Harry Reid don’t know nothing ’bout Judge Sotomayor

June 4, 2009

There is something shocking about Sen Harry Reid’s pronouncement that I can’t articulate. Why would the Senate Majority Leader a) not ever have read Judge Sotomayor’s rulings; b) be proud of the fact that he hasn’t; and c) hope to never have to? What good are senate confirmation hearings if the confirmers don’t know, don’t care, and have no plans of finding out what the potential confirmee believes in? But it does put his endorsement of barry in proper perspective.

stixflix2008

HARRY REID: I understand that during her career, she’s written hundreds and hundreds of opinions. I haven’t read a single one of them. And if I’m fortunate before we end this, I won’t have to read one of them.

Sen Dick Durbin on Sen Burris (WGN Radio)

March 2, 2009

Sen Dick Durbin talked to the Tribune’s Rick Pearson on WGN 720 about Senator Burris.

chi-090301pearson-durbin-mp3,0,6065247.mp3file

Durbin discusses the process of what happened. Burris had actually called him a week after the election saying that folks were telling him he take barry’s place. Durbin said to him he’s been out of politics for 12 years and that things had changed. He initially thought Burris was talking about 2010 and then it dawned on him that Burris meant via a Blago appointment. He said (3 times) it would be a terrible idea because his enitre politcal and public career would be in the shadow of blago. Durbin told him don’t do it and clearly Burris did it. He talked with Burris again after all this went down and Burris came back and said he wasn’t going to resign.

Not going to resign + can’t legally get rid of him (from present available evidence) = stays in the Senate = more snubbing by barry and barry’s compatriots = barry’s new old Washington politics.

Dick Durbin:

My colleague from Illinois, Congressman Bobby Rush, made strong statements along those (racial) lines. They were painful and hurtful, and it became part of this calculation.

And later:

[Burris'] vote still counts, his signature is still necessary for critical appointments. I will be working with him whenever there’s the need for both Illinois senators to be involved in projects. I’m going to try to work with him as well as I can.

Lisa Madigan wants special election to oust Burris

February 25, 2009

Illinois Attorney General and once barry senate seat replacement hopeful, Lisa Madigan, wants to get rid of Sen Burris by passing a law to allow an early special election before the term ends. She drafted an opinion to lay out an argument. There would be no problem with the new governor's signature.

None of this would be happening if they had agreed to a special election in the first place. Blagojevich had agreed to it. Dick & Harry said they weren't going to seat anyone and they caved to barry's wishes. It's their fault. And it is impossible to believe that either of them would resign or in Durbin's case never accepted the appointment. Rep Jan Schakowsky likes to speak out against Burrs - she just neglects to mention she wants the seat.

From Sun Times' LYNN SWEET:

Release from Madigan.....

As the General Assembly considers bills to address the process for filling a vacancy in the U.S. Senate, the Attorney General has received inquiries specifically asking whether the legislature can constitutionally pass a law that changes the date of the next election for the U.S. Senate.

The Attorney General is releasing the following statement:

"It is my opinion that the legislature may pass a law allowing the people of Illinois to elect a U.S. senator to fill the seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Such a law would be consistent with the U.S. Constitution. The 17th Amendment expresses a clear preference for having the people of a state elect their U.S. senators. In keeping with the purpose of this amendment, the legislature may constitutionally change the current law to set an earlier date for the election to this U.S. senate seat. I am providing this opinion to offer guidance to the legislature as they consider this issue."

Sen Burris' Interim Chief of Staff Darrell Thompson quits

February 20, 2009

Darrell Thompson, Sen Burris' Senate Interim Chief of Staff quit. It's not like he had any choice - he was on loan from Harry Reid.

THOMPSON: Three weeks ago I was temporarily detailed to serve as Chief of Staff to Senator Roland W. Burris. Though my tenure was relatively brief, I enjoyed and valued my time with Senator Burris, his entire staff and his other advisors.

As of today, my role as Interim Chief of Staff to Senator Burris will end. I will resume, in full, my duties as Senior Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Source: Lynn Sweet

2-19 Jason Erkes, Temporary Spokesman quits
2-20 Darrell Thompson, Interim Chief of Staff quits
2-20 Gov Pat Quinn asks Burris to resign - in public - without first talking to his "friend of 37 years".
2-23 Bud Jackson, Former advisor severs ties

Durbin re: Burris: "his future in the Senate seat is in question:

February 18, 2009

DURBIN: I am troubled by this and I hope he will call in some advisers he trusts and get some advice about what to do next. At this point, his future in the Senate seat is in question.

Hasn't it always been? Emphasis added below.

SENATOR DICK DURBIN STATEMENT ON SENATOR ROLAND BURRIS

"When we met with Roland Burris in January, we made it clear that in order for him to be seated in the U.S. Senate he needed to meet two requirements - first, that he submit the proper paperwork certifying his appointment, and second, that he appear before the General Assembly's Impeachment Committee to testify openly, honestly and completely about the nature of his relationship with the former governor, his associates and the circumstances surrounding this appointment."

"We asked him to testify in the impeachment proceedings, not to embarrass Roland Burris, but to give him an opportunity to clear the air regarding this appointment from a tainted governor. Our hope was that he would use that opportunity to assure the people of Illinois and the other members of the United States Senate that he was not involved in any wrongdoing."

"Now the accuracy and completeness of his testimony and affidavits have been called into serious question. Every day there are more and more revelations about contacts with Blagojevich advisors, efforts at fundraising and omissions from his list of lobbying clients. This was not the full disclosure under oath that we asked for."

"These news reports and the public statements by Roland Burris himself are troubling and raise serious questions which need to be looked at very carefully."

"The State's Attorney in Sangamon County is reviewing the affidavit and other materials associated with Senator Burris' testimony to see if criminal charges are warranted and the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee has begun a preliminary investigation into this matter."

"This is the appropriate course of action and I await the outcome of those investigations. The people of Illinois deserve nothing less."

Harry Reid on Meet The Press (1-4-09)

January 4, 2009

BLAGO 12-19 PRESS CONFERENCE (text)
Blago 12-19 press conference (video + body language)
Blago 12-30 appoints Burris as barry replacement (text)
Blago 12-30 appoints Burris as barry replacement (video)
Blagojevich and Burris connection?
Interview 12-30 with new appointee Burris
barry speaks about blago's appointment of Burris

I was looking for Reid's exact statements on seating Burris and see that I never posted this. I wanted to see what exactly what he said. Iteresting to read what he said ad what he ended up doing. How pist off at barry do you think Reid is - especially if he said something nasty on those tapes?

NBC's Meet the Press

MR. GREGORY: And here with us now, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid.

Welcome back to MEET THE PRESS and happy New Year.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): Thank you very much.

