I am a life long democrat and Obama supporter. However the senate under the leadership of Reed is a disaster and incompetent. The first thing that needs to be done is to get rid of him as majority leader.

I ‘m not concerned about Illinois politics or their governor, however it is his right to appoint whom he will as long as the appointment is legal and the appointee is qualified. Which in both cases it is. We have an economy in ruins, two wars, trouble in Israel and Reed makes a none issue an issue and will possibly divide the party.

Seat Burris and lets all meet in Washington on the 20th and then began the work of fixing some of these major issues.

If Reid ask or told the governor not to appoint a black to the senate, and it is proven, then Reid should either resign or be thrown out of leadership if not the senate.
The governor has the constitutional right, not only the right but the obligation to appoint a senator if the seat is open.

If Reid ask or told the governor not to appoint a black to the senate, and it is proven, then Reid should either resign or be thrown out of leadership if not the senate.
The governor has the constitutional right, not only the right but the obligation to appoint a senator if the seat is open.

Well my hope is gone, but the change thus far has been…interesting

RELEASE THE TAPES.

To Democrats and Republicans:

Back off fools and let the investigative process that has begun take it's course.

Does anyone in the congress really think they could do a better job of prosecuting the case against Blagojevich or Reid, or anyone else who may have actually done something illegal?

The Democrats are obsessed with snubbing Burris to show their contempt for Blagojevich.

The Republicans still didn't get the message from the election. Guilt by inuendo is the new version of McArthyism, and it's not selling on the street.

AND to all of you (Democrats and Republicans) who want to rub the other party's nose in something, but can't figure out exactly what – GET OVER IT !

CONGRESS IS NOT THE JUDICIARY. Try acting legislative, or for starts just try acting like adults.

@Reid said he had one conversation with Blagojevich about replacing Obama but denied a Chicago Sun-Times report that he told Blagojevich not to appoint any of three prominent African-American politicians in Illinois out of concern that any of the three would not be able to win re-election to the Senate in 2010….. Yea!! you said it …You old GOAT you need to go to the House and Nancy with you !!!

Typical Democrats—What's Ried afraid of—probably plenty of things like being prejudice,whats the matter with being transparent if you have nothing to hide,and you are ethical.

Harry,just step up,and be honest,you don't want Burris(a black man)in your Senate.

As if Cornyn really cares about what the people in Illinois want? He is just trying to keep trouble up…He must be gearing up for a national run or something…..

The only reason Repubs have taken over in Texas is because of their Gerrymandering! That should be ILLEGAL! This is mafia rule… under the name of BUSH …… again.. nothing but black hearted criminals!

He's a Republican from Texas? Pffft… he's a crook!

Just keep stirring the pot. This is what republicans do when they are not in power. Create distractions.

Let's hear it for the good gentleman from Texas.

And the corruption from the left begins.

roland burris should be seated. he was legally appointed, and for harry reid to not allow him to be seated is a disgrace, and unamerican! mr. burris is a well respected public servant. the tapes of reid should be released, he also didn't want to seat two other african american candidates!

Let's release the tapes of all our Congressmen, including W and Cheney. How about all our politicians? Sounds good to me.

Looks like Cornyn wants to raise his visibility on the national level. Thinking about 2012, Senator Cornyn? You'll have to Jello-wrestle Palin for the nod.

Senator Cornyn should stop this nonsense because he himself is filled with hatred for people of other color. He has no jurisdiction to comment on such a thing.

Brian January 6th, 2009 5:54 pm ET
…………………………………………………………………

Obama is smart enough to go with what works. How bad off was everyone but the gazillionairres during the 90's?? Oh, that's right, Clinton was president under one of the best economic runs of the century.

I'm more than happy Obama is using the same people that helped that happen.

Idiot!

Wow, we seem to be after everyone except for Gov. Blago. Hey, I guess Cornyn hasn't received the memo about change.

Release the tapes! Gee, I hope there's not an 18 minute gap.

Cornyn and feinstein more worried about getting the spotlight than about getting truth…

@BM no just being black does NOT entitle Burris to the seat, being appointed, BY A SITTING GOVERNOR, DOES THOUGH. you see contrary to what the crying republicans and postering democrats seem to think until Blagojevich is actually CONVICTED of a crime OR REMOVED from office he has the ability to perform his job and a requirement to do so!

idiots

No incumbents 2010 is starting to have a nice ring to it isn't it?

