Comments on: “Senator” Roland Burris (D-Blago) and Pay-to-Play Placement

By: khrish

khrish — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:29:19 +0000

Well he has this huge moseleum in Chicago that is already etched with all the things that he has accomplished and he wants this to be on it. I call it a big ole tombstone. Haven't you seen it? It was in all the websites when he was assigned his senate seat.

By: khrish

khrish — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:29:19 +0000

By: B-Serious

B-Serious — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:12:53 +0000

Evening thread is up.

By: Barry Pills Allen

Barry Pills Allen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:38:47 +0000

what does his tombstone have 2 do with any of this

By: Barry Pills Allen

Barry Pills Allen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:37:12 +0000

i'm sorry u guys but as a 29 yr old that has work on previous Burris campaigns and known and worshipped with the man for 28 yrs i take personal umbrage with the personal attacks on Sen Burris…because the man put his credentials on his tomb he did something wrong….learn your facts first, he and his wife had the tomb made after he had heart surgery….and back in the 80's and 90's Burris and the late great Harold Washington were black politics in chicago and illinois……Burris was the only african american to win statewide office from 1979-1992 until Carol Mosely Braun won her senate seat…..now please don't think for a minute that i'm a apologist cause i'm no where close 2 that just want people 2 get they facts str8 and right and stop with the personal attacks on a man who's career has been unblemished till now

By: ASmith

ASmith — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:02:26 +0000

Shoot, that almost makes it worse… they just talked about it… nobody did anything for real, for real? Whoever this guy was, he wasn't in the major runnings… guess NY figured a Black Governer was enough for their contribution.

By: Town

Town — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:28:26 +0000

I think some black politicians fall victim to “wait your turn” syndrome, and when they finally realize their “turn” will never come, they are too old and used up to do anything about it.

By: Sepia

Sepia — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:12:21 +0000

When Hillary's seat was up for the taking, I believe there was talk about a black dude from Upstate NY taking her seat.

By: rikyrah

rikyrah — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:40:45 +0000

Illinois Legislature?

No.

Illinois House of Representatives?

YES

Specifically -
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MICHAEL MADIGAN

I've said for how long that this entire fiasco can be placed at his feet?

You want to find someone responsible.

Blame Massa Madigan.

By: RobM

RobM — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:40:16 +0000

Population of Chicago and other large towns w/ African Americans polualtions Quad Cities, Springfield, Rockford.

By: khrish

khrish — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:36:45 +0000

I knew nothing about this man until he came forth to take that seat. However, it did seem strange to me that he would let MR B appoint him to the seat when none of the others would have taken it as an appointment from Mr.B. He just appeared to me to be an opportunist especially when i saw that damn “tombstone” that he has been adding his accomplishments to. But I didn't know him so I said nothing, just watched to show on the news. He is never going to leave that seat unless men with nets and a white truck shows up to take him away. He is there for noone but himself. I hope he can go to his grave smiling about having this etched on his big ole tombstone. His replacing the President is like Thomas replacing Justice Marshall.

By: TruthSeeker

TruthSeeker — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:35:48 +0000

Something about that elderly man stumbling around in the rain said “crook” to me.

By: rikyrah

rikyrah — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:29:03 +0000

Jill,

You know I luv ya, but Burris isn't going anywhere.

He was never my guy (you know who was), but my position stands - if he's that weak, then Primary his ass in 2010. If he loses, then whatever candidate wins the Democratic Primary will be in good shape for the 2010 Senatorial Election.

I'm not even in the mood today to argue with you about the cesspool that is Illinois politics. Honestly and truly. And, the ridiculous crop of Black politicians that we have there.

If I regain the mood, I'll tell you some stories.

By: rikyrah

rikyrah — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:26:16 +0000

AFTERNOON OPEN THREAD IS UP!!

By: ASmith

ASmith — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:48:04 +0000

Sir, you have asked the $1M question.

I know that in THIS specific case, it'd have to come from IL because they're the ones with an open seat, but...

Dang, can we get some Black Senators out of NY?? How about PA??? I don't understand what the hold up is with that. We've been slacking big time.

By: eclecticbrotha

eclecticbrotha — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:53:44 +0000

Two things:

1) Burris won't survive the primary challenger in 2010, since even black folks have convicted him in the court of public opinion. There probably won't be another black US senator for a very long time, unless another black progressive rises to the top in Illinois. Which brings me to point #2....

2) Why is Illinois the only state that's capable of electing a black US senator??

By: eclecticbrotha

eclecticbrotha — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:44:29 +0000

Plantsmantx, you should know by now that if someone says a black man did something, he must have done it – even if no actual proof is presented. Apparently the dislike of Burris runs so strong that no one cares to be reminded of what “quid pro quo” actually means. It means you GAVE something to get something back. Except if you're a black man. Then, it means whatever we want it to mean – especially if we're too embarrassed to have you around.

By: Plantsmantx

Plantsmantx — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:09:10 +0000

Most of the criticism here seems to be based on people not liking Burris. Well, I don't particulary like him either, but that was never the point for me. As Town says, Blago had the legal right to seat Burris. I won't shed any tears for him when he loses the primary, or is unable to finance a primary run, but for the time being, he's there…legally. Two things in that op/ed are noticeably absent- an accusation that he bought the seat (accusing him of “pay for play” isn't the same thing), and a link to a transcript of the phone call.

By: Town

Town — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:47:39 +0000

Legally, Burris had a right to be seated. Blago could have appointed Donald Duck and legally Donald Duck had a right to be seated.

What the Democrats were trying to do was sidestep the Constitution, which was hypocritical because they spent 8 years screaming about Bush wiping his ass with the Constitution and then they wanted to do it with Burris, too.

ANYONE who was dealing with Blago was a shady character; apparently everyone in IL know Blago was dirty and they avoided being associated/seen with him. Still doesn't take away the fact that Blago had the right to appoint somebody as the sitting governor and Burris had the right to be seated.

The real blame in this seems to lie with the IL legislature who didn't move fast enough to strip Blago of his powers/get rid of him/impeach him sooner/etc.

I don't think Burris will be a factor past November of next year because as I understand it, he's having serious trouble raising money. A designer purse is worth more than what's in Burris' reelection coffers. No money = buh-bye.

By: blksista

blksista — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:25:38 +0000

I know I was called everything but a child of the Universe for calling for Burris' head. The man is graceless and classless, with more than a touch of hubris. That tomb of his with the inscription that he was senator from Illinois is going to more than just laughable. He should not have been seated, regardless of whether Reid was poking around. They knew. They must have known. And by that, I mean the tapes.

It's quite true that his weak ass is going to be gone come next year. However, the fact remains that we're not going to get a black candidate stepping up any time soon. Black folks are going to have to find a candidate among those out there that would meet their needs and aspirations for the moment, while they groom a black candidate that would appeal to them and to other constituencies around Illinois. He or she is going to have to pass the smell test.