Burris will be seated, eventually. Reid wants to avoid a total loss, so he's going to try to attach Burris' promise to retire in 2010 to the deal. However, Burris won't agree to this face-saving negotiating tactic. Reid will look bad. If I were Reid, I'd cut my losses. I'd admit that emotion got the better of me when I made my definitive statement to exclude any Blagojevich appointee. I now see the foolishness of my decision. I wish to walk back from it, seat Burris in the Senate, and move forward.

This circus is an embarrassment to the citizens of Il. Burris should be ashamed of himself acting the way he is. I have no respect for him any longer and his lack of competence is simply stunning.

Burris don't go away mad…..just go away………and take your buddies with you……

Innocent until proven guilty. Wheres the ACLU, Civil Liberties, Black Caucus? Sucks to be labeled a racist doesn't it Dems? Just be happy Fitzgerald made the investigation public before Obama and his corrupt associates had a chance to incriminate themselves. Your new transparent change party, has a governor from Illinois who has not officially been charged with any wrong doing, and has legally appointed a replacement for Obama's vacant Senate seat. It is begginning to look like the main reason he is being denied the seat by Democratic leaders, is because he is black. The scene today brought back images of George Wallace and his fellow Democrats blocking black children from school steps.

Harry Reid, who has a worse rating than President, is making a grevious mistake. Being from Nevada Harry is familmar with the game Black Jack but he is using a different '" Black Jack" with Mr. Burris.He is srong arming tactics are like the of use of the
police "weapon" of the 1950's .Also this stipulation of Mr.Burris, if seated, he agrees not to run in 2010. Add to this all
Democratsenators who would run in 2010 , 2012, 2014.— Also can some tell us why PE Ombama resigned so early? He could have made this cleanier by having a person ready at his resignation date.

Okay, what did this Blagojevich guy did? He was just talking on the phone, he did not receive any gift and no one saw any money change hands. Yet, we are apt to condemn the guy just because he has a big mouth. Did he commit a high treason? Of course not. But the problem here is that Obama (SLICK WILLY) thinks everyone that call him name should be hanged. Slick Willy had bent so many rules and yet all of America is patting him on the back. What rule you may ask? Well, first of all, HE WAS NOT BORN IN AMERICA AND YET YOU LET HIM HAVE THE PRESIDENCY. NOW, THAT IS A HIGH TREASON IF YOU ASK SOME OF US WITH BRAINS. Blagojevich is innocent until proven guilty because THAT IS THE AMERICAN WAY. HE IS A MAN THAT STANDS HIS GROUND AND NOT BE SHAKEN OR MOVED. THAT IS A GENUINE CHARACTER OF A MAN. I DO NOT KNOW THIS GUY BUT I SEE HE CAN STAND UP AGAINST THE BULLIES. BRAVO. NOW THAT IS A REAL MAN. As for Slick Willy, enjoy your honeymoon while you can, very soon, oratory will not help you because we need ACTION LIKE YESTERDAY. WE ARE GOING TO HOLD YOU TO EVERY CAMPAIGN PROMISES YOU MADE. REMEMBER THIS, YOU KOOL AID DRINKERS, NEVER KNOCK A MAN OR WOMAN WHEN HE OR SHE IS DOWN.

bbillinois, I thought I heard the names of his (Burris's kids) on the CBSChicago news the other day, and I thought I must have been mistaken, but now I see indeed he did name them Roland and Rolanda…..geez. I know there's not many politicians with an original thought in their brain but that is just plain egotistical.

This circus is such an embarrassment to those of us that live in IL and most of you are only seeing the tip of the very dirty IL political iceberg.

Burris is a shameful man playing the race card the way he and his cronies are doing and they wasted a moment not to do so, starting immediately with the original nomination press announcement made by Blagojevich. Not only does he not show enough integrity and honor to be seated, his lack of competence is stunning.

Go home Mr. Burrris if yu have any dignity left.

