02-20-2009, 11:12 AM
I believe our 'junior' Senator is on his 4th version of the story. If he has another we likely wonât hear about it as he has now decided to cut the press off from any questions.
But what can be done about Burris? If he took the job despite requests that he not take a 'tainted' position, why would he resign now because of requests from some of the same people? I read where a bunch of black ministers were going to ask him to resign. Oh, Please! Burris' ego could fill McCormack Place North. He isnât going to let Tribune and Sun-Times editorials sway him from his cushy job in Washington. He's getting a very nice salary, benefits, another taxpayer-paid pension, and as long as he is the 60th vote in the Senate, nobody is going to try to kick him out. Reid needs Burris to be happy enough to vote with the party, and an attempt to expell Burris on anything but an actual, serious, criminal act would be a disaster and might get Roland just a little mad...mad enough to either vote Present, or worse, vote with the GOP.
Harry Reid could try to kick Burris out, but after his fiasco in attempting to bar Burris from the Senate for the bogus (and later deemed unnecessary by a judge) reason that Jesse White wouldn't put the State Seal on Blago's appointment document, Burris was welcomed into the 'Club'. Even if Burris is charged with perjury, the Senate has never thrown out a member who was charged with a crime, as this would've violated the Senator's rights under due process. Remember, Sen Stevens was on trial and nobody suggested throwing him out until the jury's verdict was read.
Burris would have to be charged by the State of Illinois for perjury, which Burris could counter in court that he provided clarifications to the Committee in accordance with the law. Once Burris is tried, there are hearings and other court proceedings (which would include continuances and numerous depositions). If Burris was convicted by a jury (which finding a non-biased jury would also be difficult as pre-trial publicity and the race card would definitely be brought up), then the US Senate would have to go through its own proceedings. Add up the time, and you have Burris sailing through to 2010, where he could simply run for re-election, collect campaign contributions, lose either the primary or general elections, and he is out of office without penalty.
But what can be done about Burris? If he took the job despite requests that he not take a 'tainted' position, why would he resign now because of requests from some of the same people? I read where a bunch of black ministers were going to ask him to resign. Oh, Please! Burris' ego could fill McCormack Place North. He isnât going to let Tribune and Sun-Times editorials sway him from his cushy job in Washington. He's getting a very nice salary, benefits, another taxpayer-paid pension, and as long as he is the 60th vote in the Senate, nobody is going to try to kick him out. Reid needs Burris to be happy enough to vote with the party, and an attempt to expell Burris on anything but an actual, serious, criminal act would be a disaster and might get Roland just a little mad...mad enough to either vote Present, or worse, vote with the GOP.
Harry Reid could try to kick Burris out, but after his fiasco in attempting to bar Burris from the Senate for the bogus (and later deemed unnecessary by a judge) reason that Jesse White wouldn't put the State Seal on Blago's appointment document, Burris was welcomed into the 'Club'. Even if Burris is charged with perjury, the Senate has never thrown out a member who was charged with a crime, as this would've violated the Senator's rights under due process. Remember, Sen Stevens was on trial and nobody suggested throwing him out until the jury's verdict was read.
Burris would have to be charged by the State of Illinois for perjury, which Burris could counter in court that he provided clarifications to the Committee in accordance with the law. Once Burris is tried, there are hearings and other court proceedings (which would include continuances and numerous depositions). If Burris was convicted by a jury (which finding a non-biased jury would also be difficult as pre-trial publicity and the race card would definitely be brought up), then the US Senate would have to go through its own proceedings. Add up the time, and you have Burris sailing through to 2010, where he could simply run for re-election, collect campaign contributions, lose either the primary or general elections, and he is out of office without penalty.