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Politics can sometimes be like a good movie, TV show, or book...whichever you prefer. You get sex, lies, and videotapes. Its filled with a good plot complete with a cast of characters- heros and villains. There are even the villains who are so bad, you just can't help but to love them. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is one of those characters.
One day, the guy is standing in front of protesting factory workers daring the feds to record his phone conversations because "anything I say and do is lawful." (not an exact quote but thats basically what he said). Then the next day, what do ya know, the feds HAVE been recording his phone conversations! Among those conversations are topics such as...how much are you willing to pay me for the US Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama. He also tried to get some Chicago Tribune editors fired and threatened to withhold funding from a children's hospital which, for the record is a pretty douche thing to do.
So the feds bust him and announce they are launching an investigation. The Illinois legislature, Attorney General, and pretty much anyone capable of speaking all told Blagojevich that he should resign. His response: no. Well, the chorus said, at least don't appoint anyone to that senate seat while we find a way to get you out of office. His response: ok.
That was then, this is now...and NOW Blagojevich has looked his critics in the eyes, essentially made an unkind gesture using all but four of his fingers (a hint: it wasn't the pinky), and appointed a gentleman by the name of Roland Burris, former state Attorney General, to succeed Obama as the junior senator from Illinois. Ofcourse, outrage followed. The Illinois Secretary of State has said he won't certify the appointment and the Democrats in the Senate said they wouldn't accept the appointment. Even President-Elect Obama has said Burris shouldn't be allowed to serve. All were citing the scandal surrounding Blagojevich as justification.
I think Burris should be allowed to serve, and here is why:
- The appointment is legal. While Governor Blagojevich has been accused of some pretty bad deeds, he hasn't been convicted, charged, or even indicted of any crime. Since this is still America, Blagojevich is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Also, as Governor, he has a constitutional responsibility to appoint someone to fill the remained of the senate term. That being said, Blagojevich was legally entitled to appoint someone, despite the controversy.
- The Senate has no standing to reject him. They keep citing Article 1 Section 5 of the constitution which gives Congress the power to be "judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members." Well there were no elections or returns since this is an appointment, so all we have to go on is qualifications. And in a similar case before the Supreme Court (dealing with the House) it said that the only qualifications that matter are the ones outlined in the constitution. Those qualifications state that a Senator has to be a) 30 years of age, b) a resident of the state s/he is representing, c) and a US citizen for nine years. Burris easily meets these qualifications and THUS, the Senate has no legal standing to deny him an appointment.
To add to the juice, turns out Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid discussed who he did and did not want to serve in the Senate, citing their ability to retain the seat in the 2010 elections. Gotta love it! It will be interesting to see how this week develops when the new congress is sworn in. One things for sure, this is a movie that even Hollywood couldn't write.
Thoughts?
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