Democrats Take Action?!

In a breaking news bulletin from about an hour ago, we reported that Politico.com announced that an aide to Senate Democratic leadership said that Roland Burris's appointment to the Senate by Gov. Rod Blagojevich was unacceptable. It is now being confirmed by major news sources, and via the Wall Street Journal, we now bring you both the statment of today by Democratic Leadership, as well as their letter to Gov. Blagojevich from the day after he was arrested. See, it is possible for us all to be on the same side. As long as we aren't talking about tax policy.

December 30, 2008

“It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic
Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take
the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would
serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety. We say this
without prejudice toward Roland Burris’s ability, and we respect his years of
public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a
governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under
these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective
representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be
seated by the Democratic Caucus.

“Next week we will start one of the most
important debates of the year – outlining an economic recovery plan to create
jobs and invest in America. And in the coming weeks, we will be working to
protect homeowners and consumers, make America more energy independent,
strengthen our national security, and improve health care and educational
opportunities. There is much work to do and a lot at stake. It is thus critical
that Illinois and every other state have two seated Senators without
delay.

“We again urge Gov. Blagojevich to not make this appointment. It is
unfair to Mr. Burris, it is unfair to the people of Illinois and it will
ultimately not stand. The governor must put the interests of the people of
Illinois and all Americans first by stepping aside now and letting his successor
appoint someone who we will seat.”

* * *
December 10, 2008

Dear
Governor Blagojevich:
We write to insist that you step down as Governor of
Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill
the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on
alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any
appointment by you would raise serious questions.

It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be seated as soon as possible so that Illinois is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th Congress moves forward.

Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.

We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you to refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.
Sincerely,
Sen. Reid
Sen. Durbin
Sen. Schumer
Sen. Murray
Sen. Akaka
Sen. Baucus
Sen. Bayh
Sen. Biden
Sen. Bingaman
Sen. Boxer
Sen. Brown
Sen. Byrd
Sen. Cantwell
Sen. Cardin
Sen. Carper
Sen. Casey
Sen. Clinton
Sen. Conrad
Sen. Dodd
Sen. Dorgan
Sen. Feingold
Sen. Feinstein
Sen. Harkin
Sen. Inouye
Sen. Johnson
Sen. Kennedy
Sen. Kerry
Sen. Klobuchar
Sen. Kohl
Sen. Landrieu
Sen. Lautenberg
Sen. Leahy
Sen. Levin
Sen. Lieberman
Sen. Lincoln
Sen. McCaskill
Sen. Menendez
Sen. Mikulski
Sen. Ben Nelson
Sen. Bill Nelson
Sen. Pryor
Sen. Reed
Sen. Rockefeller
Sen. Salazar
Sen. Sanders
Sen. Stabenow
Sen. Tester
Sen. Webb
Sen. Whitehouse
Sen. Wyden

Exactly What the Framers Had in Mind

I sure wouldn't want to be Harry Reid today. Actually, I can't imagine that I'd ever want to be Harry Reid, but today more so than usual. The Wall Street Journal reported today (along with I'm sure multiple other sources that I haven't read yet this morning) that defamed and fabled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is going back on his word and naming someone to fill President-Elect Obama's vacant Illinois Senate Seat. And I thought the story couldn't get any richer.

Now nothing against Blagogate's nominee, former Illinois Attorney General Roland W. Burris. Burris, in addition to serving as Illinois Attorney General from 1991 to 1995, Burris was also the first African-American to hold statewide elected office in Illinois, when in 1978 he was elected to the office of State Comptroller. (So I suppose that within Democratic party circles in Illinois, he is a worthy candidate.) If only Blagojevich hadn't made Burris a sacrificial lamb of sorts.

In Article One, Section Five, The Constitution gives the United States Senate power to "be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members". Basically, if they don't like you, you don't get to join. It's the Washington version of Augusta National Golf Club. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said a few weeks back that the Senate would not seat anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich. I guess now we'll get to see whether or not He will live up to his word.

In the end, the Constitution wished for a legislature that was able to conduct business free of undue influences that would negatively affect them. I am sure they weren't counting on the New York Times editorial board when they wrote that. At any rate, the ability of Harry Reid to say no to Blagojevich's now tainted nominee (who if Blagojevich had any ethics, he would be neither tainted nor a nominee, but his lack of ethics was proven weeks ago), is exactly what the framers had in mind. The ability to avoid the Hollywood-esque drama of today is critical to the conduct of congressional business. If only we could get all the members of Congress to agree.