MR. GREGORY: Let me ask you about the ground invasion into Gaza. Do you think on the part of this Israeli–of the Israelis this was offensive or defensive?

SEN. REID: I spoke to Prime Minister Olmert a couple of days ago. He indicated that they would do the ground activities. Let's understand the background. For eight years they've been firing rockets into Israel. They've become more intense the last few months. Israelis have been killed, maimed and injured. Sometimes more than 200 a day coming into Israel. If this were going on in the United States from Vancouver, Canada, into Seattle, would we react? Course we do. We would have to. I think what the Israelis are doing is very important. I think this terrorist organization, Hamas, has got to be put away. They've got to come to their senses. The Fatah group, which is–makes up part of Palestinian group, has a peace arrangement with Israel. Hamas should do the same.

MR. GREGORY: And they're in power in the West Bank.

SEN. REID: That's right. And, and, and Israel, for–since 1967, controlled Gaza. They gave it to the Palestinians as a gesture of peace. And all they got are a bunch of rockets in return.

MR. GREGORY: So you think that Israel ought to move forward and try to remove Hamas from power?

SEN. REID: They have to. I, I'm not concerned about removing Hamas from power, I'm concerned about stopping the rocket fire and the mortar fire into Israel. That is the key, and that's what Israel's up to according to the prime minister.

MR. GREGORY: Should there be an immediate cease-fire?

SEN. REID: If the Hamas organization will agree and there is some degree of certainty that they will follow through. They, in the past, have simply not lived up to what they said they would do. If there's a way of enforcing this cease-fire, then yes. Otherwise, Israel has to continue till they stop the rockets and mortars coming into Israel, maiming, injuring…

MR. GREGORY: Right.

SEN. REID: …and killing Israelis.

MR. GREGORY: So you, you're in sync with the Bush administration on this point?

SEN. REID: Yes, I am.

MR. GREGORY: OK.

Let's move on back home and talk about the controversial appointment of Roland Burris by Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Back when this story first broke, when the charges of corruption were brought against Governor Blagojevich, you put him on notice. And you had a letter that was signed by all Senate Democrats that said, in part, the following:

"We write to insist that you step down as governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat. Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request … and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article 1, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated."

In other words, you can reject that appointment. You did that because Governor Blagojevich defied that letter, defied you. He appointed Roland Burris. Roland Burris also defying you. He spoke on MSNBC to Rachel Maddow this week, and this is what he said:

(Videotape, Tuesday)

MR. ROLAND BURRIS: I have been legally appointed by the governor of our state, and my hope and prayer that my Democratic colleagues will recognize that what they are doing is not in anyway form, shape or fashion legal. To deny me the seat based on some allegations by the appointee–by the appointer really does not lend itself to disqualify me as a unqualified person to be appointed.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY: What is your basis for denying him?

SEN. REID: Blagojevich obviously is a corrupt individual. I think that's pretty clear. And the reason that he's done what he's done is to divert attention from the arrest that was just made of him and the indictment which will be coming in a few days, according to the U.S. attorney in Illinois.

That's why President-elect Obama agreed with us that Mr. Burris is tainted.

Not as a result of anything that he's done wrong.

There's–I don't know a thing wrong with Mr. Burris. It's not the person that has been appointed, it's the appointee. If Blagojevich would do the right thing, that is step down, or he'll probably be impeached. And he gave us Mr. Burris, he gave us Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Madigan, all the fine people who we have from Illinois, they would be taken care of just like this.

MR. GREGORY: Well, you, you say he's an obviously corrupt person. He has not been formally charged, no has–nor has he had a chance to confront the evidence against him. Are–isn't that a rush to judgment?

SEN. REID: We have to understand that this man has had a cloud over him prior to his arrest. That's why the Illinois state legislature's moving forward expeditiously–in fact, next week–to start impeachment proceedings. So I don't think, I don't think we have many cheerleaders for Blagojevich that he's an honest, upright citizen…

MR. GREGORY: But…

SEN. REID: …of the state of Illinois.

MR. GREGORY: But he is still legally the governor. He's doing business. He's been accused but not convicted of anything, and not even formally accused. And there's, there's nothing suggesting that the appointment was at all illegal.

SEN. REID: It–Danny Davis, a fine congressman from the state of Illinois, was offered, by Blagojevich, the job.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: He said, "I can't accept this because my constituents, the people state of Illinois, would never accept me based on the cloud you have over you." And that's the problem we have. Now, what we're going to do is I'm, I plan on meeting with him and Senator Durbin on Wednesday. That's my understanding. We're going to visit with him.

MR. GREGORY: Roland Burris, you're talking about?

SEN. REID: That's right, Roland Burris.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: And we would hope that in the meantime Blagojevich, with the impeachment proceedings that are ongoing against him, would do the right thing, step down. And then if Pat Quinn–who I've spoken to, a very fine man who's the lieutenant governor–would become the acting governor or the governor, he wants to appoint Burris or anyone else, that would be fine. There is a cloud over Blagojevich, and at this stage a cloud over the state of Illinois. They don't have a vote. And if–as long as Blagojevich has done the appointing, it's really a tainted appointment.

MR. GREGORY: If Burris shows up, you won't seat him?

SEN. REID: Well, we're going to do what we have to do, and we're going to follow all legal precedents. We think that we're pretty clear on what we believe is the law, and the precedent in the United States Senate that we are, we are the ones that determine–Democrats and Republicans determine who is going to sit in the Senate. It's been that way since before 1800.

MR. GREGORY: Well, let me press you on that point. A, a critical editorial on the LA Times made this argument: "The Constitution says that each house of Congress `shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members' and may punish members for `disorderly behavior' or, on a two-thirds vote, expel a sitting member.

Neither provision justifies excluding a senator because of the unrelated wrongdoing of the governor making the appointment. … It's doubtful whether the Senate could refuse to seat … any duly elected (or by extension appointed) member who met age, residency and citizenship requirements. In 1969, the Supreme Court overturned a resolution by the House barring Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr. from taking his seat. Powell had been accused of financial improprieties. … Exasperated as they are at being outfoxed by Blagojevich, his colleagues and critics must face the fact that he is still the governor of Illinois and empowered to appoint an interim U.S. senator. It's not a pretty situation, but it's the law."

SEN. REID: The LA Times is wrong. They use the Powell case as precedent, that's not in keeping with what the problem is here today. They were talking at that time about the qualifications of Adam Clayton Powell, and the Supreme Court said, "We are not going to deal with the qualifications of Adam Clayton Powell." This is totally a different situation. This is not dealing with the appointee. I think everyone that I've talked to said that Burris is a good guy. We're talking about a cloud over anyone that comes from the state of Illinois, being appointed by Blagojevich.

MR. GREGORY: But what in the Constitution allows you to judge Roland Burris in, in this manner, to not seat him?

