Roland Burris & Al Franken & the Senate Democrats

Or "Harry Reid Standing in the Senate Chamber Door"

The governor of Illinois was arrested a few weeks ago by the Feds for attempting to sell President-elect Barack Obama's now-vacant Senate seat. Amid much speculation and innuendo, a cloud of suspicion hangs over the governor and all associated with him.

Enter Roland Burris. He has a long list of accomplishments, including a few stints holding statewide elected office. He becomes the governor's pick to take the Obama seat. The entire Democratic establishment gasps and with a typical knee-jerk reaction balk at the selection: he should not accept the office, he won't be seated by the Senate, he can't win in a statewide election, etc.

The Democrats are thisclose to a super majority in the Senate, which means they'll be able to pass just about anything without much resistance from the Republicans. With Al Franken's win in Minnesota, they'll have sixty! But they'll lose it in a special election if a Republican wins the Senate seat in Illinois... oh, what to do?

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Burris plans to be in Washington on Tuesday, the first day of the 111th Congress. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Democrats have vowed that they will not seat Burris on Tuesday.

The chest puffing and bravado from last week has certainly been toned down. Several sources report that Senate Democratic leaders have now scheduled a meeting with Roland Burris. The meeting between Burris; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada; and Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, one day after the Senate convenes, said the source. Burris requested Wednesday's meeting, according to the source, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

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In Other News About Empty Senate Seats

Al Franken - an alum of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" - appears poised to become the Democratic Senator from the state of Minnesota after a protracted recount of votes from the November 4th election. State officials report that state election board on Monday will announce Democrat Al Franken has defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race.

The canvassing board on Monday will say a recount determined Franken won by 225 votes. However, Coleman's campaign, which contends the recount should have included about 650 absentee ballots it says were improperly rejected in the initial count, has indicated it will challenge the certification.

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In Other News About Obama's Cabinet

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has confirmed in a statement that he has withdrawn his name as the Commerce secretary nominee, citing a pending “investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government.”

Mr. Richardson says in the statement that he and his administration “have acted properly in all matters,” but that the “ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.”

In mid-December 2008, a published article stated that a federal grand jury in New Mexico was looking into accusations that Governor Richardson’s administration gave lucrative contracts to a California financier because he contributed heavily to the governor’s political action committees. The article, citing a person familiar with the grand jury proceedings, stated that since August, federal investigators have been examining how CDR Financial Products Inc., of Beverly Hills, California, received two consulting contracts in 2004 worth about $1.4 million to advise the state on a large bond issue for building infrastructure, one of Mr. Richardson’s initiatives.

In a separate statement released Sunday afternoon, President-elect Obama confirmed that he has, with “deep regret,” accepted Mr. Richardson’s withdrawal.

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plez sez: here we go... again!

the democrats in congress -- riding a wave of unprecedented UNPOPULARITY -- have taken up the cause of petty politics during a time when they need to find a way to rise above it. i will concede that gov. blagojevich is a "potty mouthed" bad man. i will even acknowledge there is more than a little taint on whoever his selection to fill the seat would be. but he is still the governor of illinois and it is still his responsibility to fill BARACK OBAMA's empty senate seat!

the democrats (and the congress as a whole) have so little room for more political B.S., it is incredulous that they would risk further damage to their sotted reputation by having sen. harry reid stand in the "senate chamber door" to bar seating the only Black member of the senate! good luck on having a democrat win the special election in illinois for that seat!

as onerous as it may seem, as opportunistic as burris has turned out to be (plezWorld doesn't know anyone in his right mind who would accept this appointment from the "dirty hands" of rod blagojevich, except for someone who knows that he'd NEVER be able to win the seat in a legitimate election); President Obama is going to need the support of the full delegation from illinois for his agenda on DAY ONE. the senate needs to hold their collective noses and seat burris... and give the state of illinois time to work out their issues with gov. blagojevich and have a real special election for the seat.

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read the LA Times article about uncertainty with Obama's senate seat.

Read the New York Times article about Burris and Senate Democrats.

Read the CNN.com article about Roland Burris and the US Senate.

