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* Sometimes, a bit of pointed meannes works. Kurt Erickson’s column from the other day…
Sure, it’s been less than three weeks since Roland Burris was sworn in as Illinois’ new senator, but shouldn’t he – or at least someone in his office – respond to questions about how he’s going about his new job?
It took an impolite e-mail to Jason Erkes, a Chicago-based political strategist who apparently works for Burris, to get a response.
I asked Erkes if Burris was a chicken, afraid to answer questions from Illinois-based reporters. Was he taking a page from the now-impeached governor who appointed him to the office amidst a great deal of controversy?
Amazingly, after weeks of silence from the Burris camp, it took less than five minutes for Erkes to respond.
Erkes was clearly concerned about how Burris’ image would be portrayed in the media. He explained that the rookie senator has been too busy to do interviews. He’s been going to senator school. He’s been doing ethics training, which, after the way he was appointed, is probably not a bad thing.
In short, Burris has been just too busy learning how to be a senator to explain himself.
* Kurt Erickson today in the Pantagraph…
Illinois’ new U.S. senator is planning to visit a troubled downstate veterans’ hospital in the coming weeks.
A top aide to Roland Burris said Monday that the senator hopes to tour the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion during an upcoming break in congressional action.
No date for the visit was available Monday, but Burris’ acting chief of staff, Darrel Thompson, said the tour will be part of the Democrat’s role as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. […]
Thompson said Burris isn’t going to Marion for publicity purposes. Rather, he said, “We’re going there to learn.”
At least Erickson got through to the chief of staff. Burris’ first Illinois press conference ought to be a hoot.
In fairness to Burris, however, I should note that Sen. Dick Durbin the other day offered up some pretty good reasons for the seeming confusion at Burris’ office, including the lack of staff, no posted e-mail address, nobody answering phones for a time, etc.
Senators usually pick staffers from people who worked on their campaigns, Durbin said, pointing out that Burris had no campaign. Senators also have three months between the election and their swearing in to make sure everything is in order. Burris had pretty much no time.
As far as the phone problem was concerned, Durbin said that the complaints arose during a period when conservative talk radio hosts were ginning people up to call their Senators against the stimulus bill. Burris, like almost everybody else, was swamped.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:05 am
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Sometimes, a bit of pointed meanness works.
I believe that pointed meanness is the duty of voters. If politicians don’t like it, they can find other work.
Roland Burris wanted to be a US Senator in the worst way. Good thing he didn’t want to be a fireman or we would have lost the entire Shawnee National Forest if there was a fire there.
Three weeks? Tough. No excuses will be acceptable. Getting rhetorical rocks thrown at you is what should be expected if you want to be a US Senator.
Either wear a helmet Senator, or hide in your Taj Rolando for coverage.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:19 am
We (well,me anyway) are so ginned up to attack pol’s due to the disgust factor being elephantine, fairness dictates you take a breath an assess the reasons/excuses. There’s probably something to what Durbin said (I rarely make that observation). Give Rolland a few months then see if any criticism is due.
Comment by You Go Boy Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:21 am
Should we wait a few months for his office to answer their phones? There is a basic level of office administration that anyone should be able to accomplish - in no time. I bet he could have a campaign office staffed and supplied in a week. Why not a Senate office?
Comment by babs Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:23 am
That’s what you get with all of these “professional campaigners” in office instead of “public servants” there to do a job and accualy work.
Comment by Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:30 am
It would be interesting to see if the guy from colorado who is also new to d.c. is having similar problems.
That said, even as a Republican I am inclined to give the guy a break for now on getting his office up and going. Obama had 6 months to get ready for day 1-they start planning transitions in the summer and few if any agencies even have their #2’s (Deputy Secretaries or “D”) on line yet.
If this is going on in a month, then it will be time to worry.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:35 am
Rich,
I think you’re cutting Roland way too much slack here. Roland’s vision for becoming a Senator was always very simple - he wanted to be called Senator and get the perks. Nothing more. Nothing less.
He has no idea of what it means to be a Senator and no ability to carry out the job. He’s been on the job almost a month. He has no clue. That’s unlikely to change even with all the help he’s getting from Harry Reid.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:36 am
The legendary Prince of Darkness, Robert Novak of Joliet, when faced with a politician or public official who refused to return his calls, would leave this message:
“Tell him there are sources and there are targets.”
And he backed it up, too.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:38 am
There were a lot of good people working in Obama’s Washington senate office. Many no doubt moved to jobs in the West Wing or to work for other senators after the election. Good staff can be difficult to find but surely someone would have clued Burris into that situation a long time ago. The fact that he did not have a chief of staff to do the work of getting the rest of the staff together is his problem.
Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 11:48 am
I phoned Sen. Burris in DC on Friday afternoon about the stimulus bill (pro) and got through on 2 rings. Sen. Durbin’s office was swamped.
Comment by Fairfield Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 12:25 pm
But he does have a Chief of Staff - Darrel Thompson - he was supplied by Harry Reid’s office.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 12:32 pm
Burris should enjoy his 2 year stint. There is no way he will even be nominated again.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 12:38 pm
oh, this story just sounds phony to me. who in their right mind would reach out to get Roland to do anything right now? you have two senators, pick the one who knows what he is doing…Durbin. sure Roland should pick up the phones, but why waste time with someone who is, and always will be, behind.
Comment by Amy Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 1:12 pm
Amy, Burris is the US Senator. You don’t think reporters ought to call him and ask questions?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 1:13 pm
you are correct about reporters. but the story about reaching Burris started with some downstater saying he could not get through. citizens who want something done should reach out to Durbin.
I do think, though, that it is interesting how one decides which senator to call, since we have two. for service, there are no districts, you just pick. have never looked at what kind of reports they do….yearly reports on calls, letters, visits, but did see the post Hillary report on things done in office. i’m calling the one who does the most. have not seen a report from Durbin, but we all know that he’s always been with it.
Comment by Amy Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 1:17 pm
This is absolutely fair criticism. There is ample support staff in the Senate that jumps to action to get members’ up and running. Staff? Roland has had more than ample time to hire up at least the first handful of the 30-or-so staffers he will eventually get.
Time to stop sketching out new lines for the his monument and get his act together. This is not rocket science. Answering phones and responding to constituents is always job one.
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 1:55 pm
Cut the guy some slack.
He’s had a heck of a time finding a stonemason willing to work at night out at the mausoleum to add all the new trailblazing achievements, let alone not get lost in the Capitol and see that his phones are answered.
“Customer Service” and “Roland Burris’ office” are almost never found in the same sentence and this is just another example.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 3:40 pm
I called Burris’ office SATURDAY about the stimulus & got thru.
Comment by jimbo Tuesday, Feb 10, 09 @ 9:29 pm