As much as I detest Rod Blagojevich and am embarrassed to have him as my governor, I agree with Tim that at this point, just seat Burris and be done with it. For one thing, there are way more important issues that need to be dealt with than this right now, not to mention there are only two years left and then there’ll be an election. The Republicans only want to hold it up so they can push for a special election which they think they can win by using the animosity toward Blago to their advantage. They don’t seem to mind wasting $50 million of taxpayer money on the special election if it will provide them an additional buffer from the dreaded 60 seat Dem majority (it’s their own goddamn fault they lost so many seats in the first place, but they’ll never admit it). The Dems don’t want to look like they are rolling over and granting tacit approval to what Blago did, especially after railing about the “culture of corruption” in the last campaign cycle. The very fact that so many Dems spoke out so harshly about Blago’s appointment painted themselves into a political corner once the race card was thrown down. Now all of a sudden the party for minorities is being accused of racism, never mind that Harry Reid would look like a dope (a hat that fits his head well). Just seat the man and get to work on the real issues.
And just for the record, this matter has nothing to do with race. The fact that Roland Burris happens to be black in no way, shape or form has anything to do with his not being seated. Yet despite that fact, the usual suspects of pathetic opportunists like that fool Bobby Rush continue to try to put race front and center in the argument. These people do immeasurable damage to race relations in this country yet never get called out. So I’m taking this opportunity to call out Bobby Rush for being a hypocritical a$$hole. Phuck you Bobby!

The senate doesnt have a leg to stand on in not seating Burris. Burris is of legal age, citizenship, and fits the other requirements for seating. As per the Powell v. McCormack ruling, the Senate can only refuse to seat a member on the grounds above…so if Reid persists in this little game, we have the brewing of a Supreme Court smackdown of the legislative.

Somewhere– you’re absolutely right. The race card is increasingly tired and worn out, espescially with Obama as pres. White guilt, real, imagined, or deserved can stretch only so far, one presumes. At some point everyone is going to have to just let it go, and move on…but then, that would cost race baiters, on both sides, their jobs and positions of power…

Jed Clampett

Well, it looks like Burris is going to be seated regardless. A great indication of his rectitude to me was during Blago’s announcement where they immediately played the race card. The EGOMANIACAL mausoleum in his honor with his resume on it should also be an indication if not a glaring warning. I wonder how long it’s going to take for him to get caught up in Blago’s investigation and be faced with impeachment proceedings himself?

Peace

Voice of Reason

When will people see the light and finally understand that Democrat are the party of racism?

Which party started the KKK?
Which party didn’t want slaves freed?
Which part has hooked poor black to entitlements?

Hint… it is not the GOP!

The Voice of Reason

Jed Clampett

Which PARTY? so you wish to blame the entity and absolve the MEN involved? You must think that the entity itself manipulates it’s members into doing it’s bidding, you call that reason?
The responsibility lies upon those with the wealth to convince legislators of any party to supersede their innate instincts of helping the nation and the community rather than themselves and their associates. Those are the greedy in business, the same ones that have just recently sent us off in an absurd war precipitated by their crooked business dealings abroad. Focus people, find the real enemy instead of just lashing out haphazardly at anyone the media places the blame on, don’t you know who controls the media?

You must not be capable of realizing that things evolve, just like the dems evolved into inclusion, sensibility and empathy, the republican party has evolved into an instrument of greed and the darkies in industry.

Peace

Voice of Lunacy,

We’ve been down this road before. Reads past posts on the political history of the Dems and GOPs. Liberalism and progressivism are 20th Century phenomenons. Both parties were created in the 19th Century.

KKK was pretty active in 20th century, Robert Byrd is from the 20th century, Entitlements were in the 20 century. I guess it is that Democratic selective memory kicking in again.

Jed Clampett

forget it, nothing will get through the helmet he has to wear in case of seizures.

Peace

Voice,

Sorry I used lunacy when it’s clear that you are the voice of ignorance, which, clearly, makes you the voice of the Right.

Post Civil War, this country had but one party, the GOP, the democrats ‘representing,’ if you will, the South, with the GOP representing the North. But the South at that time was a decimated country until the rule of military governorship. A military governorship beholding to the GOP and Ulysses S. Grant, their true leader.

With the 20th Century and the accompanying Industrial Revolution with its massive influx of immigrants, great wealth was attained in this country. On the backs of the poor.

Automatically, the GOP became the party of the ‘ins’ leaving the ‘outs’ with the party of opposition, the Democrats. It has been so ever since, with the GOP representing the interests of the status quo, read moneyed class, with the Democrats left representing the poor. Not to be associated with the poor, the middle class gravitated to the GOP.

Except in the South, where anger and resentment to the Civil War Reconstruction meant that the South would belong to the Democrats even though they didn’t agree with some of its agendas. The Dixicrats they were known as but they were ANYTHING but Democrats.

By the time of the 60s and the Great Society, the Dixicrats could contain their true feelings no longer and most switched to the GOP.

Robert Byrd did not, it is true, but perhaps he could STILL not forgive the Republicans and what they did to the South, post Civil War, or he didn’t give a rat’s ptui which party he was in, he would vote the way he chose.

Please, Voice of Ignorance, read a little history before you make such outlandish statements, and stop listening to Limbaugh, he is NOT your friend.

Well if anyone would remember what life was like right after the Civil War (and probably before) it would be Robert Byrd given that he is close to 185 years old. All joking aside, both parties manipulate their message to their target market in order to maintain power. Republicans tell the rich they’ll not only help them keep their money, but help them make more, no matter how detrimental it might be to others, while Democrats tell the poor it’s not their fault they are poor, regardless of how they got that way and that they are entitled to have others get them out of their situation. That leaves the folks that float between wealthy and poor, without any sort of representation, at least not from the two major political parties.

Midman,

In point of fact, the parties represent themselves, which might be what you’re saying, just as unions represent unions.