Well it's official. Mr Burris is the Jr Senator of Illinois. He knew that a long time ago. Dick Cheney swore him in on Burris' own Bible, while the (now) proud papa Dick Durbin stood behind him. When it was over Dick gave him a big hug. I'm glad I heard the Oath of Office so I could see what barry swore to. Incidentally Burris is a leftie.
VP DICK CHENEY: Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend The Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That you will bear true faith and allegiance to that same. That you take this obligation freely, without any or mental reservation or purpose of evasion. And that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the Office on which you are about to enter, so help you God?
BURRIS: I do.
REID: There are many paths to the United States Senate. It is fair to say that the path that brought our new colleague from Illinois to us was unique. Senator Burris, on behalf of all senators, we welcome you as a colleague and a friend.
DURBIN: I know this was a rocky road to this great day in his life but a road well traveled.
Quite a surprising procedure. I didn't know what entailed a confirmation hearing. I can see why Sen Clinton wanted to see a friendly face across from her. But it was a huge statement having Chelsea sitting behind her in camera range. Probably only women noticed.
Props to Sen Kerry. This was the funniest part - poignant even.
Sen Clinton addressed Mr Chairman, John Kerry as "Mr President".
He smiled. No hesitation: I'll take that.
She laughed: It was a Freudian slip.
He smiled: We're both subject to those.
Clinton: On this subject, especially
Immediate clearing of the air in public, in the Senate, in front of everyone watching and on you tube forever. And it was completely natural and spontaneous.
Think about it: Kerry could have been starting his second term with her (or Biden) as VP or SoS. She could just have likely been President and he (or Biden) the VP or SoS. Instead she's SoS and he took over the committee the now VP used to chair and the President used to be on.
They say politics is a business and that they can get over lost campaigns and move on. Hard to believe but their interaction gave testament to something. They said it would be hard for her to walk back into the senate after the campaign. How hard was it walking in there after they impeached her husband?
They may not all say it out loud but they are proud of her and her preparedness and thanked her for taking the job. Sen Whitehouse (D-RI) said she's "fiercely smart" and "astonishingly funny" and that they would miss her as a colleague and as a person.
Sen Clinton's confirmation hearing is tomorrow - expected to be only one day. Mr Bill's finances have passed major scrutiny though some "clarification" is needed. Kerry expects a "fair and expeditious" hearing. Has Sen Clinton ever been treated "fairly"?
Who do you have more faith in: Sen Clinton or Kerry?
All I got was the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And to think I was the one who brought barry on the scene. Well, I'm gonna take it out on Hillary just to get back at barry and my ex-bud Joe Biden. I could've at least been Secretary of Commerce. Now me and Dodd are stuck in the Senate and Edwards is in hiding...
David Schuster is talking to Kelly O'Donnell about Roland Burris and the press corps entourage. Schuster brings up Burris' I am the Magic Man comment. Burris said he won't make a scene but the media has their own idea. No drama proobamedia have found their next fresh piece of meat. Burris, of course, is more than happy to oblige. Why not? He was legally appointed to the seat.
KELLY O'DONNELL: Burris is walking a really fine line. On the one hand he is saying he doesn't want to be disruptive - doesn't want to cause a confrontation and yet he's doing all the the politically theatrical things that bring all of that attention. And the atmosphere we saw as he arrived today...kind of the making of the sausage moment of how things are covered here in Washington where you saw all the chaos.
I'm not sure what she meant by this - whether it's a political thing or not - but several things come to mind. How many people have seen a sausage made and what type? Maybe she meant this. If not, there's nothing like Kramer and Neuman taking over Jerry's kitchen.
Blagojevich appointee Roland "Trailblazer" Burris has a granite mausoleum already in place that lists his many accomplishments, including the distinction of being the first black statewide office holder in Illinois. He is not a man lacking in self-confidence, as he showed in his (12-30-08) interview with NBC 5's Alex Perez:
BURRIS: I have no problem with going to US Senate and doing a job for the people - not only of Illinois - right now the nation needs someone with Roland Burris' talent and skills.
