Blagojevich vs. Reid, Round 2

Posted on December 30, 2008

Illinois governor Blagojevich has named former Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat, over the objections of all 50 Democratic senators. Harry Reid is furious. Barack Obama has issued a statement condemning the move. But the governor is adamant. And the fight could go all the way to the Supreme Court.

If Gov. Rod Blagojevich thought that he was regaining the political high ground, or at least a little credibility, with fellow Democrats by appointing former Attorney General Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate, he was apparently mistaken. And CBS 2's Mike Parker reports that Blagojevich has hit a virtual brick wall of opposition to the move, from Illinois to Washington.
Sources on Capitol Hill tell CBS 2 Tuesday night the Senate will refuse to seat Burris. And a line in the Constitution does grant the Senate the right to reject the selection. So what's next for Burris? Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must formally approve the appointment, says he won't do it, though he admires Roland Burris.
He's a gentleman of impeccable credentials," White said. "However, I'm standing by my previous statement that I will not certify any recommendation coming from the governor's office." White added, "I'm not a rubber stamp. I'm also the keeper of the seal of the State of Illinois." That alone prevents the Senate from swearing in Burris on January 5. But what if White changes his mind, or if Burris tries to force a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate?
More drama. A sergeant at arms would physically bar Burris from entering, sources say. This happened once before, for a week, back in the late 19th Century. What's most likely to occur in the Senate is a vote to halt Burris' seating "pending the outcome of an investigation into the propriety of his appointment" by the Senate Rules Committee. That investigation will likely have a 60-day period limit.
"What we saw today was an act of political defiance where he is going to try to have his way despite the fact that the Senate Democratic Caucus has stated clearly that it will not seat his choice for the position," Sen. Dick Durbin said.

Ah, the drama! Burris will be physically barred from entering the Senate. Blagojevich will refuse to resign or withdraw his pick. What a total and complete political disaster.