Read the CNN.com article about Al Franken winning in Minnesota.

Read the New York Times article about Bill Richardson bowing out.

Read the CNN.com article about loss of Bill Richardson for Commerce secretary.

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Defiant Blagojevich Fills Obama's Seat

He didn't become a tempest in a teapot by being the most well liked guy in the room. He didn't ascend to the top of the heap in a state that is almost synonymous with corruption without being corrupt. And yes, he's got a pair of large ones... and judging by his pictures, large hairy ones!

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich ignored the cries for resignation, ignored the federal charges, ignored President-elect Barack Obama and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan pleas for him to step aside. Blagojevich took matters into his own hands and picked former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Obama's seat in the US Senate.

The reaction has been swift and predictable: ill-advised and reprehensible.

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Blagojevich has long maintained that he has done nothing wrong. From what is known from the federal probe, he accepted no money and had only appeared to be shaking down a number of candidates for Obama's senate seat.

The Illinois legislature took up the matter and could not come to a decision on a special election. They also never came to a decision on impeachment proceedings against the governor.

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Burris, 71, a Democrat and African American, served Illinois from 1979 to 1992, first as state comptroller and later as attorney general. Earlier in December, he said that despite the scandal associated with the seat, he wanted the job.

Burris, a principal at Burris & Lebed Consulting in Chicago, would serve the remaining two years of Obama's Senate term. Burris previously ran and lost bids for the U.S. Senate and governor, losing the gubernatorial nomination once to Blagojevich.

Blagojevich said, "The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington, D.C. As governor, I am required to make this appointment. If I don't make this appointment, then the people of Illinois will be deprived of their appropriate voice and vote in the United States Senate."

Rep. Bobby Rush, (D-IL), who appeared at the afternoon news conference with Blagojevich and Burris, said, "There are no African-Americans in the U.S. Senate. And I don't think any U.S. senator who's sitting in the Senate right now wants to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate. I would ask you to not hang or lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer and separate the appointee from the appointer. Roland Burris is worthy."

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plez sez: this is a freakin' mess and is exactly what Obama doesn't need out of his home state as he looks to take the oath of office in 20 days!

unfortunately, the feds, the legislature, and state attorney general were derelict in their duties to bring this whole blagojevich matter to a close in a timely manner. the feds threw some *ISH* on the wall, it didn't stick, and basically left the state of illinois with an unindicted, soiled executive with at least two congressional appointments on his desk (Sen. Barack Obama's and rep. rahm emanuel's seats).

like it or not, blago was elected to run the state of illinois, he has not been convicted of any crime, and it is his duty - by law - to fill these outstanding seats. unfortunately, the real loser in this mess is roland burris! his name and reputation are forever tied to blagojevich and any action taken by him (or on his behalf) will be sullied by being associated with blago... his best bet would be to take his seat... and then call for a special election to legitimize his appointment.

but plezWorld believes this is a good move to have this open seat filled PRIOR to the 111th congress convening in january.

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read the Chicago Sun Times article about Blago's appointment of Burris to Obama's seat.

Read the Washington Post article about Burris being appointed to Obama's seat.

Read the New York Times article about the Burris appointment to Obama's seat.

Read the CNN.com article about a defiant Blago filling Obama's seat.

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Quote of the Day - December 14, 2008

"While I would be honored to serve the people of this state, it is clear to me that I am no capacity to serve them if there is a cloud over my head that seems to suggest that I am involved in some unscrupulous scheme to be a United States senator or anything else... I want my name back."
- U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) speaking with Don Lemon of CNN on Friday, December 12, 2008 after being identified as "Senate Candidate 5" in the federal criminal complaint against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Jackson, the son of famed civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and a six-term Democratic congressman from Chicago, had publicly sought to succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Jackson had talked to Blagojevich, the person with the sole power to make the appointment, on Monday, just one day before federal agents arrested the Illinois governor. Jackson said he only presented his credentials and polling information that suggests he could win re-election in 2010.

