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* Roland Burris is sworn into the US Senate by VP Dick Cheney…

Discuss.

…Adding… Charlie Cook rates Burris’ 2010 race a tossup.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:04 pm

Comments

Words fail me.

Comment by IrishPirate Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:06 pm
Big time.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:08 pm
Over/Under???? Roland gets less than 15% of the vote in the Democratic Primary Feb 2010????

Comment by ivoted4judy Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:09 pm
Too depressed to discuss.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:09 pm
What a joke. A sad, sad joke.

Even sadder, all this “anger” shown by many Democrats about all this will magically vanish (not all, maybe not even most, but many) a little over a year from now and be replaced with calls for “party unity”.

Comment by anon Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:12 pm
ivotedforjudy,

Presuming Burris sits quietly and does nothing, I’d go with over. I’d set it more towards 25-30, maybe higher if there aren’t more than one or two challengers.

Comment by anon Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:14 pm
Y’all up north freezing your tails off have no idea how good it makes us feel to see another Southern Illinoisan in the Senate.

Whatever happens in 2010 we’ll still get two years of better constituent service than we’ve had for the last four.

Comment by From the Sidelines Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:14 pm
so now the monument can also say, “first african american to be sworn into office in the u.s. senate by vice president dick cheney”.

Comment by been there Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:15 pm
“first african american to be sworn into office in the u.s. senate by vice president dick cheney”

Ummm…. Second.

Comment by John Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:16 pm
A new Senator’s ability to do anything is highly dependent upon the staffers in other offices, both personal and committee, giving advice and help learning the ropes.

I find it unlikely Burris will be able to recruit experienced, respected staffers who don’t need any help. Who would want to risk their reputation. And how many people are likely to lend a helpful hand to a guy they think is questionable.

It may take them a long time to find the back hallways and nifty hiding places that make working in the Senate so entertaining.

–Former Senate staffer

Comment by Redbright Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:18 pm
ivoted4judy, you can’t beat somebody with nobody.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:18 pm
I find it unlikely Burris will be able to recruit experienced, respected staffers who don’t need any help.

Lots of R Senate staffers out of a job. He just might find one or two of them who needs a job. I seriously doubt that will be an issue.

And if he does indeed put the nose to the grindstone, he might get his own term…..

Comment by Pat Collins Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:23 pm
ivoted4judy: Over/Under???? Roland gets less than 15% of the vote in the Democratic Primary Feb 2010…

I wholeheartedly agree with Rich’s take on this last week in his syndicated column: Burris is electable in 2010 and shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:26 pm
Perhaps he will get one of these

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9257776/

For the monument and run the video over and over again…

Wonder how many Senators went up to Durbin and said.. Never?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:26 pm
===I find it unlikely Burris will be able to recruit experienced, respected staffers who don’t need any help.===

There are always quality people looking for DC staff jobs. That’ll be the least of his problems, I think.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:27 pm
Well, the law is the law is the law. For all our sakes, I hope he performs well and with the interests of Illinoisians first. Only time will tell.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:30 pm
Cheney and Burris. Two of my favorite people.
Perfect.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:32 pm
The Dems have demonstrated once again how big a paper tiger they are. Unfortunately the GOP needs to stop fighting paper tigers with paper tigers.

Comment by Segatari Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:34 pm
He can put this on his monument:”First appointed African American Senator Sworn in By Vice President Cheney”.

Comment by IrishPirate Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:36 pm
I’m sure that his son, Roland III and his daughter Rolanda are very proud today.

I only somewhat agree with Rich. Sure, maybe I could see a scenario where he is re-elected but still think not. I think the 2010 elections will be all about Blago and those who are closest to him will pay at the polls.

Comment by carbon deforestation Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:39 pm
“Appointed by impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich over the objections of every Democratic US Senator and Illinois Democratic leader.”

“Blagojevich’s senator”

It is going to take a lot of hot water and soap to wash off that stain. He has two years to raise enough money and get himself elected in a state where polls have shown that a majority believe he shouldn’t be seated.