Wow. What a real circus this whole thing is becoming, say?

I think the Democrats are just making this whole thing more embarassing than it already is. Just seat the guy!

With the financial crisis and all the other big problems going on that our new leaders need to deal with, I can not believe Blagojevich was able to use Burris to elevate a State corruption issue to the national level, and along the way make our nation an entertaining topic for the world to talk about. Even worse, to drag the race issue into the whole fiasco really puts a shadow over the exciting historic change we are about to witness on 1/20/2009. Burris probably didn’t realize that his going to DC could become a distraction to our new leaders’ work. I wonder whether Blagojevich knows what he has done is causing damage to our beloved nation.

Seems like anybody that aligns themselves with Obama goes down
in flames–start with the good Reverend-career over, Rezko-federal
prison, The Gov. to be indicted, Ted Kennedy–brain surgery, John
Edwards–career over, Gov. Richardson–probably indicted and poiltical
career basically , Emanuel–investigation awaits, and now the
whole Dem. party looking like a loony bin with Reid and Burris.
People will start avoiding Obama if just to save their careers.

I might also interject that most of those calling for a "special election" are Republicans. All of a sudden, they are the 'righteous ones,' pretending that Larry Craig (in the restrooms playing tappy toes), Coleman (trying to reinvent Bush), and Ted Stevens (almost had to be swept back to Alaska) don't belong to them.

To Fed up with Alaska:

Please tell Sis Sarah I said hi, and thanks.

Our great and fearless leader, who demanded censorship during the campaign, is not even in office yet and his cronies are already shutting down democracy. Burris was legally appointed by the duly elected governor of Illinois who is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. The crime he allegedly committed? Not doing what Obama told him to do.

The notion of a free and impartial American press is already mocked the world over after observing the bias during the primaries and campaign. Meanwhile, the democrats are planning on creating 1 trillion worth of government bloat. The contracts are already promised to major Obama contributors.

You will work for the government, with the government, or it is straight off to the gulag, comrade.

Texas Teacher, you are SO Right ! Can you imagine trying to have some of these idiots that are making some of these comments on here in a class ??? You would have to get a Tutor for some of them.
and then, they would still have trouble learning anything !!

Larry C.
Houston Texas

SEAT HIM….and tell Bobby and Jessie Jr to move on with that Race Sh_T

Blago and Burris sitting in a tree T-r-i-p-p-i-n-g!!

He should be seated HE has done nothing wrong. Obviously Blago would not have try to seat him if he was corrupted or unfit in any way. He should not be punished or prejudged for the Gov's ordeal.

Burris need not to take this appointment…something's not right. Blago's playing everbody. Why won't Burris do what Danny Davis did and that was to decline. Is he that desperate?

Can't everybody see what Blago's doing?

The more I see of American politics; the more I thank God for being born in Canada. We ain`t perfect either (far from it) but the circus has more order to it than some of the characters in the U.S. politics. Burris may have done nothing wrong; and may indeed be getting into the Senate through the back door; but would a man of integrity want to be appointed by a lunatic like Blagojevich? I think not!!!

He needs to be seated. So long as the Governor has not been removed from office he is still Governor and has all rights being governor.

Come on Burris, this isn't Chicago. The rest of the country, except maybe New Orleans, is a constitutional-republic that runs on the democratic system of government. Go back to your pal Blogovich and tell him it's a no-go for the senate. Ask him if you can have his governors job when he goes to prison for high corruption, which ought to be pretty soon.

I "GRUDGINGLY" AGREE WITH DIANNE FEINSTEIN (ON THIS ONE).

First, I don't trust that snake Blagojevich and very disappointed Burris did not follow the lead of seven other Illinois Senate candidates who turned Blagojevich down once U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald blew the whistle. However, Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. or U.S. Attorney Lisa Madigan would have been perfect replacements for PE-Obama Senate seat.

