Michelle Malkin » Burris press conference: I am the junior senator from Illinois

Burris press conference: I am the junior senator from Illinois

By Michelle Malkin • January 5, 2009 01:42 PM

Busy Monday afternoon! Blago buddy Roland Burris just spoke to the press, repeatedly declaring that he is the junior senator from Illinois and that he is the solution to the problem.

He hasn’t spoken yet to Obama. But his bags are packed and he’s on his way.

Unstated but written between the lines: And anyone who gets in my way is a RAAAAAAACIST.

It’s getting all Jerry Springer in Washington. Grabbing a bag of popcorn for the freak show.

Update: Allah’s got vid.

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Comments

#1

On January 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

Well, since Harry Reid was pretty explicit that the 3 most prominent Blacks that could be appointed were “unelectable”, while the two white woman, including the wounded Iraq war vet that couldn’t win an election to the House despite incredible financial support from the DNC, were fine by him, maybe, if the shoe fits, Reid should wear it.
#2

On January 5th, 2009 at 1:47 pm, RedDog said:

Come on, give the guy a break. Little Miss Kennedy is getting her token seat, why not RoRo?
#3

On January 5th, 2009 at 1:55 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

Correction- the wounded Iraq war veteran who couldn’t win a vacated Democrat seat despite heavy funding from the DNC is half White, with a Thai mother.
#4

On January 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm, Mister P said:

I think anyone getting in his way is violating the Constitution.
#5

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm, backwoods conservative said:

Give Junior a time-out.
#6

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:08 pm, emjem24 said:

Yet another political tool. Since when is a sole senate seat now reserved for someone based on their skin tone?

Wahhhhh! Gimme my senate seat now! I’m black, I’m a political hack, and I deserve it!
#7

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm, tre said:

2008, the year that an inexperienced junior Senator won the Presidency because of his race. A disgraced governor appointed a former AG to his seat. A failed radio pundit, former commodian (no, I don’t mean “commEdian”) steals the Senate seat in Minnesota.

Will someone wake me up and tell me this is just a nightmare, PLEASE!?!?
#8

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm, Socky said:

Roland “Sent an Innocent Man to Death Row” Burgess.

Harry “The Undertaker” Reid.

Robert “Grand Kleagle” Byrd.

Princess Caroline “You Know” Kennedy.

And Stuart Smalley.

This senate is the biggest joke in history.
#9

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm, Socky said:

2008, the year that an inexperienced junior Senator won the Presidency because of his race. A disgraced governor appointed a former AG to his seat. A failed radio pundit, former commodian (no, I don’t mean “commEdian”) steals the Senate seat in Minnesota.

Forty years of dumbing down public schools finally paid off.

As Chairman Zero’s Spiritual Mentor once said, “America’s chickens are coming home to roost.”
#10

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

On January 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm, Mister P said:
I think anyone getting in his way is violating the Constitution.

Not according to Article 1, Section 5:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members,…

and

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.
#11

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:23 pm, RogersUmp said:

Yes, they are socking it to us, Socky!
#12

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pm, RedRepub said:

Correction- the wounded Iraq war veteran who couldn’t win a vacated Democrat seat despite heavy funding from the DNC is half White, with a Thai mother.

….and a carpetbagger. the DNC MOVED HER to Illinois specifically to run for Congress. She is a disabled war vet speaking out against the war.

In the immortal words of Ann Coulter:
“Democrats didn’t invent running war heros [for office]. They invented running war heros as an argument for surrender.”
#13

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:33 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

#10

Powell vs McCormack would suggest the House can only refuse to seat a member because he does not fit a Constitutional requirement. As a US citizen, a resident of Illinois, and considerably older than 30 years old, Burris would seem to fit.

Now, the House could seat him, then vote by a 2/3rds margin to expel him.
#14

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:35 pm, Flyoverman said:

On a relative scale at this point, by law, (as if laws mean anything to the Left) Burris has more right to his seat than Franken does.
#15

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:45 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

Blago missed a golden opportunity. He should have appointed Bill Ayers. The spectacle (and Obama’s discomfort) would have been priceless.
#16

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm, MtsEdge said:

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:35 pm, Flyoverman said:
On a relative scale at this point, by law, (as if laws mean anything to the Left) Burris has more right to his seat than Franken does.

My sentiments exactly…however, neither man has truly won the confidence of their (projected) constituents…Burriss with a series of unsuccessful bids for public office, and Franken with the fraudulent “recount till we win” sham of a victory. I’m still hoping we won’t have another Kennedy poser in the Senate, too.
#17

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:48 pm, ChicagoRobb said:

The Republicans should stay so far away from this, they should be in Virginia. Let the Dems hang themselves over this.If the Dems bungle this, as it is looking like they will, the GOP should appoint Blackwell or Steele to the RNC chairmanship and call the Dems racist. Turnabout is fair play.
Blago may be scum, but he played this perfectly. He may get impeached but he will bring as many people as he can down with him.
#18

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pm, RedRepub said:
Correction- the wounded Iraq war veteran who couldn’t win a vacated Democrat seat despite heavy funding from the DNC is half White, with a Thai mother.
….and a carpetbagger. the DNC MOVED HER to Illinois specifically to run for Congress. She is a disabled war vet speaking out against the war.

