Breaking: Durbin calls on Burris to resign
posted at 4:10 pm on February 24, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Just across on MSNBC; video to follow. They met this morning, supposedly to hash out a deal in which Burris would stay on, serve out his term, and then retire next year when the special election rolls around. I can only assume that his egomania intervened and refused to let him pledge to go quietly, forcing Durbin to go nuclear. Over to you, Illinois legislature:
If Burris quits, Gov. Quinn will appoint a Democrat on a temporary basis–someone, Quinn told me, who would be a caretaker. Quinn then would push the Illinois legislature to change the law for a special election.
Quinn has called on Burris to quit.
I asked Quinn Monday when we talked what he would do if Burris did not resign. He said the state lawmakers could pass a special election law effectively shortening Burris’ tenure. That could be subject to a constitutional challenge.
Stand by for the clip of Durbin addressing reporters. He’s a top crony of The One, of course, so it’s not implausible that Burris was willing to take the deal but was informed at the meeting that the word had come down from Mount Olympus that this mess was hurting the party’s image and that it’s time for him to go. Exit question: What were the odds that Blago’s pick for Senate would end up creating as much of a circus as he did?
Update: Durbin claims he told him to quit, was told no, and received no pledge about 2010. Surely Burris doesn’t think he’s a viable candidate when the president, the governor, and the senior Senator are all publicly against him. Why not offer to retire next year and enjoy what little time you have left?
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You can’t throw him out. He is the only balck member of the US Senate. To actively campaign against him is a racist gesture.
txaggie on February 24, 2009 at 4:13 PM
All these white men working to force out the only black man in the Senate… sounds like a job for Sharpton. Too bad that he’s busy with other injustices.
rw on February 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Burris should call on Durbin to resign.
Turbin Durbin is an absolutely worthless, corrupt and incompetent piece of absolute feces who is no better and probably worse than Burris.
NoDonkey on February 24, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Let them RESIGN TOGETHER.
Screw you Dick Durbin
originalpechanga on February 24, 2009 at 4:16 PM
I’ll miss him….
AUINSC on February 24, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Let’s just grab a phonebook.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 4:18 PM
If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was a Senator describing another Senator, you would most certainly believe his removal must have been done by Nazis, Soviets, or some mad regime—Pol Pot or others—that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of the current Administration.
WashJeff on February 24, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I don’t like this monkey business…
right2bright on February 24, 2009 at 4:19 PM
<>
Because there is still room left on the headstone.
gonnjos on February 24, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Oh no you di’nt
LimeyGeek on February 24, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I call on Durbin to resign.
backwoods conservative on February 24, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Well said sir. I would add that he probably also smells. I don’t know, he just looks like the kind of guy who bathes irregularly.
Grayson on February 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
He’s perhaps counting on the race card to save him. Either that, or he likes the paycheck. Who knows?
SWLiP on February 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Sure he does. He is a figment of the Obama administration.
izoneguy on February 24, 2009 at 4:23 PM
i wish a black hole would open up and swallow the entire state of Illinois and drag every g-d damn stinking liberal in this f-cked up state to hell!
Ghoul aid on February 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Burris, provide Obama birth certificate & you can stay. That simple. That. Simple.
BHO Jonestown on February 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Guess what the number one qualifier for his replacement will be. Above all else. Above integrity, education, experience and any other element deemed necessary for quality leadership. What qualifier do you suppose the Dems will use to replace Burris?
Guardian on February 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Even Aunt Esther want’s old Grady out.
Tim Zank on February 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Burris is an idiot….then again he probably thinks he fits right in with the rest of the corrupt Dems.
becki51758 on February 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Durbin’s a racist!
blue13326 on February 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Let it play on…if only to keep reminding all of America that “the Chicago Way” is still tainting every vote in the Senate. I don’t usually advocate disinfranchising anyone, but until the Illinois voters get mad enough to demand more, they should have to live with their stupid choices, whether by direct election, or because they elected a Blago who sold them out (Burriss) for his own egomaniacal reasons. And then they get sold out again by the rest of their legislature who were too selfish to hold a special election. Oy veh…
CatyMac on February 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Why should Burris resign? He paid for that Senate seat, so it’s his by right, right?