SEN. REID: The LA Times quoted part of it itself from the Constitution: We determine who sits in the Senate, and the House determines who sits in the House. So there's clearly legal authority for us to do whatever we want to. This goes back for generations.

MR. GREGORY: Senator, isn't this really all about politics? Isn't your primary consideration who you deem to be electable in 2010?

SEN. REID: No, I don't think so. This situation is this. I've spoken to the governor of the state of Colorado, because that's my responsibility as majority leader. There is–Ken Salazar's going to be interior secretary. And we had some wonderful conversations. Governor Ritter asked me how he felt–how I felt about the opening. I told him what a great guy Salazar was. He talked about different candidates. And I said to him, "Governor, you appoint whoever is best in your mind for the state of Colorado." And he did. He came up with Bennet, kind of someone that not a lot people have known about. But what we hear about him now is that he's…

MR. GREGORY: This is Michael Bennet…

SEN. REID: Yeah.

MR. GREGORY: …the school chief out there.

SEN. REID: Going to be, going to be a new senator from the state of Colorado.

MR. GREGORY: Yeah.

SEN. REID: New York. I've spoken to Governor Paterson several times. He's asked me how I feel about Caroline Kennedy, as an example, which I think is terrific. But I always said to Paterson, "You appoint whoever you want." And my one conversation with Blagojevich–had a number…

MR. GREGORY: Yeah.

SEN. REID: …of conversations with the Colorado governor and the New York governor–"Blagojevich, make sure you give us someone who can hit the ground running." Of course we're concerned about what happens in 2010, but this has nothing to do with 2010. It has everything to do with the corrupt governor.

MR. GREGORY: All right, but let, let's talk about those conversations you had with Governor Blagojevich. Apparently you made it clear that three men were not acceptable to you: Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Emil Jones. And yet you just said Jesse Jackson would be fine. Is that what you said, that these men would not be acceptable?

SEN. REID: This is part of Blagojevich's cloud. He's making all this up.

I had a conversation with him. I don't remember what was in the conversation, other than the generalities that I just talked about.

I didn't tell him who not to appoint. He's making all this up to divert attention…

MR. GREGORY: Don't you think these conversations are on tape?

SEN. REID: Of course.

MR. GREGORY: For the U.S. attorney's investigation?

SEN. REID: I'm, I'm sure they are. But–that's right. And that's why what he's saying, he's making it up.

MR. GREGORY: So he's wrong, Jesse Jackson Jr. was always acceptable to you?

SEN. REID: Jesse Jackson Jr. is somebody that I think would be a good senator. And for Blagojevich to start throwing out these names of people who I wanted and didn't want…

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: …he's making it up.

MR. GREGORY: People close to Roland Burris are raising another suggestion, and this is how Politico reports it this morning: "Top advisers to [Burris] are suggesting that Reid doesn't want an African-American to succeed Obama. `It's interesting that all those who are viable are white women and the ones who are unacceptable are black men,' Prince Riley, a senior consultant to Burris, told Politico." Your response?

SEN. REID: I have no idea who Prince Riley is. But I do know that I've served in the United States Senate with two outstanding senators, Carol Moseley Braun and Barack Obama, both African-Americans from the state of Illinois. I worked harder than anyone in this country for Ron Kirk running for senator, senator for the state of Texas. As a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, we spent more money in the state of Tennessee than any state in the country trying to get Harold Ford elected. I have–anyone that suggests there's any racial bias in this instance doesn't realize I went to the Clark County district attorney's office to find a–people thought was a nobody to become a federal judge, Johnnie Rawlinson. She was a great judge. She's now on the Ninth Circuit. I did that myself. So anyone to suggest anything racial is part of the Blagojevich spin to take away from the corruption that's involved his office in Illinois.

MR. GREGORY: Would that include former Congressman Bobby Rush, who was part of the press conference when Roland Burris was appointed? And this is what he said during that press conference.

(Videotape, Tuesday):

REP. BOBBY RUSH (D-IL): Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the U.S. Senate. I would ask you to not hang or lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer. I don't think that anyone, any U.S. senator who's sitting in the Senate right now, want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated, seated in the U.S. Senate.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY: Do you feel like you're being boxed in here?

SEN. REID: Bobby Rush, in 2004 we had a very good election in the state of Illinois. We had a tough primary. One African-American was on that primary. His name was Barack Obama. Mr. Rush did not support Barack Obama, he supported Blair Hull.

MR. GREGORY: How does this end? Do you think Roland Burris will be in the United States Senate?

SEN. REID: It's going to be very, be very difficult for that to occur. I've learned being in–a senator for the time I have that anything can happen. The best thing that would happen, as I've indicated on this program and I've said before…

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: …Blagojevich should step down. He should do it today. If not, he'll be impeached. And I–and that's prior to his being…

MR. GREGORY: But are you willing to go to the mat on this to deny Roland Burris, if it requires going to the Supreme Court? Is it worth that effort?

SEN. REID: The state of Illinois deserves a vote in the United States Senate, and the people of the state of Illinois, the fifth most populous state in the union, deserve that vote. It's too bad Blagojevich has diverted attention from the real issue. And we'll–we're–as I've indicated, we're going to come–I'm going to meet with Senator McConnell, my Republican counterpart. I hope to do that Monday evening. I think it's around 6:00 or something like that. We'll talk about this. I hope we can solve this issue on a bipartisan basis.

MR. GREGORY: But there sounds to me like there may be some room here to negotiate and actually seat Burris?

SEN. REID: Hey, listen, David, I'm an old trial lawyer. There's always room to negotiate.

MR. GREGORY: All right, so you're not saying no completely that he won't serve?

SEN. REID: That's right.

MR. GREGORY: That's what you're saying.

Let, let me move on to the economy. You meet with the president-elect tomorrow. Biggest question is how big will this stimulus package be for the economy, and when should we expect the president-elect and–the president, rather, to sign it?

SEN. REID: Well, it'll–it–we will work this just as quickly as we can. It'll take as much time as it needs to get done. What do we need in this economic recovery program? First of all, we have to recognize that this past election called for change.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: We have a country like we've never seen before, promise nationally and internationally. We also have to realize that it must be done on a bipartisan basis. Whatever we do must be done on a bipartisan basis. And we must recognize the economy is in deep trouble and we have to do something about jobs, infrastructure–that's roads, highways, bridges, dams, water systems, sewer systems, classrooms, laboratories, libraries. And I think we should also understand there's a manufacturing component we need, retooling. We have to do something with batteries, battery systems, maybe do something with lithium batteries. And of course, we also have to do something with housing. It is in the toilet, they say, and it is. Nevada leads the nation in foreclosures. We also have to do something to make our country more secure, and the way to do that is to have energy independence. That has to be part of the economic recovery program, energy independence, which includes a smart grid. We also have to have, as President-elect Obama has said time and time again, a middle class, a working men and women tax cut. And we need to do that. We have to give state–relief to states. Forty-four states are deeply in the red, the other six are barely not in the red, and we have to give them relief. In Nevada, for example, David, at our University Medical Center in Las Vegas, they stopped cancer treatment. People who are in Las Vegas–two weeks ago, women who had breast cancer treatment were said, "We have no place for you to go." They had to leave the state to do that. We have–we need to take care of that. It's a very, very important. So those are the things we need to do.

