Harry Reid is saying that no one in the history of the Senate has had the Secretary of State signature rule waived. It might be a moot point at this point, as White has apparently certified the document that he didn't sign. Although, because the appoinment itself isn't signed by White, Reid and Durbin might still try to not seat Burris.
But six years ago, in an extremely controversial move, Gov. Frank Murkowski from Alaska appointed his own daughter, Lisa Murkowski, to replace him in the US Senate. If you think the Alaska Secretary of State signed that appointment, you'd be wrong. There is no Alaska Secretary of State. So to say that the Senate Rule has never been waived is inaccurate. It was waived at least once in the last decade.
Thanks, Mark. That was a disgrace, too.
I cannot figure out why the Democrats don't just get this spectacle over with and seat the guy. They don't have a legal leg to stand on and publicly dragging this out is not helping them. I thought the "Office of the President-Elect" wanted this embarassment to end. I must admit, it's always entertaining to see just who Barack Obama throws under the bus each week. We get a twofer with Jesse White being used.
The Office of the President-Elect does want this over, and told Reid so. Reid is screwing it up all on his own. Durbin is just playing second fiddle in backing Reid's play. Who did Obama throw under the bus?
Who did Obama throw under the bus?
Nobody. As usual, Joan is talking about imaginary issues.
Apparently you folks weren't paying attention yesterday. White signed Burris' certificate.
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A Peek into the Campaign
The Office of the President-Elect--what office is that?
White did not sign the certificate. He signed a certification that the certificate was on file in his office. Whether Reid will accept that is in doubt I believe.
Thanks Mark. I suspect it will probably have the same effect and Burris will be seated.
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A Peek into the Campaign
"The Office of the President-Elect--what office is that?"
That would be the office that the President-Elect works in. It has a fax machine and a copier and a coffee pot and everything.
Does someone from managment need to go over your TPS reports with you Kevin?
HG
Back up in your *** with the resurrection!
I wouldn't say I've been *missing* it, Bob.
I believe you have my stapler... okayee... I burn the thread down.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Who did Obama throw under the bus?
Nobody. As usual, Joan is talking about imaginary issues.
Please, Ms. Dykstra is not raising imaginary issues. She is raising issues that are as real to her as her conviction that Barack Obama is driving a bus under which anyone who gets in the way is thrown. She will keep telling us variations on that theme for the next 8 years or until Rush finds a new simile to explain the drum beat of Democratic successes. The answer may be that they should patronize Bristol Palin's future mother-in-law. Rush does have some familiarity with her products you may recall
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays
Well, I suppose everyone has their own definition of "throwing under the bus" But certainly for a few folks, this would qualify.
Obama on December 31.
Obama on January 7.
I agree that Reid screwed this up. But he didn't get much help from Obama, who probably could have used his leverage to get a special election done in Illinois.
Bristol Palin's future mother-in-law..
Let's agree on this blog that the children of candidates and elected officials are off limits. Please. And trashing people and assuming their thoughts/motives is counterproductive to good debate here.
I agree that Reid screwed this up. But he didn't get much help from Obama, who probably could have used his leverage to get a special election done in Illinois.
You mean an illegal special election, right? Considering there already exists a method of choosing the form of the successor and all...
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I rarely divulge my thoughts on any issue, unless specifically asked. - Rex Bradfield on 2008-12-02 @ 11:23pm
Let's agree on this blog that the children of candidates and elected officials are off limits. Please. And trashing people and assuming their thoughts/motives is counterproductive to good debate here.
Could you please tell the person who keeps trashing Joan Dykstra's reputation to follow this directive.
By this of course, I mean Joan Dykstra.
no, a special election would not have been illegal if the law had been changed. by the way, Obama also called for a special election, although he didn't appear to do much to get it done. So your complaints about the illegality could start with him.
Let's agree on this blog that the children of candidates and elected officials are off limits. Please. And trashing people and assuming their thoughts/motives is counterproductive to good debate here.
Could you please tell the person who keeps trashing Joan Dykstra's reputation to follow this directive.
By this of course, I mean Joan Dykstra.
Gosh, you are sooooo funny. hope. change. believe. let's change the tone....blah blah blah. if there is a more sanctimonious poster on this website, I haven't read him yet.
sanctimonious
I'm not familiar with this word. Does it mean "beautiful" or "awesome"?
"I'm not familiar with this word."
I'm not surprised.