/sarc
Vic on February 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
He has a D after his name. So he’ll instantly garner 40% of the vote.
lorien1973 on February 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
It’s the blind leading the stupid. I think they should BOTH RESIGN and do the country a HUGE favor!
HornetSting on February 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Blago, you magnificent bastard.
Brat on February 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I think Burris should ask Durbin to resign. Even better they both resign really no difference between them.
rsl775 on February 24, 2009 at 4:29 PM
So it’s Turbin who is stinking up the Capitol, alert Reid, the guy who perpetually smells of cheap formaldehyde mixed with garlic (as he so enjoys dining out with the other Gambino capos).
NoDonkey on February 24, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Q:How many candidates does it take to fill an empty Obama Senate seat?
A:Nobody can fill the seat that Obahmba the “enlightened” had been in. Nobody can measure up to THE ONE.
portlandon on February 24, 2009 at 4:30 PM
. . . and Burris told Durbin to stick it in his ear, or the orifice of his choice.
rplat on February 24, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Luckily, Barack has nothing to do with any of this. I bet he doesn’t even know these people. He’s clean.
JiangxiDad on February 24, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Well, Little Dick Durbin actually has some cajones.
Glenn Jericho on February 24, 2009 at 4:31 PM
I don’t like this monkey business either. It’s like a jungle out there. Where is Tarzan when you need him.
saiga on February 24, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Obvious. He’s a Blago appointee, and by definition, not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
DrStock on February 24, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Dems going after Dems is always fun to watch.
Of course, there are still plenty of Dems left, because the media and the population never takes out one Dem’s bad behavior out on the party.
Yet one Repub screws up and it’s time to vote out the entire GOP…
Byzantine on February 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Rightie oh. Climbing the greasy pole of Chicago politics is a spotless business.
saiga on February 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Yes, it’s truly amazing how Barack Obama is apparently the ONLY politician to ever emerge from Chicago politics wholly untouched.
Why, it’s a miracle.
Obama is the vestal virgin in the whorehouse and we should all ponder how wondrous it is that he decided to bestow the rest of us with his gracious leadership.
NoDonkey on February 24, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Funny thing. Durbin used to be my Congressman. He was voted in as a very conservative, right-to-life Democrat. What a crap weasel.
Buford Gooch on February 24, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Where are the indictments against Blago? Seems like the Justice Dept. could rattle the Chicago Zoo cage better than anyone. I would hate for the new AG to start looking like a coward.
captconrad on February 24, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Funny how Washington business as usual is starting to look like Chicago monkey business as usual.
Now all we need is the Mob to move in. Oh, thats right, we have Lucky Pelosi and Meyer Reid.
saiga on February 24, 2009 at 4:38 PM
what’s one more layoff?
gatorboy on February 24, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I hear Mr. Teleprompter has a few cabinet positions left he needs to fill………
Seven Percent Solution on February 24, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I have to admit that for the past 35 days I have really enjoyed the three ring circus atmosphere of the 0 administration, especially as it relates to appointments. I hope the Locke for Commerce Secretary and the Burris stories go on and on and on and on and on.
DrStock on February 24, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Burris is not going to resign.
This is the guy who hoped they would bar the door and physically restrain him from taking his seat, remember?
Reid is too much of a wuss to oust him. Quinn can’t legally remove him. He’ll ignore everyone else. He’s not going anywhere.
playblu on February 24, 2009 at 4:40 PM
He won’t do it.
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Resign? Not from the US Senate. Not as a democrat. If they try to force him out, conservatives should contribute to a legal defense fund to settle the constitutional issues.
If you want to play in the big leagues you have to think big.
what kind of senator would just up and quit because a political opponent says he should?
That’s modern politics now? Durbin gets to pick and choose who sits in the senate? The President picks Senators and Representatives now? When did that start?
Skandia Recluse on February 24, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Monkey! Durbin that is…Durbin, Durbin, Durbin
winston on February 24, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Burris must be dumber than a box of rocks.
WisCon on February 24, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Ghoul Aid at 4:24.
