Burris news, just what Dems want?

Posted: Monday, February 16, 2009 12:07 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2010

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The revelation that Illinois Sen. Roland Burris had more contact with Blagojevich's people than he was possibly letting on during that Illinois House testimony may be just what Democrats want.

Several Democrats have privately fretted that Burris, who has lost several attempts at higher office, would be a weak 2010 candidate. He has lost in primaries in several statewide runs in the past 20-plus years, and his being appointed by Blagojevich automatically makes him vulnerable against a strong GOP challenger, like, say, Rep. Mark Kirk.

But now, this may be enough to: (1) Seriously hurt Burris' chances of surviving primary challenges from strong Democratic challengers like Lisa Madigan, Jan Schakowsky, Jesse Jackson Jr. or others, and (2) Embolden those Democrats and give them prime oppo ammo.

This might clear the way, early enough for Democrats to feel they have a better chance of holding the seat. Of course, Republicans would argue, Blago gives them an easy talking point that will sully any Illinois Democrat in 2010.

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Comments

Roland Burris wasn't telling the truth at all in fact it looks like he and his lawyer were trying to be cute with words.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/16/34545/7015/609/698064

justwaitandsee (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:26 PM)

Term limits?
NO!!
Age limits...
55 years old ends the seat after the term...

Ron Davos (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:36 PM)

Burris had no right to accept this seat. It was an irresponsible act. A desperate man's last effort of self importance. I hope the American citizens aren't going to have to pay this man a pension for the rest of his life.

MsRoman (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:42 PM)

Soon, all Americans will come to realize that the Democratic party no longer exists. Ever since the clintons came to town they have used the party name as a front for their SOCIALIST AGENDA! Unfortunately, those that think they are entitled do no realize that a vote for a Democrat is a vote for socialism. Socialism is the cancer that kills the spirit of man. obama is the anti-christ!

Mike Thompson (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:52 PM)

Ah, the politicians. New in the office. Well, there goes Hillary and the Treasury Sec on major boondoggles. Get a new high paying job with the gov't then gather your friends, load a plane with goodies and fly around the world enjoying the lobster, prime rib and wine thanks to the taxpayers. The job at home is not important! So, why does no "journalist" cover this sucking mentality?

Paul Stymelski Florence Oregon (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:52 PM)

Give Burris some credit - his lies and omissions held together long enough to get him confirmed. Since he was a political has-been when Blago picked him, what did he have to lose?

Now, he's entrenched in office, will claim partisanship and racism are behind any effort to oust him, and run out the clock at least until the end of his current term.

Congratulations, Senator! Your gamble paid off and you're in.

Bill, Alameda, CA (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:53 PM)

The last thing we need now is this kind of narrow political calculation. Let's see, if Captain Smith goes down with the ship, I'll get a promotion at White Star! Are we in an emergency or not?

H R Coursen Brunswick Maine (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:55 PM)

Burris - Pay-to-Play

Does everyone from Chicago lie, cheat and steal?

Where is Obama From?

Pay-To-Play-The-Obama-Way

Obamanomics - I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today!

The Democrat Realist (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:12 PM)

Actually, what Democrats want is to see Blago and his lovely wife employed as grocery baggers for the rest of their long lives. That ought to start to make up for chaos and ridicule their reign has visited upon Illinois.

Paige V, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:14 PM)

obama is the anti-christ!
Mike Thompson
===========
And you, sir, are a right wing nut case.

Diane from Illinis (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:14 PM)

Yes, "Of course, Republicans would argue, Blago gives them an easy talking point that will sully any Illinois Democrat in 2010." ALL of the repugnicant talking points are easy (easy to dismiss by American citizens with fully-functioning brains, that is). PERMANENT DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY FOR ALL!

Alan, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:15 PM)

POLITICS AS USUAL...BURRIS IS A SLICK SHISTER. I HOPE HE GETS THE BOOT....WE NEED TO MAKE A VERY LOUD POINT OF SHINANIGINS LIKE THIS AND CLEAN UP OUR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.....WE HAVE BEEN APATHETIC FAR TOO LONG.....

