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* 2:54 pm - The teevee is reporting that US Sen. Dick Durbin asked US Sen. Roland Burris to resign. Burris said no, of course.
Durbin also said that Burris hasn’t made up his mind about whether he’ll run in 2010. So, the trial balloon from earlier today apparently was either false or was walked back.
From USA Today…
Burris declined to comment as reporters circled around him and walked with him to the elevators. “My attorney suggests I don’t discuss this,” Burris said as he waited for the elevator.
* 3:05 pm - Politico…
Durbin: “[Burris] said he had not made up his mind as to whether he would be a candidate [in 2010]…I told him that under the circumstances, I would consider resigning, in his shoes. He said he would not resign.”
* 3:38 pm - Video…
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 2:58 pm
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Of course he did, and of course he did.
Durbin almost had to didn’t he, to try and save some kind of face from the whole ‘We won’t seat anyone nominated by our former Gov’ circus.
Burris probably hasn’t got the bill for the last engraving on the tomb….And one can expect the only way for him to leave that office now is for him to be literally carried out..
Comment by 618er Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:05 pm
“My attorney suggests I don’t discuss this,” Burris said…
Another classic case of not-better-government. And, transparancy in action.
Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:08 pm
When a question comes up about what an Illinois politician will do in a given situation, the answer will unerringly be whatever creates the opportunity for the most hysterics and ridicule. In other words, good biz for the CFB!
Comment by BigDog Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:09 pm
“My attorney suggests I don’t discuss this”
Why? Resignation would be a purely political decision – unless, of course, you are just trying to hold onto your office long enough to be able to use it as a bargaining chip in some sort of upcoming criminal deal.
Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:20 pm
In all seriousness, I wonder if Roland Burris is beginning suffer from later in life stage lack of clear thinking. The man had a decent reputation, maybe not quite the ‘trailblazer’ he likes to position himself as but decent and honest. Is he so self absorbed that he’s willing to completely destroy his reputation or does he just not get it?
He appears to not fully understand the situation he has put himself in. Very sad not only for the people of Illinois but very sad for him as well.
As angry as I am over this whole mess, I’m really trying to view this from Burris’ view point. My only conclusion is he just doesn’t fully understand what is going on!
Comment by Hair today, gone.... Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:24 pm
Hair today - If he doesn’t understand what is going on Mr. Burris is to dumb to be senator!
Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:28 pm
Anybody catch the Elevator story? Pretty funny…
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:34 pm
Sen. Burris understands what’s going on. He just wants this position more than anything and was willing to do anything to get it–not unlike Jesse Jackson Jr. Jesse actually raised money for Blago. We should just move on. Burris is not going to harm anything except his reputation and possibly the Democrats’ chances in ‘10–but probably not. He shouldn’t have taken the position, but he did and now he’s not going to give it up. He may be an egomaniac, delusional, and a poor judge of character, but I don’t see anything illegal here.
Comment by CC Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:36 pm
What is it with Illinois politicians and resignations? Resignation is anathema here.
Is this some kind of weird Chicago hubris?
Whatever happened to humility?
Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:37 pm
Burris was appointed legally by the elected Governor of this state. Why should he go? Durbin was one of the Pols who endorsed Blago even though he knew he was being investigated.
The General Assembly could have changed the law but didn’t. Live with it Dem’s
Comment by GOPvotecounter Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:46 pm
Burris will probably finish this term. In 2010, who will replace him? I think the republican candidates will be Congressmen Kirk (my congressman) and Roskam. The Democrats will be Rep. Schakowsky and Attorney General Madigan. If so, who will run for those four seats? I hope that St. Rep. Elizabeth Coulson and former St. Rep. Terry Parke will run for Kirk’s seat.
Comment by ConservativeVeteran Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:54 pm
The “Roland” - The gift that keeps on giving…. and keeps on keeping on.
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 3:59 pm
As a think acts, so it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daYvNM2IuOg
Comment by Diogenes Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:05 pm
AG Madigan would be a very good candidate for Senate. Keep Quinn at Gov. Get rid of Giannoulias. Get rid of Burris. Get rid of Kirk and Roskam. Julie Hamos for AG. Maybe throw Fritchey the treasurer spot after his loss in the 5th. Sounds like things are looking up.
Comment by CC Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:07 pm
Dick! You are so wacky!
OK - just so I’m straight on this…
The guy you said shouldn’t be seated, was seated after you changed your mind - but now you decided that he should resign the seat you said he shouldn’t have been seated in? And the guy ignored you when you said he shouldn’t be seated - and now is ignoring you after you asked that he resign?
Senator Durbin, at what point do you feel really, really, embarrassed? Because 99.9999% of everyone watching what you have been doing since January regarding Roland Burris just couldn’t go through with this level of public stupidity.
When will you learn sir?
Now that you are publically requesting Mr. Burris’ resignation, what are you going to do when he refuses? Oh, wait - he is refusing! Will you change your mind again, or will you just dance a little silly jig at your next press conference?
Get ready sir - I think I hear a fiddle warming up!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:12 pm
OK, Mr President please pull Mr. Burris to the side and explain that he needs to just go away. He is tainted and cannot represent the State of Illinois properly. This is the only way we can be rid of further embarassment as a State.
