ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



IL Sec State acknowledges power limited

Posted: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 6:28 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The Illinois Secretary of State's office acknowledged that Secretary Jesse White's refusal to sign off on embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Obama's Senate seat holds little more than "moral" weight.

"We've been doing a little research on this, and its a little nebulus," White's Press Secretary David Druker told First Read. "We do think the governor can still bring it to the U.S. Senate" without White's signature.

He added, "I guess you could say it was a moral stand."

Druker said White is friendly with Roland Burris and likes him personally, but he disagreed with Burris' assertion on MSNBC's 1600 that White would change his mind.

"I don't think that's a good bet," Druker said, adding that the Secretary of State's office "felt particularly supported" when Obama put out a statement in which he largely backed Senate Democrats' stance against seating Burris.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

"I would ask you not to hang or lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer,” said Mr Rush. “I don’t see that any US Senator …will want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the US Senate.” - Bobby Rush US Representative.

This is the quality of people that the Democrats have elected. Racists like Bobby Rush, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rahm Emanuel. Complete left wing hacks like Dick Durbin and Mayor Richard Daley, and of course Barack Obama. And of course criminals like Rod Blagojevich. I hope you left wingers enjoy the ride with these people no longer in charge of Illinois, but now in charge of the country.
Apparently no one is in charge of anything in Illinois. Except Blagojevich, who appears to be the only one doing his job.
Not much Reid or the state can do to actually stop Burris from getting in. The courts will probably get deeply involved in this for a loooong time. Not what Obama needs...

http://www.political-buzz.com/
I don't think the money donated by Mr. Burris to the governor in any way taints Mr. Burris.  Roland Burris is an outstanding person who will serve us well as a U. S. Senator.  I was disappointed in President-Elect Barack Obama's statement. I don't think Mr Burris'appointment by the governor will affect his ability to serve. I stongly agree with the statement by Bobby Rush regading the need for black representation in the Senate.
Il.Sec/State acknowledges power is...

We are a nation ruled by laws, not men.

Eventually, newly appointed U.S. Senator Roland Burris, a most honorable man, will be seated by the
U.S. Senate.

Gov. Blago is the most hated man in Illinois, and he will be indicted by the U.S. Attorney Peter Fitzgerald.

In the meantime, Illinois must follow the law--and the courts will so rule.

Joe Lake Chicago (Bucktown)
























Happy RICOYear!

Joe Lake, Chicago (Bucktown)
If the Illinois Secretary of State refuses to do his ministerial duties, he hands Governor Blagovich legal grounds to remove him from office and appoint someone else until the next election cycle. And the Illinois Supreme Court would probably back him up. Playing a moral rather than a legal game is plenty dangerous for Jesse White in this case.
For "aMERICAN PATRIOT"
You call yourself "American Patriot?" Unbeleivable!
Democrats elected real quality people, Obama the first. Real patriots - American people sent message to you and people like you who consider themselves patriots, because they hate Democrats - no more!!!
Republicans have become old but irrelevant Party and conservatives like you - only what left for you is to whine on this blog. Real power is gone from you and people you support for a long, long time.
I hope you left wingers enjoy the ride with these people no longer in charge of Illinois, but now in charge of the country.
                      American Patriot
******************************************************
I'm going to enjoy it a whole lot more than I did the last god awful 8 years under a regime that hides behind calling themselves patriots......opps, just like you signed your name......guess that's my point, now isn't it? What a loser you are.
Once again our soon-to-be fearless leader exhibits that his constitutional law-professor gig and Harvard Law Degree notwithstanding, he is ignorant of an inconvenient document known historically as the U.S. Constitution.

First, there is Obama’s reply to Rick Warren’s question during the Saddleback Forum this past August, as to when a baby was entitled to human rights by saying that the answer was above his pay grade. Note to Obama, once a baby is born, it is a citizen of the United States and entitled to all the legal rights of an American. It says so in The Constitution of the United States of America (Amendment 14). Some Constitutional Law Professor.

His appointment of Hillary Clinton to be the next Secretary of State violates Article 1, Section 6 of the Constitution which simply states in part that “No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; ...” Even though previous leaders with the help of a corrupt judiciary have loop-holed this provision, its language is simple enough for even a law professor to grasp. Queen Hillary does not become eligible for this post until her current term as Senator expires after the 2012 election simply by agreeing to take a pay cut. Besides with all the loot her husband raked in through his Lie-brary, she’s not exactly short of cash. But I forgot, her husband did not know the meaning of “is”. Another brilliant law professor.

Now we come to the Rod Blagojevich scandal. Governor Blagojevich was arrested earlier this month on federal corruption charges related in part to the selection of President-elect Barack Obama's Senate Seat. But there is no Obama Senate Seat. Each Senator is basically hired by the people of his or her state to represent them. But they are ‘emolumented’ by the Government of the United States - after all their jobs are established by our Constitution which allocates each State two Senators. So they work for all of us and their loyalty to this country and its Constitution should supersede all their other obligations. After all, they are so sworn. The chairs upon which these Senators place their royal arses while working belong to all the people of our once great nation. After all, this furniture was purchased and is maintained with our money. But the use of two of these chairs is granted by us to the people of Illinois. Any such ‘seat’ is rented by them, not its occupant. Just who owns those anointed arses is a separate topic.

Whenever a Senate seat becomes ‘open’ for whatever reason, the task of filling it becomes the duty of the “executive authority” of the state whose senate seat became available (Article I Section 2 - Section 3 uses the phrase ‘executive thereof’ and this language was later modified by the 17th Amendment).

The seat occupied by Obama’s buff butt became available when he resigned from the Senate in order to assume the Office of President-elect. No matter that there is no such office. Obama did not even become the President-elect, though President-to-be is a more accurate description, until the November general election was consummated by the Electoral College about two weeks ago and that result was ratified by the House and Senate. As I type, Blagojevich is still the “executive authority (executive thereof)” for Illinois. He certainly was so when he appointed Roland Burris to become the newest Illinois Senator. Illinois law notwithstanding, his right to do so is spelled out by the U.S. Constitution which trumps everything else, at least it used to, back when the Constitution was something other than a dusty anachronism stored in a glass case. Unless Burris bought this job from Blagojevich and arguably even if he did, nobody in Illinois or Washington D.C. has the authority to prevent Burris from becoming Senator. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White thinks he does, Senate Democrats think they do, and Obama concurs. They are all just as wrong on this as they are on so many other points.

Not that I’m a Burris fan. His appointment smacks of racism and I resent that many believe this Senate seat belongs to Illinois’ African Americans. It belongs to all the people of Illinois, and is a gift to them from The Founders on behalf of all the people of this once great nation. Burris is at least as qualified for this job as Obama is for President as he passes the Constitutional requirements of age, citizenship and residence. His appointment to the Senate was made in full compliance with the U.S. Constitution and the laws of Illinois, so all those opposed should just shut up and spend their time actually reading some of the historical documents which granted us those rights we all hold so dear. Besides, I think Burris can be sworn in as Senator immediately which might give him a slight seniority edge on those taking office when the next Congress convenes.
Roland Burris,a descent, qualified individual, will bring dignity and pride back to the state of Illinois. Flunky, Jesse White , elect Burris and perhaps you should consider retiring! Blago, hasn't been convicted, yet! He still has the legal right
to appoint, whom he wants. Perhaps you should check with your lawyers, next time, before you open your mouth, and appear to look stupid!


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1728151

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google