M. D. (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:18 PM)

No, I think Mike Thompson is the anti-christ! Hey Mike, wipe your face - you've got Kool-aid all over it!

Alan, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:18 PM)

Sure. The more Democrats screw up, the stronger they become. They should all rival Hercules by now.

Do you guys even look at what you write?

The Herc (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:20 PM)

MIKE THOMPSON IS AN IDIOT CIA OPERATIVE OFF HIS MEDS

Aunty Christ (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:23 PM)

Jesse Jackson, Jr will win,,,he is an insider, the right color and has the morals for Chicago and Illinois politics. I think the Chicago Dems (and others) are quaking in their boots, afraid that Blago will blow the whistle on just how involved Obama was in Chicago politics. I hope Blago is watching his back, he may wake up dead.

Prendes, Tampa, FL (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:23 PM)

First Read doesn't understand Illinois politics very well do they? If you start from the premise that ALL Illinois politicians are slimy crooks, you'd be more right then you are wrong. In fact, you'd be correct more then 90% of the time. Get rid of one crook, and there are 10 other crooks right behind that person wanting their job.

Illinois - The Convict State (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:23 PM)

I was amazed that a governor under investagation could appoint the senator. It was wrong of Mr. Burris to accept the appointment in the first place. If the person who appointed you is crooked, the nut doesn't fall far from the tree

Cindy murphy (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:25 PM)

Burris is an opportunist, he knows that even if he's incompetent and goes out the door with less than a full term he still gets the congressional retirement pension and perks

Jon Weiss, Radcliff, KY (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:25 PM)

Where is the "NEW" Washington, the "great One" promised? Where is the openness and transparency The great Muslim promised? His reaching across the aisle was to have his girl friend Nancy and his boy friend Harry write the stupidity porkous socialist give away billof my grand children's money. We need to have an impeachment of all the lairs in DC, starting with Obama, Burris, Ted Kennedy, and all the crooks Obama tried to sneak into office. If you voted for the fake, then you should all pay more taxes and support the effort to get rid of the Obama Fake now!

Don, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:26 PM)

What a surprise - a lying politian from Chicago.

Aren't they all

We should ban all Chicago politians from running.
(present company included)

The Obama Burris Blago threesome (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:27 PM)

Burris obviously purgered himself at the impeachment hearing. This should be a valid reason to remove him from office.

MrVette, Lake St. Louis, MO (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:28 PM)

This is why I believe that Burris should not have been seated in the Senate. It turns out that he did have some connection to the now former governor. I would have hoped that Reid and other leaders in the US Senate would not seat this guy. If Burris could step down, then the new governor could easily put in a more reasonable option.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:28 PM)

When it comes to Burris and Blagojevich, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree!

Dan Leos, San Francisco, CA (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:36 PM)

burris needs to go. i said that blago should have never appointed him and burris should have never accepted. burris was only concerned with his legacy. it had nothing to do with serving the people of illinois.

illinois has better democratic candidates to offer rather than this bum. he is tainted now by his own admission though he is trying to spin it differently. he should have fessed up before taking the senate seat. when he thought it maybe on tape then he got worried. burris knew he wouldn't have gotten approved in the senate if that information was known prior to his swearing in.

ace (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:38 PM)

"Hope", "Yes we can", 'Change"- no with Burris. It's still the same old game.

How long before "Cut his balls off" Jesse Jackson starts calling 'More White than Black' Obama an Uncle Tom. I give him less than a year.

Joe, 757 Thugtown- Newport News, VA (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:40 PM)

Dear First Read,
From time to time I feel compelled to write a response to your various posts and seldom do you actually put it on. I am thoughtful, attempt not to slam people and attempt to stay on topic. I don't get too bent when you don't post what I submit but I do become offended when you feel as if......

Mike Thompson (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 12:52 PM)
Soon, all Americans will come to realize that the Democratic party no longer exists. Ever since the clintons came to town they have used the party name as a front for their SOCIALIST AGENDA! Unfortunately, those that think they are entitled do no realize that a vote for a Democrat is a vote for socialism. Socialism is the cancer that kills the spirit of man. obama is the anti-christ!