In short, Blagojevich called Senator Harry Reid's bluff. Blagojevich & Burris knows the Constitution and the Law are on Gov. Blagojevich's side. Therefore Senator Reid needs to cut his losses and drop this skunk-smelling mess – - – NOW!! The 'Blagojevich-Burris' rotten-egg stinks badly and the only thing Reid has done was to pour accelerant on the mess to make it worst.

Burris may have had some smarts and political chops once, but he made a huge mistake hitching up with Gov. "Sellout" Blago. It sounds to me like Illinois has plenty of smarter Black polititicians with better judgment than this poor sap, and that Illinois voters would be glad to send such a person to office.

In short, Blagojevich called Senator Harry Reid's bluff. Blagojevich punk Reid. Blagojevich & Burris knows the Constitution and the Law are on Gov. Blagojevich's side. Therefore Senator Reid needs to cut his losses and drop this skunk-smelling mess – - – NOW!! The 'Blagojevich-Burris' rotten-egg stinks badly and the only thing Reid has done was to pour accelerant on the mess to make it worst.

Idiot buffoonery and treasonous ignorance in Congress?

Nice. That's REAL CHANGE.

Thanks, guys. Thanks a LOT.

ACORN… pfffttt! come on…. that is so wrong…
Get over it…. you lost.. and you do not have a leg to stand on…. and worse…. YOU KNOW IT!

I Agree with "virginia for obama January 6th, 2009 8:15 pm ET".

The RACE card is being played BIG TIME by Gov Blago and Burris is a Pawn in his game…And I find that offensive.

Burris should NOT be seated – and I don't feel sorry for him. He knew what was going to happen before he got there…guess what? He went anyway. I think the LtGov should make the appt and we move on.

You can use race I'm an Afican- American, you have a dirty Gov. and he should figuer that the Senate will react to any thing that Governor dose it is crazy they don't care about the Illnios people.

Julio… at the risk of belaboring the issue…. this is not about race… or gender… this is about integrity!!! Blago is corrupt… therefore anyone he chooses is tainted with that corruption! Simple…. get it?

What 'stinks to high heaven" is the fact that a Gov. like Blago…can't be immediately removed. If they have been investigating him for years, why no convictions before now? To leave a government entity uncovered in such a manner was a "debacle waiting to happen." There is something wrong with the laws that need to be changed. This appointment is legal and binding. Mr. Burris will get his seat in the Senate, oppose all you want.

Willy Brown…. what they just did was exactly what Coleman wanted…. it didn't work to his favor…. NOW he wants something different…. pooh..pooh…. you lost, repubs…. get used to it…. And Mn. is NOT a democratic controlled state… the Gov. is a Republican! You must pay closer attention, my dear….

I am from IL, but don't know what Burris contribution to IL. I vote no to his senator seat. Don't trust Blago's decision. Burris might promise Blago some thing ….. in order to get the seat.

If Burris is clean and good man, he already declined the appointment / withdraw his name like Richardson, instead of threaten of law suit. He is one of many Chicago's worst crooks.
Senator Diane Feinstein of Califonia, take your nose out of Chicago, IL. I don't need your opinion.

Seat Burris

Reed needs to go or he will destroy our opportunity. If we are to take advantage of this great opportunity we have we need a change in leadership . Reed has proven that he's prone to side shows that distract use from the major issues. There are to many major issues facing this nation and as democrats if we don't deliver we will have no one to blame but our selves. It tme for a change. Reed needs to go as majority leader.

There is no law in Illinois that says the secretary of the state is required to certify the governor's appointment. Burris did not get certification from the secretary of state, thus he has not complied with the rule of the U.S. Senate that he must be certified by the governor and the secretary of the state from his state. It is that simple.

I, too, am an african american, and I feel that Burris is just using this situation to his political advantage. I personally feel that he is not qualified to be senator of any state and to seat him would be a great injustice to all qualified candidates.

