Harry Reid came out today and once again displayed his inability to understand what power he has, what he has not, and that he still has no idea how to exercise his power.  Reid emerged from a meeting/photo opportunity with Roland Burris and tossed the issue of whether Burris should be seated as the junior Senator from Illinois to the Illinois Supreme Court, where it belongs.  Reid declared that Burris has a lot of experience in politics, has two PhD's, and, as if it matters, Burris is a nice guy.

On MSNBS, the discussion regards race and Reid being painted into a corner by Blagoyevich, the Governor of Illinois presently under scrutiny for corruption.  Did Blagoyevich earlier try to sell this Senate seat?   It is this question of Senate-seat-for-sale that is being lost in the present pomp and circumstance of Roland Burris' march to the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Reid attempted a principled stand against Burris entering the Senate.  Did Burris pick up any "taint" on his way to the appointment from the Illinois Governor?  Reid declared that Burris recently signed an affidavit indicating Burris had done nothing wrong in attaining this appointment.  The credentials Burris provided to take the Senate seat, however, lacked the signature of the Illinois Secretary of State, so based on this shortcoming, Reid has managed to stall the appointment of Burris. 

Reid has no basis for rejecting the Burris appointment at this time.  Merely because Blagoyevich is under scrutiny for corruption does not disqualify Burris from being put forward by the Governor, so long as Blagoyevich is the Governor.  But there are things to consider as noted here on TPM,  http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/kgb999/2009/01/burris---the-truth-starts-to-e.php.  

Now we have to see what else shakes out.  Did Reid save the seat for another candidate, or did he save face by announcing his interview of Mr. Burris, who Reid reminds everyone he has never met, went very well?  As if an interview with Harry Reid was a requirement for someone to become a Senator.  Burris may be in a race now to get sworn into office before America hears the rest of the story, or he may be taking the tact of the tortoise, slowly and inevitably crawling into the Senate.  As for Harry Reid, he appears uncertain as to what is happening, but trying to appear that he has some say in the matter anyway.  Truth be known, it is out of Reid's hands, but he is putting his hands all over it.