I'm not sure what it was about my comments above that warranted Xian's attack but let's get back on track. Sen. Reid and Dick Durbin have no one but themselves to blame for the mess in the U.S. Senate. And we have yet another week of drama when the question of seating Burris meets more artificial roadblocks.
My main question is whether Barack Obama is the Democratic leader or not. I can't really tell from his mixed messages.
I'm not sure what it was about my comments above that warranted Xian's attack
Here, Madam, is the Rushism you parroted to start the engagement:
"I thought the "Office of the President-Elect" wanted this embarassment to end. I must admit, it's always entertaining to see just who Barack Obama throws under the bus each week. We get a twofer with Jesse White being used".
President-Elect Obama is a Constitution lawyer who recognizes that it is the Senate of the United States who must determine the validity of a Senator designate - not the President of the United States. By recognizing that the Executive must stand aside from the controversy you suggest that he is throwing someone under your mythical bus. I am unclear whether it is Mr. Burris, Mr. Durbin, or Mr. Reid that you suggest are being cast under the wheels.
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that neither Mr. White's affixation of the State's Seal nor his counter-signature are required to make Mr. Burris' certificate of appointment valid. That his only duty with respect to the appointment was to enter it into the official register which he has done. Mr. Obama is not a member of the court nor did he have any role in the case. Having resigned from the Senate in order to prepare to take up his duties as President Mr. Obama has no role in resolving the apparent conflict between Illinois law and the rules of the Senate.
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays
Just for the record, my job does not allow me to listen to the radio. But I do read many articles and opinion pieces, both liberal and conservative. This is primarily a political issue, not legal. Legally, Burris has always had the right to be seated. The stalling is political (including the decision not to have a special election by the general assembly, fearful of losing the seat).
Thank you for your last response, Joan. If we received more of that rather than "liberal this" and "liberal that", it would facilitate discussion. That being said, I owe you an apology. I thought it was clear that I was teasing, but I think it may have come off more mean than kidding. I'm sorry about that.
As you can see, on this blog I face deep person attacks almost every single time I post. Often they are based on readers of the blog who do not identify themselves and cannot even comprehend the post they are responding to. And rarely does anyone even address such attacks. That being said, it does not justify me attacking you. Once again, please accept my apologies.
Mr. Hays, you're making Joan's argument. Obama most certainly did not step aside from this issue a week ago when it first came up. So after agreeing with the Senate, and publicly saying that Burris ought not to be seated he turns around and privately changes his tune.
I cannot figure out why the Democrats don't just get this spectacle over with and seat the guy. They don't have a legal leg to stand on and publicly dragging this out is not helping them. I thought the "Office of the President-Elect" wanted this embarassment to end. I must admit, it's always entertaining to see just who Barack Obama throws under the bus each week. We get a twofer with Jesse White being used.
If this is what is thought of as incendiary, overly partisan, and worthy of personal attacks, I guess we have a long 4 years.
Ms. Dykstra and I share one attribute. Neither she nor I feel it necessary to decouple our identities from the opinions that we express. We use our full names and don't hide behind pseudonyms or anonymity. We are who we are. We think what we think and we do not fear to express our thoughts even if we both occasionally use biting rhetoric to do so. I, for one, consider that modicum of intellectual courage as an important consideration when I determine whether or not to give credence to a comment.
Ms. Dykstra has a clear and public reputation as a politically active Conservative Republican I have a long and public identification as an unashamed Liberal Democrat. Neither of us is an extremist though I suggest that both of us have been painted with that brush from time to time.
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays
And since it is observed, that the Generality of People, now a days, are unwilling either to commend or dispraise what they read, until they are in some measure informed who or what the Author of it is, whether he be poor or rich, old or young, a Schollar or a Leather Apron Man, &c. and give their Opinion of the Performance, according to the Knowledge which they have of the Author's Circumstances, it may not be amiss to begin with a short Account of my past Life and present Condition, that the Reader may not be at a Loss to judge whether or no my Lucubrations are worth his reading.
If we received more of that rather than "liberal this" and "liberal that", it would facilitate discussion.
Thanks for the comments xian. I would say that "liberal this" and "liberal that" aren't exactly fighting words. Please feel free to use "conservative this" and "conservative that" when referring to me.
:)
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that the statute authorizing the Governor to appoint a senator pending the next election did not require any signature by the Secretary of State, only that the SecState file the certificate of appointment and provide certified copies of it when requested. The Court also suggested that Senate rules could not overrule the appointment procedure authorized by the U.S. Constitution and effectuated by Illinois statutes.