OK folks, those of us here in Il all saw the original press announcement by Blagojevich appointing Burris to the post. Not more than 10 seconds into the announcement the race card got played and NOT by Blago, but rather by Burris and his buddies. So, all of you trying to make this about everyone ELSE making this about race, please check your facts and see who actually started that nonsense.

Obama was against this, and now flips as does his pals….what a surprise. Something smells in the Senate and it's not the sewer.

these guys are gutless. what else did you expect?

@Chris in Va. Welcome to the Proud American School of Debate, where those who can't make logical arguments just call people idiot. Proud American is so proud of you.

Obama is already working his chicago politics magic. Are we really going to stand for this?

Transparency ????Why would someone with Obama not want to be identified,his campaign promise was transparency—this is more like secret service—-CHANGE, I don't think so.

Melissa, Roland Burris has not been accused of any corruption. I sincerely doubt that Blagojevich would have appointed him if he (Burris) had been involved in a "pay to play" scheme. He is too busy trying to disprove the charges against him to open himself up to further charges. As for an election…well, it would have been nice, but I don't believe the people of Illinois should have to pay for it. Burris will serve us well. I'm okay with him representing my state, even if Blago is impeached (and most Illinois residents have been wanting to see THAT happen for a LONG time). It's unfortunate that he had to be appointed by such a sleaze, but his appointment is completely legal.

I've lost all confidence in our state – if Burris ends up appointed – I for one will never vote for another democrat in the great state of dumb and dumber……………………….

President-Elect Obama opposed Burris being seated in the US Senate. Then the political winds changed after the dramatic, disgraceful blocking of the door when Burris tried to take his seat and now Obama supports Burris.

Presto-change-Obama…the flip flopping doublespeak continues. Obama was against Burris before he was for him…against the old politics of the Clintons before he staffed his entire White House Administration with them. Obama's phony exterior no longer conceals what is nothing more than a political opportunist run wild.

why should it take a month to seat this guy, if white signs the certificate, then go ahead and seat him and get this over with, it's getting more rediculous everyday.

They should come to terms with the law, which says the governor has the not only the authority, but must appoint a person for senator when a vacancy occurs.
Get used to the fact if Burris wants the seat he will get it one way or the other.
This should tell people powerful people to keep their mouths shut until they know what they are talking about.

@ Willy Brown…..The word is scene, genius.

Every time you open your mouth you weaken the nation.

Blago will win this one. Burris will be sworn in within a month. In fact he may be in the Senate after the dolt Harry Reid is voted out of office…

What a bunch of crap.

racist harry reid should seat mr. burris. why is it that reid is on tape with blago dissing the other 2 african american candidates? mr. burris is caught in the crossfire of the corrupt political machine in chicago. legally this man should be the next senator. burris is qualified, and has a lifetime resume of serving the public!

Dems with no backbone to stand by their word… Flip-flop PE we have. Let's pull the race card and say we'll sue for discrimination and that will get them to let me in. Oh, yeah, it worked.

WAKE UP PEOPLE! CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!!

Jenny.. seriously… you know better than that. If Obama had wanted him in, he would have been in. Its really as simple as that. There wouldn't have been the argument there's been.

I find this pretty despicable. The people of Illinois need an honest corruption free Senator, not one appointed by another corrupt Senator.

There should have been an election.

OMFG! Please stop with the crap!!!~
Burris was rightfully appointed as the Senator
Blago has NOT been IMPEACHED
Blago has NOT been put in Jail
Blago is doing EXACTLY what every other Senator and House member has done in their time in office, the only difference is that he was stupid enough to get caught!
Being stupid is not a good enough argument to be thrown out of office, otherwise, we would have thrown bush and dick out many many years ago along with every senator and house member!

PE Obama might want to check out what's going with Eric Holder as it looks like the Senate Repubs are picking on him. Why is that, is he the weak link, the one designate that wouldn't put up much of a fight? Something is rotten in Denmark folks.

We're not hearing much ado about the other designatees being confirmed. What's the deal with Eric Holder, why do they dislike him?

O should have kept his mouth shut from the beginning, because this was not an issues he needed to comment on.

mari, the law or the constitution does not support your notion that the governor lost his right to carry out his duties. it was pure politically wishful thinking that statements of opinions would sway the governor from making the appointment. as far as i'm concerned either get him out of office or you take what he dishes out and he clearly said bleep you here's my chose for the senate now deal with it.

Gee, I think the Messiah's toes were getting a bit burnt and he finally had to open his stupid mouth and say somthing. He probably has a mini teleprompter with him where ever he goes cause he doesn't have an original thought.

don't seat burris…let him run on his own in 2010.

