In the last few days, I've been flabbergasted by some of what I've been reading on here regarding Roland Burris.
It seems like a good number of people around here want him seated. That absolutely astounds me.
It makes me wonder what else we're willing to sacrifice to get one more "D" in the Senate.
Okay, before anyone points out that Roland Burris had nothing to do with Blago's troubles, I'll concede that that is correct. Roland Burris might be the most ethical and potentially effective politician the world has ever seen.
Regardless of the veracity of that claim, it's nonetheless irrelevant to this discussion. Because of Rod Blagojevich's idiotic actions, whether they were legal or not, any appointment he made would be instantly weakened and subject to intense speculation. His pick would not be able to give the people of Illinois the representation that they deserve in a Senator.
Just in case you forgot, let me remind you of some of Blago's choice quotes about this appointment.
On Nov. 3, Blagojevich told Adviser A: "I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself." Blagojevich described the Senate seat as "a (expletive) valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing."
On Nov. 5, while discussing his authority to name Obama’s replacement, Blagojevich said Obama could use his influence to name the governor to a lucrative spot with a private foundation. Blagojevich told Adviser A: "I’ve got this thing and it’s fucking golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for fucking nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there."
On Nov. 7, Blagojevich discussed the Senate seat with Harris and Adviser B, a Washington-based political consultant. They discussed a deal that would name Blagojevich to a high-paying job with a group affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. "I want to make money," Blagojevich said.
During a two-hour telephone conversation with various people on Nov. 12, Blagojevich talked about securing high-paying jobs for him and his wife in exchange for the Senate seat. He said he is "struggling" financially and does "not want to be governor for the next two years."
Blagojevich said advisers are telling him he has to "suck it up" for two years and give this (expletive) (Obama) his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him."
During a conversation with Harris on Nov. 11, Blagojevich said he knew Obama wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."
Blagojevich told Fundraiser A on Dec. 4 that if Senate Candidate 5 wanted to be appointed to Obama’s seat, the candidate should follow through on promises to raise money for Blagojevich. "(S)ome of this stuff’s gotta start happening now ... right now ... and we gotta see it. You understand?" But Blagojevich told Fundraiser A that "you gotta be careful how you express that and assume everybody’s listening, the whole world is listening. You hear me?"
So there we have it. If what Blago did wasn't illegal, it sure was nonetheless idiotic (as he knew he was already under investigation and therefore that his phones were probably tapped). And it destroys the credibility of anyone appointed by him.
Are we willing to sacrifice our ethics to the extent that we're content with Blago's pick?
I have a better way to phrase that: If this were a Republican Governor who just appointed a Republican Senator, would that be okay with any of us?
IOIYAD?