THE POLITICAL ANIMAL

Senate Democrats weren’t kidding when they said they would refuse to seat Roland Burris, the appointee of disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

According to the Chicago Tribune, reporters treated the former state attorney general like a rock star when he arrived at Capitol Hill this morning to be sworn in with members of the One Hundred Eleventh Congress. But when he presented his credentials to Nancy Erickson, the secretary of the Senate, she turned him down. Rather than make a scene, the would-be replacement for President-elect Barack Obama went back outside and spoke to members of the media.

“My name is Roland Burris, the junior Senator from the State of Illinois,” Burris told reporters as he stood in the rain in a park. “I was advised that my credentials were not in order.”

Before Burris came to Washington, Senate leaders insisted that Burris could not be sworn in because the seat was “tainted,” thanks to the Illinois governor’s alleged attempt to sell it to the highest bidder. According to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, “anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.” 

But Burris isn’t going down without a fight. The Chicago Tribune reports that the recalcitrant appointee and his attorney are going to fight the Senate on the legal battlefield.

I have to say, fellow polcats, this story is turning into jolly fun. What do Senate Democrats do about this distinguished African-American public servant, who, technically speaking, has the right to take Obama’s seat as the appointee of a sitting governor.

Governor Rod must be getting a kick out of all the trouble he’s causing members of his own party. This guy never quits. I don’t know whether to call him Rod Quixote or Blagowulf.

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