http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/burris/ en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:50:52 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416459/posts Washington, DCJudicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released its 2009 list of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians.”  The list, in alphabetical order, includes: 1. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT):  This marks two years in a row for Senator Dodd, who made the 2008 “Ten Most Corrupt” list for his corrupt relationship with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and for accepting preferential treatment and loan terms from Countrywide Financial, a scandal which still dogs him.  In 2009, the scandals kept coming for the Connecticut Democrat.  In 2009, Judicial Watch filed a Senate ethics complaint against... judicialwatch.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416459/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:50:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413285/posts Without sixty votes in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) would not be able to invoke cloture, or cut off debate. Anything short of sixty would allow a filibuster and doom Obama’s health care plan. The present 60-vote majority is artificial, the result of undemocratic means. Consider how three of these votes came to be: Roland Burris- Appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich just prior to his removal, Democratic leaders including Harry Reid pledged that he would never be seated. Barack Obama, along with other Democratic officials in Illinois, called for a special election to fill the seat. When... NLPC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413285/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:31:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408353/posts Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- On a day when Democrats emerged triumphantly from a meeting with President Barack Obama appearing to have won the vote of Joe Lieberman for their pro-abortion health care bill, they may not be ready to celebrate yet. The Lieberman vote appeared to allow Democrats and Obama to secure 59 votes. The only holdout left appeared to be pro-life Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska who says he won't vote for the bill because it funds abortions. Political observers need to hang on to their hats because pro-abortion Sen. Rolland Burris of Illinois, ironically the lawmakers appointed to... lifenews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408353/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:16:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408155/posts The backlash has begun. Senator Roland W. Burris, Democrat of Illinois, has vowed that he will not vote for a health care bill that does not include a government-run insurance plan, or public option. And on Monday, after Democrats indicated that they were prepared to meet the demands of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, and strip the last vestige of a public option from their bill, Mr. Burris went to the Senate floor to warn that he had not committed to vote for the legislation. Mr. Burris, however, did calibrate his language: “I am committed to voting for... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408155/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:17:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398058/posts Dear [Forgiven Sinner]: Thank you for contacting me about healthcare reform. I appreciate the benefit of your views. As your United States Senator, one of my top priorities is to ensure that my constituents have access to affordable, quality healthcare. Today, nearly 3.5 million Illinois residents, 30.8% of the under 65 population, lack health insurance. Those who remain covered face rapidly rising premiums. A Kaiser Family Foundation report found that average insurance premiums have more than doubled in the past nine years, and the New America Foundation projects that, by 2016, coverage costs for an average Illinois family could top... Roland Burris Email Senator_RolandBurris@burris.senate.gov> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398058/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 01:25:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393867/posts CHICAGO (AP) - The White House and Illinois Democrats said Tuesday that their bid to hold on to President Barack Obama's old Senate seat won't be easy and their difficulties aren't just because of the scandal that engulfed ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Next year is the first major election for Democrats since Blagojevich was arrested last year on federal corruption charges and removed from office. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to sell or trade Obama's Senate seat. "No one ever said it was going to be easy. There's a dark cloud over everyone's head," said... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393867/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:22:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391026/posts The Senate Select Committee on Ethics has completed its investigation of Sen. Roland Burris, and his office is trumpeting its finding that he committed no "actionable violations of the law." What his press release didn't mention is that the committee also found he had provided "incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete information" about his appointment to the Senate. Which is senatorese for, "Pants on fire!" Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391026/posts#comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:17:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386955/posts About a year ago, thousands jammed Grant Park in Chicago to celebrate Barack Obama's election to the White House, a communal civic defining moment. But those giddy days are long gone as Democrats in Illinois face the potential of losing the Senate seat President Obama once held next November. * * * Democratic Party leaders in Washington -- and the Obama White House -- failed to recruit a candidate strong enough to scare Rep. Mark Kirk -- the Republicans' best bet -- from the race. The only luck they had was the decision by Sen. Roland Burris -- appointed by... Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386955/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:57:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367006/posts Your Concerns From: Senator Roland Burris Dear [Forgiven Sinner]: Thank you for contacting me regarding the Senator Leahy Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390) regarding hate crime legislation. Current law defines hate crime as any crime against either person or property in which the offender intentionally selects the victim because of the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, or disability. Currently, hate crimes are not distinct offenses under federal law; rather, they are crimes that are committed by individuals who are motivated by one or more biases that are considered to be... Roland Burris email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367006/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:29:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2366891/posts For Democrats determined to get a health care bill, Sen. Roland Burris is like the house guest who couldn't be refused, won't soon be leaving and poses a plausible threat of ruining holiday dinner. Suddenly, he can no longer be ignored. Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2366891/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:51:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2365933/posts WASHINGTON (AP) - For Democrats determined to get a health care bill, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris can no longer be ignored. The Illinois Democrat says he'll only vote for a bill to provide health care to millions more Americans as long as it allows the government to sell insurance in competition with private insurers. And he says he won't compromise. That's caught the attention of the very Democratic leaders who tried to keep Burris out of the Senate after he was appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana, however, says he feels strongly... AP/wandtv.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2365933/posts#comment Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:49:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2365943/posts In politics, it's impossible to know just how serious such a statement is. For Democrats determined to get a health care bill, Sen. Roland Burris is like the house guest who couldn't be refused, won't soon be leaving and poses a plausible threat of ruining holiday dinner. Suddenly, he can no longer be ignored. The Illinois Democrat, appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, says he'll only vote for a bill to provide health care to millions more Americans as long as it allows the government to sell insurance in competition with private insurers. The Provocateur http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2365943/posts#comment Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:06:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2353569/posts Senator Rowland Burris of Illinois, the Senator who was appointed to fill President Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, blames George Bush for Chicago not getting the Olympics in 2016. Burris stated in an interview, shortly after the announcement, that the image of the U. S. has been so tarnished in the last 8 years that, even Barack Obama making an unprecedented pitch for the games could not overcome the hatred the world has for us as a result of George Bush. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2353569/posts#comment Fri, 2 Oct 2009 17:42:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2343593/posts The House of Representatives voted today, 345-75, to cut off all funding to ACORN. All Republicans voted for the measure. That doesn't mean it will happen, of course; the measure, which is attached to a student aid bill, goes beyond the scope of the Senate's action earlier this week. Don't assume that ACORN can't ride out the storm and have its funding quietly restored by the Democrats, now that those in swing districts have had an opportunity to tell their constituents they voted to stop funding the voter fraud/tax fraud/prostitution organization. For now, at least, supporting ACORN is hard to... Powerline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2343593/posts#comment Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:19:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2340622/posts Oversight: As the Senate votes to de-fund Acorn, add pimping, tax evasion and human trafficking to voter fraud paid for with taxpayer dollars and you have an organized criminal enterprise. It's time to investigate.After Acorn workers were caught on tape in three cities allegedly abetting what they believed was a fraudulent-mortgage and sex-trafficking scheme, the Senate has voted overwhelmingly to strip the group of funding in the Transportation/Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. The amendment, offered by Nebraska Republican Sen. Mike Johanns, passed by an 83-to-7 margin and marked the third time this year that Republicans have tried to block... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2340622/posts#comment Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:52:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159367/posts Politics: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may have played the race card in a cynical attempt to save his political skin, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others are no less cynical or offensive in their actions.The controversy over Blago's appointment of renowned empty suit and former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat could have been avoided had Illinois Democrats obeyed their initial impulse and passed legislation calling for a special election. Illinois' senior senator, Dick Durbin, among others, was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the idea, but now is among those... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159367/posts#comment Tue, 6 Jan 2009 02:50:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2321706/posts Politics: Should the election law in Massachusetts be changed to keep Ted Kennedy's seat filled and get ObamaCare passed? As in Minnesota and Illinois, the voters might lose again.Recognizing his own mortality and waging a valiant battle against brain cancer, Kennedy has written a letter to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, state Senate President Theresa Murray and state House Speaker Robert DeLeo asking them to change the law so his seat might be filled immediately until a special election could be held. His letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Boston Globe, does not specially mention his illness or... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2321706/posts#comment Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:56:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2312433/posts The waiting game is finally over. On July 9, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that she would run for re-election as Attorney General, and would not run for the Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama and being vacated by his placeholder successor, Roland Burris. Businessman and RFK son Chris Kennedy has chosen not to run for Senate, though he may seek the Governor’s mansion. Real Clear Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2312433/posts#comment Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:50:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2291683/posts Politico reports today that Mark Kirk will have the GOP nomination for the controversial Senate seat to be vacated by Roland Burris, and he'll have it uncontested. Politically speaking, I can't imagine a scenario in Illinois where Mark Kirk doesn't pick up this seat in a cakewalk. Organized Exploitations http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2291683/posts#comment Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:53:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290861/posts At last, Roland Burris has made a decision as senator that we can endorse wholeheartedly.He will not run next year for his Senate seat.Thank goodness.At least one chapter in the sad show that is Illinois politics can soon come to an end.You'll remember, of course, that Burris began shredding his own credibility and the legacy of his decades of state service when he accepted the Senate appointment from our radioactive governor, Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich anointed Burris, just as the governor was getting tossed from office for allegedly trying to sell that very Senate appointment. Recall, too, that we have state... Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290861/posts#comment Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:02:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290111/posts Politics: The career of Roland Burris, a political cipher from Illinois who became a U.S. senator and the lamest of ducks, is over. He can now retire into the obscurity he so richly deserves.Having obtained the seat under a cloud of typical Illinois corruption, Burris announced Friday he won't run for a full term in 2010. He was appointed by the former and recently impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich who, among his other accomplishments, tried to auction off the seat formerly held by Barack Obama. Blagojevich was forced out of office and may soon join other Illinois governors who went on... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290111/posts#comment Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:21:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289935/posts Update, 4:17 p.m.: Although Kirk has already told several national Republicans today that he will not run for the Senate, there is an ongoing effort now to convince him to re-think that decision, according to several sources close to the discussions. Pressure is now being brought to bear on Andy McKenna, who, according to knowledgeable sources, had told Republicans insiders that he would not run if Kirk got into the race. Once Kirk signaled he was indeed running, however, McKenna reconsidered and made clear he would in fact stay in. WaPo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289935/posts#comment Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:38:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289577/posts Democratic U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, his political prospects and personal legacy weakened by controversy, is expected to announce Friday he will not seek election to the seat he was appointed to by Rod Blagojevich after the then-governor's arrest, sources close to Burris said. The decision by Burris, 71, is an acknowledgment that prospects of mounting a multimillion-dollar fundraising effort for a high-profile statewide race are low in the face of widespread public criticism over how he got the job. Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289577/posts#comment Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:50:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289545/posts Sneed has learned that U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has decided not to seek election to a seat he fought the government to keep...To wit: Burris, whose decision to vie for Barack Obama's seat landed him in the midst of a federal pay-to-play corruption probe of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, decided to end his 20-year political career at the end of his term... "because he was primarily concerned about his legacy," a source close to Burris told Sneed. Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289545/posts#comment Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289196/posts Sen. Roland Burris has decided not to run for President Obama's former seat that he was appointed to under a cloud of controversy, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday. Burris plans to announce his decision Friday by issuing a statement to the press, the newspaper said. Burris reached his decision after struggling to raise campaign funds. He reportedly only raised about $20,000, but campaign disclosures with the Federal Election Commission are expected to be filed next week. A source told the newspaper that Burris has been very concerned about his legacy. "After 20 years in government service, Burris didn't want the... Fox http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2289196/posts#comment Thu, 9 Jul 2009 22:06:29 GMT