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BLOG UPDATE (12/16/2008): CNN.com reports that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who was cited in a criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich, went to the U.S. Attorney's office about alleged wrongdoers, including the Illinois governor, a Jackson spokesman said Tuesday.

In a statement, spokesman Kenneth Edmonds described Jackson's interaction with federal authorities this way:

"As a responsible citizen and elected official, Congressman Jackson has in the past provided information to federal authorities regarding his personal knowledge of perceived corruption and governmental misconduct.

"This was completely unrelated to the current investigation regarding the U.S. Senate appointment. [But] Jackson has given information regarding the embattled Democratic governor of Illinois, though not in the case currently under investigation."

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plez sez: call me cynical, but to paraphrase Shakespeare, "the [gentleman] doth protest too much, methinks."

this is not a good time to be associated with the current governor of illinois. the taint about him rubs off on anyone with any close association.

the vulgar language. the brazen disposition about him. the arrogance and high mindedness of rod blagojevich. congressman jackson cannot be faulted for wanting to vault into the upper chamber of congress on the heels of BARACK OBAMA's awesome win of the white house. but he should've also been aware of the volatility and risk that he was taking in even going to speak with blago.

jackson would do well to find the "emissary" who spoke on his behalf and have this "emissary" publicly disclose his or her involvement in putting jackson's name out there for blago to think he would "pay to play". just as jesse, jr. made an attempt to clear his name, that name won't be stain-free until all the facts about the use of his name in the context of the sale of Obama's senate seat are aired in public.

i'm afraid saying "i don't know who did it" won't cut it this time around!

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read the CNN.com article about Illinois Attorney General asks state's high court to remove Blagojevich.

Read the CNN.com article about Obama asks Blagojevich to step down.

Read the CNN.com article about Jesse Jackson, Jr. trying to clear his name of the Blago scandal.

Read the CNN.com article about Jesse Jackson, Jr. providing feds with info on Blagojevich.

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plezWorld's Big Number for December 12th

plezWorld's Big Number is 84. According to a Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, 84 percent of Illinois voters say indicted Governor Rod Blagojevich should resign, with only 9 percent who disagree.

A whopping 79 percent say Blagojevich should spend some time in jail. According to the survey, only seven percent say the governor is doing a good or excellent job in office while 83% rate his performance as poor (his poll numbers are lower than those of President Bush).

FBI agents arrested Blagojevich on Tuesday on federal corruption charges related in part to the selection of a replacement for Obama's Senate seat, which became vacant after the presidential election. Federal officials allege that Blagojevich was looking to sell or trade the position.

In a related story, CNN.com reports President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that "no representatives of mine" engaged in any deal making with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich over who would fill the state's U.S. Senate vacancy. Obama also said he was as "appalled and disappointed as anyone" by the allegations against the Democratic governor and said he was confident that none of his staff members was involved in the alleged scandal.

The Senate position "belongs to the people of Illinois, and they deserve the best possible representation," he said. Obama has asked his staff to gather the facts of any contacts made with the governor's office.

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plez sez: when your favorability ratings fall below those of george bush, there should be a rule that you have to step down! blago has obviously violated the public trust and there is very little he can do to repair that... short of proving ALL of the federal governments allegations false (which is unlikely).

save the people of your state the embarrassment, step down!

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plezWorld's big number is

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read the Rasmussen Reports article about Blago's popularity in Illinois.

Read the CNN.com article about Obama says Blagojevich should resign.

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Illinois Governor Tries to Sell Obama's Senate Seat

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was awakened on Tuesday morning by the knocks of FBI agents. He was arrested on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama's election as president.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired. Blagojevich also was charged with using his authority as governor in an attempt to squeeze out campaign contributions, prosecutors said.

Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris, also was arrested.

Blagojevich was released on $4,500 bail. And he had to surrender his passport.

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U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald declared Tuesday a "sad day for government." The government had bugged the governor's campaign office and placed a tap on his home phone.

Fitzgerald also said, "Gov. Blagojevich has taken us to a new low. This conduct would make [Abraham] Lincoln roll over in his grave."