MR. GREGORY: OK.

SEN. REID: And finally, David, let me say this. Whatever program we have, let's not talk about the last eight years. Let's talk about the next eight years.

MR. GREGORY: All right, let's talk about some of the specifics, but I want to start with the issue of timing. Do you see a stimulus being signed into law before February?

SEN. REID: We're going to do our very, very best. Now, he doesn't become president until January 20th, and it's going–I want to make sure that we do this on a bipartisan basis. Leader Boehner in the House and Republican Leader McConnell in the Senate said they want to be involved in whatever this recovery package is. They should be. The urgency of this, everyone knows about. But I'm not going to have some false deadline, whether it's February 1 or whatever it is. I want to make sure that all senators have some input in what goes on here and do it as quickly as we can.

MR. GREGORY: Mid-February, or you just–can–you don't want to say…(unintelligible).

SEN. REID: David, I, I'm not going to give you–I, I, I'm not going to give you a timeline.

MR. GREGORY: Right.

SEN. REID: We're going to do it as quickly as we can.

MR. GREGORY: Are you worried about the total…

SEN. REID: We're going, we're going, we're going to do it–be working nights.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: We're going to be working weekends. We're going to get this done.

MR. GREGORY: Is this a trillion-dollar stimulus, do you expect?

SEN. REID: It's whatever it takes to bring this country back on a fiscal footing that is decent.

You know, we don't want to do a little bit and say, "Well, we should have done more. Let's come back and do it again." We want to do it right the first time. If we do it right the first time–as, as reported in The New York Times yesterday, a group of economists, blue ribbon they're called, they said, "If they do a very strong stimulus package, the economy will start recovering in July." And that's what Paul Krugman says, who's a Democrat; that's what Mark Zandi, who was one of, one of John McCain's advisers, said. We need to spend some money. And we have to make sure it's spent wisely, that we watch that money, how it's spent, there is oversight, there is transparency. And I hope–and we–I expect that we can do that.

MR. GREGORY: You mentioned housing. Your home state, number one in foreclosures. What specifically should the stimulus plan do to reduce the severity of this housing correction? For instance, should there be a guarantee of principal for people buying a home?

SEN. REID: The, the reason we look at housing is not only for the people who are being foreclosed upon, but for the economy generally. Because, you see, housing is more than carpenters putting up walls; it's people laying tile, it's people manufacturing appliances and carpeting. So we have to do a number of things. A number of suggestion has been let's have a moratorium on foreclosures for 90 days. That's would be a step in the right direction. And the one thing that I'm very concerned about is what's happened to the $350 billion that has been–was given. Most of it's been given to the banks, who aren't making the loans. And so I think that's a place we need to look very quickly.

MR. GREGORY: Would you guarantee the down payment? Would you guarantee a homeowner's principal?

SEN. REID: This is something–as I've indicated earlier, David, Boehner and McConnell are saying, "Let us be involved." I'm not going to here dictate what's going to happen. But I want the Finance Committee and the Ways and Means Committee to come up with ways that we can alleviate the housing crisis. We have now a Democratic president, we have a Democratic control of the House and the Senate. But that doesn't mean we can push our way through.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: To do what is right for this country is going to take us working together, Democrats and Republicans, because, because the problem…

MR. GREGORY: So you don't want to weigh in on that particular issue?

SEN. REID: No, no, David, the problems out there aren't Democratic problems or Republican problems, they're American problems. We have to address them.

MR. GREGORY: What about taxes? Will you work to repeal the Bush tax cuts right away? Do you think that's a prudent step?

SEN. REID: We're going to have a middle-class tax cut. We're going to cut taxes for working men and women. And I am not going to get involved with any talk about tax increases. I haven't heard Barack Obama say that, I haven't said it.

MR. GREGORY: But a repeal of the Bush tax cuts would be a tax increase.

SEN. REID: But no one's talking about that? All we're talking about is a middle-class tax cut. Not raise–yeah.

MR. GREGORY: Would you like to see a payroll tax cut? Do you think that's the most effective way to reach the middle class?

SEN. REID: There are a number of ways we can do it. You can do it with the income tax, you can do it through Social Security funds that are put forth every day. There are many ways of doing this, and that's why we're working with President-elect Obama and his economic team to find out what we can come up with.

MR. GREGORY: Let me ask you about the investor class in this country, everybody from wealthy investors to a retired teacher. In 2008, $7 trillion of wealth was lost in the stock market. Do you think that the SEC, the Security Exchange Commission, has done its job? Do you think it should remain the kind of agency it is? Should it be abolished or reformed?

SEN. REID: The answer, obviously, is the Securities and Exchange Commission did a lousy job. The evidence is clear that you cannot have no regulation. It doesn't work. You know, the marketplace will take care of everything. Well, it hasn't. And we have to have regulation. Now, the key to all this is how do we regulate? We can't be overzealous and overregulate, but there must be regulation. There has to be some. And we simply haven't had it. And the Securities and Exchange Commission should be ashamed of itself for what they've let happen with the guy in New York, Maddow, and the meltdown all over this country.

MR. GREGORY: So it should be reformed.

SEN. REID: Oh, without any…

MR. GREGORY: You'd like to see–to lead an effort on that.

SEN. REID: Without any, without any question.

MR. GREGORY: Let me ask you about politics. This is what you told Roll Call two days after the election of Barack Obama. "Reid said he believes the newly elected senators will feel, as he does, that the country voted for moderate–not liberal–policies. … `I think the country has moved to the center,' Reid said. `I think people want us to get things done.'" Let me test that proposition. On immigration, do you have a deal between the president-elect and Senator McCain for immigration reform?

SEN. REID: John McCain–a day or two after the election, I called John. We've served–we came to Washington together in 1982. We've been together in the House and we came to the Senate together. And we talked about the campaign. We had both said things about each other that probably we shouldn't have, but we did. He's my friend. He said, "Harry, I, I want to come back to the Senate. We want to do some good things. I want to work with you."