Comment by Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:16 pm
Anyone who thinks Roland Burris will just “resign” is not listening clearly to the interview.
He discussed the hardship on his family of hundreds of thousands of outstanding legal bills.
When he finds a way to pay his legal bills, he’ll resign. Get it?
Its called “Pay-to-NOT-Play.” Like farm subsidies for politicians.
Check this out for a good laugh:
http://cagle.com/news/LyingBurris/images/granlund.jpg
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:23 pm
I think VM has Durbin summed up perfectly. The only good thing that could come out of this is that Durbin gets beat next time he runs, but that is many years away.
Comment by James the Intolerant Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:41 pm
Dick is obviously playing to his strength - too naive to be corrupted by Illinois politics.
This often works, but sir, you are a supposed national leader. How many times do you think you can be made a fool of, before voters update their views of you and start to consider how easily you seemed to be fooled. Just how senatorial does this all make you appear?
You still look honest - in a Forrest Gump sort of way.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:48 pm
What do you think of Burris: “doesn’t understand his position, tainted, embarrassment, lack of clear thinking, dumb?”
What then do we think of the senator who figuratively and literally walked him into the senate chamber to be sworn in? This would be funny if it were not so sad.
Comment by anon III Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:57 pm
We will be saddled with Burris and Durbin for the time being. Burris is gonna ride this wave to the next election. We can only hope the good people of the state of Illinois can remember who brought us to the sorry state come the next elections. Mike Madigan declined to ask for special elections saying “I didn’t trust that Blago would sign the legislation”. Durbin said “We will not seat anybody Blago appoints”. I am not in Madigan’s district so can’t work to get him out. He has too much power over me and I have no vote to get rid of him. Durbin is an incumbent and they are hard to beat. However, I do remember smilin’ Al “the pal” Dixon and frmr Sen Braun. There is hope out there,
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 4:58 pm
Without Durbin protecting him, the Senate should promptly proceed with its ethics investigation which hopefully will result with Burris being excommunicated. Durbin owes it to each and every one of his constituents to see Burris unseated as soon as possible since but for his own complicity in this mess, Burris would never have been seated in the first place. Jessie White was the only public figure to take the principled approach to all of this and should be commended
Comment by steve Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 5:01 pm
“What I said was, ‘You know, if I were in your shoes, I would consider resigning…”
Notice, not “resign” but “think about resigning”.
In other words, Durbin wouldn’t resign either.
Comment by True Observer Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 5:10 pm
Steve,
Actually…you are right. When all of this is said and done (and more will be said, than done)Jesse White is the only one who had any ba— (guts).
Comment by SpfldJimbo Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 5:38 pm
Perhaps Roland (D - Mausoleum Extravaganza) should send a pair of his shoes to Durbin (D - Milktoast) and suggest he put them on and resign. The clock is ticking . . .
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 6:23 pm
Old Rollie’s playing his part perfectly, partisan trooper that he is!
Act 1
Refuse to resign
Act 2
Lose to Ms. Madigan, Mr. Hynes, or whoever in the 2010 Dem primary, giving the winner lots of publicity and the chance to claim “momentum” because he/she beat an incumbent
Act 3
Give Gov. Quinn, Sen. Durbin, Ms. Madigan, Mr. Hynes, and every Dem pol in the state the chance to remind the voters “I asked him to resign”
Act 4
Retire with an enhanced pension and spend his waning years polishing his mausoleum and campaigning tirelessly to get Rod’s sentence commuted
Comment by Shoeless Joe Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 6:39 pm
The Machine wants Burris out,so they can appoint there own family hack!Durbin is a total fool and he needs to rsign!
Hey Durbin,how’s your buddy Cellini doing?
Comment by Inside Cook Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 6:39 pm
Have you noticed that when honest people are tainted with the brush of impropriety, they waste not time resigning and distancing themselves from that situation.
Notice how out top pols behave…..
Honest, I think not.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 6:41 pm
The shoes Burris sends to Durbin should be Flip-Flops. Durbin, Reid, and Obama caved in to the bad press, pressure and phony charges of racism to force the appointment they now, hypocritically, want him to resign from. Jesse White should get the appointment as he is the only involved official that performed with integrity.
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 7:06 pm
All of you ragging on Burris, take your hypocritical asses to a cliff and jump off. All politicians solicit money and favors, don’t hold Burris to any higher standard. Burris also disclosed his contacts. More than we can say about Rahmn Emanuel spoke to Blago’s people. Gov. Richardson was under federal investigation for bribery when selected for Commerce, Daschle made $2.5 M a year working for a law firm with a BA in poli-sci. Sick of White people clamoring about morality and standards when you have none.
Next you’ll tell me Obama is your child’s role model. Get a damn life.
Comment by Inside Cook Wednesday, Feb 25, 09 @ 7:05 pm
Hey, Inside Cook, can you get a new post? Do you have that particular post in Word so you can copy and paste it?
If you want to be a pro-Burris partisan, fine, do so. We just request a little originality.
Comment by Lynn S Wednesday, Feb 25, 09 @ 9:55 pm