Breaking: Quinn tells Burris to resign
posted at 12:50 pm on February 20, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Newly-emplaced Illinois governor Pat Quinn wants a word with his predecessor’s appointee to the US Senate, and that word is resign. Not only does Quinn want his fellow Democrat to leave quickly and quietly, he wants to hold a special election to replace him. That was what the Illinois legislature wanted to avoid by pressing Rod Blagojevich to do what Quinn now demands of Roland Burris:
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says it is time for Roland Burris to resign from the U.S. Senate.
Quinn calls Burris an honorable man but says there’s a shadow over his service in the Senate. The Democratic governor says it’s in the best interest of the people of Illinois for Burris to step down.
Quinn also says a new senator should be chosen by special election to fill the seat once held by Barack Obama.
The irony here is that if the Democrats had passed the special-election law in the first place, they would have avoided the all-too-predictable meltdown over the last week or so from Blagojevich’s appointed Obama replacement. They feared that the Blagojevich scandal might provide an opening for a Republican grab of the seat, which was debatable then but now a distinct possibility, given the behavior of Burris. They took the worst possible course and now will likely pay a significant price.
Expect the Republicans in the Illinois House and Senate to use Quinn’s call as a rallying cry. Given how badly the elected representatives in the Land of Lincoln have behaved, the voters will demand the special election now more than ever.
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But it’s a black seat. How can they have a special election???
JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Exit Question:
Is there a decent Republican in Illinois who’s got a chance at winning?
rbj on February 20, 2009 at 12:51 PM
So you think I should run in the special election?
1. I have never met Blagojevich or Burris;
2. I have never been implicated in a corruption scandal.
Think I have a chance?
playblu on February 20, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Rolling on D.U.B.s?
Democrats Under the Bus?
Abby Adams on February 20, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Just so long as its not Alan Keyes.
Iblis on February 20, 2009 at 12:52 PM
It will be interesting to see if they go through the expense of a special election, only to elect someone with ties to the Blago ordeal.
Will Fitzgerald tell the people of Illinois who not to vote for?
MayBee on February 20, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Ditka has a lot to make up for. IMHO.
lorien1973 on February 20, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Special election? Where’s Ditka?
Pope Linus on February 20, 2009 at 12:53 PM
It’s a special, special election.
Abby Adams on February 20, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Methinks Quinn is on borrowed time. He is off the reservation.
Vashta.Nerada on February 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM
NOTICE!!!
Terry Maran of ABC NEWS NITELINE said today on a webcast:
“Obama took a huge step DOWN to become the President”
O-M-G!
Mark Garnett on February 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Jesse jackson Jr.?
JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Contrary to what the Democrats are/were saying, they are the REAL PARTY OF CORRUPTION. Look at the crooks that have come to the surface if you disagree. Overwhelmingly Democrats!!! Hypocrites….
DL13 on February 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM
JUST SAY NO! Senator Burris.
NO. YOU DESERVE TO STAY. You are just the kind of Politician that Illinois NEEDS>
Please STAY
originalpechanga on February 20, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Burris’ ego won’t let him resign.
GarandFan on February 20, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Quinn’s just another career Illinois piece of shit dem.
He’ll try to put Lisa Madigan in there, states att and daughter of the speaker of the Illinois house Mike Madigan.
Suprised? See how it works here?
LtE126 on February 20, 2009 at 12:57 PM
The belief here is the Rep. Mark Kirk with be the Republican to run. While not a straight line conservative, he is someone that can win in Illinois as it is now.
WashJeff on February 20, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Quinn’s just proposing a special election because he looked things over and couldn’t find an honest Democrat to appoint.
Dusty on February 20, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I’m tired of democrats reinventing the rules.
First, there was the attack on Blago’s competency.
Second, the attack on the power of the gov. to appt. a senator.
Third, the unfair characterization of Burris as state AG.
Fourth, the gov. does not have the power to force a senator out of office.
Even if you think Blago and Burris are slime balls, the donk leadership has played dirty. I think th entire democrat party in Illinois should resign.
Blake on February 20, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Terry Maran of ABC NEWS NITELINE said today on a webcast:
“Obama took a huge step DOWN to become the President”
O-M-G!
Mark Garnett on February 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Well yes, going from God of heaven and earth to a mere President is a HUGE step down. I’m glad that for all our mere mortal souls he was benevelent enough to do it.
DrAllecon on February 20, 2009 at 1:00 PM
The ChiTcagoland sheeple will never allow it. Expect ACORN protests in 5, …
DannoJyd on February 20, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I’d bid $20 dollars for the seat…
What!?!
It’s for sale… right?