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: "We need comprehensive immigration reform." That was a conversation I had with John McCain. Yes, we need comprehensive immigration reform. And what does that mean? It means we have to make sure our borders are protected, our northern and southern borders. We have to do something about the millions of people here who are undocumented. We have to put them on, on a pathway to legalization. Does that mean that they get to the head of the line? Of course not. They'd have penalties and fines and learn English and stay out of trouble. We have to also do something on a guest worker program and we have to do something about the employer sanctions that works. John McCain believes that should happen. I believe that should happen. That's…

MR. GREGORY: And he's discussed it with the president-elect?

SEN. REID: I don't…

MR. GREGORY: McCain has?

SEN. REID: I don't know, but he's discussed it with me.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm. You think you've got a deal, a prospect of a deal.

SEN. REID: I have, I have John McCain's word that he's going to work real, real hard on immigration reform.

MR. GREGORY: Let me ask you…

SEN. REID: And I'll, and I'll work with him.

MR. GREGORY: Let me ask you about the war in Iraq. In April of 2007, this is what you said: "I believe myself that … this war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything." Were you wrong?

SEN. REID: David, I first met General David Petraeus in Iraq. He was training the Iraqi forces at that time. At that time, he knew it wasn't working. After he became the commander in Iraq, he and I sat down and talked. He said to me, and he said within the sound of everyone's voice, "The war cannot be won militarily." I said it differently than he did. But it needed a change in direction. Petraeus brought that about. He brought it about–the surge helped, of course it helped. But in addition to that, the urging of me and other people in Congress and the country dictated a change, and that took place. So…

MR. GREGORY: But you said the surge was not accomplishing anything. Even Barack Obama said last fall that it exceeded everyone's expectations and succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.

SEN. REID: Listen, at that–the time that statement was made, the surge–they weren't talking about the surge. Petraeus added to the surge some very, very interesting things that changed things. He said a lot–just simply numbers of troops is not going to do the deal. What we need to do is work with the Iraqi people, which we haven't done before. That's where the Awakening Councils came about, as a result of David Petraeus' genius. He's done–he will be written about in the history books for years to come. My original statement was in keeping what David Petraeus said; that is, the war cannot be won militarily.

MR. GREGORY: Do you believe that the war in Iraq has been lost?

SEN. REID: I don't think at this stage we can talk about that with any degree of sensibility. That has to be something that will talked about in the history books to come. We…

MR. GREGORY: So you spoke to soon in 2007?

SEN. REID: David Petraeus and Harry Reid spoke at the same time. David Petraeus said that the war cannot be won militarily, I said what I said. Who, who phrased it the best is…

MR. GREGORY: You said that the war is lost. Today, in 2009, that's no longer your view?

SEN. REID: David, listen, someone else will have to determine that as the years go on. What has the war done? It's brought about–it's destabilized the Middle East. We have a civil war going on in Israel. We have a civil war in Iraq, as indicated today, more than 50 people killed with a bomb in Iraq today. We have Lebanon, a civil war there. We have Iran thumbing their nose with every, everyone. And if that weren't bad enough, our standing in the world community is so far down as a result of this war, so–and that doesn't take into consideration the tens of thousands who have been injured…

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. REID: …and the thousands have been killed in the war. So it's, it's–historians will have to talk about what the war in Iraq did. But I think historians today indicate, as I have, the outline that I've given.

MR. GREGORY: Before you go, do you have any regrets about the way you have publicly battled with President Bush? Over the years you've called him a liar, a loser, and you've described him as "our worst president ever."

SEN. REID: I wrote a book and I said that in the book several times. David, I am who I am. I'm going to continue being who I am. I think you just have to call things the way you see them. I really do believe that President Bush is the worst president we've ever had. I think his efforts to destroy Social Security were very bad. That brought about one of those statements. I think as we've looked now at what's happened to the stock market, wouldn't that have been an awful thing to do, to privatize Social Security? Medicare, he's done, he's done his very best to destroy Medicare. Medicare, a wonderful program. Perfect? Of course not. But one of the best programs ever developed to take care of sick people. So…

MR. GREGORY: No regrets?

SEN. REID: Well, you know, I am just who I am.

MR. GREGORY: All right, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid, thank you very much for your views and your time.

IL Dems on blago's media blitz

January 28, 2009

Illinois State Democrats got together for their annual Rainbow/PUSH breakfast in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. I wonder what Rev Jackson is thinking about all this. He was out there helping blago the day before blago was arrested. Here are some comments from Gov Blagojevich's fellow politicians. Listen to their tone. What is really making them angry? Why did they allow him to be re-elected in 2006 if he was such an evil delusional devil? The onus reflects clearly on them and that's what The People of Illinois should hold them accountable.

Quotes complied from article by NBC 5 Chicago's Dick Johnson, Kim Vatis, Peggy Cassidy. I don't know if Durbin intended to mention that he discussed the senate seat with blago or if it just slipped out. Was he caught on tape too? And what exactly did Harry Reid say? And what did barry say to make them change their minds? Was barry beat by Bobby Rush yet again?

SEN DICK DURBIN (Sr Senator from IL):

When I talked to him, we went through a list of about 20 names and talked about who might be a good person and who might not. Oprah was not on the list ... not on my list.

LT GOV PAT QUINN (blago's running mate and soon to be replacement)

He has an infinite capacity for self pity and self absorption and I think the people of Illinois are ready to put an end to it.

FORMER LT GOV JUDY BARR TOPINKA (lost to Blago):

He lives in a delusional cocoon of his own. Illinois look like a bunch of buffoons. [He is] BS-ing his way through life to get one possible juror to think they're not really sure. It's not Gandhi or King. But Huey Long, former governor of Louisiana. Long left office in disgrace.

ROLAND BURRIS (barry's senate replacement - lost to blago):

The Governor has to make his own decisions. The system must work its way out and if he's guilty then he must pay the punishment for that. I am not siding with him in any circumstances.

He also said that Obama would not be president without Martin Luther King or Roland Burris. True.

SEN JOHN CULLERTON (Pres IL Senate)

It's too bad [Illinois] is viewed as the laughing stock of nation. We should be celebrating [that] a former colleague is now president.

They all fail to mention their role in it - especially Cullerton. He has his own special vendetta with Milorad as does Lisa Madigan and her Speaker of the House father - all of which has escaped the national media. And how did she get her job?

Mr Burris' press conference as the official jr senator

January 13, 2009

Roland Burris' comments upon hearing he will be seated. Selected comments from the transcript. Note how he never mentions blagojevich by name.

MR. BURRIS: I'm truly humbled and honored to learn that later this week I will officially be sworn into the United States Senate as the Illinois junior senator. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve and I ask for your support and prayers, so that I may work with you, my senator -- my Senate colleagues and our new president to succeed at the challenges which face our state and our country.