HUH JENNY that is a baseless argument I believe that Obama and the senate probably believe its in the best of illinois and the country to concede and move forward. after all the man is still the governor and they did not move quickly enough. an election should have been called since it wasn't mr governor did his rightful job regardles of what we think ,furthermore if the governor was more tactful and not so uncooth i think this would nothave been a problem after all I'm almost certain that without the vulgar lanquage the actions of the governor would be in line with the average politiction. and to FED up I concurr that the senate is arragant and idiots to boot. but not the PE he's just sure of imself as I am……..

Forget Burris and Blagoveich. They are each others pimps

Barack ain't stupid. He's not trying to waste political capital on this mess. Seat the guy as soon as Jesse White in IL authorizes it.

Just let it go for goodness sake. We have a pack of Republicans that are in the Senate that I'd like to see unseated. You can't get much worse than them. Just give the man a seat and move on!

how many seats do we have in the senate anyway? burris could be a guest.

@ Mike, Syracuse NY…..You forgot that red is an idiot also because that is the color of Republican necks.

I certainly do agree with you that anyone who sat next to or talked to a Republican and didn't run screaming from the hypocracy, and self-righteous idiocy is certainly an idiot, at least dumbed down by the experience, you Republican loser idiot.

You are only seating him because he screamed racism, its not because Illinois needs representation. Obama got his special man in there so now we know that if you scream the sacred word you get what you want. I call that discrimination in its truest form

As per MSNBC, a Lobbyist for Burris is on the board of the business that hired Blago's wife to the tune of $80,000 per year.

u mike ,, u missed u

Blago outfoxed Obama and Reid. This guy is amazing! He should be our next President.

reid made a statement to day abount a7 time covected felon of alaska that stevens shouldnt have to due jail time. because stevens didnt understand the changes in the new law abount reporting gifts
and kick backs. ignorance of the law i thought was not a defense
excause. iguess according to reid it is . have to rember that..
reid and durbin are allready making the dem. loof stupid.

I do not know why CNN continues to perpetuate the myth that Burris is a well-respected politician. One unremarkable stint as the Secretary of State and comptroller isn't much of a resume.

And who cares if he was the "firs black" this or that? Hey folks, this is post-racial America here, we have a black prez.

The main deal is that Burris took the bait from Blogoyavich and something is cooking.

Why is it taking so long to impeach the guv anyway? I though this guy was going down, and here it is a month later, an no trial…

Willy Brown said " Must have been a seen out of Dumb and Dumber".

Let you in on a little secret genius, the word is scene.

It's best for someone as blatantly idiotic as yourself to sit quitetly in a corner and allow progress to proceed.

Every time you open your uneducated mouth you weaken the nation as a whole.

P.S. You lost….get over it.

…the source, who did not wish to be named because the conversation was private.
______________________________________________________
So, why were you eavesdropping and now blabbering?

The only "Burris situation" is that the senate refuses to seat a legally appointed representative over some silly political fight

Its annoying that Blago should be able to weasel in his pick the way he did, but the country has bigger fish to fry.

That does make sense Injustice, since both Gov. Blajo and Burris had those smirks on their face in pics after the appointment. Now we see why…they knew something we didn't know…Obama was going to pull strings to make it happen because he wanted Burris in that slot all along…Burris was probably top man on his list he gave Blajo.

@Proud American. You've had a tough day blogging. I'm worried about all that typing causing Carpal Tunnel, so let me handle this one for you:
All idiodic Republicans are idiots
Any Democrat who ever agrees with a Republican is an idiot
Anyone who had a child that became a Republican is an idiot.
Tired of corporate politics, you mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries (insult borrowed from Monty Python), and you are an idiot
The Czech Republic is an idiot, 'cause it has 'republic' in it's name which sounds too much like 'Republican'.
Reid is an idiot. Oops, he's caved now? He's ok then.
The color red is an idiot 'cause it's the color of Republican states.
Anyone who ever talked to, or sat next to a Republican is an idiot.

Did I miss anyone?

If Burris is seated the Republicans are going to go screaming off in the horizon come 2010 election cycle. If Burris thinks he's got troubles now, just wait until he has to campaign as the appointee of that corrupt politician Blagojevich.

Clearly some people can see the merit of holding a special election or having for the Illinois Lieutenant Governor make the appointment.

wow this is a surprise!?! the PE and the majority leader of the senate talk about a subject getting national attention.. OMG what is the world coming too! Next thing you know democrats and republicans will sit down and hash out differences and find a common ground and start resolving problems.. quick start the hate mail we MUST stop this trend!

idiots

Hey! Where are Texas Teacher and Proud Americans big mouths on this topic!

