The selection of Roland Burris was clearly tainted. When all of Illinois was running from Blago, Burris was running to Blago. Whatever we think about the process, the fact is Burris should be seated. The more this Blago-Burris circus continues the media will continue to drag Obama's name into it.

I hope they don't trust him if he agrees not to run again in 2010 as part of any dealmaking...

If they'd had the sense at the beginning to realize they really had little if any legal basis to deny Burris the seat, they would not look so foolish as they do now by trying to walk it all back.

Like it or not, it's still Gov. Spellcheck's appointment to make under Illinois law.

I don't want this clown in Congress, period (Burris, not Reid, although that is debatable too):

http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2009/01/mr-burris-goes-to-washington.html

Reid really looks like a buffoon. More than usual, even.

This is how he kicks of the historic, and critically important 111th Congress.

What a joke.

Reid sounded guilty when he implied he wasn't racist, and kept saying the S.O.S of Illinois is an AA.. I thought Reid was gonna say some of my best friends are black...........

What a weenie

Worse than a weenie...a flapping weenie

JeffGee - excellent comments. The other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus must surely now realize that they must appoint a new majority leader. After all, they have a kind of "new" majority, and a new President will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, with a lot of optimistic (perhaps overly so) supporters, expecting "the kind of change we need."

The Senate technicalities witch-hunt to keep Roland Burris from taking his seat, done with, or on behalf of Obama, is disgusting. I charge the MSM with failure to report completely by neglecting to mention the gross hypocrisy of the thin-Reid lead Senate Democrats, who meted out not an iota of punishment to certified political traitor Lieberman, who literally campaigned at McCain's side and doubted Obama's qualifications to be president, even letting warlover Joe retain his committee chair, as requested by Obama. And, we must remember that Reid also requested that the Illinois legislature NOT act to have a special election to fill this seat, for fear of losing it to a Repubnican. Burris has an impressive Democratic resume, happens to be an African American, and the people of Illinois deserve more than 50% representation in the Senate. There are really only two rings in this "circus": one being the Senate Dimlocrat Caucus for its lack of political and moral courage; the second being the main stream media's attempts to paint Roland Burris as a lackey and buffoon. They need only look into their mirrors to find a real ones.

I didn't know Roland Burris from Adam but I just saw his press conference and I think he's pretty sharp

I like Harry Reid--I think he does the best he can in difficult, shifting situations. Apparently the Democratic senators think so too. They re-elected him Majority Leader unanimously this last Nov. 18. Before that he was their whip from 1999. Obviously there are things going on behind the scenes that the public might not know about, but the senators do and they appreciate his leadership.

It's easy to bash senators like Reid and Feinstein but they've toughed it out for Democratic party and our country through the worst of times. Now we have what probably will be the best of times for Democrats, and who knows how long that will last. The inauguration is coming up, we'll have 59 senators and a big majority in the House. Let's hold together and not be like a dysfunctional family trading blows at a wedding.

Before the new term has begun, the Democratic senate leadership has come off looking like out of touch,lead footed , tone deaf nitwits. Not exactly what we need in these toubled times.
I have lost confidence in Harry Reid, whose uninspiring leadership during the Bush years aggravated me, and now this Goofy public spectacle over Burris.

We need a more agile, in touch Senate leader. Reid does not inspire confidence in me, ever has, but I thought he was saavy. now we need saavy plus straightforward. what is this business about calling bluff's etc?
Ms. Feinstein, I own a business and I am sleeping on a cot in my business because I cannot afford to rent a home or an apartment. GET IT? Political posturing doesn't exactly impress me.

With all due respect, Senator Feinstein ,hasn't exactly started things off very well either.

I voted for President elect Obama. I want the US Senate to be
as full of heart as it can be to make some real changes here.
not just handouts. real change.
I am sick to death of the posturing. I want to see an end to the BS, I hope the Senate will get to Work, and I'm not exactly impressed with what I see so far.

I find this Burris business depressing. To begin, I think Burris was dishonorable to a) accept the appointment from a governor suspected of trying to sell that same senate seat; and b) by having his supporters play the race card. Now, lacking honor will hardly put Burris in the minority in the U.S. Senate but that, too, is depressing.

Harry Reid is a horrible majority leader. All he does is capitulate because, as he says, as an old trial lawyer he knows there is "always" room to negotiate. I'll put aside for a moment that when Reid says "negotiate," he really means "capitulate" (which he amply demonstrated throughout the Bush years). But I'll tell you: the trial lawyers I know don't roll over backwards every time somebody looks at them crossly. No wonder Reid had to find a new line of work.

All that said, it's probably least bad at this point to seat Burris. Very demoralizing beginning to Democratic control of the Fed government. As if Obama doesn't already have enough to deal with. Yuck.

As usual, the Democrats have staked out a very firm position on Burris. Now, as usual, they are preparing to abandon it.