In the immortal words of Ann Coulter:
“Democrats didn’t invent running war heros [for office]. They invented running war heros as an argument for surrender.”

Reading up on Duckworth on the interweb. Her Dad was a UN official who travelled throughout Southeast Asia, she was a poly-sci major at the U of Hawai’i, and if the university is anything like the state, she is a hard core leftie.

She got an ROTC commission when Clinton was POTUS, and despite being opposed to Bush’s war for oil, she answered her reserve unit call-up. Maybe because she felt obliged to do her duty, maybe because, as the poli-sci degree suggests, she wanted to go into politics, and going AWOL wouldn’t look good on her permanent record.

She is, of course, a Democrat’s dream, a mixed race woman who lost her legs in Iraq who has solidly anti-war, pro-abortion and pro-tax views.

But she apparently is very low on the charisma scale, and even with a huge money advantage in an open Democrat district in 2006 when the Republicans as a whole were being spanked, she couldn’t win.

Supposedly Dingy Harry is looking for a way to back down and not anger the African-Americans the Dems are so dependent on, but whom they generally ignore except in election years.
#19

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pm, RogersUmp said:

If Fitzy had only allowed Blago to actually sell the seat.
#20

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm, AlohaGuy said:

the DNC MOVED HER to Illinois specifically to run for Congress. She is a disabled war vet speaking out against the war.

I believe she lived and worked in Illinois before her reserve unit in the Illinois National Guard got called up. As a politician I disagree with most of her views, but I respect and salute her service. That doesn’t make her qualified to be an instant Senator of course.
#21

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pm, right_on said:

I am the ~~junior~~ ~~senator~~ walrus…

Coo-coo-ka-choo!

What gives Senator Reid the idea that he has the “right” to select the people’s representative? This shouldn’t be a question of the electability of a senate seat, but of the representation of the electorate.

This is the people’s choice to make, especially since the core group of “eligible’s” come from a distinctly corrupt Chicago political system.
Of course, the people’s choice may be no better than that of of Brago’s or Reid’s…since the public votes are based on “feelings”, not on fact-based research of possible candidates.
#22

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:05 pm, Flyoverman said:

Speaking of “highly qualified” (throw-up in throat causing me to gag) Obama has selected Leon Panetta to head the CIA.

Compare his qualifications to the current CIA Director……
#23

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pm, sonofdy said:

ANY person appointed by the current governer, even if it is legaly, will be considered dirty.
#24

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pm, MarcoPolo said:

Not according to Article 1, Section 5:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members,…

and

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

They do have the right to expel him. They do not have the right to refuse to seat him. He wasn’t elected, therefore there were no returns, and he is (ironically) ar more qualified than most.

Setting this precedent – giving the Senate the power to decide who sits in the Senate, would be just another grab for power from the States. It is a dangerous precedent, and our country will be better off in the long run if Burris is seated, then merely ignored.

But we’re not really very good at long term thinking any more. It’s all about instant gratification these days.
#25

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:27 pm, scituate_tgr said:

sonofdy said:
ANY person appointed by the current governer, even if it is legaly, will be considered dirty.

True, but this appointment comes from the bizzaro world.
#26

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm, rightwingrocker said:

The infighting in the Donk Party has again begun. It will be interesting to see which of the two big parties survives as the nations socialist HQ. I’d prefer it to be the Republicans, but given their penchant for winning strategies, my money is on the Donks.

RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
#27

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:53 pm, DagneyT said:

Michelle, my husband went to school with Roland Burris, attended his inauguration as Atty. Gen. of ILL. (ILL intended) and says that Burris was an excellent choice because there’s never been a hint that he’s part of the Daly machine, and it was a slap in the faces of Daly & BO. He’s a nice man, and clean (at least as far as Democrats go), and that’s what has the Chicago machine so up in arms against him, as well as Dirty Harry. He’s from the conservative south of Illinois.
#28

On January 5th, 2009 at 3:55 pm, graysonret said:

I don’t like the man, but he has to be seated. Reid cannot constitutionally deny him that seat. Since he was appointed legally (even by a governor in trouble), there isn’t any “rule” that can bar him. He meets the other qualifications too. Once seated, however, he can be expelled. That’s where the fight should begin, not at the door to the Senate. But then again, who in charge ever looks at the Constitutional laws these days? Like I said, I don’t like the man, but we need to follow the Constitution and its “Supreme Laws”. If we don’t, we join the filling ranks of those who disregard it for whatever “emotional” or “pc” reason they have.
#29

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:18 pm, Glidedon said:

Hairy Read(sic) will taze the bro if Burris tries to take his lawful Senate Seat.
#30

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

You’re right, they must seat Burris. The ILL legislature didn’t remove the power of appointment from Blago, and he poked them in the eye by exercising it.