Talking in the third person says a great deal as does the naming of his children: daughter Rolanda, son Roland W Burris II and grandson, Roland T. Burris.
Call his mausoleum strange narcissistic or whatever. But a walk through the Oak Woods cemetery provides more info about Burris than the proobamedia has provided The American People about barry.
As one of The People of Illinois, I would be pleased to see Burris take over barry's seat. (It should be Tammy Duckworth.) Burris has a history of making independent decisions, standing by them and being accountable for the consequences.
Something barry will do for the first time on January 21st 00:01.
Just another example of Mr Unity's talk but no action. barry, the leader of the Democratic Party and soon to be leader of the free world, preaches about reaching across the aisle Kumbaya My Lord style. And yet, his soon-to-be minions wants to control--as in physically control--the Senate. They are willing to have a man, who was 100% legally appointed as barry's successor, be hauled off like a common criminal. It's not going to happen for one reason: Burris is black and would be - is - the only black senator in the senate. No matter what the Black Caucus believes, the court of public opinion will take over and dictate what happens ala barry's campaign.
This is why barry's fellow Chicago politicians are pist that hot rod pulled an end run. I find it a brilliant political move from a guy trying to leverage a deal. No surprise - except to barry's home state minions. they have started to emerge from their obamerized state and are seeing barry for what he is, always has been, and always will be: an avoider of action. He has done nothing to take control of the situation - which is in no way surprising - but they somehow believed he would handle it for them. Obamerism at its finest.
79% of The American People somehow believe that barry is great leader. CNN writes, misleadingly, that "Obama's current approval rating is also more than 50 points higher than President Bush's current approval rating, which now stands at 28 percent --- with 71 percent disapproving of the way Bush is handling his job as president."
Thing is -- barry has done nothing but defer to Bush as in "one president at a time". He's picked a bunch of excellent proven folks - which he needs because he has no practical experience with anything - but has stressed that the policy will be coming from him. Anyone know what his present views are?
Anyway here's what the good folks in the Senate plan on doing if the legally appointed junior Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris shows up next Monday for his first day of work.
Burris will not be allowed on the Senate floor, according to this aide and a Senate Democratic leadership aide....if Burris tries to enter the Senate chamber, the Senate doorkeeper will stop Burris. If Burris were to persist, either trying to force his way onto the Senate floor or refusing to leave and causing a scene, U.S. Capitol Police would stop him, said the aide.
"They (police) probably won't arrest him" but they would call the sergeant-at-arms."
Now here's what's truly odd:
The senate sergeant-at-arms, Terrance Gainer, served in the Illinois government at the same time as Burris. Gainer was the director of the Illinois State Police from 1991-95. Burris was the Illinois attorney general from 1991-95.
How many phone calls has he been getting? I had no idea there was a sergeant-at-arms. There's a lot of things I had no idea of. I wonder if he will make folks check their shoes at the door.
BURRIS:
[I am] not going to create a scene in Washington. We hope it's negotiated out prior to my going to Washington.
We're certainly going to make contacts with the leadership to let them know that the governor of Illinois has made a legal appointment. And that I am currently the junior senator for the State of Illinois. And we're hoping and praying that, you know, they will see the reason in appointing me as a very qualified, capable, able and ready-to-serve individual.
And it gets odder still - Blagojevich is allowed as sitting governor to enter the senate and stroll around. He can't vote or address the Senate but he can strut and "enjoy the limelight" has he has been "the last couple of weeks". Do not count him out. Especially if Lt Governor, Pat Quinn keeps on proclaiming that Blagojevich will be convicted and impeached.
Sen McCain is back to his old self now that he doesn't have the RNC beating down on him. He talked about his campaign, Blagojevich, barry's Cabinet, Hillary Clinton and Caroline Kennedy.
LETTERMAN (1:55): Do you know this guy - the governor from Illinois?