Who does Reid what to sell the seat to? I think they should take literally that seat (Chair) out of congress since everyone what's a piece of it. Maybe it could be cut into small pieces and sold to the highest bidders. That should really help our money problems. (Ha!Ha!)

Simmy,

Believe me, there will be a lot of scandals in the Obama administration. There is already chaos and he is not even in office yet. Yes, there is always tomorrow. The "culture of corruption" that Dems ran on apparently is in their own ranks too. (Blago., Richardson, etc.)

Roosevelt Cory: I am confused. Who should give this apology? Who should this apology be given to? Why an apology at all? While I question if any apology is due, I believe it would have to come from Gov. Blagojevich for appointing anybody while he was under investigation…and this apology should be to the citizens of Illinois.

Perhaps Mr. Burris should apologize for stupidly accepting Blagojevich's appointment and unwittingly becoming a tool to craw attention away from Blagojevich's problems.

Maybe Blagojevich and Burris should both apologize to President-Elect Obama for casting a shadow on what should be Obama's shining moment.

Perhaps Burris should apologize to Ill. Secy of State, Jesse White, for putting White in the position of being criticized for using his best judgment by not signing the appointment papers.

Now that I think about it, Roosevelt, there is a need for some apologies. But let's make sure we are requesting apologies for the people causing the problems!

Now the Democrats have egg on their face. Why is anyone surprised, after all what do you expect from politicians?

Darn, sh.. is about to hit the fan!

Harry, you do not want comity with Cornyn. You want to marginalize and defeat him. He's never going to play nice as loyal opposition. His intentions are malign. Stop bending over.

Cornyn should stop trying to create scandel out of nothing but implications and inuendo. While he's at it, Cornyn might as well ask Reid if he's "stopped beating his wife."

Roland Burris is the legal appointed Jr. Senator of Illinois, the
Federal Government and the Secretary of State are in violation. Seat Mr Burris and give us all an open apology and move on.

If Reid did in fact make this statement…….and if he didn't but there is a tape that clarifies either for or against, (Media wouldn't make anything up would they?) it should be released

Brian- Has Pres. Elect Obama has told you before change comes from the person in charge. He will use his cabinet as a source of information, then He will decide. It's better to have people who have been part of a successful administration than not. And before you even go into that who kept us safe crap, 911 happened on Pres. Bush's watch. Well into it.

Barbara Campbell- Hey GOP: we voted for change, meaning we voted you OUT.

Correct me if I'm wrong here sweetie pie, but how many appointees in Obama's cabinet are from the Clinton White House?? Is that the kind of change you're referring to? Thanks for sharing your opinion little girl, but the facts say you're wrong.

How about sticking to the topic, people, instead of bringing up Republican scandals that nothing to do with this? *cough*Simmy*cough*

It's interesting how no one so far has commenting on how it is reported that allegedly, Reid opposed special elections to make sure the Democrats keep the seat. If these were Republicans, people who call that an undemocratic power-play. But since they're Democrats, no one on here comments about that. Same with Reid opposing certain possible choices on the basis that the candidate would not get re-elected.

Quit being hypocrites, people. If you won't take the message from a Republican, take it from an independent like me.

Cornyn needs to stop blowing his horn. Come on, he is the same guy that in 2004 wanted to put an end to the filibuster when the GOP was the majority in the Senate. What happened to that issue? Time to move on buddy and get a grip on your minority status.

If Blago appointed him, which he did as a still sitting governor and if the IL Sec'ty of State signs off on it, which he did not, he does not get the seat.

If/when the Sec'ty of State signs off on it, he gets the seat.

Cornyn has no dog in this fight, this is a States Rights issue.

The only interesting part is "Senator Reid claimed to not recall the details of his conversation with the soon-to-be-indicted Governor".

If Reid is suffering from CRS, a known disease that inflicts most politicans under pressure, then let U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald do his job.

My Senator, Cornyn, has been on the wrong side of every issue. Remember, the voters who elected him (not me) were the same rocket scientists who voted for W. Bush twice for governor and twice for president.

Now, Cornyn cannot think of any issue that needs his attention or thought so he has decided to tell the voters and governments of other states who their Senators should be. If I could choose between having no Senators from Texas or keeping Hutchison and Cornyn, I would definitely vote for two empty chairs.

