This ain't no monument to a deceased 2008. Though it might as well be. Nope. It's actually the self-congratulatory pre-death burial site erected by self-prolcaimed "trail blazer" Roland Burris -- you know that "untainted" guy who the criminally-indicted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has appointed to fill the senate seat of Barack Obama.
I'm not much of an architectural critic, but I have to say I kinda like this marble monstrosity. It's a heavyweight reminder that as crazy as the Bushies are -- and they are way, way out there-- the Republicans (even with their Barack The Magic Negro theme song) hold absolutely no monopoly on delusion, corruption, vanity and general stupidity.
That's something we better get straight right away. Because starting in a few weeks, we won't have Bush-Cheney to kick around anymore. This is the year of the Democrats -- and y'all better brace yourself. Especially you young ones who have grown up ONLY under Republican administrations and might somehow think that Democrats are but a sect of martyred and abused do-gooders who are hated by an Evil Media.
Speaking of the media, I spent most of the day Tuesday in the car listening to the radio and to the audio of cable TV and I must have heard a zillion times that while his nomination was controversial, the character and integrity of Mr. Burris were unassailable.
Right. I can't read the fine print, but maybe he's engraved those same words in the eulogy he has already chiseled to himself. Seems like a totally stable guy to me.
About as stable as his fellow Dem, the Governor. And just as fine a human being, and just as great an American as Democratic Representative Bobby Rush who stood on the stage yesterday next to Mr. Burris and openly race-baited the congress saying: “There are no African-Americans in the Senate,” Mr. Rush said. “And 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 in the
U.S. Senate.”
And both of them just as admirable as a couple of other probable new Democratic senators. Like Caroline Kennedy,
the you know, you know, daughter of, you know JFK. She has certainly earned this seat, hasn't she? Thanks heavens there's no rampant Republican nepotism involved here.
Or what about Al Franken? I've been quiet on this one until now because I really, really don't like Norm Coleman. And if I were a Minnesotan, I'd vote for Mickey Mouse against him. I might even vote for Franken, though the former would have had an easier victory. Every Minnesotan I've spoken to, and I've had the odd occasion of communing with many over the past weeks, had told me the same thing: that Coleman was so weak that almost any Democrat could have walked away with that race. Almost any except Franken who, clearly, believed that bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience onto the floor of the U.S. Senate was worth such a close and unpredictable fight.
Right?
Wow. I sure am glad that the days of Republican hubris, arrogance, and nepotism are finally over.
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December 31st, 2008 at 11:33 am
We are going to have to endure the death throes of the off the map era.
Guh.
December 31st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I’m enjoying the Era of Obama more than I possibly could have imagined.
December 31st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Marc – the Senate Democrats aren’t having Burris. Read the newspaper…
December 31st, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Exactly what is your implication that Burris has a record as corrupt founded on, other than his having terrible taste in tombstones ?
Cheap.
December 31st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
bob – not nearly as much as I am. Get used to being marginalized to snarky commentary. Otherwise, you’re dead meat.
December 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
“bob – not nearly as much as I am. Get used to being marginalized to snarky commentary. Otherwise, you’re dead meat.”
When the hell have I done anything other than offer snarky commentary, reg? I’m in my element.
And since when do U.S. Senators have a right to deny seats to duly and legally appointed colleagues?
December 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Who has “earned” a Senate seat from NY – other than Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer ? Andrew Cuomo ? I like the idea of Kennedy being appointed for the very reason that she hasn’t been chasing various political positions over the years but has simply been an involved citizen. Whoever is appointed – undeservingly almost by definition – will have to stand for election twice in the next four years. This is a bullshit argument. Kennedy is as close to a “citizen Senator” as New Yorkers are likely to get and she’s a popular choice among the electorate. That should count for something. Oh yeah – “Life isn’t fair.”
December 31st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
U.S. Constitution – Article 1 Section 5
Article 1 – The Legislative Branch
Section 5 – Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.
December 31st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Gimme a break, reg. Burris’s appointment meets all the qualifications spelled out in the Constitution. The fact that his Democrat patron reeks like a dead fish is not grounds to deny him. The Supreme Court will surely, you know, like back me up.
