Cross-posted at The Rockoff Rag
The New York Times just published this information:
At a Tuesday news conference here, Mr. Blagojevich breezily introduced Mr. Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, as the "next United States senator from Illinois." But United States Representative Danny Davis, who like Mr. Burris is a longtime fixture of the Illinois Democratic Party and an African-American, said he was offered the seat in a meeting with an emissary of the governor last Wednesday, and turned it down on Friday.
"Given all the revelations and all the controversy, I would not be able to take it from the governor," Mr. Davis, who has represented a Chicago district in Congress since 1996, said in an interview. "I felt that if I was to take the appointment, I would spend so much of my time deflecting and defending the position that it would take away my real reason for being involved in politics and political life — to find solutions to problems."
This story demonstrates the trouble that Roland Burris is going to face, even if he is eventually confirmed, and why no elected official would want to risk their career. Burris is not currently in elected office and so has nothing to lose.
UPDATED:
Here's another quote from Congressman Danny Davis, from the Chicago Sun-Times:
"It would be difficult to generate the trust level people would have to have in me. I just decided there was too much turmoil, too much disagreement. It was something I wanted to do, but I said I would not take an appointment from the governor."
EXACTLY. Mr. Burris may or may not eventually be seated. But his ability to serve his constituents is probably irrevocably harmed.
UPDATE 2: And on a related note for the same story, Secretary of State Jesse White has just withheld his signature on the nomination of Burris to the US Senate, as he'd threatened to do. From Talking Points Memo:
"His feeling is we studied the constitution of Illinois, we looked at the statutes, and there was nothing there that said he had to sign the paperwork," said David Druker, White's press secretary.
"We don't believe he has the authority to hold up the appointment or veto it, to put it that way," Druker added. "How the U.S. Senate views the action, that would be for the U.S. Senate to determine."
This is interesting. This suggests that even White's office does not view his refusal to certify as a legal roadblock. This action is administrative only. The ball is still with the United States Senate. If they reject Burris' nomination, will the Supreme Court order them to seat Burris?
UPDATED:
And it seems prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has asked for an additional 90 days to bring an indictment against Blagojevich:
In a motion filed today in U.S. District Court, Fitzgerald said that the length, scope, and complexity of the investigation, combined with the intrusion of the holiday season, has prevented him from meeting the January 7 deadline.
Is Fitzgerald having trouble with his case? Has there been a key witness that pulled out? And most importantly (as someone who lives and votes in Illinois), how long does this cast a cloud of suspicion over one of my Senators?
(On a side note, I’ve just begun my very own blog, The Rockoff Rag! Make sure to check it out as I’ll be doing more political analysis over the next few years! Thanks for reading.)