(CNN) – Senate Democratic leaders are weighing their options in light of the Illinois State Supreme Court decision that Roland Burris’s certificate of appointment does not require the secretary of state’s signature.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois senior Sen. Dick Durbin had been very clear that their path to seating Burris began with the signature of Secretary of State Jesse White, citing a Senate rule from 1884 that seems to require it.
The court ruled Friday afternoon that no such signature was required.
Two days ago, White insisted to a Chicago radio station that he would keep his word, and not sign any certificate that also had the signature of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on it. But White was also critical of the Senate’s decision to block Burris, and said he merely considered his own signature ceremonial. His next move also remains a question mark.
From CNN Politics
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It's over. Leave it to a bunch of lawyers to spend 10 pages to say what can be said in two simple sentences.
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The appointment of Roland Burris as Senator from Illinois is legal and complete.
Harry Reid & the US Senate are compelled by law to seat Mr. Burris so that he may serve the people of his state.
Way to go.. doing everything u can to keep the guy out... give it up already!
The entire crowd, including Reid is nutts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a wonder this country is in such a mess?
I think they should just seat him and then immediately hold a vote to expel him.....keeping to their word that a Blago appointment cannot serve in the Senate. The Senate can expel a member for any reason they choose with 60 votes.....the Republicans will be happy to join in and they can surely get enough Democrats......
Bush-bashing in 3... 2... 1...
and this shows he should have been seated from day one. Mr Reid knows that and is putting politics before right.
Seat the man. This madness has to stop. He can't cause much damage in just 2 years and he'll never get elected at the end of it.
ENOUGH !!
Democrats do the right thing.....don't end up being a ridiculous as the Republican have become. Be mature and seat Burris and end this crap......the Gov. even though he was accused, was never convicted of anything and had the right and legal jurisdiction to appoint a Senator. You all should have had a special election and let the people chose, but you played the wrong card and it backfired. We are faced with TOO MANY
...problems in this country to spend time dealing with this kind of crap!
This is ridiculous, sit the man for crying out loud. Reid really has some nerve to talk about not sitting Burris which is legal and binding when he himself had conversations with Blagojevich about who he did not want to get the sit. I don't think there is a clean pair of hands on anyone involved in his mess, but the law is the law. Roland Burris is the junior senator from the state of Illinois period!
Reid and Durbin just don't want an election or the prospect of an election in two years that will have Blago's shenanigans hovering over the Democrats candidate. DEMOCRAT POLITICS AS USEUAL!
If Senate rules trump a State's selection of Senator – what's to prevent a Senate rule preventing African-American Senators from being seated? Of Athiests? Of those under 5 ft tall?
Please, will the Senate grow up? The are acting like a bunch of boys, let the man in the playhouse.
To say that Sec of State must sign is to say that the Sec of State has veto power over the appointment of the Gov.
What if the sec of state was of the other party? He could then halt any appointment at will by not signing?
Reid's real motives are not hidden by this ridiculous logic.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs to be replaced by a Senator that will deal with the economic crisis instead of making political hay
out of the nomination of Mr. Burris. President Elect Obama has requested that legislation be ready for him when he takes office. Senator Reid is ignoring the needs of the country.
Since the first report that Blago was recorded trying to sell the Senate seat,the more we know,the more this has come down on Blago's side and in the process,made the Obama-led Democrats look foolish and ignorant.Sets the trend for the next four years.
Here's an idea that would help everything. Impeach Blago, remove him from office, then have the Lt. Governor indorse the appointment of Burris. Ill gets a senator and a legitamate Governor.
Why are they going so slowly? If they could have impeached him last week Burris could be in by now.
All of this should be thrown out so that the government can move on. OUR GOVERNMENT IS LETTING THIS CIRCUS TO HOLD UP PROGRESS. bURRIS SHOULD GO ALSO. WHERE ARE OUR LAWS??
IT IS HORRIBLE HOW HE USES OTHERS SO BLANTENLY.
I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILL.!!!!
Our migration from the "Rule of Law" as a nation, is fast approaching ,interpretation represenative of "Term Limits",of the underlying" Laws" themself? How ironic that Mayor Bloomgerg will over-ride the term-limits laws in New York City for the good of it's citizen's,whereas it was the very citizens that mandated the "Law"! Now,let' juxtapose the similarities of Illinois Gov.Blago's nomination of interim US Senator Burris selection ,which under the,"Rule of Law" quite legitimate! Yet,once again ,the powers to be ,question the constitutionality of the mandated hundred- year old law by the people? What gives these individuals the right to pick,and choose their contempories with such distain for the very laws, their sworn to up-hold,...whereas the inverse of their behavior mirrors that of "Communism!
