Legal Commentary

Poll: 52% of Illinoisans Oppose Seating Burris

By Big Tent Democrat

In case folks were wondering what the people of Illinois think of the Blago/Burris Farce:

Roland Burris is paying the price for an appointment that is tarnished and tainted by the cloud of corruption and scandal that hovers menacingly over the head of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a new poll by the Glengariff Group. The poll indicates that 52 percent of Illinois voters oppose the appointment. Only 32 percent support it and only 21 percent approve of the governor's decision to exercise his appointment power, while 72 per cent want a special election or an appointment by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn to fill the Senate seat. "I think rather than a judgment on Roland, this is a judgment on the process," said Don Rose, political analyst.

(Emphasis supplied.) By contrast, a plurality of Minnesotans support the seating of Al Franken. If all politics is local, then the questions of the political wisdom of seating Roland Burris has to be questioned. I oppose the seating of Burris on ethical grounds and believe the Constitution provides the Senate the legal power to judge the "return" of the tainted Blago appointment of Roland Burris. If and when Blago is removed from office and indicted and convicted, the politics of this will be even clearer. That will be closer to election day 2010.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 11, 2009 (boomark / email).