Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Senator Burris

Here's my thoughts on the current ordeal with Senator Burris. Let the man in already!

Okay, so those aren't my total thoughts on the subject. In case you've been living under a rock, Senator Burris is the junior senator from IL selected by the allegedly corrupt Governor of IL to replace Barack Obama in the United States Senate. The issue at hand: the Senate doesn't want to recognize Burris because the selection does not have the seal of the IL Secretary of State - a perfectly legitimate legal requirement set forth in the Senate by-laws. The IL Secretary of State refuses to put their signature on the necessary legal document because of the corruption charges facing the current IL Governor. Senator Burris feels he has every right to step into Barack Obama's senate shoes. The Senate feels otherwise. The Senate feels that a nomination by an allegedly corrupt Governor corrupts the nomination/selection. I agree to some extent. I'm just not sure I agree in keeping the man out of the Senate. Find some concessions, people, some type of agreement that Burris can temporarily assume the senate seat; however, if the IL Governor is found guilty, then Burris must step down.

Is that a fair solution? Well, probably not, but it's the best I can come up with on short notice. Personally, if it was me, I would have declined the Governor's selection, knowing that the selection is without merit and - for the most part - tainted. Why tainted? Well, the Governor is under investigation for corruption, and for attempting to sell Barack Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder. In the face of everything, the Governor has maintained - the American right, and all that jazz - innocence and continually cast blame at everyone except himself. Isn't that the defense of an allegedly guilty man? I'm just asking . . . So, any nomination/selection (or whatever the heck the appropriate word might be) by said allegedly corrupt Governor takes on a hint of corruption as well.

Yes, this is all just my vaulted opinion that's really not worth anything to anyone except myself. I just think too much time is being spent arguing this back and forth (yeah, I'm guilty as well on that count), threatening lawsuits, and everything else. There are more important problems in our country right now (recession, economic crisis, unemployment, businesses shutting down, an increasing deficit, etc.) that we should be focusing on, rather than this issue. Reach a compromise, people of the Senate, and get on with the business at hand. I'm just saying . . .

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