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President-elect Barack Obama claims that he had no knowledge of what was going on and had not had any contact with the governor or the governor's office. He said, "Obviously, like the rest of the people of Illinois, I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."

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The Two Counts in the Federal Indictment

Count One

From in or about 2002 to the present, in Cook County, in the Northern District of Illinois, defendants did, conspire with each other and with others to devise and participate in a scheme to defraud the State of Illinois and the people of the State of Illinois of the honest services of ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, in furtherance of which the mails and interstate wire communications would be used, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341,1343, and 1346; all in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1349.

Count Two

Beginning no later than November 2008 to the present, in Cook County, in the Northern District of Illinois, defendants ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, being agents of the State of Illinois, a State government which during a one-year period, beginning January 1, 2008 and continuing to the present, received federal benefits in excess of $10,000, corruptly solicited and demanded a thing of value, namely, the firing of certain Chicago Tribune editorial members responsible for widely-circulated editorials critical of ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with business and transactions of the State of Illinois involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more, namely, the provision of millions of dollars in financial assistance by the State of Illinois, including through the Illinois Finance Authority, an agency of the State of Illinois, to the Tribune Company involving the Wrigley Field baseball stadium; in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(1)(B) and 2.

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Quotes from the Indictment
WARNING: there is some vulgar language

In regards to the Senate seat, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated “I’ve got this thing and it’s fucking golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for fuckin’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.”

On November 3, 2008 [the day prior to the General Election], ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with Deputy Governor A. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told Deputy Governor A that if he is not going to get anything of value for the open Senate seat, then ROD BLAGOJEVICH will take the Senate seat himself: “if . . . they’re not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it.”

During the call [also on November 3rd], ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, “unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], shit, I’ll just send myself, you know what I’m saying.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH later stated, “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.” Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”

On November 4, 2008 [on Election Day], ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with JOHN HARRIS regarding the potential vacant Senate seat. Later ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he will make a decision on the Senate seat “in good faith . . . but it is not coming for free. . . .It’s got to be good stuff for the people of Illinois and good for me.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH states “[President-elect], you want it? Fine. But, its got to be good or I could always take [the Senate seat].”

On November 5, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Deputy Governor A regarding positions that ROD BLAGOJEVICH might be able to obtain in exchange for the soon-to-be vacated Senate seat. Among the potential positions discussed were Secretary of Health and Human Services and various ambassadorships. Deputy Governor A noted that the cabinet position of Secretary of the Energy is “the one that makes the most money.” Deputy Governor A stated that it is hard not to give the Secretary of Energy position to a Texan, but with ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s coal background it might be a possibility.

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Read and download the entire 79-page pdf of federal indictment here.

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plez sez: this story reeks to high heaven. and this has to rank up there as one of the LAST THINGS that PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA would like to address as he prepares to transition to the white house in a couple of weeks.

i've read the indictment and it doesn't appear that Obama is implicated in any way, shape, or form, BUT the taint of having his senate seat being bartered like a stud fee by the democratic governor of his state. it just so happens that when blagojevich was elected governor of illinois, Obama's chief of staff rahm emmanuel took his spot in the house of representatives. tony resko's name shows up in the indictment; recall that resko was a big contributor to Obama's first campaigns in chicago and brokered the deal for Obama's house in chicago, as well. and Obama's key advisor valerie jarrett is believed to be one of the senate candidate names that was being bandied about by the governor!

no matter how clean his hands, there is undoubtedly going to be some blowback on Obama from this entire sordid affair. if any of Obama's minions are even remotely connected to the blagojevich corruption, they should be front and center with this information by the morning news cycle on wednesday!

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read and download the entire 79-page pdf of federal indictment here.

Read the Chicago Tribune articles about the arrest of Rod Blagojevich here and here.

Read the Chicago Tribune article about Jesse Jackson, Jr. and the Senate seat audition.

Read the New York Times article about Blagojevich indictment.

Read the New York Times article about how Obama call indirectly led to Blagojevich investigation.

Read the CNN.com article about who is Rod Blagojevich.

Read the CNN.com article about the Blagojevich indictment.

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