BB, while I agree that Cornyn is a sleazy Texas politician (not MY FAULT), he has a point. What is taking the FBI so long to either formally charge Blagojevich or clear him? The Burris situation is not going to be cleared up until the rest of this is. While I agree that the Senate Secretary was correct in refusing Burris to be seated because the rules ARE rules and his paperwork was not complete, this situation needs to be speedily rectified. I'm tired of the smirk on Blagojevich's face, and the "I'm going to get away with whatever I want" attitude.

I'm glad to see that Senator Burris is as effective at his first day at work at the Senate, as Barack Obama was the last 30 months, by not working.

For the past 30 months, those of use in Illinois have done just fine with only one senator (even though we were paying for two). Let's save the salary of the junior senator from Illinois, and not worry about filling this lame duck seat.

I hope for Sen. Reid's sake tapes do not reveal that he made any such remarks. It's amazing that Republicans (speaking in the future)on this blog have the gall to gloat, given the shambles their party is in. They had a Stevens and Craig, just to name a couple. The list is too long to get into. Sen. McCain's VP choice is mentioned more than he is. His campaign brought all of the republican rabble-rousers out of the closet. So please think before you spew. Remember, there's always tomorrow.

I swear… you democrats are the gang that can't shoot straight! You won the freaking election in a sweep the likes of which we haven't seen in years, and yet you still manage to form a circular firing squad.

You guys continue to open the door right into your noses!

Hah! This is some funny stuff. By the time Birth Certificate Barry is done in four years, it's going to make the Bush years look orderly and effective by comparison. Barry and the Modern Dems (sounds like an early 80s new wave band) aren't even in office yet and already they look like the bastard children of the Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers and Bozo the Clown! Hah! Hilarity ensues!

@ No Hillary = No Obama

Proof we need better math teachers in America. Go go gadget education reform!

Things must be real slow in Texas for the Idiots these days.

Cirnyn playing the same old political games as always…why doesn't he put the effort into working on some policy that makes semse and earn his salary!! As if he has any power to demand anything of a prosecutor!!

What objections could Reid or the Dems. have to releasing any tapes that would support Reids claims?

It's apparent that Blachovick si using the race card. Maybe Burris should be investigated also. He too dam cocky about this whole thing!

The more sleazy they come seem to be the more they are quick to condemn others with a view of covering up their ways. We have seen that in the past. That could be the case at other times as well.

Do you hear that? It's the sound of a crumbling government, overrun with corruption.

There is ZERO transparency now, and there will be LESS with the O-Man at the helm. We're going to end up having one of the most secretive, 'it's none of your business, serf!' governments ever.

I guess that qualifies as Change……..

Let us hear the tape and decide. Why hide behind it if it is not true? We are smart enough to make our own decision.

Remember, Reid wanted change and transparency…….

Well, now is the time to make that staement true.

Well Harry………… your turn.

I applaud Cornyn because it's not damaging enough to our country for someone like Blago to behave the way he did. It's only damaging enough once the parties start trying to use the scandal as political leverage against each other to distract us and each other from the more important issues that need to be addressed. So kudos Cornyn, you're doing a bang-up job of making things worse.

How much dirt is under those Senate carpets anyway?

As an African American, I think Burris is an airhead. What makes him think that he is entitiled to that senate seat?

Patrick Fitzgerald is in charge of this investigation, not John Cornyn.

It's common for leaders of both parties to weigh in on senate appointments. Why is Cornyn trying to make a mountain out of a molehill? Same old hostile, divisive neocon tactics.

Hey GOP: we voted for change, meaning we voted you OUT.

I think Burris needs to go somewhere and sit his you know what down. Just because he is an African American does not entitled him to that senate seat. He is an idot and should not be allowed to be seated. He couldn't carry Obama's water. He is an arrogant , demanding, —.

Thank You! I want to hear these tapes I've read so much about. I'll believe it all when I hear it.

ENOUGH ALREADY… THIS HE SAID, SHE SAID IS NOTHING BUT A FARSE TO ADD DISTRACTIONS BY THE MEDIA.

WE NEVER GET THE TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, JUST GARBAGE!!

WE NEVER GET THE TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, JUST GARBAGE!!

WE NEVER GET THE TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, JUST GARBAGE!!

WE NEVER GET THE TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, JUST GARBAGE!!

WE NEVER GET THE TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, JUST GARBAGE!!

WE NEVER GET THE TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, JUST GARBAGE!!

Hahahahhaha

This is starting to get good!

Cornyn has no right to demand or condemn anyone. He's one of the sleaziest yet to come out of Texas.