The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Blago names a senator

Re: Blago names a senator

JC — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:27:07 -0000

The thing that sucks about this, is again, the "associations" for Obama. NOT, I repeat, NOT about Obama - who as per usual, seems to make the most clear-headed, wise decisions about these things - his statement in opposition to Burris nomination is clear as can be.

But - check it:

1. All the disorder around his seat, sullies - even if only a little - the glow of Obama taking office.

2. The pure SOAP OPERA SPECTACLE is, simply, red meat for the press. I myself can't turn away - I'm all "WTF??".

3. Burris as a former, very well thought about, attorney general - very very unfortunately - leads into the fight the Republicans are planning against the NATION'S incoming Attorney General.

So we've got the Blago-Burris show, that the Republicans will then use to segue into the (Bill) Clinton-Holder show. And I can't see them doing anything else but playing up the parallels. And given the Clinton rules, the media will lap it up.

I've gotta say - Blago really rolled Burris, and Bobby Rush with this, to the detraction of the incoming Obama administration.

Re: Blago names a senator

vanderleun — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:38:18 -0000

I hope this great, great show continues well into 2009.

Nothing better.

Lawn chair. Check.

Six-pack. Check.

Popcorn. Check and double check.

Let the parade roll on.

Re: Blago names a senator

rikyrah — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:43:28 -0000

Funniest comment I've read:

Blago done pulled a shank out from underneath his perfectly coiffed hair and cut all them mofos and there's not a damn thing any of them can do about it except put a Hello Kitty band-aid on the situation and call it a day.

BWA HA HA AH HA

Re: Blago names a senator

SarahKK — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:17:59 -0000

A brazen, reckless, and selfish move that can only diminish Obama's ability to hit the ground running in January.

Any predictions for how this plays out?

Re: Blago names a senator

sgwhiteinfla — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:08:08 -0000

If I was a betting man I would bet the farm that the Senate Dems will bow down. Its in their nature.

Re: Blago names a senator

k1 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:55:00 -0000

sgwhite-

To be sure Blago is a born hustler, Rush and Burris not so much.

Your point #5 makes sense in the moment, but this will only bring more heat on Blago in the end if the D's dig in.

btw, am I the only one impressed with Blago's confidence in public, he doesn't look the least bit shook, cousin was born to play on this stage.

k1

ryanculver.blogspot.com

Re: Blago names a senator

sgwhiteinfla — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:29:53 -0000

Let me say this since I have now had my period of WTFness. Politically this is a fucking brilliant move. Don't get me wrong, I am still shocked and outraged that Burris and Rush allowed themselves to be used by that son of a bitch Blagojevich but as for Blago as the phrase goes don't hate the player hate the game.

Let me run this down for a minute.

1. The only other time a Senator has not been allowed to be seated by the members of the Senate the SCOTUS ruled against the Senate so Blago has legal precedent on his side.

2. Blago through the legislature under the bus for not passing the bill to conduct a special election. Honestly I don't know why they got cold feet about it. I couldn't imagine a Republican winning that seat but I digress. The point is he was right about that. The Illinois Democrats come away from this with egg on their face because they had the opportunity to put a mechanism in place to co opt Blago and they didn't.

3. Race card, nuff said

4. Blago makes himself look more legitimate with this move.

5. Now some of the heat that has been on Blago will switch to the fight in the Senate to keep Burris from being seated. Talk about a great pump fake.

Now I will say again that I am beyond pissed, dissappointed and frustrated by Burris and Rush dancing a jig for Blago but he found a way to get them to do it so I can't knock his hustle.

Re: Blago names a senator

non — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:24:46 -0000

I loled@ the Common joke. Obligatory diss track link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpgMemILfSc

Re: Blago names a senator

k1 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:01:07 -0000

This is a joke. NO ONE of any stripe should be afraid to call bullocks on this...Blago is officially a clown and it seems Rush and Burris have their size 20 floppies on as well.

k1

My Blog

Re: Blago names a senator

Mike — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:13:35 -0000

"Of course he had to be black?" Um, of course he's black is more like it. Rod was going to go in a different direction? Or do you think it's just a coincidence?

Re: Blago names a senator

KarenZ — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:12:58 -0000

I imagine that Burris is a decent fellow, but what do you say about a man who (1) is not dead but (2) nevertheless puts a (pretty damn big) memorial to himself in the local cemetery? Check it out here: http://wonkette.com/405196/roland-burris-has-already-constructed-his-terrifying-death-chamber

Re: Blago names a senator

Courtney H — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:11:53 -0000

Just to pile on, what Bobby Rush said made me hang my head in shame as a black man. WTF, can't we keep some of these guys away from the mic. I thought Barack killed off most of these dinosaurs like the comet, but then again, he can only "Change" so much in a short time.

