IL-Sen: Blagojevich Appoints Burris; Senate Democrats Say No Thanks

Harry Reid screwed up (0.00 / 0)

Unless he can demonstrate an unsavory connection between Blagojevich and Burris, Reid should allow Burris to take the seat.

There are two factors involved here.  The first is whether Reid has the moral justification for depriving the state of Illinois of its full share in the Senate for an indeterminate amount of time.  Unless there is some demonstrable hanky-panky going on, Reid has no moral justification.

The second factor is important to us in NY.  Burris may run for a full term in 2010, but he's not likely to win, even with the advantage of already holding the seat for two years.  That means his appointment is most likely a de facto interim appointment -- something Governor Paterson should consider doing as well.

Meanwhile, Harry Reid is showing once again his inability to lead.  We gotta replace him; my choice would be Carl Levin.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 18:42:03 PM UTC

Update (0.00 / 0)

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the House's attempt not to seat Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., after he won a special election to fill the seat vacated when the House expelled him.  Based on this precedent, Harry Reid may have no choice but to seat Burris.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 19:33:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Let's look at the law (0.00 / 0)

Ammendment XVII to the US Constituiton states the following:

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.

Illinois law gives the governor sole power to fill a Senate vacancy. Governor Blagojevich, whether a felon or an innocent man, remains the governor and has every legal right to exercise this power. Right or wrong, the law needs to be followed; he has the power to fill the office and the appointment should stand.

The Illinois legislature has had ample time to begin AND conclude impeachment of the governor before a new Senator needed to be appointed. If they had really wished to avoid a Blagojevich nominatin they would have proceeded with more haste.

As for Harry Reid...there is nothing in the Constituion which allows him or any other memeber of Congress to deny the citizens of Illinois representation in the US Senate. Dan Jacoby is dead on when he sites the Supreme Court decision of seating Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. The federal government is restricted from interfering in state election law and must honor local and state statutes.

Tax the Church.

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by: furiousdee @ Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 19:00:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not About the Senate - It's About Staying Out of Jail (0.00 / 0)

Blagojevich doesn't care whether Burris is seated or not.  He has just perfected his defense to the charge that he tried to sell the Senate seat.  

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by: Susan Lerner (CC/NY) @ Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 14:41:56 PM UTC