Roland Burris has a major distinction he is the only black Senator in the US Congress and the first black Senator not to be seated. Seeing Burris being turned away at the doors of the Senate almost looked like something out of 40 years ago in places like Selma Alabama. I suppose the most imortant thing is that there is more at stake this time than a seat at a diner.
It seems that embattled and alleged crook Governor Rob Blagojavich of Illinois appointed him to fill the vacant spot left by Barak Obama's senate seat. It is rumored that Blagojavich attempted to get people to pay for the privilege. This is all alleged. He has yet to be indicted or impeached and yet assholes like Senator Harry Reid worked to block Burris from being seated on the opening day of the senate. In other words Reid has become the judge, jury and executioner of Blagojavich. Hey look, old Rob is probably everything they say he is, but until he is tried somewhere he has the right to appoint Burris.
Of course you have to ask why Burris would want to be put in such a spot. It's because he is an idiot. Others have turned down the offer, but at 71 I suppose Burris figured this was his last chance to be anything but a state functionary. He probably felt that destiny had chosen him for this moment when in fact it was Rob who did and everybody hates Rob and so to, by association, Mr. Burris.
So what to do. Far be it for Reid to yell at Blagojavich for being corrupt because he's had a few problems of his own in the past. I suppose they should seat the guy because Illinois desperately needs full representation since for the past three years that Obama was running for president, they had only one Senator working for them.
Who really needs to be taken to task is the Illinois Secretary of State who refused to sign the papers which is why Burris was turned away. I don't think it's his job to determine what is legal and just sign the paper. He should be dumped.
The other unseated Senator was Al Franken (the former....aww if you don't know by now it doesn't matter) who lost to Norm Coleman in Minnesota on election night by 215 votes. In the mandatory recount Franken pulled ahead by 225. It's a mess and now the Repubs are moaning, so this one isn't exactly in the bank. Franken shows up declaring himself the winner. The Senate officials said "wait a minute" and sent him walking.
I don't like Franken. Not as a TV comic, an author and especially as a talk show host. He's an asshole and I don't like him. For a socialistic minded person he is completely bourgeois to those around him. But he went against Norm Coleman an even bigger asshole so I guess I'll have to go with the lesser of two jerks.
Boy are these two scenarios with no heros!
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