I would like to publicly thank Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and my long-time friend and Illinois' senior senator, Dick Durbin. Never once did I doubt their intentions were motivated by anything other than doing what was right for the people of Illinois and by what they believed had to be done to protect the Senate as an institution. It will be my honor to both serve with them and to learn from them.

Secretary of State Jesse White, whom I've known for more than 30 years, is also owed a debt of gratitude. He also happen to be someone whose autograph I cherish. Some have criticized Jesse, and I think somewhat unfairly. He stood for what he believed was right, and in our state's best interest. His actions only reinforced what I have always known him to be, an honorable man.

courtesy PaulFVillarreal2

He went on to thank his staff and then spoke directly to The People of Illinois about the doubts about him and his taint by blagojevich. One poll had shown that 52% of Illinoians were against his appointment. That was before barry finally made a stand, which was most assuredly because Burris was taking the press away from him.

...I recognize that my appointment triggered a challenging time for many. Reasonable people can and will arrive at different decisions that although -- were in the best interests of our state. They -- they should not be faulted for doing their best to serve our state in the best way they thought possible.

The single most important reason why I fought, to defend this appointment, was because I believed Illinois people didn't deserve to unfairly be punished again, by delaying their right to have full representation and equal voting rights at such a crucial time for our state and our nation. My motivation is to serve, was pure and had nothing to do with the scandal that preceded my appointment.

...My passion truly is to serve you. I look forward to providing that, every chance that I get. I cannot say enough how humbled and honored I am to be afforded this opportunity to serve.

And finally if you are among the many in Illinois, who are disheartened by the cloud that hangs overhead and darkens our state's image, I ask that you join me in remembering the old saying: "It's always the darkest before the dawn."

I believe that dawn is near and brighter days are ahead for Illinois, and I'm looking forward to serving in the United States Senate.

Quite frankly, how much darker can they get nationally? Well once the truth comes out about barry but by then the whole nation and world will be darkened and disillusioned. The ones who knew all along will be very angry and justifiably so.

QUESTION: today Republican leaders have said the Democrats chose to trust a madman over the people of Illinois. What's your reaction to that?

BURRIS: No, there's no reaction to that. The governor carried out his constitutional duties. He had no choice but to carry out the duties that were -- that were -- that he took an oath to carry out when he was sworn in for governor. That's my response.

He knows how to handle a press conference. He took on Mika and won while smiling like a sweet grandpops. And what about Caroline Kennedy? Can she handle a press conference? And there isn't any positive "taint" about her family name qualifying her for an appointment to the senate?

Q: How do you explain the turnaround in six days?

BURRIS: Well, I think that after all the procedures were -- excuse me -- were brought together, then people recognized that we should get -- move forward and get this action behind us.

They moved in for the kill.

Q Mr. Burris, did you have to make any deal not to run in 2010?

BURRIS: The only request that was made of me from Senator Reid and Senator Durbin was that I make my testimony before the Illinois house impeachment committee and secondly that I would clear up the signature from the secretary of state's office and that was it.

Q Senator, your lawyers indicated Friday that you had formed a campaign committee. Might you run in 2010?

BURRIS: Well, we had to form a fund-raising committee because of the, you know, needed expenses that we'll have. And we're also forming a legal -- legal defense fund committee, too.

They asked about the asterisk - he reiterated it was a legal appointment and that there is "no such thing as taint." And that there's "nothing in the statute about taint." He said he relishes the chance to once again be a public servant. They asked how he was going to overcome the skeptics. He responded that, "My actions will speak louder than my words." He mentioned all the letters and phone calls he has received congratulating him.

As one of those People of Illinois, I love Mr Burris' appointment. He's a joy to watch and he makes me smile. You want to see transparency - he's it - naked ambition and all. Why does the press question a p0litician's ego and ambition? Why else would they think they could win office?

They asked again about a run in 2010 and he said he wants to "get my Senate legs under me, and we'll make that decision at the proper time." His comment about why his appointment was not pay-to-play should have tipped them off he has no money. They asked him about whether he was going to get to go to the Inauguration. He chuckled and gives a little insight of what is really going on behind the scene.

Q: Two weeks ago, you weren't even planning on going to the Inaugural.

BURRIS: I was waiting on my tickets from Obama. (Chuckles.)

Q And now what? How -- are people calling you?

Q: What about those Inaugural tickets?

BURRIS: (Chuckles.)

Q Are you going to get some tickets to the Inauguration? And were you planning --

MR. BURRIS: (Chuckles.) Now do you want me to state that publicly? (Laughs.)

(Laughter.)

Q (Off mike.)

MR. BURRIS: Because I do not know at this point what the situation is with the tickets.

Q (Off mike) -- looking for some?

BURRIS: Yes.

I bet they never thought about it. Who took the tickets that would have been allotted to the jr senate appointee? Now that it is public they have no choice but to get him tickets. And Bobby Rush? He explained how they got around Jesse White, the Illinois Secretary of State's signature. They asked about how frustrating it has been over the last several weeks. He answers sincerely - though talking in the third person is a tad off and he has a habit of it.

BURRIS: I look upon that as a learning experience and a part of life. And I cherish that type of experience, because that has made Roland Burris tougher. That made me be able to appreciate what the people of Illinois really want in their leadership. So I have no regrets for what I went through. It has made me more humble and made me to be prepared to even work harder to serve the people of my state.

They tried to get him to comment about the race issue that Rush brought up and he dodged it by enumerating his credentials. He said previous that he has never made race an issue in his campaigns - although he did once in 1998. See here. And in case you haven't made it by Oak Woods Cemetery to see his mausoleum, here's a summary of his previous campaigns. And here's his list of accomplishments.

BURRIS: Well, Charles, I plan to distinguish myself in the Senate the same way I did as attorney general and as state comptroller and as the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as the president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, as the president of the National Association of State Comptrollers, as an exchange student to the University of Hamburg, where I studied international law in the German language. That's how I plan to handle that situation.

He can handle himself, smiling the whole way. He will make a fine senator and he will continue to frustrate the press' attempt to frazzle him. He is the Magic Man, afterall.

Senate to seat Mr Burris

January 12, 2008

Wonder how much barry whined to get Tom, Dick and Harry to seat Burris?

Burris was always a legitimate appointment it's just taken the dems to get over their public comments about not seating anyone blago appointed. They thought that would be enough to stop Hot Rod....not. I wonder how much had to do with what might be on the Harry & blago tape. If harry thought he was that dirty why was he calling him to broker his own little mini deal?

Anyway Dick & Harry's statement from CNN:

The Secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate Rules and validate his appointment to the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In addition, as we requested, Mr. Burris has provided sworn testimony before the Illinois House Committee on Impeachment regarding the circumstances of his appointment.

We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect. Accordingly, barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week. We are working with him and the office of the Vice President to determine the date and time of the swearing-in.