MCCAIN on BLAGOJEVICH: He came to my office after he was elected governor and told me he was going to be a great reformer. I'm not making it up. he wanted to do how I had done in the senate with all the reforms. I really must have impressed the guy.
LETTERMAN: They say he's either stupid or nuts.
MCCAIN: Or a rare combination of both.
LETTERMAN on IL Senate seat (5:20): It goes to the highest bidder.
Jesse Jr tries to extricate himself from being named in the indictment as Senate candidate #5. He has adopted Template 118: Righteous indignation.
(10-31-08) taped call. BLAGOJEVICH:
We were approached pay to play. That, you know, he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made [Senate Candidate #5] a senator.
Rezko set Blagojevich up for less time? Is that what got him to squeal to the feds? His sentencing was due that very day and is now indefinite. Emil Jones? Something tells me it will come back to Rezko. Another prominent fundraiser? The unions? It better not be Jesse Sr. To think Jr sold out Sr for that senate seat. I wonder what their relationship is really like. Jr always talks about his high profile name and what his father is up to but without his father he would have never gotten a start. Jr has kept himself together and has been waiting for this moment. Well, not this moment but the senate seat.
Here's Jesse on his way to the press conference. Doesn't mind talking or mugging for the camera. I saw a video of him coming out of Blagojevich's office Tuesday and he said the process was "thoughtful". We can see what Blagojevich's mind runs on...cash. The $90K Rezko addition to his house doesn't seem like a big deal now.
I thought mistakenly I had a chance. I did not know this process had been corrupted. I did not know that credentials, qualifications and record of service meant nothing to the governor....
I did not initiate nor authorize anyone, at any time, to promise anything to Gov. Blagojevich on my behalf. I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer or to propose a deal about the U.S. Senate seat.
I spoke the the US attorney's office on Tuesday. They shared with me that I am NOT - I am not a target of this investigation. (keeps head down) and that I am not accused of any misconduct. In the days ahead, federal law enforcement want to meet and discuss what I know about senate selection process. I look forward to cooperating
Fitzgerald told him he was not a target. We already know the target was primarily Blagojevich and his top aides or the middlemen will go down too. But that doesn't mean he's not the subject of the investigation. So the door is still open. The allegations are out there and the amount of money is not unreasonable and he is candidate #5. Perhaps that's why Fitzgerald looked so sad. They acted quickly because barry's name came up. For sure it had to.
But Jackson's lawyer James Montgomery Sr set the table earlier:
Politicians and fundraisers do some very strange things from time to time. I wouldn't put it past someone to be purporting to represent Jesse without authority.
Here comes the Jesse Jr's bailout:
I have retained advice of legal counsel. Mr James Montgomery, Sr, who held his own press conference earlier this afternoon in Chicago. On his advice, and due to the ongoing investigation, I will not be taking any questions.
Republicans are getting in the act. Why not? What do they have to lose?
RNC Chairman, MIKE DUNCAN:
Obama’s comments on the matter are insufficient at best. Given the president-elect’s history of supporting Gov Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue….
President-elect Barack Obama’s carefully parsed and vague statements regarding his own contact and that of his team with Governor Blagojevich are unacceptable. Considering the of the allegations against Governor Blagojevich, the President-elect should immediately disclose any and all communications hs transition team has had with the governor’s office along with Employees International Union (SEIU) officials involved in the matter. Obama’s promise of transparency to the American people is now being tested.
He will not be able to obamanate free of this aka “carefully parsed and vague” and it’s acceptable as long as the proobamedia doesn’t wake up and see they’ve been had. His promise of transparency is just now being tested? What have they been looking at? Might explain why they waited till the end to start looking. He hasn’t yet been transparent and won’t be unless a higher power forces him to. I imagine that will be a question he asks of his new Justice Department appointments and their answer will dictate whether or not they are appointed. Wonder what Joe the Plumber thinks about possible union involvement?