I THINK HE NEED TO STEP DOWN.

give me a break, I grew up in ILL and this stinks to high heaven. The gall of Gov. Blago. The Senate leaders and the Ill Secretary of State saw fit to prevent the appointment. Feinstein must be nuts or just as tainted as the Burris dude. Lots of people in high places in charge saying no. Enough said. truly so timothy

C'mon people see this for what it is…. Burris, though qualified, is letting himself be used so that we all take our eyes off the real deal, that Blago tried to sell that very seat to the highest bidder.

Julio:

"What do the Democrats have against a black senator?"

______________________________________________________
This is not a matter of white or black or yellow or red or purple……. this is a matter of principle and ethics. Mr. Burris should not have accepted the position, he should have waited.
Maybe on your side of the border things work out differently!!!!

Don't blame Burris — blame the spineless IL legislature for allowing Blago to "linger" this long. Typical IL politicians — voting "present."

He should not have accepted the nomination. I am black, and I think the race card is utter shame and disgrace. For the only african american to become a part of the senate under these less than honorable circumstances, is not something I think he sould readily accept. Burris is not a person of integrity, in my opinion, if he is pushing for something like this. He seems to be selfishly thinking of his career and not thepeople of Illonois.

Rush need to shut the hell up and sit the hell down.

Meka January 6th, 2009 8:27 pm ET
Bill Richardson, handled his situation very well. Burris on the other hand !
_______________________________

Richardson knows he's guilty. Burris is NOT!

Virginia for obama:

You claim to be African-American; I doubt very much that you are. You are a dupe that has been suckered into using that meaningless phrase.If you were born in the United States of America, you are an American that happens to be negro. And that is a fact plain and simple. Get off this politically correct feel good garbage.

Burris what happened to that big fat grin you had yesterday, Mr. Magic.

Burris and that crowd behind him looks like a HIP HOPPER going on stage to accept an MTV award. How embarrising. Blago is not using Burris, you can tell this is what he wants to do. Please stop this mess and go home OLD MAN.

OH YEAH! . . . I'm Black too and HATING every bit of this foolish move.

CNN…..more shame……No sign of the Burris story on your main page…no sign of it on the Politics main page….you're not even trying to maintain a pretense of non-biased journalism are you….pass the kool-aid

Bill Richardson, handled his situation very well. Burris on the other hand !

What a pittiful performance by arrogant Democrats. Ried should be forced to step down if he illegally prevents Burris from taking his rightful seat.

Must be that Burris has yet to offer enough cash to Ried for the seat.

He's not appointed until he's been certified – and he hasn't been.
He seems lost – a pathetic little senile man who needs someone to take him back home.

Burris proved his arrogant greed by accepting this tainted nomination from a thug like Blago and deserves nothing but contempt from honorable people! Of course, knowing Harry Reid and the other jellyfish of the Democrat Party, Mr. Burress will eventually be seated because these worms don't want to hurt the feelings of those poor "victims" in the NAACP, Black National Caucus, and other racist and extortionist groups like them!

I don't believe this man should be seated. Frankly I'd like to see a full investigation of his connections with Blago. Also all this talk about seating a black person is reverse discrimination as far as I can see. Since the congress is involved let the federal government run an election and let the people of Illinois choose who they want to represent them.

Burris kind of reminds me of McCain – age being a factor – it's now or never….

The legislature failed to call a special election in Illinois to replace Obama because the Democrats risk losing the seat to Republicans, and I'm sure Reid and Durbin were on board with this.

Did they really expect Rod not to go ahead and exercise his duty as Governor? He has gone back to work as usual, and appointing someone to the senate is a part of his work.

This is typical corrupt-partisan Illinois (and national) politics.

I saw on the news that Burris was complaining it was nothing more than politics.

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?YOU'RE A POLITICIAN!

That pretty much sums up his intelligence for me.

I think that there is too much interference by the Democratic party bosses as Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. As much as we may not care for Gov. Blagojevich, Burris appointment is constitutional. No doubt that Blagojevich is one among many politicians who have paid to play. Enough of the hypocrisy in DC!