There will always be ambitious staffers and except for Senators Barkley of Minnesota and Frahm of Kansas who were true benchwarmers, Burris will be in office long enough to attract some good people. Declaring that he would run again in two years helps him here too.

I believe there are enough GOP dollars around to fund a candidate in 2010 and enough caution to select a Republican with more than Burris can offer. The hurtle isn’t high.

Dick Cheney, swearing in Roland Burris, who was appointed by Rod Blagojevich! Insane!

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:41 pm
Maybe Burris will, as in time heralded practice of politics, hand the senate seat over to one of his children.

Comment by RobRoy Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:48 pm
The primary is February 2, 2010.

Which is Ground Hog’s Day.

Perhaps Burris will see his shadow or the shadow of Blago.

That’s 12.6 months to the election.

My guess is that Burris loses the primary, but my bias may be playing a role. Someone has to step up and run against him.

If it weren’t for a few dozen scandals and unfair criminal convictions in my past I would do it.

Comment by IrishPirate Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:54 pm
burris is a lefty. isn’t obama a southpaw, too?

Comment by just ducky Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:55 pm
Burris has now secured the wonderful health and retirement benefits of a US Senator and ensured that he will command a fine price on the speaker circuit. Cheney, of course, will do quite well himself; the rewards for his eight years of service will be many. Personally, I’d be happy if he’d never disclose his location again. Ever.

Comment by KeepSmiling Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:01 pm
Anyone who thinks that Burris isn’t viable has not studies voting patterns of Illinois democrats. Cook County (read: Chicago, Thornton Township, Proviso Township, et al) are enough to carry Sen. Burris to victory. The one scenario is another African American who has the juice to deflect votes from Roland. Otherwise, a rich white guy won’t cut it.

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:01 pm
Keep Smiling: how many senators do you know making big bucks on the speaker circuit?

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:03 pm
Thanks, John and IrishPirate.

Right, “appointed” is good but maybe From the Sidelines would like to have “from Centralia” worked into the new language on the monument.

Comment by been there Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:06 pm
Joe, I haven’t known many senators, true, but my college paid both Hubert Humphrey and Wellstone to make appearances. Ex-senators, ex-joint chiefs of staff, etc. who served under unusual or challenging circumstances will always be in demand. Do you really think Gore provides freebies?

Comment by KeepSmiling Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:26 pm
Trail of Jeers.

Comment by vole Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:30 pm
==“first african american to be sworn into office in the u.s. senate by vice president dick cheney”

Ummm…. Second. ==

How about “last”?

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:32 pm
From the Sidelines is correct about constituent service.

As for the 2010 primary, I’m willing to bet that Sen. Burris will have a challenger and that he could well lose that contest. If he should win a term, though, I wonder if he would make it to 2016. How old is the man?

Comment by Deep South Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:38 pm
My apologies, Joe. I meant Walter Mondale, not Hubert Humphrey. Hubert’s just been on my mind lately, because he was a great man. I’ve been thinking how much I wish there were more in office today like him.

Comment by KeepSmiling Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:42 pm
==another Southern Illinoisan in the Senate==

What are you smoking? When was the last time RolBur was south of I-72? In the fifties??

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:44 pm
unrelated headline oops of the day: Yahoo now has the Hudson River plane crash with a sidebar headline “US Airline Traffic Drops By 7 Percent”

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:46 pm
That seat will be the GOP’s in 2010.

Comment by scoot Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:46 pm
Keep Smiling: That’s true about HHH! I agree with you there. But you must also admit that Gore’s attraction was the fact that he was denied the presidency in 2000 and, after all, he was VP, as was Mondale and HHH. Sen. Burris will cap his career as a Senator (one can only hope).

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:48 pm
KeepSmiling::

Burris is one of the worst public speakers I have ever heard. I hope nobody pays money to hear him.

