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DEL.ICIO.USChambliss sworn in, Burris rejected, and Coleman urged to concede
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vice President Dick Cheney just administered the oath of office to Saxby Chambliss and other members of the U.S. Senate, new and old, who survived the 2008 election season.
Among the missing was Roland Burris of Illinois, the pick of embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Al Franken of Minnesota wasn’t there, either. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada warned Republican incumbent Norm Coleman that he ought to be thinking hard about a concession speech. With some haste.
Reid used the word “former” to describe Coleman’s Senate status. This from The Hill, a Washington newspaper and web site:
“This is a difficult time for former Sen. Coleman and his family, and he is entitled to the opportunity to concede this election graciously. But we cannot let this drag on forever,” Reid said. “I hope that former Sen. Coleman and all of our Republican colleagues will choose to respect the will of the people of Minnesota.”
Franken’s “term must begin, and will begin soon,” Reid said on the floor on Tuesday. “Even close elections have winners, and I can testify to that.” Reid won reelection against then-Rep. John Ensign (R-Nev.) in 1998 by just 428 votes after Ensign called for a recount.
Coleman is unlikely to cooperate. At a news conference today, he promised a lawsuit that would keep the fight for the Minnesota seat going several more weeks.
“Something greater than expediency is at stake here,” Coleman said. He added: “Democracy is not a machine. Sometimes it’s messy and inconvenient, and reaching the best conclusion is never quick because speed is not the first objective, fairness is.”
Comments
By Governmental Preacher
January 6, 2009 5:42 PM | Link to this
Cheney swearing in our congress is an abomination. I predicted that Bush and Cheney would have to flee the country. Sure enough, Cheney has all his money in Dubais, and a hotel room waiting for him. Actually he owns that hotel with money he stole from the taxpayers.
If there’s only one law that I could enact it would be this: no elected official can make money off of the taxpayers, no matter how easy it would be to make it legal-like.
Cheney is a shameful disgrace of a representative for our Republic. There isn’t one day in the last eight years that this man can afford to allow the papers to see the light of day. Every day of this man’s life is evidence. Cheney is our Stalin.
I wish there was a way to express the contempt I have for our VP. That our country could have produced such a sellout is an indictment against our system that will take the air out of any reform we try to enact.
By Tinkydog
January 6, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, et al, perceive themselves to be so powerful as to defy the U.S. Constitution and the will of the American people. With those idiots in charge, it is no wonder that Congress has such a low rating. America deserves better. Congressional term limits seems to be the only answer to long serving, power hungry politicians.
By saddy
January 6, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
F*** the criminal Harry Reid and his criminal son to!
By WTFO
January 6, 2009 8:00 PM | Link to this
GP - slow down brother lay off the caffene. It’s obvious you know nothing about Dubai. All (and I mean all) the hotels in Dubai are owned by the Emires of Dubai and there family. if you would come out of your hate filled daze and do some research you would find that many of our Congressmen making money off the US Taxpayers (Rangel, Biden, and Murtha not to mention Stevens and Inouye come to mind immediately) As for the Stalin remark, I love this country simply because narrow minded people like yourself can express your thoughts (regardless of how shallow and hatefull they are) in an open forum. If you had made the same remarks about Stalin then, or Chavez or Castro today you would never be heard from again. enjoy the freedoms this country has to offer you and try to find something good about everyone. there is enough hate in this world already.
By WTFO
January 6, 2009 8:03 PM | Link to this
GP - slow down brother lay off the caffene. It’s obvious you know nothing about Dubai. All (and I mean all) the hotels in Dubai are owned by the Emires of Dubai and there family. if you would come out of your hate filled daze and do some research you would find that many of our Congressmen making money off the US Taxpayers (Rangel, Biden, and Murtha not to mention Stevens and Inouye come to mind immediately) As for the Stalin remark, I love this country simply because narrow minded people like yourself can express your thoughts (regardless of how shallow and hatefull they are) in an open forum. If you had made the same remarks about Stalin then, or Chavez or Castro today you would never be heard from again. enjoy the freedoms this country has to offer you and try to find something good about everyone. there is enough hate in this world already.
By Copyleft
January 7, 2009 8:23 AM | Link to this
Tinky and Saddy: How so? Senators, by law, can only be seated if they have a valid and certified certificate of election from their state’s electoral board or similar governing body.
Franken’s had to be delayed because of the pending lawsuit—by Minnesota law, that’s how it works. And Burris didn’t HAVE a certificate of election, again due to state law (Illinois).
No crime has occurred, other than Governor Blago’s of course. And the Senate is doing nothing “criminal” by obeying the law—perhaps you simply didn’t recognize it after so many years of a Republican Congress wiping its feet on the Constitution.
By aaa
January 7, 2009 1:53 PM | Link to this
Harry Reid lost a very close race to Paul Laxalt in the 70’s also.