@tired of corporate politics. You nailed that one. It's truely scary that Obama and Reid can cave so easily. What happens when they go up against Russia, Iran and North Korea?

PE Obama has his hand in alot of things behind the scenes…..and right he should.

Obama is great but the SNC Senators Reid…… When can they be replaced with real democrats.

Our Democratic led congress has really showing the American public that they are capable to lead the country in a time of trouble. Right?

It really doesn't matter that Burris paid Blago for the appointment. So what? Lots of Senators bought their seats, whether directly or being so rich there could be no feasible opposition. I'm sure Obama told Reid not to worry about the corruption of a single African-American Senator when there is far more corruption among duly elected Senators and Congressmen.

Must have been a seen out of Dumb and Dumber

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WAS AN INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION!!!!

He's the former Attorney General of Illinois. I wonder what he knows?

This could get better and better as the days go by.

I say give the seat to the highest bidder.

Who would have ever thought the electronic fly from CNN Science Tech would come in handy twice in a day…..

I would have loved to hear the conversation. I would think some the recent going on's is quite uncomfortable for Sen. Reid….but you got to give it to him…at least he is trying to 'change'.

The Democrats are ridiculous! Harry Reid is ridiculous! Did he really believe that he and the rest of the "Democratic Leadership" could or should keep Burris out?

Are they that taken with themselves?

Arrogance in the White House. Arrogance in the Senate. Where do we go from here?

"Amicable"?! Why not settle for what the law _requires_ in the view of vast majority of the Harvard Law eggheads in Obamaland?

Good start It;s about time the president talks to senate leaders. God know little Idiot Georgie didn't.

Oh leave Blago alone… the only groups worthy of running our government are nuns and priests… we all have fallen short of the Glory of Holiness..

Good! Get this little stupid catfight out of the way. It doesnt add value to our society. Now, go back and change the laws to have a Lt governor appoint a Senator. Go change the laws… All brains and no reality is foolish..

America, you had all better starting thinking positive about Obama!!! I've been a republican for 40 years but after the mess the republicans put us in I voted for Obama! If Obama can not get us out of this mess we all will be picking lettuce in Mexico for 10 cents an hour. DO NOT criticize Obama or his team. Try backing a supporting them!!! Even Bush wished him well because Obama is the only hope we have of cleaning up Bush's mess or "see you in Mexico"!!!

Obama has his hand in alot of things behind the scenes…..and right he should!

@ Tired of corporate politics

You didn't watch one of Obama's speaches if you think that he played the race card in them…you shine your ignorance like the sun. This is mostly a non-story, but it does show that Obama intends to keep people behaving reasonably (at elast to the extent possible). While the Secretary of the Senate certainly had no authority (according to the Senate rules) to seat Burris due to the lack of White's signature, nobody believes for a second that they will refuse once Burris gets a court ordering forcing White to sign (since he had no authority not to). This whole thing is a controversy fabricated by the media because they need to justify the price of their advertising time/space.

"tired of corporate politics": looks like your brain is stuck in 1984.

It's good to know that a sleeze like Blago can call the bluff of the Demo leadership in Congress. That will open all sorts of doors for the opponents of Reid.

Burris background does not suggest any relationship with wrongdoing by the governor. So not seating him only appears that the senate wants to maintain an all white men's club. It's constitutionally legal to seat him. Oh, i forgot everyone in the Senate is clean. Not!!

Obama played the race card in many of his speeches. Now he is doing it in private.

DNC: we hate Burris and will restrain him physically
Obama: He's black, let him in.
DNC: We love Burris and the Ministry of Information (1984) says we always have.

The blind leading the deaf to the dumb!

how does Reid keep winning his elections?! he's not an effective leader

Good I am glad that President-elect Obama spoke to Reid about Burris. However, the issue is that Blagojevich lost his right to appoint anyone when he tried to sell the senate seat……. that's what's wrong with seating Burris.

The people of Illinois don't need full representation. They sent that idiot Blagojevich to the Governors mansion, which put the country in this mess with Burris.

Okay Lincoln was good, Obama was good, but Blagoboy and Burris–not so much.

Clean up your act Illinois and fast. We don't want anyone that Blagoboy sends to Congress. Speed up that impeachment process, and hurry.

I'm sure Obama told Reid that he's barking up the wrong tree with this. Seat Burris and let that be that.