Why is everybody saying Burris is a good man. I beg the differ. As an African American myself I can tell when somebody is playing the RACE CARD and knows very well what hes doing and it STINKS. If he was so honorable he would have never accepted this tainted nomination.

RUSH needs to shut up and go back to the 60's where he belongs so that the rest of us can move forward into the 21st century.

These two scumbags is putting Black people back 40 years.

Burris is a nobody, despite the news media calling him a great politican. He served two terms in Illinois more than a decade ago. Since then? Gadfly runs for office a la Ralph Nader.

He is being used as a tool by Blogoyavich for some nefarious purpose, perhaps to distract us all from the real issues.

Illinois can do better than this has-been political hack who is only famous on his own tomb.

It sounds to me like Burris needs to get the paperwork completed in Illinois before he's seated. I think he will be seated, no matter how tainted the appointment. It remains to be seen whether he can actually win the election in 2010.

Why is it about race? Considering, erm…Obama isn't exactly china white; why is it about race? it is simply about his, being Blago, possible criminal actions in the very arena this man, being Burris is being seated. Thats why, jeez always race…….I respected Burris before and i agree w/ Sani post; he should have waited.

How can Harry Reid and Dick Durbin both be Senate Majority Leader?

mr. burris did nothing wrong! he is caught in the crossfire of the dirty chicago political machine. whatever you thing of "dirty" blago, he made a qualified pick, according the the law. very racist how reid is on tape, dissing the other two african american candidates that blago was interested in naming to fill the seat. sen finestein is the voice of reason in wanting to seat mr. burris, hopefully other democrats will follow her lead!

Blagovich your crimminal activity in using the Senate seat nomination to assist you in
getting money and now getting off free of any charges in a court, thus it is still using the Senate seat as an asset you using for your personal gain. You don't want the cash anymore because your personal freedon from is more valuable at this moment. Your lawyers are assiting you in the crime. Use the Senate seat to set you free.

The value may have changed from money to your personal freedom, but you are still using the Senate nomination as your personal asset, a get out of jail card. So you still sold the seat for a price. You are still a criminal.

Buriss don't participate in this crime. You are better than current price Blogovich is trying to get us to pay.

I just cannot respect someone who loves himself so much that he named his kids Roland JR. and Rolanda. Just what we need, another big-headed politician

I agree with Senator Diane Feinstein of Califonia … seat him already and stop the dog and pony show.

What do the Democrats have against a black senator?

Burris is obviously another opportunistic LOSER!! Having said that, does it really make any difference anymore? Within my own state, Lisa Murkowski was "appointed" to the US Senate by good old dad Frank who had won the governorship and was allowed to do so. The same people that are questioning the LOSER Burris should have also questioned the "credentials" of Little Lisa. The CANCER has spread way too far! in the U.S. We have become the same corrupt system that our forefathers came to America to get away from.

Burris didn't do the right thing. He shouldn't have accepted the appointment, period.

Please just seat him and put this to bed. It's gone on too long as it is. We have much bigger fish to fry than this. Mr. Burris didn't do anything wrong and it sound like it is a legal appointment. Gov. Blagojevich was still in office when he appointed him. Just let it go already.

The deal was made last month that if Blago appointed a black to the Senate seat, Obama would pardon him at the appropriate time—

Watch Burris take his seat this week and you'll understand how the people of Illinois were hoodwinked—

And why do we care what Blago wants?

I feel sorry for Burris… but he should be man enough to take it on the chin and go home! When there is someone who is worthy of naming someone, then we should see what we see… If Burris is a good man, then he could very well be vetted for the seat! Until then I am against it….. or hey, let the people ! And, hey, let the people VOTE!

Quick! AL Franken go to IL and have ACORN stuff ballot box. Count votes till your ahead. The democrat controlled state will decleare you the winner!

Mr. Harry Reid is making a mistake. This man will be seated!