I'll have to put together the evolving statements of dick, harry and barry.

"Certainly no pay-to-play involved 'cuz I don't have no money!"

January 7, 2008

A few comments from Roland Burris on arrival home tonite.

BURRIS: Certainly no pay-to-play involved 'cuz I don't have no money!

He's like the anti-Biden. I hope this goes on for a while. Much more interesting than barry press conferences speeches.

BURRIS: The only thing I regret is not being able to walk on that floor with my colleagues and be sworn in.

That's kinda sad. He deserved to be there - not outside in the rain with the ex-mayor of Baltimore holding an umbrella over his head. He's going to end up in the senate - he just didn't have the honor and thrill of being sworn in with "his colleagues". I guarantee you, Senator Burris will not miss 40% of the votes and he sure won't be out campaigning for two years like his predecessor. In fact, I'd wager he doesn't miss any - unless something keeps him from it.

JESSE WHITE who was only sticking to his word before he knew it was his longtime friend that was going to be appointed:

I was surprised that they would throw be under the bus like they did yesterday. My signature is not required.

It's not. But they're willing to spend my tax money to bring the case to the Illinois Supreme Court to waste time so that maybe blago will be impeached on the meanwhile. The whole thing stinks - except Roland Burris. Jesse White is stuck sticking to his word but he has been getting it in the Chicago black community. Everything barry is connected to ends up or started out rotting.

Quote of the day: "Harry Reid, put down that crack pipe!"

January 9, 2009

Morning Joe

They are discussing Harry Reid's back off from his statement that no one Blagojevich appoints would be seated no way mister. Whether it was racially motivated when Reid made those alleged statements to Blagojevich about not wanting Jesse Jackson, Jr, Emil Jones or Rep Danny Davis. Or whether it was solely because they would most likely not be re-electable. And then the discussion went to Reid's comments about not working for barry.

JOE: He [Reid] says he doesn't work for Barack Obama.

They all laugh.

JOE: He does work for Barack Obama

MIKA [looks like a gangsta rapper with the chain link around her neck]: Let me check that. Yes, he does.

TAVIS SMILEY: Harry Reid, put down that crack pipe! You don't work for Barack Obama? We're all working for Barack Obama.

No. He works for us since we hired him and we are paying him. But he does not seem to realize that. And Reid is going to have a problem with barry because of his Ivy League education and his short time in the senate. Harry has a big old chip on his shoulder from something. Trying to belong...feeling just as good as....meager beginnings? Because he's overcompensating for something.

"You keep harping on that young man, check the law!"

January 5, 2009

Former Attorney General Roland Burris was rightfully been appointed as the junior senator from Illinois. Period. The press is out of control. The pro-obama media bias is one thing but the local press is just as embarrassing. One woman actually asked him if it was an ego thing.

THE MAN HAS BEEN RIGHTFULLY APPOINTED. End of story. They can have whatever scene they want but Burris WILL be seated - of not tomorrow then the next day. It won't drag on and they can't wait for blago's impeachment to come through. Rep Bobby Rush has also made sure that it's not "plantation politics" and that Burris shouldn't be lynched. A little over the top but he got his message across in Chicago. Burris has take over for Biden as far as quotes of the day. But they haven't quite gotten to the Bidengaffer level.

Call blagojevich crazy and foul-mouthed but he stuck it to barry and all the rest of them in true Chicago politics style.

ROLAND BURRIS comments from what I could transcribe:

I am the legally appointed senator from Illinois. That is no mess.

I cannot control my supporters. I have never in my life, in all my years of being elected to office, thought anything about race.

When is it that a secretary of state can veto the action of a governor? When does that happen?

I don't negotiate in the press.

Can you tell me that?

You keep harping on that young man, check the law!

I am a United States senator. They can't stop me from doing my senatorial duties.

…I’m not going to make scene. I’m not going to give you all a circus. I’m not out here to create any type of confrontation with anyone.

…On behalf of the 13 million people of the fifth largest state in the Nation - they do not need to be without a senator in these tough times.

Yesterday:

We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained.

And the media wants to make a big deal about it. Mr Burris is who he is. Let him be. He has been rightfully appointed. The mausoleum is another matter but his ego doesn't compare to the obamessiah's or Harry Reid's or Dick Durbin's or Nanci Pelosi's....

Burris, Durbin, Feinstein comments post refusal

January 6, 2009

Roland Burris, rightfully appointed to replace barry was turned away from the Senate. This is just wrong. He is usually and upbeat grandpops type but he looked shocked and ready to cry. How sad. Even though he is an old-timer and well-versed in Chicago politics he has never had a whiff of "taint" until know and it's only because of Blagojevich. He had one discussion with blagojevich - not on tape - and he came clean with that right up front.

ROLAND BURRIS:

My name is Roland Burris, the junior senator from Illinois. I presented my credentials to the Secretary of the Senate and was advised my credentials were not in order, and I would not be accepted, and I will not be seated, and I will not be permitted on the floor. And therefore, I am not seeking to have any type of confrontation. I will now consult with my lawyers and we will determine what our next step will be.

Thank you all for very much and may God bless each each and every one of you.

DICK DURBIN:

Roland Burris is welcome to Washington; he is welcome to come to my office. But he couldn't possibly be anticipating any official action until at least his papers are filed.

BLAGOJEVICH:

The people of Illinois are entitled to be represented by two senators in the United States Senate. As governor, it is my duty and obligation to appoint a senator when there is a vacancy. I have done that by appointing Roland Burris, a good and decent man with a long history of public service in Illinois. Any allegations against me should not be held against him and especially not the people of Illinois.

Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, SEN DIANE FEINSTEIN:

The question is really one, in my view, of law.

Does the governor have the power, under law, to make the appointment? And the answer is yes. Is the governor discredited? The answer is yes. Does that affect his appointment power? The answer is no, until certain things happen.

So, if you don't seat Mr. Burris, it has ramifications for gubernatorial appointments all over America. Mr. Burris is a senior, experienced politician. He has been Attorney General, he has been Controller, and he is very well-respected. I am hopeful that this will be settled.

Her job will be taken over by Chuck Schumer. Reid, Feistein, Kennedy and Schummer all part of barry's doodle. All part of the master plan that seems to be working...so far.

Reid told blago: no Davis, Jones, Jackson Jr

January 6, 2009

Very interesting story that fills in a lot of gaps why Reid is being such a jerk. Reid looks like a simple man but he is quite devious. Just look what he did to Sen Clinton. These men have severe castration anxiety - some just don't as freely admit it as Tucker Carlson. Evidently Reid called Blagojevich on December 3rd and told blago not to send Jesse Jackson Jr, Danny Davis or Emil Jones. He suggested Lisa Madigan or Tammy Duckworth. I think it should have been Duckworth all along. Interesting facts about her I wasn't aware of.