...is actually worth sharing with your viewers/readers. How do posts, such as this one, rank space on your page? How do comments like this allow us to have a thoughtful exchange of ideas about the issues that face our nation?

Hey Mike...That's President Obama thank you very much.

Tracy, Dayton, OH (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:43 PM)

It also proves that Harry Reid and Dick Durbin, who were made to look like racist fools by Burris in January, were right about the guy all along.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:45 PM)

Oh my God, the SOCIALIST AGENDA!!!! You know how we know that SOCIALIST AGENDA is a really big deal? The all capital letters. SOCIALIST AGENDA!!! Doesn't it just scream EVIL and TERRORISM? SOCIALIST AGENDA!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BUT DOGGONE IT I KNOW I'M AGAINST A SOCIALIST AGENDA!!!!!!!!

Noah, Philadelphia (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 1:46 PM)

The Republicans - people like John McCain, "Lazy" Graham and the alike - are all idiots.

They think people give a damn about a bunch of sore losers and no good for nothings.

They really believe that anyone outside of their "base" gives a damn about their opinion regarding President Obama, Democratic Party, or the stimulus bill or any other bill that will come down the pike.

We all know you republicans are plotting some more of your BS - so that you can look good and try to make U.S. look bad.

You republicans can continue to lie, cheat, steal - but Bush and John McCain has damaged your credibility so much - there is nothing - absolutely nothing that you guys can do - outside your base that will make any difference.

You are making a complete ass of yourselves and you still do get it - you so called elected servants of the Republican Party

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:02 PM)

Hugo Chavez - Barrack Obama

Leaders of the Socialist Revolution!

Change we needed! May they succeed in their quest!

Sargeant at Arms, MI (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:04 PM)

Burris is a lifelong Democrat getting a bad rap from the right wing nuts!

Do your job well Sen Burris.

Fleeced, IL (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:07 PM)

Burris - Pay-to-Play

Does everyone from Chicago lie, cheat and steal?

Where is Obama From?

Pay-To-Play-The-Obama-Way

Obamanomics - I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today! The Democrat Realist

PRESIDENT ODAMA IS FROM Hawaii you moron.
if i knew where you were from i would ask you the same thing, to me it sounds like your from no where!!! i would rather be from chicago than no where.

jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:09 PM)

His reaching across the aisle was to have his girl friend Nancy and his boy friend Harry write the stupidity porkous socialist give away billof my grand children's money.
Don, Columbus, Ohio
=========
Where you as worried about your poor grandchildren's money when we began financing the war in Iraq? You people drive me crazy with this nonsense.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:09 PM)

Burris is a typical demoncrat. If only we had a choice? I'm afraid that the republicans are headed in the same direction. Did you notice that NONE of the problems are being solved so that these disasters are going to repeat. No one gets punished. We are rewarding them for their crimes by throwing money at them. Oil prices are going to go back up. Banks and mortgage company's are going to continue to steal. Jobs will continue to leave this country. The alien invasion is still on track. We the people are going to have to dig deeper, continuing to pay the price for their treasonous behavior. It's business as usual.

Tom Gallen (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:09 PM)

At a time when the government no longer serves the people......
the only change in politics, has been from rep to dem. corruption is still justified by money and special interests.

tea party, vancouver, wa (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:10 PM)

Alan is the future socialist. The democratic party will eventually not exist, as socialism slowly creeps into its ranks. The democratic party that my parents belonged to no longer exists now, it;s degenerated into a party of special interests, which does not bode well for the United States

Richard, Vancouver, Washington (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:10 PM)

Hey Mike T. Maybe you should read the article and respond to that rather than spew your extreme right-wing political garbage which no longer serves your party. Fortunately, most people in our country,regardless of party affilliation, lean more to the middle, are not blinded by ignorance,can still see past the end of their nose, still have a memory, and vote accordingly.

Jan, Bend, Or. (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:11 PM)

Without Burris, the stimulus package would not have passed. Good timing on the part of the MSM for releasing the information after its important.

Tim (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:13 PM)

Oh come on, Tracy from Dayton. This is hardly the place for a "thoughtful exchange" of cogent ideas. It's more like the place to bust a figurative knuckle on people you don't agree with.