This is a hometown issue relevant to his political and personal career and, of course, Rezko. The Syrian-born operator has survived worse than this and was even named Arab-American businessman of the decade in Illinois. Wonder how much he paid to get that? The proffering of barry’s senate seat pertains directly to him as the ex-Senator and most likely there are some recordings of him and his top aids discussing it. I am personally interested in what Jesse Jr was willing to do to get the seat…whether he further trashed his dad…whether there was a deal when he came out against his dad to save barry. It’s all there - it’s just a matter of how far the pro-obamedia chooses to follow it. Already they’re spinning for him: Blagojevich is a whack job.
Mark Kirk backed up barry much to Norah O’Donnell’s dismay. He wants to know who is senate candidate #5.
BLAGOJEVICH (on tape):We were approached pay-to-play. He raised me $500K. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million if I made candidate #5 a senator.
My guess: Emil Jones.
Spokesman Dem Congressional Committee spokesman, DOUG THORNEL:
Spare us the phony rhetoric…Congressional Republicans have enough ethically corrupt members under criminal investigation to make Jack Abramoff, former Rep Bo Ney and Duke Cunningham blush.
But none of them are in barry's position…a very sad position indeed.
barry tries to make himself look noble by picking Sen Clinton for Secretary of State and you applaud him for his Lincolnesque "team of rivals" crap and go on to compare him to our truly great presidents (as in actions) and other world leaders. A gentle reminder: barry has not even clocked in yet and we all know how his first executive decision of Joe Biden turned out. What was picked for? Foreign policy? Is the loquacious gaffer ever going to get a word in edgewise? He's going to be a Dan Quayle - not a Chaney. And was he referring to Mumbai? Or will it be Georgia and Russia again?
Nothing - as in not one thing - has barry done of consequence. He has never made a unilateral decision resulting in consequences solely to him and the first time he does will be as President of the United States.
Besides the fact that Sen Clinton is perfectly suited and capable of the job and the fact that he needs the very finest minds around him to teach him things (and to throw under the bus as needed) - he had a politically expedient motive.
Everything he has done in his political career has been politically expedient and a hollow chant of CHANGE! is not going to change that.
It's who he is. The only thing he has revealed himself to be.
He picked Sen Clinton to vacate her senate seat. Period. It was part of the Kennedy deal. Along with the in your face dis of Sen Clinton by appointing Caroline Kennedy the head of the VP search and snatching up Patti Solis Doyle. He appoints Clinton to a cabinet position and a Kennedy takes back Bobby Kennedy's senate seat to keep the Kennedy line going. Caroline Kennedy would be the obvious choice and after that RFK Jr. Whoever it will be - it will be a Kennedy.
barry is not in any way noble. He is doing what he always does. He is doing what he was told and what he agreed to do so he could take the next step up and that is never going to change.
ps. Give Mr Bill a rest. Why in the hell would a globe-trotting president beloved by the world become a senator? Especially under a man who refused to call him and allowed him to be painted a racist - even still? The same man who detests his wife, won the nomination by fraud and tried to destroy his presidential legacy.
From the look on his face in his press conference, I bet barry wishes he had taken his own advice. November 8, 2004, fresh off his US Senate win. Video courtesy of TravisTCleveland
BARRY: I am a believer in knowing what you're doing when you apply for a job. I think that if I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket, I would essentially have to start now [4 years ago he said this] before having served a day in the senate. Now they're may be some people who might be comfortable doing that - but I am not one of those people.
So, not having started in 2004, he was ready 27 months and 130 or so days in the senate later?
JUDGMENT?
Also included in the video is his Iraq fairy tale - on which he based his claim of "superior judgment". See how it evolves...and that was just the start of his trademark obamanating.
Don't do it, Senator Clinton. Please don't. He is planning on completely destroying you - now in the media all over again - and once you get on board he will directly defeat you and leave you entirely powerless and without a job. He has floated all this out there and allowed it to fester so the entire country and world gets a sour taste in their mouths once again. This is is all a setup so down the road he can say see - look at this - she was devious her staff leaked and the forced me into it and I can't risk it anymore so she's outtta here.
