Dems: We'll Call Police On Burris To Keep Him Out Of Senate

Senate Democratic leaders think Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, will likely show up on Capitol Hill Tuesday for the opening day of Congress, according to a Democratic aide familiar with Senate Democratic leaders' plans.

...

The aide familiar with Senate Democratic leaders' plans said if Burris tries to enter the Senate chamber, the Senate doorkeeper will stop Burris. If Burris were to persist, either trying to force his way onto the Senate floor or refusing to leave and causing a scene, U.S. Capitol Police would stop him, said the aide.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[MaryanneAZ]

I do not see Burris' friend, the Sergeat At Arms, leading him away from the Senate in a spectacle. The Sergeant has already said that this matter will be resolved before that situation arises on Tuesday. I suspect he is in the know on the matter. Dems do not want to bar a fellow Dem from the Senate when they have the first 100 days to contend with and a huge agenda to vote through. Reid and the others made big noises in the days following the media outing of Blago by Fitzgerald and now they have to back up their bravado with action. Ooopsy. They went out on a limb they did not have to make a threat they could not back up. Now they have to eat crow and find a way to seat this new Senator while saving face -- not an easy task. The old adage to look before one leaps really applies here. Burris would have been a fool to bypass this plum appointment, and he's clearly not a fool. Go Luck Senator Burris!

[Culturemaven]

Maybe they'll let him enter through the back door.

[qdog112]

Come on, don't tell me this has become Redstate.com.

The unsupported, illogical idea that Burris can be barred because we don't like Blago or him, for that matter, is very GOP.

Cite the law that allows Reid to not accept Burris or shut up. Try to remove your emotions and the behavior associated with republicans.

[chromodynamics]

The funny thing about Roland Burris is that Barack Obama said he has nothing against the man or his integrity, but he does not want Burris admitted to the senate because of his association with Governor Rod Blagojevich. Well now, if that does not beat all irony, then I do not know what else would. The President Elect, who asked us not to take any of his past association nefariously, is now casting aspiration on an appointee to the Senate that he currently praises for his personal integrity.

I am not sure if I am suppose to laugh or cry.

[qdog112]

"he does not want Burris admitted to the senate because of his association with Governor Rod Blagojevich. "

I missed that. Where can I read or see Obama conveying the above sentiment?

[chromodynamics]

Oh, I see what you are saying. Though he mentions a tainted process, Obama never specially mentions Burris by name in the same sentence. Therefore, in your mind, he is not making a specific connection of guilt by association with the Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, but instead with the tainted process. And this is why Burris can’t have his senate seat.

I don’t know, man. It still sounds like guilt by association to me, no matter how you want to slice it.

[qdog112]

I found Obama's statement.

But here's where I found it.

http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/obama_doesnt_care_about_the_constitution_says_blagos_appointment_cant_be_in/

[MaryanneAZ]

I was surprised to hear Obama's take on this appointment. He should have stayed out of this one too. It does look very bad to say don't hold my associations against me, and then turn around and support your incoming Senate in their bid to do the same against Burris. As Dems, we cannot be just like the Repubs we replaced. The Dems should admit their mistake and overstatements and let Burris be seated. Burris was right to accept the plum position that was offered to him. Anyone with any sense at all would have accepted the plum job. Go Burris!

[pupbayer]

The Democrats should have been so interested and so united against the war.

[Margary]

Burrris wanted to look tough on crime to steal the Gov. seat----So he knowingly prosecuted a innocent man to clain fame, and now Burris is useing the race card to steal the senate seat!

[ThatBKChick]

I am disgusted w/ AG Fitzpatrick...there should had been no charges, unless he had his case totally prepared. I honestly believe that this is going to be Blago's defense. I mean why has the man why is Fitzpatrick saying he needs more time to justify the charges. I feel that this a "Sting"/Snitch operation that has gone bad, Blago might just come out of this whole situation..which is scary as hell. The fact that the Dem's are lock and step with this whole Blago thing, is even more scarier. The Dems, as well as the public should be demanding that Fitzpatrick either sh-t or get off the damned pot if he nor the Illinois legislature are not going to move fast enough ! Unfortunately, until then Blago can keep doing whatever the hell he feels like doing. Unfortunately Mr. Burris allowed himself to get tangled up in this web of deception and destruction that is tainting President Elect Obama, yet alone his own character to begin with.

