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Selling or Stealing a Senate Seat?
Townhall.com ^ | January 5, 2009 | Richard Olivastro

Posted on 01/06/2009 4:29:31 AM PST by Kaslin

By now, just about everyone knows that IL Governor Rod Blagojevich has reportedly been caught on tape as saying that “Obama's Senate seat was “*expletive deleted* valuable” and that “it wasn't something to be given away for free”.

The scenario is that ‘Blago’ - as he is called by both supporters and opponents - was being taped by the Feds as part of another investigation. And, if true, just about everyone concluded, among other descriptors, ‘how stupid’ ‘Blago’ must be.

But now, ‘Blago’ has shown he can also be ‘politically clever’.

Rather than wait to see what the Feds will do next, or when the state political machine will let the legislature actually move forward with possible impeachment, and despite Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White having said publicly he will not sign Burris' certificate, Blagojevich has gone on the offensive and taken the political and legal battle to his opponents. Using his authority as sitting governor, Blagojevich has appointed Roland Burris, a former state attorney general, to serve the balance of President-elect Obama’s Senate term.

The move by Blagojevich puts democrats, political institutions, and the political maestros in Illinois and Washington on notice.

In reaction, Harry Reid’s Senate has already been “gaming out scenarios” to use in order to prevent Roland Burris being sworn-in should he appear on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Here’s a recap:

In one maneuver - Burris “would not be allowed on the floor, but instead directed to the office of the Secretary of the Senate who would review his credentials. Without both signatures, the certificates would be considered incomplete”.

In another, should the “Illinois Supreme Court (have) forced Secretary White to sign the certificate… Burris might be allowed on the floor; but before Burris is called to take the oath… there would likely be an objection, followed by a motion to refer the matter to the Senate Rules Committee.”

In a third maneuver, “before Vice President Cheney administers any oaths, Democrats could offer up a resolution that strikes a middle ground. It would effectively say the Senate had received paperwork from the governor on Burris' appointment, but that it's unclear if it meets the requirements for certification. Democrats would then ask the Rules Committee to sort it out”.

While any of these - or other – likely maneuvers will buy Democrats time, none of them fool America’s Citizens.

More importantly, the Reid maneuvers are yet another instance of political game-playing. Like it or not, Blagojevich remains Illinois governor and has current law on his side. Should the Illinois Supreme Court be asked to rule on the situation, and they respect the state law on the books that they have sworn to uphold, that would reinforce Blagojevich’s action and further strengthen his position in general.

It’s understandable that Harry Reid does not like that Blagojevich has apparently checkmated the political maestros in Illinois and Washington. But, unless Reid thinks Burris bought the seat, he should move on.

More specifically - Reid should move his focus to Minnesota, put the country first regardless of party, and tell a bad actor he will not let him steal a U.S. Senate seat.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blagojevich; bleepgate; corruptdemocrats; corruption; electionstealing; obama; obamatransitionfile; partyofcorruption; poc; voterfraud

1 posted on 01/06/2009 4:29:31 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
In reaction, Harry Reid’s Senate has already been “gaming out scenarios” to use in order to prevent Roland Burris being sworn-in should he appear on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

1) Firehoses

2) Dogs

They did it in the South and they can do it again.

2 posted on 01/06/2009 4:33:10 AM PST by 17th Miss Regt
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To: 17th Miss Regt

I think this is all show. Burris is a Democrat. He will vote Democrat. He will get paid off not to run in 2010.

Blago will be found not guilty and the MSM will portray this episode as one where the Democrats showed courage in not prosecuting Blago and that his pick was justified.

And we will all sit here and go, “Huh?” And the world will once again be in balance.


3 posted on 01/06/2009 4:53:28 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz ("Control the information, you control the people.")
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To: Kaslin

“More specifically - Reid should move his focus to Minnesota, put the country first regardless of party, and tell a bad actor he will not let him steal a U.S. Senate seat.”

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


4 posted on 01/06/2009 5:17:33 AM PST by ScottinVA (All I needed to know about islam I learned on 9-11.)
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To: Kaslin

*******In one maneuver - Burris “would not be allowed on the floor, but instead directed to the office of the Secretary of the Senate who would review his credentials. Without both signatures, the certificates would be considered incomplete”. ********

The Senate will review Burris’s credentials, but they are frightened to review Barrack Obama’s credentials.Who is really the illegitimate one here??


5 posted on 01/06/2009 5:43:33 AM PST by Venturer
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To: Kaslin

Blagojevich and the Democrats have created a HUGE mess (what a surprise). The Illinois state legislature could have prevented this situation from occurring by immediately moving to impeach Blagojevich or, at a minimum, strip him of the authority to appoint a replacement. Instead, they made a lot of noise (”sound and fury signifying nothing”!).

Ironically, we could be treated to the spectre of Harry Reid blocking access to the Senate chambers to Ronald Burris. The visual of that should send shock waves through the black community, although it probably won’t. They didn’t pay attention when George Wallace (a DEMOCRAT governor) stood in the doorway of an elementary school denying access to black children when the federal government mandated school desegragation, and they won’t pay attention to it now.

There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.


6 posted on 01/06/2009 5:44:02 AM PST by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: ScottinVA

ME 2


7 posted on 01/06/2009 6:20:48 AM PST by WeldonsRight (Right and (apparently) wrong at the same time)
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To: Kaslin

Every time I read about another democRat’s demonstrating his lack of courage, morals, or his blatant propensity to break the law, I remember Clinton’s pledge to have the “most ethical” administration ever. Then we saw its almost immediate degeneration into a quagmire of legal and ethical problems, culminating in his extramarital sexual antics in the White House. It hasn’t stopped there, of course; I don’t believe you can name a prominent democRat who hasn’t had some shady escapade mentioned (and immediately covered up by the equally dishonest MSM).

I can’t wait to see what kinds of tight spots Ubama manages to get himself into.


8 posted on 01/06/2009 6:31:25 AM PST by Marauder ("What this country needs is more unemployed politicians." - Edward Langley)
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To: Kaslin

the democrat party: government of the scu&bags, by the scu&bags and for the scu&bags.

IMHO


9 posted on 01/06/2009 6:56:03 AM PST by ripley
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To: Kaslin

Harry Reid, ho ho ho
Les’ bring back de ol’ Jim Crow!

- John


10 posted on 01/06/2009 6:58:30 AM PST by Fishrrman
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