Duckworth is the wounded Iraq war veteran who was tapped by Blagojevich for the state post after she lost a House race in 2006. Duckworth's entry in the House contest was championed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) with her campaign assisted by Emanuel, who was running the House political operation at the time, and Obama. David Axelrod, Obama's chief presidential campaign strategist, was Duckworth's media consultant for her House race.

The reason he didn't want the three men - he was afraid they weren't reelectable. With barry as president?

According to the (1-2-09) Sun Times' NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND LYNN SWEET:

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero confirmed that Reid (D-Nev.) and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) — the new chief of the Senate Democratic political operation — each called Blagojevich's campaign office separately Dec. 3. Sources believe that at least portions of the phone conversations are on tape.

Before their contacts, Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel called Blagojevich to tell him to expect to hear from Senate leadership because they were pushing against Jackson and others, according to statements the governor made to others.

The Reid-Menendez calls came a day before a Dec. 4 conversation overheard on government wiretaps where Blagojevich says he "was getting 'a lot of pressure' not to appoint Candidate 5." Candidate 5 is Jackson.

...Jim Manley, spokesman for Reid, acknowledged Friday that Reid called Blagojevich as well as other governors who had Senate vacancies in their respective states.

"Of course Sen. Reid spoke to the governor of Illinois -- just as he spoke to the governors of New York and Colorado when senators from those states accepted jobs in the new administration,'' Manley said. "It is part of his job as majority leader to share his thoughts about candidates who have the qualities needed to succeed in the Senate."

Reid declined to reveal the specific names discussed, saying he didn't want to embarrass anyone.

Though Menendez did talk with Blagojevich about the appointment, he "did not suggest any names and he did not discourage the appointment of anyone,'' said Matt Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee which Menendez chairs.

Maybe Reid's call is what got Fitzgerald to act so precipitously. And what was the point? He asked for another 3 months and wouldn't allow anyone to testify for the impeachment hearings. This all stinks - especially Harry Reid.

Cheney: Israel didn't seek clearance or approval

January 4, 2008

AP's BEN FELLER

VP DICK CHENEY:

[Israel] didn't seek clearance or approval from us, certainly.

They have said, now, for a period of months — they told me on my last trip over there — that they didn't want to have to act, where Gaza was concerned. They had gotten out of there three years ago. But if the rocketing didn't stop, they felt they had no choice but to take action. And if they did, they would be very aggressive, in terms of trying to take down Hamas. And that's exactly what's happened.

HARRY REID:

I think what the Israelis are doing is very important. I think this terrorist organization, Hamas, has got to be put away. They've got to come to their senses.

MITCH MCCONNELL:

Hamas is a terrorist organization. Imagine in this country (the U.S.) if somebody from a neighboring country were lobbing shells at our population. We'd do exactly the same thing. I think the Israelis are doing the only thing they can possibly do to defend their population.

Gov Tim Kaine next Chairman of the DNC

January 4, 2008

barry to name Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Chairman of the DNC. Quite the food scrap for someone who was thrown aside because of the polls. Wonder how tightly girded Joe Biden's muzzle and loins are. Howard Dean should be brought to justice for how he handled the primaries and the nomination. It will all come out...in time for barry to pardon him, Nanci Pelosi, Harry Reid and Hot Rod Blagojevich.

Harry Reid: Burris won't be seated

December 30, 2008

Harry Reid says Burris won't be seated.

REID statement: It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety. We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris' ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.

Next week we will start one of the most important debates of the year — outlining an economic recovery plan to create jobs and invest in America. And in the coming weeks, we will be working to protect homeowners and consumers, make America more energy independent, strengthen our national security, and improve health care and educational opportunities. There is much work to do and a lot at stake. It is thus critical that Illinois and every other state have two seated Senators without delay.

We again urge Gov. Blagojevich to not make this appointment. It is unfair to Mr. Burris, it is unfair to the people of Illinois and it will ultimately not stand. The governor must put the interests of the people of Illinois and all Americans first by stepping aside now and letting his successor appoint someone who we will seat.

Wanna bet? Whatever he and the rest of the barry lovers/blago haters say - it is a legal appointment and it will stand unless Burris has engaged in pay to play with blago.

barry's statement on Burris' appointment

December 30, 2008

barry comments on Mr Burris' appointment:

BARRY: Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. The best resolution would be for the governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession.

Guess what barry? Burris has been legally appointed whether you and your buds who were also busted and there is nothing you, Madigan, Quinn, Reid, Durbin or anyone else can do about it. blago said eff you right to your face in front of the nation. He out Chicagoed all of you and somewhere Boss Daley is chuckling his head off.

Harry Reid is a shameless two-faced coward

November 22, 2008

Harry Reid talks about Joe Lieberman the traitor. And he does so with a convincingly clear conscience. To John King: "Joe Lieberman has done something that I think was improper, wrong, and I'd like if we weren't on television, I'd use a stronger word of describing what he did. But Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators. He didn't support us on military stuff and he didn't support us on Iraq stuff. You look at his record, it's pretty good."

And how much support did he show his fellow Democrat, Senator Clinton?

Reid wants to completely wipe out the entire Armed Services Committee along with Senators McCain and Clinton. At least Lieberman had the integrity to be honest and stand up in the light of day. He didn't pretend he was a Democrat through and through. He didn't pretend it was a full and equal election. He went with his principles. Yes, principles. And he didn't switch allegiances midway to make it easy on himself.

Lieberman should be praised and those who want his head should look deeply inside and ask why. They need to judge what kind of public servants they were when they sat on the sidelines and said nothing as the DNC successfully railroaded Sen Clinton.

How much did they look out for themselves vs their constituents for whom they work?

What is a "Democrat" when they stand by and allow an undemocratic process unfold?

And those of you who still believe barry and his "team of rivals" crap? barry made a decision to do nothing because that is who he is. He will avoid making a decision at every turn. Wake up out of the obamessiah fog and see reality before January 21st. Don't say you haven't been warned by the entire blogosphere.

Barry's doodle

Courtesy of Pioneer local
Senators Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader Harry Reid, Dianne Feinstein and Ted Kennedy. Looks like Schumer and Feinstein facilitate by looking away and Senator Kennedy and Reid are either confronters or co-conspirators.

Obama's signature reveals his arrogance and egomania and the vertical line is a clear phallic symbol. Wonder what Bob Herbert thinks about those phallic pillars. Especially the right one. barry was certain he had the job and that they were gonna help him - he was doodling his presidential seal, his commemorative presidential coin and the backdrop to his $5M styrofoam pillar speech.

UPDATE: He drew it during the National Doodle Day charity drive for Neurofibromatosis, Inc. It sold for $2,075 on eBay. How much did his waffle get?