I honestly feel that the public should be holding the DNC, the State of Illinois and the U.S. Congress/Senate and House accountable for not demanding that this matter be expedited and put to rest!!! They knew for months, and years that Blago was doing this!! We should hold all of their azzes accountable for this mess right now...somewhere the GOP and the Rightwing hack nuts are rolling and laughing their azzes off over this!

[samerbayer]

Blagojevich appointment for the senate is among the best appointment in senate history. that does not mean that Rod Blagojevich is a good man. It was Rod Blagojevich interest to make an exceptional appointment because it helps him deflect legal troubles (you can't accuse him of selling senate seat if he didn't sell it). Also it brought him sympathy from blacks and he fulfilled he duty as a governer. In all the open seats for appointment diversity of the senate should have been considered as paramount but it seems the democrats are not interested in real diversity and just pay lip service to diversity to get minority votes. There should have been more affrican american appointed to those open seats why were n't they appointed more is it because democrats believe that they can't find qualified candidates!!!!!!!!!!

[bygollymissmolly]

You are obviously a Republican. You think that if you say the same thing over and over and over again, it will somehow magically become the truth.

You are proof positive that you can't cure s t u p i d.

[samerbayer]

I can prove that you are the stupid one easily. Instead of using argument which require intelligence you are attacking. It is obvious who is stupid. look at others who didn't agree with me but they presented an argument. I recommend that you stop making a stupid of yourself

[Margary]

This has nothing to do with a african/american candidate for Senate! This is about a criminal Governor appointed a inadequate man to senate who will play the race card and anything alse he wants to do to claim a senate seat as he's always done in the past to get what he wants!

[exPatPatti]

bingo

[exPatPatti]

You keep posting this same comment on multiple articles. It is annoying to have to keep seeing it. Please stop.

And the only reason Blag chose him is because he's Black and knew it would stick in the craw of his detractors. Burrow has shown his complete lack of character by accepting a tainted appt but I for one am not surprised at the fervor with which he has accepted a house job instead over a field job no matter the lack of morality of he who offered it to him.

[exPatPatti]

Auto spellcheck changed my Burris to Burrow. LOL.

[cobraxus]

Burris won't be renominated by the democrats in 2010.Obama will give his blessing to someone and that will be enough to get them elected.Burris will become an obnoxious smirking footnote to history.in the meantime Rush Limbaugh and company will continue to have a field-day.

[PatA]

Burris is carrying tons of baggage and the details are slowly leaking out to the public but I don't believe that his moral fiber would dictate to him that this is a very, very bad move. He's got skeletons in his closet.

[bygollymissmolly]

He also has a massive ego and a massive need for power. He has not been able to be elected to any significant post, so his only recourse is to beg Blago to appoint him. This man does not have the morals or ethics necessary to be elected to a position of power.

[qdog112]

Massive ego - now that is criminal.

Definitely disqualifies him in my book - oh, wait it's not my call. It's Blago's.

[MaryanneAZ]

The facts are that Blago tried appointing another AA who turned the appointment down because of the scandal. He then went to another AA, Burris, to find an appointee who would put a monkey wrench in the works and buy him some time for his defense. This move was pure political genius. Burris would have been crazy to pass on the plum appointment when he has tried for years to get elected to higher office. No one faults Burris for taking advantage of an opportunity that landed in his lap. Who among us would turn down an opportunity for advancement? Go Burris!

[ElkoJohn]

evidently, the Dem. Leadership hasn't run out of stupid pills

[Ted LPD]

I hope Dems don't mean it... Trouble and Dems will spend time in jail

[Ted LPD]

There will be blood!

[carnelld]

The Governor of Illinois has the sole legal authority to appoint a replacement for Obama. He has not been found guilty in a court of law. Obama can make recommendations, but he is only the President -elect. We are a nation based on the rule of law. Obama, Reid, Durbin and the politicians in Illinois do not pre-empt the lawful authority of the Governor. The Democrats in Illinois are silly for the in- fighting over the position. The Democrats in Washington are silly for fighting their own Democratic appointment to the Senate. The MSM has denigrated to a brood of "cackling hens". Instead of reporting the news with facts to the American public they line up on the cable net works and spew the same Republican inspired talking points about the appointment being "tainted". By the way the Governor of New York is legally authorized to make the appontment to replace Hillary Clinton, and the Governor of Colorado can appoint the vacant Senate seat in Colorado . There is not a politician worth his/her salt that would turn down an opportunity to become a Senator. Politics is not a place for wimps. The Governor of Illinois is not a wimp. The race card has always been played against Blacks, Blacks have always had to fight for entrance into the political system. The rule of law will prevail over veiled racism. It always has.

