Posted on 12/30/2008 6:03:55 PM PST by Shellybenoit
Illinois Governor Blagojevich may be a crook, but you got to hand it to the guy, he pulled a brilliant move today, especially if he wanted to tweak the nose of his critics.
His choice, Roland Burris, is a lifelong public servant, former Attorney General, impeccable honesty and...oh yes, he is an African American. He has now shifted the debate to "will the senate deny a seat to potentially the ONLY African American in the senate?" He has now given his choice a chance because it is a RACE ISSUE. Its Brilliant.
But that's not even the best part. Harry Reid has said that he won't even allow a discussion about seating Burris. That way he keeps Burris out of the senate with out forcing his democratic party buddies to go on record preventing the ONLY African American from entering the senate. Now here is the part that Reid doesn't know. There is precedent, the senate can keep Burris out, BUT THEY MUST VOTE ON THE ISSUE:
(Excerpt) Read more at yidwithlid.blogspot.com ...
They are members by virtue of having been selected by the states.
The Senate can only Expel members ~ so they need a 2/3 majority.
The rules of the Senate are subordinate to the Constitution.
BTW, it’s unlikely Illinois will toss Blago out, nor will they open up vacancies to general elections.
Maybe they could create a "No Negro" clause or something!
Maybe Blago tagged Obama out!
I don't see how this has any reflection on Obama. As far as I see this is Blago’s mess, not Obama’s.
Now if he'd gone to a different state where they use elections to fill out a Senate term, there'd be no problem.
You have to think about these things before you do your carpetbagging!
They can exclude him if they choose, as the Constitution gives them the power to do.
Still takes a 2/3 vote. That’s what the Constitution provides.
The Constitution does not say that anywhere.
2/3 means 2/3. Right? Well, there it is, 2/3.
That is expulsion. That is different from refusing to seat the appointee in the first place.
It also says that each House is the final arbiter of its own membership. That doies not carry a 2/3 requirement.
It’s kinda like Roadrunner versus Wile E. Coyote. Just not sure at this point which is which.
Harry won’t let a little thing like the Constitution stop him.
...and I'm thinking that someone may be Bobby Rush:
Blagojevich was aided by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., in an effort to make Burris' appointment a racial issue.Rush called Blagojevich's appointment a "good decision," and praised Burris, who is black, as "worthy."
"He has not, in 40 years of public service, had one iota of taint on his record," Rush said.
With Obama's election to the presidency, Rush said, "Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the U.S. Senate." He added that Burris' Senate appointment is of "national importance" and that his "prayers have been answered."
Rush said he'd argued that the Senate seat Blagojevich's pick.
"I intend to take that argument to the Congressional Black Caucus," said Rush. "I intend to take that argument to the senators."
How is this Obama’s problem?
The Constitution gives each house the power to expel a member. It does not give either house the power to elect its own members ~ you and I elect the members.
The business about who is or is not a Senator has to do with elections, and the Congress can add to the requirements, but it must do so BEFORE the elections. That issue came up in one of the Presidential elections not too far back ~ 2000 I believe ~ gotta' make the rules before the elections every single time.
Whether or not you have the public at large voting for a Senator, or a single individual, e.g. the Governor voting for him or her and call it an appointment, it's still an election.
The guy Blog just appointed is "the man". He has the job. Now if the Senate doesn't want him in the job they must expel him. Taking the oath is a minor administrative detail which has no controlling authority over who is or is not "the man". Same with the Illinois Secretary of State's certification, or not, of the selection/election. You win the election, you are "the man". Else the Constitution is being violated.
And he also does according to Senate rules. The Senate has no authority to hold a vote to approve someone taking his seat. It is his. They can only vote to expel him for good cause. No vote means he sits.
“Take it to the Supreme Court if you want — they won’t lift a finger. Reid will do what he wants and get away with it.”
Is this the pattern for the new Obamanation? They’ll all do that - it’ll be rather like Chicago in the times of Al Capone. Who is going to be our Elliot Ness?
“This is Obama’s gays in military! THANK YOU!”
Only before the coronation..
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