Ok fine, I’ll go $40.00…
Mark Garnett on February 20, 2009 at 1:02 PM
OT:
If this is Atlantis found, then this is also proof of a Great Flood?
faraway on February 20, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Dead on! BTW, that is one of the main reasons for why I moved out of ChiTcago. Too damn high
socialist liberal confiscatorytaxes was the other.DannoJyd on February 20, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Senator Michelle Ogabe.
Bishop on February 20, 2009 at 1:05 PM
No, because we are able to breathe.
lorien1973 on February 20, 2009 at 1:05 PM
The Illinois Gov should get about fifty republicans and democrats in a room with Pat Fitzgerald. Then the Gov walks around the room and points at each potential candidate while Fitzgerald gives a silent head bob, yes or no, about which ones will prove to be further embarassment. At the end of the procss, they will hopefully end up with one republican and one democrat and then hold a special election between them.
myrenovations on February 20, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Cynical of me, I know, but my bet is that there will be no special election. This seat, if Burris leaves, will be assigned to another black Chicago machine crony…appointed by the Chicago machine governor, who will take his marching orders from the Mayor, leader and overlord of all the cronies in the Chicago machine.
marybel on February 20, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Speak for yourself, I have been choked up for 4 weeks now.
faraway on February 20, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Socially very liberal, but very good on fiscal matters. He took a leading role in the Porkulus debates and helped convince moderate Republicans in the House to vote “no.” Therefore, he’s infinitely better than Arlen and the Maine Sisters.
Illinidiva on February 20, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Burris was seated largely because he was black. Blagojevich correctly calculated the Senate would not dare to refuse to seat the man who would be the only black senator, replacing a black senator.
But is it really a step forward racially when everyone knows that the only black senator is crooked? And that our first black attorney general is known to be corrupt from his handling of Clinton’s notorious pardons. And of course our first black president will go down in history as one of our most corrupt, but I realize it will take a while before people are ready to believe that.
Now, I’m not saying that black politicians are corrupt. There’s no real scandal around Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Michael Powell, Clarence Thomas, etc. (Does it have something to do with being Republican?)
What I am saying, is that being able to say, “He is our first black fill-in-the-blank” is only a point of pride if that person is qualified. Putting in a corrupt or unqualified person because they fit the right niche in identity politics is nothing to be proud of.
didymus on February 20, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Quinn wants to defeat Lisa (D- My Daddy is the Speaker) Madigan in the Dem. primary in 2010. This is a good way for him to separate himself from the Democrat machine and make himself out as a reformer.
Illinidiva on February 20, 2009 at 1:12 PM
This is good. Roland Burris’ face is irritating.
Libertarian Joseph on February 20, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Ummm yeah, well here’s the thing…ah, we’re busy looking for a democrat that we can run as a republican for that. We’ll get back to you, okay?
MarkT on February 20, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Citibank is the real story today, guys. It’s stock is crashing. The slow motion federal question of “nationalize it – yes or no” is crushing that stock (and the market in general) and is forcing that nationalization to happen.
Schumer set the trend last year with Indymac. Now it’s happening again with Citibank. It’s getting crazy.
lorien1973 on February 20, 2009 at 1:14 PM
… didn’t you hear?
yo on February 20, 2009 at 1:14 PM
I mean, you got a mainstream European-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.
WashJeff on February 20, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Given the way Burris went after the seat, I doubt he’ll give it up so easily.
Quinn is definitely off the reservation. (Maybe he wants to win re-election?) A special election doesn’t see to fit the Dem. strategy. Must not have got the talking points for the day.
conservative pilgrim on February 20, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Bishop on February 20, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I think I just threw up a little. Lunch + the idea of Lt. Worf as a Senator = Not good.
PimFortuynsGhost on February 20, 2009 at 1:17 PM
All you have to do is spit in ChiTcago and you’ll certainly hit one of those. Just spit.
DannoJyd on February 20, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Just remember: This has nothing to do with Obama.
Jim Treacher on February 20, 2009 at 1:17 PM
How is he socially liberal? He doesn’t want to even end the drug war. I read his positions, more of the same. Libertarians are socially liberal, fiscally conservative. This guy is neither
Libertarian Joseph on February 20, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Do states have a recall process for federal reps? They must right? Anybody know what it usually is?
TheBigOldDog on February 20, 2009 at 1:18 PM
You people are hilarious. If he doesn’t resign, you call the Democrats, & Burris, & Quinn corrupt. Now that Quinn calls on him to resign, you say he’s “throwing him under the bus.”
You can’t have it both ways.