I love circuses! It’s hard to figure out which ring to watch, though, when there’s so much happening!
#31

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:32 pm, ThatSamIAm said:

Not to fear. Scary Reid will pull an Pelosi and have the rules changed to keep him out. But what a soap opera when one set of corrupt race baiters clashes with another set of corrupt race baiters.
#32

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm, Mister P said:

Not according to Article 1, Section 5:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members,…

and

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.
They do have the right to expel him. They do not have the right to refuse to seat him. He wasn’t elected, therefore there were no returns, and he is (ironically) ar more qualified than most.

Setting this precedent – giving the Senate the power to decide who sits in the Senate, would be just another grab for power from the States. It is a dangerous precedent, and our country will be better off in the long run if Burris is seated, then merely ignored.

But we’re not really very good at long term thinking any more. It’s all about instant gratification these days.

Thanks Marco Polo. That is how I see it. The people of Illinois are entitled to representation, whether Reid and his Senate like it or not. If they are to reject him, they have to have grounds. Right now I don’t see any. He is qualified and appointed by the lawfull governer of the state of Illinois.

I am a conservative, but also a constitutionalist. If they want to change the rules, then amend the constitution.
#33

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pm, Kevin K. said:

I think that Blagojavich made a genius move (NO sarcasm) in this appointment. Maximum discomfort to the Dems and mischief. And Mr. Burris appears to be as well qualified as anyone, so any result is good for the governor (and probably won’t hurt the people any either).
#34

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm, Mister P said:

You’re right, they must seat Burris. The ILL legislature didn’t remove the power of appointment from Blago, and he poked them in the eye by exercising it.

I love circuses! It’s hard to figure out which ring to watch, though, when there’s so much happening!

I rather enjoy it myself. I want to see Blago take down a few Chicago Democrats with him before he is done. I assure you he didn’t JUST become this way. He had help along the way.

What business was it of Reid, an Arizona Senator, to make recommendations to Blago? He himself needs to be censored by the Senate.
#35

On January 5th, 2009 at 4:46 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

I want to see Blago take down a few Chicago Democrats with him before he is done. I assure you he didn’t JUST become this way. He had help along the way.

I hope Blago and his @#$%ing wife kept good records. Hey, anyone from Chicago out there? Can you smell fear in the air?
#36

On January 5th, 2009 at 5:52 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

In regards to the Jr. Senator who vacated this seat…

Fact Checking Annenberg Political Fact Check

They made at least two very clear factual errors.
#37

On January 5th, 2009 at 6:00 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

On January 5th, 2009 at 2:08 pm, emjem24 said:

Yet another political tool. Since when is a sole senate seat now reserved for someone based on their skin tone?

Since Da Guv of IllNoise decided to make it so. From what I am hearing Blago does have unfettered power to appoint the replacement-he has not been indicted nor has the IllNoise House started impeachment proceedings. Hey, sit back and enjoy the rats gnaw on each other.

Ah hem Mister P : Dingy Harry is from Search Light, Nevada and not Arizona. Our snake in the grass is Juan Hernandez McCain. I love you dearly darlin’ but we have problems of our own
#38

On January 5th, 2009 at 6:02 pm, Mister P said:

Under the Constitution, Reid said, “We determine who sits in the Senate.

Do the Republicans really want Reid to make such a power grab?
#39

On January 5th, 2009 at 6:04 pm, Mister P said:

Ah hem Mister P : Dingy Harry is from Search Light, Nevada and not Arizona

I stand corrected. It is a slip. Maybe because I lived in Arizona for a decade. Wow Searchlight, the beacon of logical thought and reason.
#40

On January 5th, 2009 at 6:20 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

Mister P
Do the Republicans really want Reid to make such a power grab?

No we do not-but at the moment we are watching two powerful factions of the hard Left go after each other tooth and claw with that Blagojevich providing the bait. If he has to go down he wants to take a few with him.
Dingy Harry and the Botox Broad have run their fiefdoms unfettered for two years and I HOPE they are over reaching to the point of falling. But at the moment the Congressional Black Caucus is at Reids throat and I could not be happier. One Chicago street hustler replaces another from Illinois, New York trades a Drag Queen for a stammering Princess-value neutral to us and a cat fight for entertainment. Reid will lose.
Popcorn?
#41

On January 5th, 2009 at 6:25 pm, right_on said:

he poked them in the eye by exercising it.

It is funny! It reminds me of Robert De Niro’s mob character, Paul Vitti (Analyze This!) who said, “F*** me..? F*** you!!!“ Didn’t Blago allegedly have a street run book-making business with mob ties prior to his political life?
#42

On January 5th, 2009 at 7:33 pm, JohnS said:

This guy is a legal appointment. Blaggo has not been indicted nor has his power to appoint been taken away from him, which it could have been by the Illinois legislature or by the US Senate (they could have not recognized a Blaggo appointment). But neither entity chose to act so we now have a legal and binding appointment. Although I am a conservative and detest liberals like Blaggo, Harry Reid has no authority to prevent this man from being the Junior Senator from llinois. I will love watching this man arrive in DC tomorrow.
On the flip side, Stuart Smalley stole the election and I’m gald the Republicans aren’t just going to sit there and take it up the as#!
#43

On January 5th, 2009 at 10:42 pm, Christopher Estep said:

I know lolcats are old and worn out, but I couldn’t resist the burris thing. I think it’s pretty funny.