Comment by Quizzical Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:52 pm
I don’t know, I think if he can find a little more space on his tombstone…

Comment by KeepSmiling Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:53 pm
Perhaps most galling in all this has been the accepted mantra that “Burris’ integrity has never been questioned.”

While attorney general, Burris was willing to let railroaded Rolando Cruz be put to death for a crime he did not commit. He didn’t want to screw up his gubernatorial campaign.

His assistant attorney general said Burris would not even talk to her about her reservations about the case. She resigned over it and said:

“I knew the prosecutor’s job was not merely to secure conviction but to ensure justice was done.”

Except when you’re Roland Burris and running for governor.

Not to rehash that disgraceful affair, but here’s a link for those who weren’t around.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/16981.html

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:53 pm
Redbright, Burris will staff his office the Chicago way.
Friends and family.
Friends and family of the machine.
Its a political resume building opportunity of the highest order.

Burris and Cheney figurines would make a great salt and pepper set for the politicos with a twisted sense of humor.

Comment by chimack Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:55 pm
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 2:27 pm:

===I find it unlikely Burris will be able to recruit experienced, respected staffers who don’t need any help.===

There are always quality people looking for DC staff jobs. That’ll be the least of his problems, I think.

Rich is right that there are always plenty of qualified people looking to work, however, Burris won’t be looking for them.

Comment by Moderate Repub Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 3:58 pm
I am surprised he didn’t regale the Senate with his Centralia swimming pool story. He now has a new audience with which he can share his tired old stories.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:03 pm
I am a proud liberal, but Burris in no Barak Obama. He lacks the President-Elects intelligence, integrity, humility, and humor. Burris is only out for Burris. I am afraid that in 2010 the other party may take that seat and I am even more afraid that it may do it with my vote.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:09 pm
I believe that Illinois will be in the middle of sending Blago to prison and Burris will be too close to that fire to even get considered.

Comment by sneaker Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:18 pm
“first african american to be sworn into office in the u.s. senate by vice president dick cheney” on Martin Luther King’s Birthday

That might work.

Comment by Cal Skinner Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:30 pm
If Sen. Burris decides to run for re-election he’ll have a good chance to win. He is a fine public servant whose integrity has never been questioned. I know I’ll be there with him and so will others.
The commenters on the CapFax blog do not really reflect the sentiment of the electorate. People like Roland and he will enjoy great support in many parts of the state. If he decides not to run, there will plenty of other qualified Dem candidates who will have a better chance to win than any Republican. Who would the Repubs run? Oberweiss, the guy who took 7 of 9 to a sex club, Jim Edgar, oh wait, I know, Mike Ditka!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:31 pm
I am sure that Burris will have plenty of staffers (although I don’t see any respected staffer of either party being among them) but they won’t be people who understand how to get things done. That’s my point.

Thus, his ability to accomplish anything –assuming he wants to– will be diminished.

(From the Sidelines: Use your congressman for constituent services. They are almost always better for local problems. Senators are better if your kid is stuck in a foreign prison.)

Comment by Redbright Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:32 pm
There’s that “integrity never questioned” bit again.

Bill, what about Rolando Cruz? What about the stalking horse campaign loan that never got repaid?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:34 pm
Bill is going through the necessary stages of grief concerning the impeachment demise awaiting Blago.

Please keep that in mind as he transfers his fealty to another RB.

Comment by IrishPirate Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:36 pm
I live near Centralia and have met Mr. Burris and his family. Anon is right, he’s no Obama. As a dedicated Dem. if Burris’ name shows up on the ballot in 2010, the chad next to his name on my ballot will not be hanging, or even pregnant.

Comment by transplant Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:38 pm
So I suppose that you don’t like Jim Ryan and Joe Birkett either. They are the ones who originally nailed Cruz, not Burris. As far as the campaign loan is concerned, that PAC has been dissolved and the donor has never attempted to be repaid. It happens all the time. There is nothing irregular, what so ever, about that loan.
Roland has been well vetted over a public career of more than 20 years. He has been elected to state wide office four times. He was honored by the US Association of Attorneys Generals and served as its President. His integrity is beyond reproach.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:41 pm
===It happens all the time===

Dude, the loan was for $1.2 million.