Don't do it, Senator Clinton. Even though you are the best person for the job - he will undermine you from day one. He does not want to get his hands dirty on Iraq - never has - just wanted to lie about it to get the nomination. And what has he done since? CHANGE! CHANGE! CHANGE! his positions just like he promised. He wants you to be destroyed utterly. That was his main goal. He knew he would be coronated because it was promised to him by the DNC.
Don't do it, Senator Clinton. It's not a matter of him being able to trust you - it is whether you can trust him - and it's perfectly clear that's not possible. He's trying to make you the issue. He's trying to say see they're undermining me and not allowing me to do my job. He is beyond weak and everyone is seeing it including his most loyal fans - his propaganda machine.
Don't do it, Senator Clinton. Please don't. Stay in the senate. Stay away from his sliminess. In the senate you win. You will always be stronger than him unless you allow him to be your boss. He wants to be directly more powerful than you and then he wants to be the one who takes you down. It's what he owes his media followers. It's what he wants the history books to read. He will never be the true messiah unless he obliterates "The Clintons."
Just say no and close the door and when he comes back to beg slam it in his face.
Instead of fantasizing and writing ridiculous stories about what president barry (who has spent more time running for president than actually working in the senate) most compares to - please tell me what senator he most compares to. Thank you.
4-20-08 Here's the truth about Obama's foreign travel.
Aug/Sept 2005 8-day trip to Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and overnight in England - his only trip to Europe.
Jan 2006 10-day trip to Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Territories
Aug 2006 15-day trip to Africa Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa
Obama traveled to Iraq in January 2006 with Senator Bayh. He was there two days and then left Bayh, which went on to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and headed to Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel and the Palestinian Territories for eight days. Curious that Obama, when he had a chance to go to Afghanistan, went to the Middle East instead.
That was 2006. Remember, Obama said he spoke out against Iraq in 2002 - when it meant nothing. The Senate had not yet given Bush authorization to use military force in Iraq.
OBAMA: My objections to the war in Iraq were not simply a speech. I was in the midst of a U.S. Senate campaign. It was a high-stakes campaign. I was one of the most vocal opponents of the war.
OUTRIGHT LIE.
Obama delivered the speech in Oct 2002. He did not officially declare his candidacy for the U.S. Senate until Jan 2003. Bill Glauber covered the event for the Chicago Tribune and didn't even quote Obama - he focused on the main speaker Jesse Jackson. Crowd about 1000 people.
Obama said he based his 'decision' about Iraq because he felt it would detract from Afghanistan. So what did he do to back up that decision (judgment he calls it) when he finally has a chance? NOTHING. When he got to the US Senate and had to make a decision of consequence, he voted the same way as Hillary. He didn't denounce John Kerry for his decision on Iraq when he delivered the 2004 Democratic Convention speech.
Obama joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2006 and missed three meetings on "new strategy in Afghanistan". He missed the Sept. 21, 2006 meeting. On Feb. 15, 2007, he missed a committee hearing on US ambassadors to Iraq and Afghanistan. He did attend a March 8, 2007 hearing on a Afghanistan strategy and addressed General Petraeus and Ambassador Crock on Sept 11, 2007. But missed the Jan 31, 2008 meeting.
So after his speaking out in 2002, Obama said nothing about Kerry in 2004 speech, voted the same as Hillary on Iraq in the US Senate, DID NOT GO TO AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN in Jan 2006 when he had the chance and missed three meeting on strategy in Afghanistan.
How can this man continue to use his party line on Iraq? His actions completely contradict his words. How are people buying his? Then out of nowhere comes the tale that Obama went to Pakistan for three weeks 27 years ago, which qualifies as experience. Who can believe this? Pure crap.
Comment: NOTE: Senators Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh and Congressman Mc Hugh traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Jan 2007. Hillary has gone to Iraq three times to Obama"s once.
