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Shocker: Harry Reid Called Hot Rod Blagojevich to Push Against African-American Appointees for Obama’s Senate Seat
Sources say Senate majority leader Harry Reid (left) pushed against Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (center), and suggested Gov. Rod Blagojevich appoint state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth (right) to President-elect Obama’s vacant Senate seat.
Not really a shocker – but Democrat Party politics as usual.Congressman and COS to Barack Obama called Illinois Governor Hot Rod Blagojevich with the bosses’ recommendation for his U.S. Senate seat and why not Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Days before Gov. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, top Senate Democrat Harry Reid made it clear who he didn’t want in the post: Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones.
Rather, Reid called Blagojevich to argue he appoint either state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Sources say the Senate majority leader pushed against Jackson and Davis — both democratic congressmen from Illinois — and against Jones — the Illinois Senate president who is the political godfather of President-elect Barack Obama — because he did not believe the three men were electable. He feared losing the seat to a Republican in a future election.
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero confirmed that Reid (D-Nev.) and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) — the new chief of the Senate Democratic political operation — each called Blagojevich’s campaign office separately Dec. 3. Sources believe that at least portions of the phone conversations are on tape.
Does anyone NOW think Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats will now have the BALLS to block Roland Burris (also African-American) from taking the Obama seat next Tuesday?
Flap and the world wants to hear Harry Reid on tape which will undoubtedly be “leaked” when Blago is eventually indicted. Did Harry Reid pan the appointment of Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones because of their race? Is this why he suggested they could NOT win the seat in two years?
And, will Harry Reid be called to testify in Hot Rod’s trial?
This seat looks like a GOP capture every day.
Technorati Tags: Harry Reid, Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich, Jesse Jackson Jr., Tammy Duckworth
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A Roland Burris Disqualification Showdown Scenario – A Senate Validity Resolution?
Rep. Bobby Rush speaks after Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich announces his choice of former Ill. Attorney General Roland Burris, right, to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat
Yes, Harry Reid will manuver a Senate Resolution to study the validity of Roland Burris’ appointment to the U.S. Senate until his appointment by Rod Blagojevich is MOOT.The first thing the Senate leadership plans to do is to demand, under Rule 2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a certificate containing “the name of the person elected or appointed, the date of the certificate, the name of the governor and the secretary of state signing and countersigning the same, and the State from which such Senator is elected or appointed.”
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has said that he does not intend to sign the certificate–but that may not be all that much of an impediment. It turns out that Blagojevich–like every other Governor, I’m told–has a set of certificates that are pre-signed by the Secretary of State, to be used in the event of an emergency. If Burris shows up with one of those, the Senate leadership intends to reject it. But Senate leaders also are preparing for the possibility that Burris will get a Writ of Mandamus ordering the Secretary of State to sign the certificate.
At that point, the first order of business for the Senate would be to vote on a resolution questioning the validity of Blagojevich’s appointment of Burris, and specifically, raising the question that the Governor asked for or received something of value in exchange for naming Burris. (There is, of course, no evidence that anything like this happened.) The resolution would be nondebatable and nonamendable, which means the Republican minority would not be allowed to attach, say, a separate resolution blocking Al Franken from being seated from Minnesota. What happens then? The whole thing would be sent to the Senate Rules and Administration Committee for “investigation.” Said investigation would have a time limit, specifically written to give the Illinois Legislature enough time to impeach Blagojevich, put Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn in the job, and get a new appointment.
The scenario is plausible and why it was floated to the left-supporting Time Magazine for comment and vetting. But, what is in Burris’ interest to not raise a stink on the floor and then immediately march over to the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge the entire process as a subterfuge?
Maybe President-Elect Obama can promise him the Ambassadorship to some vacation resort island country?
Or maybe the U.S. Senate Democrats can let it go and allow this seventy-three year old African-American to serve two years, then retire and then get a federal appointment?
The deals will be made this weekend.
Does Patrick Fitzgerald have his microphones turned on?
Technorati Tags: Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich
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Shocker: Roland Burris Sought Death Penalty for Innocent Man
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and former Illinois Attoreny General Roland Burris
Shocking? NOT Really…..The story about Roalnd Burris’ egregiously poor judgment is well documented and can explain why this meat head has been unable to win statewide election on numerous occasions since.
Former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pick to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, is no stranger to controversy.
Public fury over the governor’s alleged misconduct has masked the once lively debate over Burris’ decision to continue to prosecute, despite the objections of one of his top prosecutors, the wrong man for a high-profile murder case.
While state attorney general in 1992, Burris aggressively sought the death penalty for Rolando Cruz, who twice was convicted of raping and murdering a 10-year-old girl in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. The crime took place in 1983.
But by 1992, another man had confessed to the crime, and Burris’ own deputy attorney general was pleading with Burris to drop the case, then on appeal before the Illinois Supreme Court.
