For Burris, It's Hail Mary Time

It's time for a fourth-quarter Hail Mary attempt by Sen. Roland Burris.

The reality is plain to see, as is his likely only alternative.

The reality is crumbling support and his laughingstock caricature amid a constant recalibration of claims as to dealings with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and aides. One can safely assume that what he told federal agents in Chicago on Saturday was that, yes, he lobbied hard for Barack Obama's Senate seat; was solicited for campaign cash by the governor's brother; and did make moves to possibly hold a fundraiser for the governor at the very time he was groveling for the Senate spot.

He almost surely told the agents that what he did, especially in testimony before an Illinois legislative panel, was deceptive. But it wasn't perjury, no way. If anything, his were errors of omission, not commission.

So very quickly he's come to resemble a typical, corner-cutting, word-parsing sneak, just like Alex Rodriguez and many others in our public life. And this is not long after he resembled a tough-minded, stand-up guy, refusing to bow to initial demands of the U.S. Senate establishment (Majority Leader Harry Reid and top lieutenant Dick Durbin of, yes, Illinois), which quickly caved when, among others, African-American colleagues starting raising eyebrows.

Of course, his seemingly impressive defiance came at a time one assumed the facts were as he'd detailed. We assumed he'd had as little discussion with the Blagojevich camp as, one assumes, Jennifer Aniston had with Angelina Jolie at the post-Oscars parties Sunday. Since the law was totally on the then-governor's side, Reid, Durbin et al. were flailing at political windmills even as a smirking Blago picked a man of truly modest professional achievement.

So what should Burris, far more the Democratic lifer-hack than an evildoer, actually do?

It's time for an A-Rod-like press conference but with some substantive answers and a set of assurances about his political future. Don't be self-deluded by the probability that the U.S. Senate's ethics panel, or either the U.S. Attorney in Chicago or the Illinois legislature, may not have cause for action. Don't be the strict constructionist.

You go in front of the cameras and admit that, yes, in your self-aggrandizing, ego-driven pursuit of the Senate seat, you'd been too slick by half. Again, you didn't commit perjury. But you weren't fully forthcoming and you hereby apologize profusely (you need not try to effect the now-pro forma teary-eyed bit; something A-Rod totally blew).

Then you make clear that you will not, under any circumstance, run for a full term in 2010. You are hereby a lame duck. You are formalizing the de facto status you've unintentionally attained with your notorious bumbling of the past two weeks.

You're already dead meat when it comes to a Democratic Senate primary---and will have possibly emboldened the heretofore dilapidated state Republican Party---so just try to spin this as some high-minded move amid all the controversy. And leave no ambiguity about the primary. This would permit other Democrats, mostly elected officials who bashed Blago, to start hitting up their friends and others for money, while either hoping their phones aren't wiretapped or scheduling more meetings in parking lots, like Tony Soprano and his real-life ilk.

Since money is at the heart of the Blago mess, and your own odorous situation, you should make some pledge concerning all that. Perhaps say that you won't have a thing to do with any fundraising prior to the end of your Senate term. You won't raise a dime, giving you more time to focus on your purported heart's desire, the "people's business," blah, blah, blah.

When it comes to dialing for or otherwise seeking dollars, claim a new purity so sweeping it might make Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin look like a tawdry Chicago alderman (the 30th current or former such species in 36 years was sentenced to prison for corruption last week).

Say all that, then cross your fingers and hope a few folks relent from the cascading calls for resignation. If a few do, then finish an honorable man's Senate term by being honest for about two years. It could actually feel liberating.

Further, you will still be able to chisel "United States Senator" on that tacky mausoleum of yours. Fifty years down the road, nobody will probably know the difference between you, Paul Douglas, Paul Simon or other senators who actually represented the state with true integrity.

Comments

[66rock]

He needs to leave Now so the governor can appoint a good candidate that will be elected in 20010.

[roksob]

There was once a time in America when a man could count on a fair trial. This assumption of guilt by people who are essentially ignorant of all the facts is what you might expect to find in countries you would not want to live in.

[amicus1991]

The sleaze that is Roland Burris was eminently apparent when he accepted the tainted appointment (when at least one other African American turned down Blago's offer) and then aggressively and shamelessly played the race card to bully his way passed the cowardly Democratic senators who promised not to seat anyone appointed by Blago. No one should be surprised at the latest news that Burris was less than forthcoming about his pre-appointment communications with Blago and his cronies. Anyone who fails to recognize this man's dearth of character deserves to have him as their represntative in the U.S. Senate.