Constant Parrhesia on February 20, 2009 at 1:18 PM
I can have it both ways! This is my Obama American Prayer.
myrenovations on February 20, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Again…. why would Burris resign? What’s in it for him?
They’re going to have to pay him off =big= to get him out of there, if they don’t want to formally expel him. I think they’re going to have to. I don’t care one way or the other, frankly.
meep on February 20, 2009 at 1:20 PM
YES WE CAN! They are corrupt and throwing Burris under the bus. Not a problem.
sdd on February 20, 2009 at 1:21 PM
YES WE CAN!
the_nile on February 20, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Remember how they tied Bush to Ken Lay, because Bush recived donations from him at one time. How is it that Obama stays clean in all this, when all these guys are his buddies in the Chicago machine? Is it the Republicans are spineless, or the media wont do its job? My guess is both.
MDWNJ on February 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM
His non-fiscal positions do not differ that greatly from Democrats. He is not going to lead a small government movement, but he will follow it.
This is illinois, this is the best we can do, and it is better than the three traitors.
WashJeff on February 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Seriously. Does Obama have any friends or associates who aren’t crooks or radicals?
marklmail on February 20, 2009 at 1:23 PM
he can’t resign. he’s already chiseled ’state senator’ into his resume-on-a-tomb.
guess he’ll have to sandblast it back off.
negentropy on February 20, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Sure we can…
Maybe because this is so wrong, that there isn’t a “right” way.
You are right, no matter what they do it is wrong, the point is, he should have never been there, except for a corrupt party put him there.
They put themselves into the proverbial “rock and hard place”…if they were ethical, they would never be in this position of choosing two “wrongs”.
Sorry you little troll…liberals do this to themselves.
right2bright on February 20, 2009 at 1:24 PM
You people are hilarious. If he doesn’t resign, you call the Democrats, & Burris, & Quinn corrupt. Now that Quinn calls on him to resign, you say he’s “throwing him under the bus.”
You can’t have it both ways.
Constant Parrhesia on February 20, 2009 at 1:18 PM
What’s “hilarious” is your inability to recognize that we’re ridiculing and belittling the demorats with our faux concern about the fate of Burris.
You’re new to this whole blogging thing, aren’t you?
Bishop on February 20, 2009 at 1:24 PM
It’s not “having it both ways.” We like the fact that Quinn in throwing his fellow Dem under the bus. We’re laughing at it.
baldilocks on February 20, 2009 at 1:24 PM
in throwing=is throwing
baldilocks on February 20, 2009 at 1:25 PM
What, you serve about 36 hours and you get a lifelong pension…he will just have to make sure he gets his “senate pension” plan processed.
right2bright on February 20, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Abortion, gun control, gay rights, etc. He’s very much to the left of most posters here on these issues, especially abortion. And no he doesn’t want to end the drug war, but that really doesn’t fly on the North Shore.
Illinidiva on February 20, 2009 at 1:26 PM
There already is proof of a great flood. Geologist studied layers of earth in the Middle East and found evidence of a massive flood. I can’t remember the esitmated time of the flood.
Elizabetty on February 20, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Bust out Flaming Blago Skull, Ace and Slublog!
Christien on February 20, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Good point, Illinidiva, but being a true “reformer” is a guaranteed loser position in Chicago. Obama played the game, in fact, became a winner because he played it so well and doggedly faithfully. Obama was (and still is) a fine cog in the Daley machine….the presidency is his reward. Quinn will play, you watch, regardless…and probably because of, his political ambitions. This is just a more nuanced version of Pay-to-Play, with power and political progress the currency instead of crass cash.
marybel on February 20, 2009 at 1:29 PM
being pro-gun control is not social liberalism. but ok lol. in other words, he’s a moderate. gotcha
Libertarian Joseph on February 20, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Democrats wouldn’t be democrats if they couldn’t change the rules everytime it suited them.
Kevin71 on February 20, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Let me give you an example…
A senator lies about his lobbying contacts…
If he tells the truth, he is censored and maybe removed…if he doesn’t tell the truth, he is eventually found out and is prosecuted for misconduct and lying under oath and maybe jail for lying under oath…
You would say, Hey, if he tells the truth is is punished, and if he lies he is punished…”you can’t have it both ways”.
See where your process is screwy?
right2bright on February 20, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I’ve got you one better. In addition to the first two qualifications, I vote in Illinois (Chicago) but don’t live there. This should be a shield against corruption.
Annar on February 20, 2009 at 1:31 PM
That is why I use the left’s Orwellian term ‘progressive’ to describe so-called liberals. I want the term liberal back. I know myself and almost all poserts here love liberty more than progressives. They do not deserve the label ‘liberal’.
