Well, it looks like everyone in the political establishment and the media is playing along with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's gambit by hastily canonizing the newly appointed junior Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, as the kind of unquestionably pure and saintly lion of the people Blago wanted us to view him as.
You know what question I've haven't heard anyone ask Mr. Burris?
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[Cross-Posted on Library Grape, my new blog.]
It would go something like this (read in the voice of that rare breed of journalist that remembered how to do their job):
"Mr. Burris, the Democratic leadership in this country is unanimous in calling for Governor Blagojevich to resign.
The President-Elect and the entire Democratic Caucus in the Senate have stated for weeks that they would not accept any person appointed by Mr. Blagojevich to President-Elect Obama's vacated Senate seat.
Why now, after decrying Mr. Blagojevich's allegedly illegal actions with respect to trying to sell the vacated Senate seat, have you decided to forcefully thumb your nose to the entire elected leadership of the Democratic Party by accepting Mr. Balgojevich's appointment?
Although many say that you are a man of great character, why would you now then decide to get caught up in a naked plot by the Governor to hold onto power and, in the process, sow division and rancor in your Democratic Party?
Shouldn't you have let the process play out before deciding to complicate the matter in this way and run the risk of making the entire leadership of your chosen party look like ineffectual hacks should they ultimately cave to Mr. Blagojevich's demands?"
As usual, the media was fed a handy narrative and they ate it up like starving children. More needs to be asked of Roland Burris about why he effectively decided to volley a big "Fuck You!" to nearly every important figure in national and Illinois Democratic politics.