That doesn’t happen ever.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:42 pm
==Dude, the loan was for $1.2 million.==

Chickenfeed to a media mogul lkie yourself!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:51 pm
==Dude, the loan was for $1.2 million.==

Chickenfeed to a media mogul like yourself!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:52 pm
Vote Quimby,

We’ll even count state Sen. Donne Trotter as a Southern Illinoisan even though he moved away from Cairo when he was two (or somewhere thereabouts).

Comment by From the Sidelines Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:54 pm
===Chickenfeed===

If I had that kind of moolah sitting around, I wouldn’t be here talking to you, Bill. I’d be in Hawaii talking to you. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:57 pm
What wealthy lawyer is going to challenge Burris in the Primary?

Comment by Prediction Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 4:58 pm
New ratings for who you call to get something done in congress:

(10 is highest)

Bobby Rush - 9
Danny Davis - 4
Jesse Jackson, Jr. - 3

Comment by True Observer Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 5:01 pm
Rich, is it a little chilly on the lake today? Nothing like Hawaii, I’m sure. LOL

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 5:05 pm
===Rich, is it a little chilly on the lake today? ===

I’ll find out soon when I go to a pal’s reception downtown. Not all that enthused, I’ll tell ya.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 5:16 pm
Bill,

You can say “his integrity has never been questioned” but that doesn’t make it so.

Let’s start with his callous disregard for justice for Rolando Cruz. Move to getting 76% of his campaign contributions in 2002 from a single person (oh, what chit will he cash in now!). Next, head towards the pay to play he engaged in as soon as he became AG (50%+ in legal contracts went to campaign contributors) and cap it off with hiring his nephew for a $72,000 ghost payrolling job to pack boxes as he was leaving the office despite his full-time job with FedEx at the time. All of that and you still would not have scratched the surface.

Now that he’s sworn in and a vulnerable Democratic Senator, all those stories and many, many more will come out. I know lots of ex staffers anxious to spill the beans.

Come back here a year from now and we’ll see if you still believe that “his integrity has never been questioned.” Oh wait, you still think Rod is innocent. Nevermind.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 5:52 pm
==So I suppose that you don’t like Jim Ryan and Joe Birkett either==

You got that right. Politics isn’t always life and death, but sometimes it is.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 6:53 pm
I agree, it is sad and Burris should be ashamed of himself (but his ego wouldn’t allow it).

Two questions:
1. How long will it take before he etches “Beloved junior Senator of Illinois 2009 - 2010’ on his creepy mausoleum ?
2. How long before he does or says something stupid to try and live up to his ‘Trail Blazer’ reputation?

Comment by this voter will remember Thursday, Jan 15, 09 @ 6:57 pm
Didn’t Roland get caught on TV talking trash about “white” people at a fundraising dinner no less. I guess he thought people would forget while we hoped he would forget to bother running or asking people to support him. Hailing from the same cultural background, I want to go on record as having no tolerance for black or white racists. Viewing life through a “race” lens makes one a racist, at least a counter racist. It seems fitting however that Blags would find the worst politician in Illinois to dirty what Barack has done over the last few years. I will be watching the impeachment very closely, probably tailgaiting before each session.

Comment by Citizens' Advocate Friday, Jan 16, 09 @ 7:24 am
One of the problems Burris faces, is that he, to Illinoians, is obviously no Barack Obama. He is a B actor who has greedily stepped into the role inhabited by an A actor, and Burris suffers from the comparisons.

No, I don’t believe the Fax bloggers are removed from Illinois voters regarding how they feel about Mr. Burris.

I know Bill hopes that voters are stupid enough to re-elect his guys, but voters really are not as stupid as Bill hopes they are.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 16, 09 @ 8:49 am

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