Anyone following this?

msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 26 minutes ago

Defying U.S. Senate leaders and his own state's lawmakers, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder, praised the 71-year-old Burris' integrity and asked that the corruption allegations not "taint this good and honest man."
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"The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington D.C.," Blagojevich said. "As governor I am required to make this appointment."

Burris, standing at the governor's side, said he's eager to get to work in Washington. He said he has no connection to the charges against Blagojevich, who was arrested on Dec. 9 and accused of trying to profit from appointing Obama's replacement.

The Democratic governor can announce Burris as his pick, but it may be an empty gesture. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And U.S. Senate leaders reiterated that they won't accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.

One of the accusations is that Blagojevich schemed to benefit from his power to name Obama's replacement in the Senate. Federal prosecutors said they recorded conversations in which Blagojevich discussed appointing someone Obama favored in exchange for a position in the new president's Cabinet or naming someone favored by a union if he got a high-level union job.

Blagojevich has faced a flood of calls for his resignation, and the Illinois House has begun impeachment proceedings.

His own lawyer said recently that there would be no point in Blagojevich naming someone to the Senate because leaders there would reject his appointment.

Within minutes of the report that the governor would name a successor, Senate Democratic leaders were conferring over how to prevent Burris from actually taking office. Later Tuesday afternoon, they issued a statement saying that Blagojevich's appointment "will ultimately not stand."

"Under these circumstances," the statement continues, "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."

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Blagojevich's decision to appoint Burris is an "insult to the people of Illinois."

"We believe in clean government, and Rod Blagojevich has unclean hands," Quinn said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid earlier this month warned the Illinois governor that if he tried to appoint someone to the seat, "we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated." Meanwhile, Democratic sources told NBC's Chuck Todd Tuesday that Burris is not an acceptable choice.

Yeah, I seen it.




Pretty far out!

Roland Burris has been involved in Illinois politics for quite sometime...he's pretty much a pragmatist...a non-idealog...a mild manner guy...

When I lived in Illinois voted for him a couple of times. He is a good choice. Unfortunately anyone the Governor nominates isn't going to make it. Illinois politics at their worst.

Attorney General Roland Burris was just interviewed on 1600 tonight, and he seems to miss the larger point that his being picked by the gov taints him despite the fact that he may be completely innocent.

I would say watch for Burris to fight this, he seems insistent that he should get the seat despite what the people might want or how they might feel about it, just because he is qualified.

Interesting.

It will be interesting to follow. Actually I am surprised that he accepted the appointment. But then would be surprised if anyone would have accepted it with the situation the way it is.

You've got a point, there.

Let Roland Burris be judged by his peer's