December 31st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Doesn’t matter…all Reid has to do is string this thing out until Blago’s impeached. Burris won’t serve a day in the Senate and shouldn’t. This Burris-Blago-Rush press conference was bizarre, incidentally. There was something brilliant, from the perspective of a criminal defense lawyer, in Blago nominating a pretty damned squeaky clean old man who would currently have trouble getting elected Cook County dog-catcher to succeed Obama. Sadly Burris and Bobby Rush represent the old-school black pols who Obama is rapidly making obsolete. For Rush to invoke segregationists with Obama sitting on the other side of the table was absurd and more than a bit pathetic. He’s a has-been, as is Burris. Pawns in Blago’s legal defense game. Other than that, nada.
December 31st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
“Doesn’t matter…all Reid has to do is string this thing out until Blago’s impeached.”
I’m no lawyer (obviously) but I don’t understand how Reid gets to string this out until Blago is impeached (convicted?). The writs are probably being written to force the Illinois Secretary of State to do his duty, at which point the deed is done. Meet Senator Roland Burris (D-Ill).
December 31st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Won’t happen.
December 31st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bobby Rush:
It is amazing to hear Rush make this (race) argument, given that if left to him, there would be no black Senators anyway. Rush backed the very-white Blair Hull against Obama in 2004. Are these people serious ?
December 31st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
“Are these people serious ?
I mean, up til now the Race Card has always been played in good faith and without one single ounce of cynicism. This crushes me.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:23 am
“Thanks heavens there’s no rampant Republican nepotism involved here.”
No; that would be Bob Corker, Saxby Chambliss, Jeb Bush, and other career businessmen-turned congressmen. Corker over Harold Ford? Whatever. The fact that Kennedy has spent her private citizenship up until this point not capitalizing on conflict of interests inside the beltway such as the aforementioned GOPers did as money grubbing greedheads is to her credit, and is all the more reason to support her for the Senate.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:27 am
Well, Bush is not a congressman/senator YET but…if his last name was Kennedy the media would have skewered him during his FL. gubernatorial run years ago. There is a double standard here all right, but it is much from Cooper’s thesis.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:28 am
much different from Mark’s thesis, that last line should have read
January 1st, 2009 at 8:31 am
It is amusing to watch the democrats bob weave and squirm when the race card is played against them.
Ditto for the qualifications card regarding Caroline. She is as much if not more an intellectual lite weight than, you know, Sarah. I understand she didn’t even bother to vote in several election for heaven sake. At least Palin had political experience and a history of fighting and winning offices, dont’cha know.
Look, stop playing games reg. This is about what is best for one political party, whichever one of the two we have. It has nothing to do with qualifications or doing what’s proper, right, or moral. It has everything to do with winning office and keeping it for your side…at moral cost.
This is why the people of Illinois were not allowed to make the choice for Obama’s Senate seat and why the Senate find themselves cornered by the crook. It was done ‘Democrat’icly instead.
Oh, and welcome back reg. It’s gonna get more fun around here again. A Happier New Year to everyone.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:39 am
“…what is best for one political party” should be “…for ones political party”.
January 1st, 2009 at 9:36 am
A Caroline endorsement I can believe in.
“Senora Kennedy Is make Very Good Senator”
http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/12/senora-kennedy-is-make-very-good-senator.html
January 1st, 2009 at 10:29 am
Jim R – nobody’s bobbing and weaving. What a bunch of weak shit we’re going to be seeing from you clowns over the next period. You’ve learned nothing from failure.
January 1st, 2009 at 10:34 am
I also find it humorous that someone has no problem with patently murdurous shit like the Iraq war is lecturing me on morality regarding Caroline Kennedy being possibly appointed interrim Senator. What a joke. Meanwhile, enjoy your irrelevance.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:41 am
reg is oddly obsessed with irrelevance.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:49 am
Once the GOP leadership has sorted out an official position on distributing CDs with racist songs, get back to me on who is “oddly obsessed with irrelevance.”
January 1st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
There you go again, reg, obsessing about people you insist are irrelevant. It’s frankly bizarre.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Here is reason to be disturbed about Burris.