[Ted LPD]

Dems need to understand, period.

[cobraxus]

Blago is accused of(among other things)trying to sell this senate seat.the governor is on the verge of being impeached and indicted.that Burris would accept the appointment and brag about it shows what little character the man has.to learn more about what an AG he was look up Rolando Cruz.this case says it all about Burris the man,attorney general amd politician.

[bygollymissmolly]

Blago has the legal right to appoint him and the Senate has a legal right to reject the appointment. PERIOD!

[qdog112]

"Senate has a legal right to reject the appointment. PERIOD!"

Where can I find that bit of constitutional eloquence? Please help us so we can all read it and put this matter to rest.

SUPPORT YOUR STATEMENT or stop saying it.

[exPatPatti]

The only race being played here is the race to jail.

Burris is forever tainted due to his own need for power. As an AA I am ashamed he would accept such a blatantly opportunistic appt and knowingly drag into the gutter what should be a powerful and proud time in Black history. Self ish prat.

[Icantbelieveher]

Danny Davis turned down the appointment! So your argument that no one worth his/her salt would turn down an opportunity to become senator doesn't hold any water! Danny Davis is more than qualified and obviously the first choice, but Burris is the one who accepted!

[Bariis]

Aye, what a mess! We have swearing-in ceremonies about to take place in a mere 17 days, yet we can't get this mess cleaned up. Thanks in large part to one of the most complicated, egotistical j erks the Dems have had to deal with in a long while.

[StillAmused]

Doesn't require a lot of imagination to envision how badly the optics of this ham-handed approach will turn out.

Wonder if anyone in the leadership meetings raised his or her hand and meekly suggested, "Let's seat him, let the Blagojevich thing go forward and, if Burris should come up dirty, we can impeach and oust him. Y'know, be seen as cleaning our own house... instead of acting like Republicans."

Nah... takes too much brain power to separate the Blago circus from Burris' appointment. Besides, it's lonely on the high road.

[nomobull]

for who. what person of honor goes where they are not wanted.and why are some acting as the guy wasn't warned about doing just this. and why would a man of honor allow himself to be used like this. and haven't you had of dishonor in washington.

[FaceYourFears]

nomobull--I couldn't agree more! The fact that Burris accepted Blago's offer causes me to wonder about his character.

[StillAmused]

"Not wanted"?

By WHOM?

And based on WHAT?

You see no "dishonor" on the part of those rushing to scuttle a perfectly lawful interim appointment -- by a sitting governor -- of a man whom NOBODY claims is embroiled, in ANY way, in Blagojevich's personal mess?

... or doesn't Illinois deserve to be fully represented in the Senate while Fitzgerald ties up his loose ends?

Haven't seen anything about the Senate surrendering its lawful right to impeach and expel Burris for just cause... IF such cause proves to exist.

Last time we saw this sort of guilt-by-association assault, it was being directed against Obama by right-wing knuckle-draggers.

You're in good company.

[bygollymissmolly]

So you think that the Senate should allow anyone who wants to to take a seat on the floor? If Burris is not legally appointed to the position, the Senate has a perfect right to stop him from being seated. Just because Blago has said he wants to appoint Burris does not make it a done deal. There's still the certification to deal with and until such time he is certified, he has no right to take a place on the floor of the Senate.

[StillAmused]

"the Senate should allow ANYONE"?

Burris has filed for a Writ Of Mandamus, ordering White to sign the certification.

--------
mandamus
(man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (more modernly called a "writ of mandate") which orders a public agency or governmental body to perform an act required by law when it has neglected or refused to do so.
--------

"A spokesman for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White (D) confirmed to Election Central that White knows he DOES NOT TRULY HAVE THE AUTHORITY to stop the appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate, but he withheld his signature from it earlier today in order to make a statement."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/illinois_sec_of_state_refuses.php

Lots of posturing blowhards "making a statement".

Following the law? Not so much.

[qdog112]

Are you drinking home brew? I can't believe it's legal to sell anything that potent in stores.