Indiana

Blagojevich?s Rush to Roland

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Just when I thought the situation in my home state could not get any more bizzare, it just did.  Soon to be formally indicted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich today appointed former state Attorney General Roland Burris to the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Burris is a nice guy, but hasn’t held elected office since 1994 and lost every race he ran for (Governor and Mayor of Chicago) since then.  His term as Attorney General was mediocre at best.  As soon as he was elected his goal was to run for Governor.  I know this because I worked with his staff when I went to work for his successor, Jim Ryan.

What I can’t understand is why Burris is letting himself be pimped by Blago like this.  Anyone can see Blagojevich is trying to pander to Black voters by appointing Burris, thinking they will get up in arms if he is not allowed to take the seat.  Also, President-elect Obama was a longtime Burris supporter.

However, someone should remind Burris that Blago is more radioactive than Uranium 236 and there is no way, he will be allowed to serve in the U.S. Senate without a court fight.  The only hope he has is a case involving Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell who Congress tried to deny seating back in the 1940s.  Powell won that case as the Court held Congress could only decide if someone met the qualifications for the office, and unfortunately Blago still has the legal authority to fill the vacancy.

And just a note, will someone tell Gray Panther Bobby Rush to get somewhere and sit down.  He looks like he had a stroke and made absolutely no sense what-so-ever.

If this is what my home state is turning into, maybe I can start calling myself a Hoosier or Missourian or Hawkeye.  Heck, even British Columbia looks good right now.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on December 30, 2008 (boomark / email).