Burris refused. He was running for governor.
The Illinois GOP should drop its hysterical efforts to force a special election. It very much looks like Burris will be a caretaker ONLY for two years or “easy pickin’s” for a Republican challenger in 2010.
Thanks Hot Rod……
Technorati Tags: Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich
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Roland Burris – I Am NOT Seeking to Be Confrontational But I am the Junior Senator from Illinois
Rep. Bobby Rush speaks after Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich announces his choice of former Ill. Attorney General Roland Burris, right, to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat
Would Harry Reid REALLY have the balls to block Roland Burris from taking his seat in the United States Senate chambers?No, he wouldn’t and the Illinois Secretary of State will not be able to legally block Hot Rod’s appointment.
So, break out the champagne and celebrate with Roland Burris when he says: “I Am the Junior Senator from Illinois.”
Roland Burris suggested he would challenge an effort to block his appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, but said he’s confident that Senate Democrats will back down and allow him to take the job.
“We think they will come around and recognize that the appointment is legal and valid and I am the junior Senator from Illinois,” he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal at his office here.
Flap wonders when Illinois voters will say they have had enough and initiate some election reforms like a voter initiated recall, referendum and/or initiative process like in California?
In the meantime, Illinois folks, including the Illinois GOP can bellow all they want about a special election but Burris is appointed and he is an Illinois Senator whether they like it or not.
Technorati Tags: Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich, Barack Obama
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Harry Reid Ain’t Going to Block Roland Burris from Taking Obama’s Senate Seat
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and former Illinois Attoreny General Roland Burris
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s arguments that he and the Democrat Caucus will be able to block Hot Rod Blagojevich’s apointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat are laughable.Responding to arguments that the Senate can only rule on narrow issues of qualifications, and not refuse to seat a member based on some broader judgment, Harry Reid’s spokesman, Jim Manley, emails over the argument of the Democratic leadership:
In response to those who are asking how this is different from Powell v. McCormack, in which supreme court said House could not refuse to seat a member based on his alleged corruption and said only qualifications to be considered are those listed in the Constitution:
[W]e are not making a judgment about qualifications of appointee, but about whether appointment itself is tainted by fraud, which we believe we are entitled to do under Art. 1 s. 5.
This is like judging the integrity of an election, free from fraud or corruption. It’s the process that led to the [appointment], not the appointee’s fitness.
Hot Rod Blagojevich is NOT a convicted anything and has NOT EVEN been indicted. The Illinois Governor has ONLY been charged for crimes related to the Senate appointment. Flap doubts that there will be any quick impeachment of the sitting Governor based on non-indictment charges.
Now, Patrick Fitzgerald, the United States Attorney has requested a 90 day extension to bring forward an indictment.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has filed a motion seeking a 90-day extension to return of an indictment against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Federal prosecutors normally have 30 days to file an indictment against a defendant. That deadline would have been Jan. 7, and the extension would give prosecutors until April 7 instead.
Authorities arrested Blagojevich on Dec. 9 on corruption charges that accuse him of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.
So, what is to prevent Roland Burris, duly appointed by a lawfully elected Governor of Illinois from taking his seat in the United States Senate in January? Harry Reid?
Flap welcomes the images from the Senate Chamber as Reid orders the Senate Seargent of Arms to physically bar an African-American former Illinois Attorney General from taking a seat. Anyone think this will happen?
But, should Reid order Burris off the Senate floor, the United States Supreme Court will issue an immediate injunction ordering the Senate to accept the appointment.
Whatever the process, Hot Rod will not be easily or quickly impeached and Roland Burris will be a United States Senator from Illinois.
Technorati Tags: Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich, Harry Reid, Barack Obama
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Obama Says NO to Hot Rod Blagojevich’s Appointment of Roland Burris to His Senate Seat – But So What?
President-Elect Barack Obama and former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris
Obama issues a statement condemning Hot Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to his former Senate seat.“Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy,” said President-elect Obama.
But, so what?
Unless the United States Supreme Court rules otherwise, the appoinment will stand.
But Supreme Court precedent suggests “no”: The Court held in Powell v. McCormack (1969), that “in judging the qualifications of its members Congress is limited to the standing qualifications prescribed in the Constitution,” such as age and citizenship. Now perhaps the Senators are right and the Court was wrong, and perhaps today’s Court would overrule Powell. But at least at this point, Powell seems to make clear that under Article I, Section 5 the Senate may determine whether the Senator should be seated solely based on the objective qualifications that the Constitution prescribes, and not based on its judgment whether Gov. Blagojevich ought to be entitled to make the appointment.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the President-Elect will have NO SAY as to this appointment.
Flap looks forward to the moral indignation from the Democrats on this appointment as they on the other hand accept it.