WHY NOT POST THE OTHER COMMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC TO READ.IS THIS THE START OF MARKSISM...IT SURE APPEARS THAT WAY SHOW THE PREVIOUS POSTS
SEAT BURRIS NOW!!!!!!!!
Anything to stop an election.
Living here in Illinois, I can tell you that White isn't going to sign the document without a court order. So, we're either going to have to wait for a court to order White to sign or the senate is going to have to seat Burris without the signature. Reid and Durbin have already eaten half of the crow, so they may as well swallow the remainder.
The Dems think they are above the law. The constitution dictates how the process should proceed and it has proceeded properly. They have no legitimate right to turn away Burris. People who want a special election better understand that they better change the constitution – but until then obey it.
Help me here. Does the Illinois State Court have any authority over Harry Reid?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois senior Sen. Dick Durbin had been very clear that their path to seating Burris began with the signature of Secretary of State Jesse White,***Now that the State Supreme Court decision that Roland Burris’s certificate of appointment does not require the secretary of state’s signature.Now what Reid and Durbin ??? Seat the old GUY !!!!
That may be ok in State but not in Federal. Burris would have to get a green light from the US Supreme court.
Geeez...read the decision...the Court basically gave the Dems instructions on how to get rid of Burris. Have one of your so-called experts figure it out if you don't get it.
HE IS TOO OLD.
If I read the opinion correctly, any ordinary citizen can walk into the IL Secretary of State's Office and request a "record or paper" (which the governor's "appointment" letter now is), pay the small fee and get the document with the Secretary's seal affixed. Sounds like all this hub-bub was being held up for a $2.00 fee? Crazy country we live in. No wonder we have a huge deficit!
I don't understand how the appointment of a qualified person by an
un-indicted governor is a problem. The Senate needs to swear him in and get on with much more important business. If the PEOPLE of Illinois do not like the appointment, they can express their dislike at the next election. Pretty simple to me.
What next move? They lost, he won. SEAT HIM!!!!
That's because Harry and the boys were there when it was written...
Reid and Durbin are wrong. They should seat him.
Burris may not be the best choice, but he is legal. Why in the world doesn't Reid get this story handled and off the front pages?
What next move? Seat the man and move on!!! Good grief!!!! The Gov played them like fools, so move on to the phase.
Seat the man, already. This is ridiculous.
Pardon me Ms. Bash and Dem Leaders,
The next move does not belong to the Senate. It's now "The Distinguished Gentleman From Illinois' turn." As I said at the beginning of this debacle, the law is the law. His appointment is legal and binding.
Gov. Blagojevich called SML Harry Reid's bluff and won. Case closed on Mr. Burris. The courts will deal with the Gov.
Sec. of the Senate:
Open those doors and welcome Sen. Burris in. There is something to be said about opportunity and persistence. He's "too legit' to quit." (MCH)
P.S. Ernie: If McCain could run for President at his age.................
The next move is to seat Burris! Looks like the delay tactics are unraveling Reid!
The dems are stupid and gonna look stupider before this is over
Blago stuck it to the Dems... he is also going to fight for his position and I believe that the house moved in too quickly in this vote ti impeach him; the senate does not have all the facts yet and fitzpatrick is still building his own case; the entire plan was to delay the appointment but no one offered Blago anything; so he made it. deal with it and move on... in 2010 the people of Ill will have an election and the chips will fold where they may... Senator Burris appointment is leagal and he is the Junior Senator from Illinois.
If there wasn't so many old ones in the senate, I would agree.
Just seat the man. It is only for 2 years and the people of IL deserve to be represented in the Senate.
I agree!
No next move to think about. Just sit the man already. Enough with the drama. We all knw the end result. We remember Lieberman.
Seat the guy and if any illegal act on his part to be picked is found out then send him to jail for life. Let him know the consequences of his accepting the offer.
Oh, for heaven's sake! The Dems could have avoided this entire mess by having a special election. The best thing now would be to seat Burris and schedule a special ballot in the summer or whenever Congress takes its next vacation. That's in February from what I've heard.
@Ernie in LA January 9th, 2009 4:02 pm ET
HE IS TOO OLD.......are you related to TCM
BUrris gets a boost and Blogo get Impeached.
The Senate should NOT let this guy in.
Of course Burris should be seated...we have a Gov who thinks it's
business as usual even though he's been impeached and, above
all, an idiot in the White House. Indeed, business as usual.
I love it when people tell Harry Reid to go stick it. You're my new favorite Senator Burris.
I think its discrimination against the people of illinois asking for a legal election.,