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Burris attempts to extricate himself

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Illinois
Durbin
Burris

* If Roland Burris agrees not to run in 2010, will the heat truly be off? At least his possible purely caretaker role will allow him to stop running his mouth in public, so we’ll see. Lynn Sweet floats a trial balloon about a meeting later today between Burris and Sen. Dick Durbin…

Burris understands that he needs to try to mollify Durbin and he will attempt to do that.

Scoop: Burris will also be sending, directly or indirectly (maybe this is it) two messages: he will not resign in the wake of the controversy surrounding his appointment by the ousted Gov. Blagojevich and he will not run for the seat in 2010. Burris has finally realized that not seeking election next year is the least price he will pay.

Sweet claims that the Senate Ethics Committe probe could take time. and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney investigation into alleged perjury won’t be finished soon. Maybe not. Durbin might be able to slow-walk the ethics committee, but that would be foolish. And the state’s attorney doesn’t exactly have a gigantic mound of evidence to sift through. It’s pretty straightforward stuff (although perjury is probably unlikely).

* This won’t help, however…

As U.S. Sen. Roland Burris prepared Monday to return to work in Washington, his attorneys continued to prepare a document they say will show he has not changed his story about how he secured the Senate seat from Gov. Rod Blagojevich. […]

“It will show he hasn’t changed his story,” [Burris attorney Tim Wright] said. “This will be a document that will be factually based, and I’m confident it will show that it’s been the media that’s changed their story, not the senator.”

Yeah, blame Burris’ prevarications on the media. That’ll allow the heat to die down.

* Related…

* Illinois Republicans Interested in Burris’ Seat

* Watchdog group joins chorus calling for Burris’ resignation

* Did Senate leaders blow it on Burris?

* Durbin Seeks Meeting as Burris Returns to Washington

* Burris to Head Back to D.C., Remain Silent

* Roland Burris returns to DC to face colleagues

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:03 am

Comments

Whether he lied or not is relevant only for the purposes of determining whether or not he committed perjury. Morally he is culpable because he very clearly misled.

I’m a Democrat (nominally), but I will not be voting for any pol that is willing to cut a deal with Burris and/or who is making conciliatory statements (this means you Danny Davis). Anyone who turns a blind eye to ethical problems should and will be voted out of office by a very angry public.

Comment by Cynic Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:21 am
it had seemed to me that burris had already realized that he wouldn’t be on the ballot in february 2010, so this is hardly news. but it does acknowledge the controversy surrounding his appointment.

if he really wants to secure his legacy untainted, he has to be much more aggressive about explaining how his oversight of his contacts with the blagojevich people should not be viewed as suspicious. he hasn’t done that yet and he doesn’t seem inclined to do that. he just wants it all to go away. good luck with that…

Comment by bored now Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:22 am
Since Burris had the scruples to take the seat from Blago, I don’t see him resigning. Last time, all he had to do to scare the Senate Dems was show up at the door.

The Democratic controlled U.S. Senate will not expel the only black U.S. Senator, period.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:24 am
Luckily, ARDC will move much quicker on whether he can keep his law license.

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:29 am
Methinks someone needs to add just a wee bit of tinfoil to their hat regarding the ARDC moving quicker. Unless that was sarcasm and I missed it.

Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:41 am
Burris; typical IL politics; hope for and wait to see if issue dies down; continue embarassment as usual.

Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:51 am
I love it when the media is blamed…its code for “We don’t have anything else.”

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:52 am
Politico has it from a Burris spokesperson that he still hasn’t made a decision about 2010. Sweet isn’t having the best of days.

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:57 am
Generally, the ARDC only gets excited if an attorney steals money from a client. There is an article about a “public guardian” in St Clair Cty in yesterday’s Belleville News Democrat. That’s the kind of case the ARDC goes for usually. This type of case is unusual. I would be surprised if the ARDC went on any fast track with this one.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:59 am
I think having Wright at his side has been a huge mistake. At the House hearing, he and Burris reminded me of Michael Corleone and Tom Hagen appearing before the Senate committee in Godfather II.

Whispered advice from the attorney before speaking does not the appearance of innocence make.

Comment by Proud Goo-Goo Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:06 am
As much as I do not respect Durbin I am hoping he has enough influence on Burris to get him to, if not outright resign, to get him to commit to not running in 2010. I doubt Burris will do either. He’s got a grip on the seat and won’t let it go. I doubt he can win in any election. If he doesn’t go then Durbin better work to isolate Burris. Frankly, I would hope that there is a price to pay on Durbin’s part if he fails in this. However, I would just rather see a principled stand on the part of someone in this whole mess no matter which party. Someone who has some power anyway. I guess that leaves the Democrats.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:13 am
I’m thinking that if Burris states that he isn’t going to run in 2010, it will only INCREASE the heat that he is feeling.

Frankly, that is about the only “leverage” he has right now. If he removes that from the discussion, then it is that much easier to throw him out now.

I mean, if he isn’t going to run in 2 years, might as well sacrifice him now while the news cycle is hot. The Repubs can/should ride this one hard. It’s about the only thing they have going for them right now.

He is an embarassment, and should be removed now.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:13 am
I have been more impressed with how Mr. Wright has handled press conferences than Mr. Burris. While he looks like a bouncer next to the diminutive Mr. Burris, the Senator’s weak presentation of facts, his stumbling confusion, and his reliance on Mr. Wright casts the Senator as a puppet to Mr. Wright’s puppeteer act.

That said - Mr. Burris’ deal shows how he is now willing to hide behind a pledge of non-candidacy in order to survive future revelations that will further damage his credibility. Mr. Burris, I believe, hopes that if he can survive the next few months in office, then his senate seat would be more secure - to the point where he could alter his non-candidacy commitment due to “voter demand” next year.

Mr. Burris has lost his luster and now resides with other politicians who are routinely dismissed as egotistical hacks. Consequentially, my pre-Blagojevich esteem for him is gone, as it is with a majority of Illinois voters today.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:30 am
How, his leverage is that he is the Senator, and the Senate would have to vote to expel him. He doesn’t have to do anything to stay where he’s at.

How are they going to persuade him to resign? Offer to help him set up a foundation? Fundraising? A high-paying job? Remember what happened to the last guys who chatted about that.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:34 am
@ws

I agree it’s doubtful that the senate will expell him. But they can put him on dead end comittees, and generally make him irrelevant. But that in the end just hurts Illinois.

Either way, it stinks to be in IL.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:38 am
I am with Word. Burris has nothing to gain by resigning. if he stays he gets th paychekc, expense account, and a modicum of fame.

Durbin is a coward if he doesnt at least shortly call for Burris to resign, and push the ethics committee to remove Burris. I used to admire Durbin, but his actions of late lack clear leadership.

Burris and blago live in the same delusion. Instead of trying to play games with his words, Burris should just appologize for not being clear/making a mistake and move us forward. His absolute instance on innocence is doing him far more harm.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 1:01 pm
I’m sure there’ll be a separate post on this soon, but two tweets from Crain’s Chicago:

“Burris emerged, looking shaken, said he’s “under orders not to say anything.” Wouldn’t say whose orders. Quickly got into elevator.”

and

“Durbin says Burris told him he won’t resign.”

Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 2:52 pm