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Mr. Burris Goes to Washington

By Jay Newton-Small | @JNSmall | January 12, 2009 | +

Statement from Harry Reid and Dick Durbin:

“The Secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate Rules and validate his appointment to the vacant Illinois Senate seat.  In addition, as we requested, Mr. Burris has provided sworn testimony before the Illinois House Committee on Impeachment regarding the circumstances of his appointment.

“We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect.

“Accordingly, barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week.  We are working with him and the office of the Vice President to determine the date and time of the swearing-in.

“As we had outlined to Mr. Burris, a path needed to be followed that respects the rules of the Senate.  We committed to Mr. Burris that once those requirements were satisfied, we would be able to proceed. We are pleased that everything is now in order, we congratulate Senator-designee Burris on his appointment and we look forward to working with him in the 111th Congress.”

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  • gysgt213

    JNS-I see your color picture is back. That’s more important to me than some old senate seat.

  • Matt

    This might finally put an end to what has been an eminently embarrassing situation for both Senate Democrats and President-elect Obama.

    But no one comes out of this looking worse than Harry Reid (and Dick Durbin). To get pushed around by Blago is a big gaffe for someone already seen as a weak leader.

    http://www.political-buzz.com/

  • Jay Newton-Small

    gysgt213: I’ll take that as a compliment, thanks. JNS

  • http://www.ghostnote.com Cookie Puss

    Time for a do-over in the Dem Sen leadership election.

  • gysgt213

    “I’ll take that as a compliment, thanks. JNS”
    .
    Oh me like.

  • textee

    Fairy Reid and Turban Durbin demanded that Demo Blago “resign” and insisted that they would not seat the black man appointed by Demo Blago. Now Time magazine has predictably issued a press release on behalf of Fairy Reid and Turban Durbin claiming that “barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week.” How sweet. Time magazine, Fairy Reid and Turban Durbin are blaming the refusal to seat Burris on the Republican.

    -

    You also have to love this from Time magazine’s press release:
    “As we had outlined to Mr. Burris, a path needed to be followed that respects the rules of the Senate. We committed to Mr. Burris that once those requirements were satisfied, we would be able to proceed. We are pleased that everything is now in order, we congratulate Senator-designee Burris on his appointment and we look forward to working with him in the 111th Congress.”

    -

    Burris did nothing and now Time magazine, Fairy Reid and Turban Durbin are claiming that they “are pleased that everything is now in order, ….” ROTFLMAO!!!

  • Mr. Nice Guy

    > barring objections from Senate Republicans
    ‘
    I didn’t know the rules specified that Republicans – or any particular party – got “dibs” on things like this. If he’s satisfied the rules, what does it matter what a party thinks?
    ‘
    That’s almost like saying Obama can’t be sworn in until the Repugs decide it’s Ok with them. Huh?

  • gysgt213

    “That’s almost like saying Obama can’t be sworn in until the Repugs decide it’s Ok with them. Huh?”
    .
    Dem is the Reid rules. If there were only a single republican in both houses he or she would be able to block every thing the democrats do.

  • Mr. Nice Guy

    So, what voice do Independents have? Or some other party other than Dem or Rep?

  • Andy from MA

    To paraphrase the WHO: “New credentials, same as the OLD credentials.”
    .
    What was different?

  • bitterpill8

    Let’s hope His Losership does not screw the Burris admission process because Coburn might just put a hold. His Losership has refined the art of Kow Tow towards Republicans.

  • sqr1

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
    .
    Harry Reid, you are a complete putz.
    .
    “As we had outlined to Mr. Burris, a path needed to be followed that respects the rules of the Senate. ”
    .
    Why does this loser even bother with this nonsense? Anybody who is smart enough and informed enough to have been following this soap opera knows perfectly well that Reid’s true objections were NEVER about making sure that the appointment had the proper credentials. Harry Reid has bent over and grabbed his ankles and he wants us to think he is performing Yoga.
    .
    Why doesn’t Harry Reid just try the truth? That Reid didn’t want anybody because of the possible taint, but that, after further legal analysis, it became clear that without any evidence whatsoever that this appointment was corrupt, the Senate was really powerless to stop Burris. That the Senate will continue to monitor the situation. Hopefully nothing will emerge that requires further action from the Senate Rules Committee, but if it does, the Senate can take steps at that point.

  • http://smoothlikeremy.blogspot.com/ sgwhiteinfla

    All I know is I want my damm internet bucks.

  • Cliff

    I was just talking to my dad on Saturday about this, and he felt that Burris wasn’t going to be seated. I explained my reasoning (that whenever Reid takes a stand on something the complete opposite will occur within half an hour, with his help), and he agreed to disagree.
    .
    I should have put money down on it.

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