WashJeff on February 20, 2009 at 1:32 PM
MamboCandidate #5Christien on February 20, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Pat Quinn is clearly a racist.
Conservative_SAHM on February 20, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Whether or not Quinn is corrupt is a separate question. Burris being corrupt seems clear.
Burris is being thrown under the bus because he’s an embarrassment, which goes back to being corrupt.
No conflict betwen the two statements at all.
didymus on February 20, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Judge Napoletano is to be on Fox soon to tell us why Burris could be in trouble with the Supreme Court. This should be interesting.
becki51758 on February 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM
I’ll bite. The govt. has been saying that nationalization is definitely not on the table (and said so again today, and asked that others that they were in communication with to say so publicly), but everyone else is watching the slow motion wreck and not seeing how it doesn’t get nationalized. In other words, despite what the WH is saying, everyone else won’t stop talking about nationalization because it looks that bad. and it will become a self fulfilling prophesy.
okonkolo on February 20, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Perhaps this is a better can’t have it both ways scenario. Is it better to have a “purer” party (depending on his specific positions this guy is going to be a reviled RINO or CINO to some), the kind that posters have been talking about as being needed to rebuild the party, or is it better to pick up the seat.
okonkolo on February 20, 2009 at 1:49 PM
We should really rebuild the party around fiscal conservatism, not social issues. To have an actual majority party, you need people winning both in socially conservative states (OK and Utah) and socially moderate/ liberal states (IL).
Illinidiva on February 20, 2009 at 1:54 PM
What did he say?
TheBigOldDog on February 20, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Mark my cynicism ~ John Gibson will call Eric Holder a blue scrotumed babboon before Burris will give up that seat.
tree hugging sister on February 20, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Bob Swerski: OK. Let’s say the Democrats put up Jesus Christ as a candidate, and the GOP puts up Ditka. Who wins, and by how much?
Pat Arnold: I would say, uh… Ditka, 65-35.
Carl Wollarski: Ditka, 72-28.
Todd O’Connor: Is, uh, this special election being held during football season?
Bob Swerski: Nah… it’s held during spring training, so uh, da Cubs are out of town.
Todd O’Connor: In that case, it’s gonna be tight… let’s say, uh, Ditka… 62-38.
Bob Swerski: You are all wrong, my friends. It will be Ditka 84, King of Kings 16.
JohnGalt23 on February 20, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Sorry to say it, Ed, but you badly overestimate the Illinois electorate. Half are doctrinaire liberals or single-race voters (black), so the Dems start every election at least at 50/50.
Then you have the white union workers in Cook County, who are probably no different in ideology than any other group of union workers, except that their jobs are controlled by Democrat mobsters.
Then you have the farmers, who are conservatives unless they have been bought off by the Dems who pay farmers to let weeds grow in the richest farmland in the world.
Then you have the pro-abortion women suburbanites, who used to be conservatives, but now tend toward a single feminist position.
No, they aren’t going to give a crap about a special election – they just want someone to appoint another Democrat.
Jaibones on February 20, 2009 at 3:10 PM
We need to all take a moment here to thank Blago for delivering all this fun to us. I can’t wait to see if he has anymore dirt up his sleeve.
anniekc on February 20, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Ditto. Moral legislation is not provided for at the Federal level (i.e., not in the constitution). Libertarians and Social Conservatives can easily work together if they agree that the federal level is not the place for these matters. Libertarians and Social Conservatives can duke it out at the state level.
WashJeff on February 20, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Lot’s of interesting posts here—
While I doubt Burris will resign, watch one thing –in a few hours, it will be 6:00PM and this is Friday.
Is there an over/under on this?
thegeneral on February 20, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Been reading the posts with some interest. Mark Kirk is an honorable guy and probably the only Illinois GOPer that can have a chance against the Daley Machine. Our GOP here in Illinois got gutted back when they threw sentate candidate Ryan (no relationship to the late gov) under the bus for some kinky sexcapades with his wife, the detail of which got revealed by the BHO/Machine dems back when his holiness ran for the senate. Ditka decided not to run, and gave valid reasons, so our esteemed GOP leadership went out and recruited Keyes who came off as a total wack job. No, I don’t hold out much hope here. Burris will stay unless reid/durbin throw him uder the bus through senate expulsion rules. Quinn’s just an air bag.
ChicagoBlues on February 20, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Have you ever used or are you currently using TurboTax to file your tax returns?
Lily on February 20, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Keyes didn’t come off as crazy.. He actually IS crazy. There’s a big difference between the two.
Illinidiva on February 20, 2009 at 4:27 PM
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