Just Curious....
Will Senate Democratic leadership commit itself to fight for the seat of Al Franken of Minnesota as much as it has committed itself to fight against the seat of Roland Burris of Illinois?
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Bar Kafka
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- Location Fox River Watershed, Great Lakes Basin
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- Favorite Books The Metamorphosis, and Other Stories; Catch-22; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; The Origins of Totalitarianism; Desert Solitaire; Sand County Almanac; Yiddish Policemen's Union....
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I am not happy about this Illinois mess, but Orlando has a point.
Senate Dems are helping out. Unless I am missing something. I do not think the Reps are giving more money for attorney fees than the Dems.
January 1, 2009 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better question: will congressional democrats do ANYTHING that actually benefits democrats? I'm doubtful that the answer is yes...that would require Pelosi and Reid to grow a pair (and it's more likely that Pelosi will literally grow a pair than it is that Reid will use the pair he has).
January 1, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
LET US PRAY.
January 1, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
And a couple of years ago we could have asked if the Democratic party would stand up for the Democratic Senate candidate of Connecticut and the party betrayed us for a Republicrat that they're still giving seniority to right now.
Sigh.
January 1, 2009 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lierman is a pig. I have all but given up on him
Who the hell needs a republican pretending to be a Dem? Over the holidays he signs on to an editorial promoting the goddamn war. Oh, forget it. I get too mad.
January 2, 2009 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just once, I wish the press would gain enough balls to ask Weeping Joe Lieberman the following question:
If you and Gore had won - er, let's say instead for clarity's sake that Bush failed to gain the appointment from the Supremes - in 2000, do you think we would be better off today than we are?
We all know the answer. It'd be interesting to see how Weeping Joe spins becoming an apologist for these GOP bastards in the eight years since Gore lost.
January 2, 2009 6:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good question. Bar, not that it should matter with respect to the point of the question you pose, but what can you tell us about Burris and his history in state government. I know he was the first state-wide elected African American. Seems to me he's been around the block and would be a good choice.
January 1, 2009 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what 'they' want you to think.
Happy New Year Bruce.
January 1, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
You too Bwak. To you and to yours.
January 1, 2009 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I personally think that if the Democrats had put this much energy into doing their job in the last 8 years we might not have gone to war; Bush and Cheney would have been impeached for their crimes; and maybe our economy would be a little healthier. I think that since Blago is currently the governor, and the governor can appoint a replacement senator, what argument UNDER CURRENT LAW do they have to make?
Even Fitzpatrick, who presumably arrested him when he did for the purpose of preventing this very thing, is now asking for an extension. He hasn't been impeached. What alternative is there under the rule of law? I don't like this guy, but this is a majorly disproportionate reaction -- there is a ton of stuff that needs attention, and this is just not worthy of spending time, political capital, or credibility on.
But in terms of what is wrong with Burris -- take a look at this:
http://www.propublica.org/article/in-90s-burris-sought-death-penalty-for-innocent-man-1231
PS -- I wish that Obama had kept out of this one and found something to say about Israel and Gaza.
January 1, 2009 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. BTW while what you say is fairly straightforward, it is somewhat amazing to see supposedly left blogs sound just like mainstream media on this question.
January 2, 2009 8:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks cville. I was not aware of that controversy.
January 1, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, avatars of Tom Joad AND Studs Terkel. I am honored....
Roland Burris is harmless enough for a machine hack (perspective, folks). As such he is nothing more than a placeholder, and a means for Blago to poke a proverbial finger in Fitzgerald's eye. Meanwhile, even as the governor does retain the right and responsiblity to appoint a vacated Senate seat, the Secretary of State must sign off on the appointment, and Secretary Jesse White has insisted he will not sign off on Burris or any other Blagojevich appointment. I look forward to daylight upon the eventual ascension of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn to office of Illinois' chief executive.
As the January 6th inaugural of the incoming Senate class approaches, I still remain curious how Democratic leadership intends to deal with status of Al Franken's apparent election as Norm Coleman will certainly challenge the recount's certification. As has already been discussed, the Senate Democratic leadership has seldome been known to pick its fights wisely.
January 2, 2009 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
And how could I neglect Viktor Laszlo: "We all try. You succeed" (Rick Blaine).
January 2, 2009 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oops...
January 2, 2009 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, who is left to appoint the replacement senator? Let's have a little reality here. The only way there will be another governor is if:
1. Blago resigns. Anyone care to take a bet on that one?
2. Blago is impeached. Who thinks Fitzpatrick is going to give up his evidence BEFORE a trial?
Illinois could do a whole lot worse than Burris: READ Jessie Jackson Jr Jr, who clearly was ready to "pay for Play" so let's just say this:
PLEASE YOU EFFING DEMOCRATS! PICK YOUR EFFING BATTLES! YOU LET ALL THE BIG ONES GO, SO DON'T ACT ALL "CONSTITUTIONAL" ABOUT THIS ONE!
Will someone please nominate ME to be in charge of this ridiculous circus? Thank you!
January 2, 2009 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink