelld]

America is a country based on the rule of law. The Governor of Illinois has the legal authority to appoint the replacement for Obama. The law giving the Governor the authority to appoint has not been changed by the legislative branch. All politicians are opprtunistic. That is the nature of politics. Why would Mr Burris turn down the appointment? Did Sarah Palin turn down the appoinment to McCains's bid for the presidency. There were many individuals attempting to get the appointment, just as there are many individuals attempting to secure the appointment for the New York Senate seat of Hillary Clinton. The MSM is doing the country a disservice by sensationalising this story and reporting the Republican influenced talking points "tainted". The Republicans would be glad to have the seat. The Democrats are silly to fight their own Democratic appointment to the seat. All the sanctimonious hypocritical talk about this appointment is nothing but an attempt to confuse the real issue. Legally, Dick Durbain is a Senator . He is not the Czar of Illinois politics. Thank God for the rule of law and the separated three branches of government. The courts will rule on the issues based on the rule of law, and not a group of citizens who have lost the vision for which America stands. Remember how many informed citizens who felt (and some still feel) Obama can't be President. The "rule of law" is bigger than a chorus of media mis-infrormed group of "cackling hens'.

[DontBeFoolish]

A LETTER TO MR.BURRIS

SECTION II
For a clearer explanation on what I"m talking about, see your Governor"s first choice for the senate seat, and ask him why he declined. I believe that you are going to make it to the senate Mr. Burris, however, I also believe that it will be short lived. You see Mr. Burris, we the American people, the people down in the trenches, know that this is not a game for us. Politics have become real life for us in this country, and we have grown weary and less patient towards politicians who have no backbone, simply follow the leader, greedy, self-absorbed, can be bought for money and so on. Wake up Mr. Burris, as tired as the American people are, WE ARE WIDE AWAKE.

[DontBeFoolish]

A LETTER TO MR.BURRIS

SECTION I

Mr. Burris, from one brother to another. You know that you are being used, right? I'm sure you that you do have, hopefully, an agenda of your own, should you reach the senate. However, before you do, I wanted to hopefully enlighten you on a few character flaws that you have allowed to be shown about yourself.

You have allowed yourself to ignore your political integrity, and throw it out the window to become someone else's pawn. Mr. Rush, believes that you may undergo some kind of lynching or racial attacks to prevent you from becoming senator. Well, I don"t believe that either attack is true, in this case. If you can manage to get by your own political ambitions, you will see that the criticism coming at you is more about you character, than your skin color. Allowing ambition to override your integrity, has brought down many a politician, and you have allowed this compromise to overshadow all that you have accomplished in your political life.

[jqcitizen]

Congressman Rush had his "prayers answered" when Obama became a US Senator. And, at this moment, still is.

An African-American to replace Obama in the Senate is OK, but not in a corrupt way.

Senate seats, it appears, are 'for sale' but should never be.

[helenwheels]

Burris is coming off as an opportunist, which is sad, because it appears the guy is qualified to take the seat.

[Sonny50]

Stop the racisim against Burris.

[greejambri]

you're joking, right?

[sueno]

Rush is wrong! As an african-american, I find his comments offensive about "lynching Burris"
and without merit considering the circumstances of the situation. Blagojevich turned the issue into
a joke and slogan as the press conference ended. This appointment "smells bad" and the way in which both Burris and Rush are going after the position looks even worse. On the surface this whole situation looks like "dirty politics"-

[CUL8R]

Ditto!

[FACINGREALIT]

I agree, and as an African American I detest identity politics. Burris doesn't deserve the seat because he is black but qualified, and the whole issue just doesn't sit well with me - especially the comments made by Bobby Rush which seemed on the surface to be prepared, race baiting and defensive. You just don't replace a black with a black because!

Like Barack said at the Democratic Convention - ENOUGH! No one appointed by Blago should be seated whether they are black, white, or brown, because the man has already made his intentions to sell the seat known thus tainting the seat - regardless of the perceived qualifications of the individual selected. ENOUGH!

The people of the great state of Illinois deserve BETTER than this and I pray that Burris is NEITHER CONFIRMED NOR SEATED IN THE SENATE!

[Matt7]

Blagojevich's press conference "descends into insanity."

So why do you use Roland Burris' picture?

To help "taint" him perhaps?

[kudzumaster]

Why not? He was a big part of the craziness. You'd have to be tainted with insanity to think that accepting an appointment from Blagojevich would be a good career move.

[Matt7]

You think his main concern at this point is a "career move"? The man is 71 years old, and at the latter part of his career. And a distinguished one at that. He has integrity and the respect and support of a cross section of people all over the state. SOMEBODY has got to fill the seat (lest Illinois remain down 1 Senator). He's qualified to do so, wants the position, and is willing to serve the people of Illinois with dignity and class.

You think an election is going to make that seat "clean" again? (The public is at once fickle and in possession of an elephant's memory). You'll be hearing about that seat from now on.

To go a step further, if the seat is "tainted" because Blagojevich (who's having legal issues) is the governor with the right to appoint, is Obama also "tainted" for having held that seat previously? Or for taking the seat of the worst President ever? No. Why? Because the man brings who he is to the position, regardless of the circumstances.

The biggest difference is you feel you "know" Obama, but you don't know "that other black guy?

[rejoiceinit]

Fitzgerald created a big stupid mess that he better get busy and fix it! Put this mofo in jail NOW.

[joselopez]

Question not being asked by the Press to Burris: Why should the Governor who has been caught on tape trying to sell the Senate seat be allowed to appoint someone to the seat?

[joeneri]

You're right. Now we hear that Fitzgerald is asking for a 90 day delay to bring an indictment. It's starting to look like Fitzgerald jumped the gun on this one and, God forbid, Blago may actually be innocent.

[SWissouri]

Yeah, but here's the thing. Talking isn't illegal. From all I've read and heard no money changed hands, there was no quid-pro-quo, even though Blago talked a good show.

So, first of all, Blago is Innocent until proven guilty. Secondly there appears to be no crime because Fitz pounced too early. So the only thing left is conspiracy to maybe possibly do something. Feed that to a jury.

I don't keep up with Chicago politics...but does anyone else thing that Blago is mentally defective? Delusions of Grandeur? The whole bit about him thinking that Kerry was going to pick him as VP strikes me that he may just be a big, spouting, nutcase. So Fitz might have just taped a weirdo showing himself off with no grounds in reality. Wouldn't that be freakin hilarious?

[rejoiceinit]

If there was any doubt before--Blago is downright nuts. As a ex-Illinoian who voted for Burris--it's sad to see what desperate ambition has driven an otherwise respected and competent pol to.

[NotWaldo]

Badjokeyevich is a bum. He's finished politically. And Burris is making a big mistake by associating with him.