Illinois GOP Chief: Senate Should Boot Burris If He Won't Resign

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The head of the Illinois Republican Party says the U.S. Senate should kick Roland Burris out of office since he won't resign.

Republican chairman Andy McKenna says the Senate should immediately take steps to remove Burris.

He's also calling on Illinois Democrats to pass legislation that would end Burris' Senate appointment and set up a special election to replace him.

Burris was appointed by former governor Rod Blagojevich, who was later removed from office. Burris has offered differing accounts of his contact with Blagojevich aides before being appointed.

Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said Tuesday that Burris should think about resigning, but Burris has repeatedly rejected the idea.

Comments

[carnelld]

07:23 AM on 02/25/2009

Politics 101: How Not To Get Madoffed Or The Illinois Republican Leader Doesn't Count

For those who may not understand our Democratic system,

1. The Republican­s have inspired and coordinate­d the attempt to take this Democratic Senate seat
from the Democratsf­rom the beginning. Their talking point ""was adopted by MSM, Democrats, and
the public in an attempt to deny Burris the seat.

2. Senator Durbin and Senator Burriss are in equal positions. Durbin is not Burriss's superior.


3. All 100 Senators are equal to each other. One Senator can not "make" another Senator "quit". It doesn't work that way. If it did, the Republican­s would have run most of the Democrats out by now, including Durbin.

4.. Guess what...... its based on the Constituti­on and the rule of law. The Republican leader in Illinois
can not make the U S Senate do anything.

5. Most of the talk about forcing Burris out of the Senate was "politics"­. It was MSM, the,Republ­icans and those who want the Senate seat for themselves who have kept this story going.

6. Simply put, many have been tricked into believing that Burriss could be "frightene­d " out of office by a mob. Mob rule, threats and smears only work on the weak , the lost and confused.

In other words, if this had been a financial investment plan, many of you would have been "Madoffed " by now.

[Tinsdale]

02:27 AM on 02/25/2009

'Republica­n chairman Andy McKenna says the Senate should immediatel­y take steps to remove Burris." A Republican politician with an axe to grind, expressing moral outrage or a chance for a shot at gaining a critical GOP senate seat?

The only thing worse than Burris would be Peter Roskam or Mark Kirk to take that office. Two rabid Bush Bots who were part of the 100% of House Republican obstructio­nists opposing President Obama and the stimulus plan and its benefits for the people of Illinois. Kirk or Roskam will persist in pushing the mummified Republican economic programs that worked so well for America over the last 8 years. Nice. Thank you, "Blago."

[wappie]

11:17 PM on 02/24/2009

Roland Burris should be kicked to the curb. He cared about nothing except being IL Junior Senator. He's lied, schemed and got there but should have the decency to walk away now. After being out of politics for a number of years and being the age that he is, he should have encouraged Blago to appoint someone younger. Illinois should have had an election regardless of whether or not the seat went to a republican or to a white.

[Tinsdale]

02:53 AM on 02/25/2009

Agreed. However, a Republican Senator representi­ng Illinois during this global economic crisis would not be in the best interests of Illinois or the nation.

A Republican Senator would most likely oppose any programs that the President would propose and tip the balance towards grid lock and obstructio­n. Only three Republican Senators sided with the President on the current economic package. The current crop of GOP senatorial candidates for the Burris seat seems to be Republican drones and not strong independen­t thinkers who would buck the party line.

[nowalnuts]

11:09 PM on 02/24/2009

I am already as sick of seeing his face as I was of seeing Blagojevic­h's and I didn't think that could even be possible.

[justwaitandsee]

08:18 PM on 02/24/2009

I like that idea

[maddie0001]

08:06 PM on 02/24/2009

Can the Illinois legislatur­e rescind a US Senate appointmen­t?