Comments on: If the Senate Democrats Accept Lieberman, Why Not Burris? http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:51:28 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: tjbs http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777286 tjbs Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:44:59 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777286 <p>God damn right, I love that standard Innocent UNTIL proven guilty. We have enough time to determine guilt or innocence outside the judgement of the court of public opinion.</p> God damn right, I love that standard Innocent UNTIL proven guilty. We have enough time to determine guilt or innocence outside the judgement of the court of public opinion.

]]> By: Otay http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777283 Otay Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:19:45 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777283 <p>I’ll tell you why the Dem party elite would seat Lieberman but not Burris:</p> <p>Seating Lieberman only inflames their base, and only abandons their (supposed) principles. But they don’t have their own principles - except going along with the GOP and thus “real America’s” principles - so that’s okay. Furthermore, everybody hates the left and their interests, so it’s double okay.</p> <p>Seating Burris inflames the Republicans and the MSM. Now that’s just plain unacceptable to the Dem elite, and dangerous to the media Kumbaya image they’re trying to promote. And besides, it’s so “partisan” and “pre-change”.</p> I’ll tell you why the Dem party elite would seat Lieberman but not Burris:

Seating Lieberman only inflames their base, and only abandons their (supposed) principles. But they don’t have their own principles – except going along with the GOP and thus “real America’s” principles – so that’s okay. Furthermore, everybody hates the left and their interests, so it’s double okay.

Seating Burris inflames the Republicans and the MSM. Now that’s just plain unacceptable to the Dem elite, and dangerous to the media Kumbaya image they’re trying to promote. And besides, it’s so “partisan” and “pre-change”.

]]> By: Teddy Partridge http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777265 Teddy Partridge Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:03:15 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777265 <p>Lots of folks on this thread and others keep writing about the “indicted” Governor.</p> <p>My point was simply that he hasn’t been indicted and we do him, and the situation, a disservice when we write about an “indictment.” Blago and his chief of staff (since resigned) have been arrested, not indicted. There have not been indictments, and now Fitz wants 90 more days.</p> <p>I don’t need to provide a “claim of potential innocence” for anyone in this mess; <strong>everyone involved is innocent</strong>, as there have been no convictions.</p> Lots of folks on this thread and others keep writing about the “indicted” Governor.

My point was simply that he hasn’t been indicted and we do him, and the situation, a disservice when we write about an “indictment.” Blago and his chief of staff (since resigned) have been arrested, not indicted. There have not been indictments, and now Fitz wants 90 more days.

I don’t need to provide a “claim of potential innocence” for anyone in this mess; everyone involved is innocent, as there have been no convictions.

]]> By: Millineryman http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777213 Millineryman Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:18:22 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777213 <p>I don’t know enough about Burris but playing the guilt by association thang is counter productive. To claim he’s tainted because a governor who hasn’t been proven to be guilty of anything is pulling a William Ayers.</p> <p>I suspect that Obama doesn’t want any connection to Blago scandal following him to DC and that’s just not good reason to stop this.</p> I don’t know enough about Burris but playing the guilt by association thang is counter productive. To claim he’s tainted because a governor who hasn’t been proven to be guilty of anything is pulling a William Ayers.

I suspect that Obama doesn’t want any connection to Blago scandal following him to DC and that’s just not good reason to stop this.

]]> By: Jane Hamsher http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777155 Jane Hamsher Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:21:16 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777155 <p>No, there is certainly discussion on that front.</p> <p>Jack Balkin thinks they may be able to prevent Burris from being seated:</p> <p><a href="http://balkin.blogspot.com/2008/12/can-senate-refuse-to-seat-ronald-burris.html" rel="nofollow">http://balkin.blogspot.com/200.....urris.html</a></p> <p>Scott Lemieux thinks they can’t:</p> <p><a href="http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/2008/12/powell-precedent.html" rel="nofollow">http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/.....edent.html</a></p> <p>Their remedy, if they are forced to seat him, seems to be to expel him after he is seated by a 2/3 vote.</p> No, there is certainly discussion on that front.

Jack Balkin thinks they may be able to prevent Burris from being seated:

http://balkin.blogspot.com/200…..urris.html

Scott Lemieux thinks they can’t:

http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/…..edent.html

Their remedy, if they are forced to seat him, seems to be to expel him after he is seated by a 2/3 vote.

]]> By: bonkers http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777149 bonkers Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:10:57 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777149 <p>Too bad Blago wasn’t a fan of Jello:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983DwAOCXRI" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983DwAOCXRI</a></p> Too bad Blago wasn’t a fan of Jello:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983DwAOCXRI

]]> By: jjasper http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777143 jjasper Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:03:08 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777143 <p>“Governor Rod hasn’t been indicted, least of all convicted.” I read that as a claim of potential innocence. YMMV. Apologies to Teddy if I’m reading him wrong.</p> <p>Are we all 100% certain there’s no legal way whatsoever to prevent anyone Blago appoints from being seated?</p> “Governor Rod hasn’t been indicted, least of all convicted.” I read that as a claim of potential innocence. YMMV. Apologies to Teddy if I’m reading him wrong.

Are we all 100% certain there’s no legal way whatsoever to prevent anyone Blago appoints from being seated?

]]> By: HarpoSnarx http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777123 HarpoSnarx Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:46:59 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777123 <p>How about a pool guessing when the Millionaire Club’s Capitulation Crew helps the Gooper’s poll numbers rise? Easter?</p> How about a pool guessing when the Millionaire Club’s Capitulation Crew helps the Gooper’s poll numbers rise? Easter?

]]> By: Jane Hamsher http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777114 Jane Hamsher Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:34:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777114 <p>Teddy did not express any admiration for Blago’s “ethics,” a belief that he’s innocent, or the opinion that he shouldn’t step down.</p> <p>We’d all prefer he step down. He’s not going to. The question is what can legally be done in light of that. The fact that most of the people in Illinois who are in a position to do anything about it are implicated in the situation has compromised things at many stages, and remedies that could/should have been taken weren’t. </p> <p>It’s a mess, but short-circuiting the law for political expediency is a big contributing factor to the problem, it isn’t a solution.</p> Teddy did not express any admiration for Blago’s “ethics,” a belief that he’s innocent, or the opinion that he shouldn’t step down.

We’d all prefer he step down. He’s not going to. The question is what can legally be done in light of that. The fact that most of the people in Illinois who are in a position to do anything about it are implicated in the situation has compromised things at many stages, and remedies that could/should have been taken weren’t.

It’s a mess, but short-circuiting the law for political expediency is a big contributing factor to the problem, it isn’t a solution.

]]> By: Neil http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777107 Neil Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:29:40 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/31/if-the-senate-democrats-accept-lieberman-why-not-burris/#comment-1777107 <blockquote><p><em>Burris should secure AIPAC support, then there won’t be a problem. ;)</em></p></blockquote> <p>Funny but wouldn’t you rather see him get J Street pac money?</p>

Burris should secure AIPAC support, then there won’t be a problem. ;)

Funny but wouldn’t you rather see him get J Street pac money?

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