Comments on The 7-10: Palmer on Politics: The Burris Burr

If I was Harry Reid, I would have said nothing. D...

2009-01-16T01:27:00.000-05:00

If I was Harry Reid, I would have said nothing. Did nobody notice that blocking an African-American from entering a building is just not you want to do? I wish some of these Senate leaders would have read up on their civil rights history.

When Blago appointed Burris, I thought to myself that Blago is really an evil genius. He has effectively stuck a shiv into people who have disowned them and maybe them look like fools.

SWA,I think that Reid could end up being Daschled ...

2009-01-09T01:48:00.000-05:00

SWA,

I think that Reid could end up being Daschled in 2010. Republicans don't like him, and Democrats don't like him either. He's not tough enough, so Republicans walk all over him and Democrats don't rally behind him. He's not a confrontationist or a hardballer. Hillary Clinton would have been very good as the Senate majority leader, IMO. But I'd support Russ Feingold too.

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Dr. King,

In politics, you should think two steps ahead (not just one). Reid seemed more preoccupied with getting a nice soundbyte than charting a politically wise course of action.

I see Reid as nincompoop here. His early insistenc...

2009-01-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

I see Reid as nincompoop here. His early insistence that he would seat "no one" Blagojevich nominated put him in this bind and pride keeps him from admitting the truth.

I largely agree with your conclusions and laud you...

2009-01-07T03:12:00.000-05:00

I largely agree with your conclusions and laud your comments on the attempt to inject race into this situation. Burris should neither be seated nor rejected because of his race, and there's no law or rule the Senate has to have a black member — or a Hispanic, Italian, Irish or Japanese-American member either, for that matter.

My one disagreement centers on this:

"So if the Democrats block Burris, they could brag that they are willing to stand up to members of their own party and seize the good government mantle."

It's hard to make a case for being the good-government party when they're thumbing their collective nose at the rule of law. As simply as it can be put, the law is firmly on Burris' side, and Majority Leader Harry Reid, a lawyer, has to know that it is.

Furthermore, Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein today said it is, and that Burris should be seated.

On top of that, one news report I heard today said there is no actual Senate rule requiring the secretary of state's signature on the certification paper presented for membership.

Even if there was such a rule, Burris' relief would only be a writ of mandamus away, since the Illinois secretary of state has no lawful reason to refuse to sign.

Reid has become an embarrassment. Senate Democrats could easily do much better for a leader — and should.