[bigbadsam]

Dearth of character? Who in the U S Senate has any character? He doesn't stink half so bad as at least a third of his colleagues. He should tell the rest of them to stuff it up their body cvities and get on with the business of the Senate.

[amicus1991]

There aren't many, but John McCain is one that comes to mind.

[Trublulu]

Jim Warren has the right take on Roland Burris. This so-called Senator was former Governor Blagojevich's last cruel joke on the people of Illinois. Neither Blago nor Burris gave a hoot about the people they kept claiming to "serve".
The Republicans can't wait to have a special election. Both Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam are a couple of snarky weasels just salivating at the chance to step into the Senate Seat. Believe me, neither are of Obama quality. The only reason that Blago was elected governor was due to the poor quality of the Republican opposition.
It is a shame that this state that can send a statesman like Barack Obama to Washington, is rather thin on both the Democrat and Republican bench.

[Justtellthetruth]

Burris needs to resign. He is a disgrace. I wonder how many total reprobates turned down this seat before Blago found this Joker?

[TotoToo]

Burris is not only a liar but a needless distraction. Thanks for nothing, Roland.

[IssuesInFocus]

Unfortunately, the anecdote if you lie with dogs you end with fleas... becomes most appropriate in this drama...see my take on this as a contributor to http://www.vernasmith.com
The stain of Rog.Blajo runs wide and deep. Mr. Burris how could you fall for that?

[Peabodies]

SENATOR Burris needs to hang tough, just as Senator Jefferson Smith in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", the movie, DID. The stakes are higher, this time, but the principles, the same.

[nomobull]

not even on the same planet in relevance.

[blowhard]

Burris and A-Fraud are quite similar. They both have no shame, whatsoever. I think psychologists have a special word for such people. What is it?

[Dr. Sam]

Blago further enhances his notoreity--that he never gives you anything unless you promise to give him something back in return! Burris is joke. Every day I wake up, my first question abou this ingominous saga is: "Is he still there?" Burris, please go!!!

[sasson]

15 years ago, maybe. But how will sleeping with the Madonna of today help him? I'm confused.

[StillAmused]

Yeah, damnit! Burris just doesn't live up to the high standard for truthfulness set by the likes of Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, David Vitter, John Cornyn, Joe Lieberman, John McCain...
.

Er, uhh...

.

[nomobull]

that's the problem he does. we want to better than that otherwise we are them.

[StillAmused]

Bulletin: We ARE "them".

(Except when we decide to stamp our little feet and demand one tiny, self-righteous moment of absolute virtue in the middle of a messy, hypocritical stampede)

'Course, it feels good to pretend we also insist on a higher standard the rest of the time.

Enjoy the sacrificial ceremony.

[HyperInfluential]

If Burris was smart enough to follow this advice, he would have realized the Blago appointment was poison, and started campaigning the lieutenant governor to appoint him, as that would obviously be the proper person to do it, what with the governor getting arrested and all.

There's no way Burris will do anything but get more and more belligerent, insisting that he did nothing wrong and has a legal right to stay in his seat, and that he plans to stay in the senate for decades after getting elected in 2010. In his delusional mind, that's totally possible.

The only way to get rid of him would be expulsion for ethics violations, but I don't see Harry Reid having the guts for that, so I think we're stuck with him, no matter how many shady deals are revealed.

[maddie0001]

Burris was legally appointed by the sitting governor to a job paying $168K. Nice work if you can get it. Lobbying the lieutenant governor would have been no good, somebody else would have gotten the job. He can run for the seat in 2010, that's up to the people of Illinois to decide if he stays or not.

Burris could decide the democrats don't want his vote. I'm sure the republicans would be more than willing to have his vote. He seems hard-headed enough to do that.

[Derek van Straaten - Huffpost Blogger]

Well said. Look forward to more, including a post when Burris is finally gone.

[JoeAlvord]

He did. He cheated and then lied about it.

[Burkelbile]

I'm curious if Senator Burris owns some large oversize floppy orange shoes, a plastic red nose with matching fright wig, and a teeny-tiny little car he & his friends can all pull up and simultneously pile out of?