Hypocrites all.
Blago won this round.
Technorati Tags: Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich, Barack Obama
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Don’t Hang or Lynch Roland Burris for Obama’s Senate Seat, BRO – Rep. Bobby Rush
Link:
Don’t ‘Hang Or Lynch’ Him: Dem. Congressman Makes Plea To Keep African-American AppointmentHot Rod Blagojevich is cagey like a fox in appointing former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris who is African American to Barack Obama’s open U.S. Senate seat.
A House Democrat is daring Senate leaders to block a black man from taking President-elect Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.
Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois points out that Roland Burris would be the only black man in a chamber populated overwhelmingly by white senators.
Senate Democratic leaders earlier Tuesday added an explicit note of support for Burris personally, but not for his appointment by the embattled governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. The leaders said the Democratic caucus would refuse to seat Burris if Blagojevich appoints him, and called their stance a reflection of the scandal-tainted governor.
Love that RACE CARD being played.
Flap thought this was a post-racial society after the election of the Obamessiah?
Looks like PLUS CA CHANGE.
Over to you, Harry Reid…….
Technorati Tags: Roland Burris, Bobby Rush, Barack Obama, Rod Blagojevich
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Hot Rod Blagojevich to Appoint Roland Burris to Obama’s Senate Seat But Harry Reid Says NO
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and former Illinois Attoreny General Roland Burris
Yep, Hot Rod is set to make the appointment within the hour and YES, Roland Burris is a long time Illinois Democrat hack who is a crony of Hot Rod.Gov. Blagojevich today is expected to name former state Comptroller and Attorney General Roland Burris to Illinois’ vacant U.S. Senate seat, a knowledgeable source said this morning.
A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m.
llinois Secretary of State Jesse White said he intends to block Gov. Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris as U.S. Senator. As secretary of state, White must certify the appointment and said in a statement he will not do so.
“I have previously stated publicly I cannot cosign a document that certified any appointment by Rod Blagojevich for the vacant United States Senate seat in Illinois. Although I have respect for former Attorney General Roland Burris, because of the current cloud of controversy surrounding the governor, I cannot accept the document,” White said.
And, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said the Democrat caucus in the U.S. Senate will NOT accept the Burris appointment from Hot Rod (or ANY appointment) who was arrested and charged earlier in the month for trying to sell Obama’s former seat.
The Senate will not seat Roland Burris if Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich attempts to appoint him, a Democratic leadership aide said.
Majority Leader Harry Reid views Burris as “unacceptable,” the aide said.
It is obvious that Blago is sticking a finger in the eye of the Democrat Party. And, playing a little African-American identity politics at the same time.
And, the Democrat “Culture of Corruption” lingers on and on…….
Now, all the GOP needs is for Al Franken to win in Minnesota and the comeback for the GOP will begin in earnest.
Technorati Tags: Rod Blagojevich, Harry Reid, Roland Burris, Barack Obama
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Video: The Obligatory “I Will Fight Until I Take My Last Breath” by Hot Rod Blagojevich
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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago todayHot Rod professes his innocence in the video above, “I have done nothing wrong…” and “And I’m not going to quit a job the people hired me to do because of false accusations and a political lynch mob.”
It will be a LONG couple of months for the people of Illinois and the Obama Administration because it is ALL going to come out – the Chicagoland way.
Merry Christmas to Rahm Emanuel from Hot Rod.
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Rod Blagojevich
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Shocker: Rham Emanuel Had Direct Talks With Hot Rod Blagojevich Pushing Valerie Jarret for Obama’s Senate Seat
Rahm Emanuel (Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff and former Illinois Congressman) (right) and Gov. Rod Blagojevich at a news conference in 2004
No, not really.President-elect Barack Obama’s incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had a deeper involvement in pressing for a U.S. Senate seat appointment than previously reported, the Sun-Times has learned. Emanuel had direct discussions about the seat with Gov. Blagojevich, who is is accused of trying to auction it to the highest bidder.
Emanuel talked with the governor in the days following the Nov. 4 election and pressed early on for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the post, sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Sun-Times. There was no indication from sources that Emanuel brokered a deal, however.
The Tapes! The Tapes! The Tapes Boss!
American voters will learn more when Patrick Fitzgerald receives a Blagojevich indictment and the wiretap tapes flow to Blago’s attorney and thus the world.
Rham Emanuel is starting to glow (i.e. becoming radioactive).
Stay tuned…….
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Was the SEIU an Obama – Blagojevich Intermediary for the Senate Seat? Part Two
The Blagojevich Private Conference Call, Valerie Jarrett and The Obama Transition Team
Was the SEIU an Obama – Blagojevich Intermediary for the Senate Seat?
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Rod Blagojevich, Valerie Jarrett