Re: Blago names a senator

Dan — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:01:20 -0000

All else being equal, this would have been a pretty decent pick. At first blush, Burris looks to have enough distance from Blago to pull this off. However, the Trib is reporting that he donated $20,000 to Blago's campaign funds, which negates whatever clean image he had.

I can understand why he'd accept the nomination. Reid hasn't exactly covered himself with glory by demonstrating a lot of backbone in recent history. Burris probably wants to be a Senator, and figured Reid wouldn't have the stones to actually call Blago's bluff. Plus, whether or not the Senate has the authority to block Burris is an open question, since he wasn't elected and meets the constitutional requirements.

And TNC, of course Blago had to pick a black nominee. A run-of-the-mill white guy would deprive him of a lot of his fire-power in muscling his nominee through. Reid will have a hard(er) time black-balling (sorry, but it's the best term) a black man.

Re: Blago names a senator

Scott — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:58:34 -0000

"I thought Rush was unbelievably irresponsible, not so much playing the race card as opening a whole race casino."

Well-crafted, my friend, and lol aplenty.

Re: Blago names a senator

DM — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:57:49 -0000

Jay Smooth, I concur.

Or, in other words, "Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeittt." Maybe Blago will carry a copy of "Prometheus Bound" into the courthouse, too.

Re: Blago names a senator

TRW — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:54:56 -0000

C: I have thoughts on Rush's comments. I think they were completely irresponsible and unnecessarily incendiary. What a complete idiot. And is anyone else going to speak up about the fact that Rush basically threatened anyone to NOT seat Burris because they have concerns about Blago, based on the fact that Burris is Black? That is complete horseshit and he and Burris know it. Reid made himself clear, as did the other Dem senators about not seating anyone appointed by Blago--this is the race card folks--and Rush unabashedly played it and should be called out for it.

Oh, and BTW--Rush is a complete hypocrite. He claims that he is concerned by the fact that there are no Black senators without Obama, but dude supported the very white Blair Hull when Obama was running for the Senate seat out of spite. So he can go somewhere and have a tall glass of STFU as far as I am concerned.

Re: Blago names a senator

eltoro — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:49:03 -0000

Burris tried to become Illinois's 1st African-American governor twice, in 1998 and in 2002. In both cases, Burris lost narrowly in the Democratic primary. In 1998, he came in second to downstate Congressman Glenn Poshard (who lost in the general election to George Ryan). In 2002, he came in a close 3rd to then Congressman Blagojevich and Chicago Public Schools President Paul Vallas. He also ran for mayor of Chicago in 1999 against Mayor Daley, and was defeated quite decisevely (although Burris did beat Daley in the city's majority African-American wards.)

So Burris clearly had the ambition to become something more than Illinois's 1st African-American state comptroller and 1st African-American state attorney general, but was never able to realize that ambition. This appointment by former rival Blago thus gives Burris one last opportunity for some sort of political prominence.

Re: Blago names a senator

southpaw — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:37:39 -0000

I thought Rush was unbelievably irresponsible, not so much playing the race card as opening a whole race casino. I wonder what he thinks he has to gain from this fiasco.

Re: Blago names a senator

Jay Smooth — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:35:47 -0000

What a sadsack parade that was, I felt like I was watching Pacino's crew from Donnie Brasco.. or some letovers from OJ's entourage. I didn't realize Bobby Rush was so Clay Davis-y.

Re: Blago names a senator

eltoro — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:33:48 -0000

The funny thing is that under normal circumstances, Roland Burris would be a decent choice to replace Obama in the US Senate. He is considered an elder statesman in Illinois politics (having served as both the state comptroller and the state attorney general), his appointment would put an African-Ameican back into the Senate, he has a pretty clean albeit undistinguished record (apart from being the 1st African-American to serve in those posts), and he has been semi-retired since he lost to Blago in 2002 in the Democratic primary for governor. This makes him a perfect seat warmer until either the 2010 regular election or even a 2009 special election for Obama's former Senate seat.

Re: Blago names a senator

MichaelOR — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:28:33 -0000

Ug! What a political nightmare. I can't figure out if Blago is the smartest dumb person, or the dumbest smart person in politics. Perhaps he is just crafty. One way or another, I hope the wire taps were still running while this pick was kicked about. I don't know a one thing about Burris except that he hasn't won a seat, for anything, in quite a while.

That Blago continues to act like this is a game, and that peoples' lives actually aren't on the line makes me sick.

Re: Blago names a senator

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:15:54 -0000

Anyone have thoughts on Bobby Rush's comments? Tossing around "lynch" always seems like a terrible idea to me (unless someone, you know, actually was)...not likely to lead to rational debate, if you will.