There is no valid reason for the Democrats to not seat this upright and decent man save for their anger with the Governor of Illinois.
Quite the contrary, the Democrats in the United States Senate should be thankful for the opprotunity to welcome such an accomplished man.
Burris's life's history is one of on the level square dealing.
Read more about Burris here.
The man has more than an impressive resume; he pays his civic dues too:
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Free Masons, 320
Member, Board of the Better Business Bureau (2008)
Member, Board of the Auditorium Theater of Chicago (2001-2006)
Member, Board of The National Center for Responsible Gaming (1996-2005)
Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation (1991-1994)
Chairman, National Association of Attorneys General, Civil Rights Commission (93-95)
Trustee, Government Finance Officers Association of U.S. and Canada (1987-1991)
Member, Howard University Law School Alumni Association
Member, Southern Illinois University Foundation
Member, Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago
Member, U.S. Jaycees
Vice-Chairman, Committee on Illinois Government
Trustee, Goodwill Industries
Member, Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Member, Board of Directors, Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University (1996)
Chairman, Illinois State Justice Commission (1994-1996)
Chairman and Founder, Illinois Commission of the African-American Males (1992-1994)
Vice-Chairman, Democratic National Committee (1985-1989)
Life member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Life member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Life member, Southern Illinois Alumni Association
Chairman, Civil Rights Committee, National Association of Attorneys General (93-94)
President, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (81-82)
Member, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Beta Boule
Honorary Doctors of Laws Degree, National Louis University, Evanston, Illinois
Honorary Doctors of Laws Degree, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Mississippi
White House summer intern for Office of Emergency Planning (1962)
I don't really give a crap about Burris's resume, because that's not the issue here, but I am a big fan of following the rule of law.
ReplyDeleteAccording to state law, a sitting Illinois governor has the sole responsibility to select a replacement if a senate seat opens up. Blago is still legally the governor.
Like I said on my blog, if Burris is clean and unconnected with the Blago scandal, Harry Reid should STFU about it and let the man be seated.
I think we cal all agree that if Mr. Burris had been picked by anyone else he'd be welcomed with open arms. The fact remains though, with the lengthy list of charges against Blago, and the Gov.'s sheer arrogance, I could have been picked for the seat, and there would be concerns. And that's how it should be. As the old saying goes..."You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas."
ReplyDeleteWell, if the charges against Blago are sufficient, then the Ill. state legislature should have gotten off their collective ass and removed the guy from office BEFORE he appointed Burris. But he's still legally in charge, and that means any actions he performs in his capacity as governor are legal unless wrongdoing is proven. It's known as due process.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, if his selection of Burris for Senate is blocked, then each and every official action he performs needs to be negated. Including every bill he signed into law for the last year.
Harry Reid and the Democrats really dropped the ball on this one. Should they flaunt all the laws and make up rules just to suit themselves? Are we going to continue the lawlessness of the Bush regime, when we have an opportunity to make a clean break with that kind of mentality?
>>Harry Reid and the Democrats really dropped the ball on this one.
ReplyDeleteYa think?
Consider the irony of this blog calling to seat a Democratic appointee.