I just get the feeling that Democrats might not keep Roland Burris of Illinois out of the Senate after all, as he returns today for a meeting with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
After Sen. Dianne Feinstein last night broke with her leadership and said Burris should be seated, it simply struck me that it might be time for Reid and others to fold their tent, lest they make a mountain out of a molehill.
I mean, it's likely no one is hardly going to remember Roland Burris' name in ten years. So why blow a lot of political capital by turning parliamentary loop-de-loops in an effort to keep him outside the Capitol building?
On Tuesday, Senate officials refused to let Burris into the most exclusive political club in the World, as Burris was surrounded by a mob of reporters and photographers on his way in and out of the U.S. Capitol.
I would assume we will see much the same today when Burris shows up, especially with at least one Democrat off the reservation on this appointment by the embattled Governor of Illinois.
"Does the Governor have the power to make this appointment?" Feinstein asked reporters last night.
"The answer is yes."
Feinstein isn't just any Senator on this, because she also happens to be the Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which would have jurisdiction over this matter if it became a question for Senate investigation and review.
"Is the Governor is discredited? The answer is yes. Does that affect his appointment power? And the answer is no," said Feinstein flatly.
In other words, Gov. Rod Blagojevitch may be a knucklehead, but he was elected by the people, and he has the power to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat as Governor of Illinois.
The other issue that's out there - face it - is race. With Obama gone, there is no black Senator anymore. Democrats do risk harming their relations a bit with black lamwakers and their supporters by holding Burris outside the gates.
Stay tuned.
About the Author
Featured