Besides, the more people like Mike spend thinking about screeching on line, is one less minute that they have to think about what they can do with two tons of nitrogen fertilizer and fuel oil. It's a zero sum game!

Scott, Sane in Wisconsin (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:13 PM)

Do any of you idiots have a clue as to what socialism is? Are you equating it with communism? can you say communism? I knew you could. There is a crisis in this country. It the attack of way too many nut cases, no matter what party they belong to.

Brina (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:14 PM)

Another Chicago racist crook in the Senate. So, what's new? Who cares? Why is everybody getting their panties in a knot?

Old Soldier, Colorado (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:15 PM)

Just Imagine for a moment the consequences. If Burris has committed pejury and is disqualified retroactively.What would have happened to 60 majority in senate. Republicans might feel cheated as they lost their chance to fillbuster the stimulus package and president would not have signed the bill. Burris and hence the ousted Governor therfore were very important for the passage of the Stimulus bill.

Ganeshan, Centreville, VA (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:17 PM)

Noah: No capital letters, but I, too, am against a socialist agenda. Why? Because it doesn't work.

I gladly babysit for my neighbors when they ask, but I refuse to be ordered to do it-which is what forcing me to pay for daycare amounts to doing. I gladly and generously donate to my local foodbank, but resent having my tax dollars used to pay for it. I likewise donate generously to a number of charities, but I become incensed when I read or hear that I 'owe it' to people to support them.

I empathize with people who have sick children or elders they need to care for, but I do not understand their demand that friends and neighbors OWE them help. Why should my elderly parents, who live on a fixed income, have to pay for the care of my much more affluent neighbor's child? They shouldn't, you say? Well, the federal and state governments feel otherwise. They demand that they pay for homecare for those who are 'entitled' to it.

That is the problem with socialism-it treats everyone as if they were entitled, while forcing everyone to pay for everyone else's problems. At the risk of being accused of 'piling one', we have witnessed recently WHY those with the largest bleeding hearts believe that it is no matter to raise taxes to provide what people should provide themselves-they don't pay taxes, so it doesn't matter. Why do you think all of the super-wealthy, (think Kennedy, Gates, Buffet, et al) have foundations? It is toi protect their assets from the tax man, but they couch their true intent with a PR blitz calling it 'charity'. It's easy to be a socialist when you are one of the elite-others pay for your 'largesse', and it keeps upstarts from threatening your position in the financial world.

Learn a little more about what you seem to support before you condemn those who know more about it than you seem to know. Then you can comment.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:17 PM)

Republicans are home grown terrorist - they kill innocent people.

Need an example? = KKK < home ground terrorist for decades

angry and I hate Republican terrorist (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:18 PM)

Burris is dead meat. Blago is hated by everyone in the Ill Legislature, dems & repubs alike. They are all embarrassed and angry. And Burris's appointment is embarrassing to the entire state, a failed pol in the senate because of a corrupt governor. The legislature will do everything they can to nail him.

andy marrin (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:18 PM)

Living in Illnois I have come to the conclution there are two things that Burris has proved - firt thing is that Blagovich was the worst Democratic Govenor possible - second thing is - so is every other democratic politian currently working out of Springfield IL.
Those two boys represent a large group of liars.

jjffit (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:18 PM)

WOW, you guys really brought the whakos out of the woodwork with this one.

Jan, Bend, Or. (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:20 PM)

Keep in mind, Harry Reid and Dick Durbin did NOT want Burris. I agree with the Pundits that legally, Burris has done nothing wrong....but in two years, he will be political poison.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:21 PM)

Personally, I think we should give the Hon. Senator Burris a chance to show his colors in office. Of course, he talked to the ex-gov... and to all kinds of fellow politicos in Illinois, which happens to be a very hard-working & productive state, thank you. Talking and talking doesn't mean anything conclusive was done - that any deal was made. What Burris would obviously have been to ex-gov Blago was an ally in the US Senate for Illinois interests. Is that okay? Does anyone expect less from any other US Senator?

john doe, smalltown, arkansas (Sent Monday, February 16, 2009 2:26 PM)

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