You can’t say ‘black hole.’
That’s racist.
:evil:
wyntre on February 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
So if you are Burris, then do you stay on after Dick Durbin asked you to leave (& apparently other Senators have talked about that behind your back?) and continue to vote the party line? if Burris really wanted to screw with the Dems who are lined up against him, he should vote with the Republicans. now, wouldn’t that be fun?
kelley in virginia on February 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Sounds an awful lot like my state.
By the way isn’t black hole a little racist.
ouldbollix on February 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I don’t know. Does anyone know if this POS will get to reap the former US Senator benefits when he is gone?
brtex on February 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
and i agree with the poster who said “Blago, you magnificent bastard”. that he is.
kelley in virginia on February 24, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Zing!
scalleywag on February 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
sure, i bet burris is fully vested in the us senate bailout benefits package upon walking in the door.
kelley in virginia on February 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
What a field day for the MSM if they had an objective bone in them…not a day goes by without another blow up …and now it looks like the latest nominee for Commerce is a total crook!!!
winston on February 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Because a Senate seat is a f***ing valuable thing.
pedestrian on February 24, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Perhaps 0bama could step in and this could be chalked up as one of the 4 million jobs he “saves.”
Brat on February 24, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Shall I call in the Blue Scrotums?
bloggless on February 24, 2009 at 4:50 PM
He’ll step once his check clears.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 24, 2009 at 4:51 PM
.
Good! Durbin does not have the authority to demand Burris resign. He’s also a jerk. Let ‘em all sweat.
Blake on February 24, 2009 at 4:51 PM
This is Chicago that we are talking about.
What are the odds that he wouldn’t?
MarkTheGreat on February 24, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I, Hawkdriver, call on Durbin to resign for sedition against his own military.
hawkdriver on February 24, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Has Licoln been dead too long to get this senate seat?
Archie Noble on February 24, 2009 at 4:52 PM
They never let these people go out the door with nothing. Not like you or I would have to do. Someone, somewhere is saying, look, if you’ll just resign we’ll see that you get a hefty consultant fee and a chauffeur for life and a condo on K Street. Or whatever. He won’t go for nothing. It’s the DC/Chicago way.
scalleywag on February 24, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Racist
Enrique on February 24, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Come on, Roland. You know you want to. You’re being screwed by da man. Come on. Resign. Then you and Blago can turn even more evidence over to Fitz regarding Chicago politics.
Come on. Do it. Screw it to da man that is trying to screw you.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Has Lincoln been dead too long to get this senate seat?
Spelling – sorry.
Archie Noble on February 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Golden.
Seconded.
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Burris is a just a distraction from Rangel, Dodd, Franks, and Gary Locke.
Buy Danish on February 24, 2009 at 4:55 PM
How about impeachment for the whole bunch of them?
Done That on February 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Durbin is a senator, of equal footing to Burris. How the heck does he think he has the right to determine if Burris is allowed to run in the special election, or to call on him to resign? This has turned from a comedy to a freak show. The democrats in DC are in need of adult supervision.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Go you one better. Have EVERY Congresscritter resign, scap each and every bill created since 1 January 2009 and call a do-over.
SeniorD on February 24, 2009 at 5:02 PM
In the wake of the financial crisis, both of them should be expelled from the Senate since the United States will be downsizing to 56 states. (Sorry, Illinois.)
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 24, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Is this any way to act right before a joint session? I mean, come on, isn’t more glorious history about to be made?
captconrad on February 24, 2009 at 5:04 PM
I think we should very politely ask Iran to aim their nukes directly at Chicago, and then deal with whoever’s left.
anniekc on February 24, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Please, at least one close-up of Burris during SOTU tonight. Then, cut to Durbin. And then to Reid.
Christien on February 24, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I don’t really care what happens as long as there is another Burris press conference some time soon. You can’t make entertainment like that up.
Joe Caps on February 24, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Like a scorpion he can’t help himself, it’s in his nature.
MB4 on February 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Last I heard, Mayor Daly still supports him and in the state of Chicago that’s all you need.
bloggless on February 24, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Roland, pick up the phone. Call. Al. Sharpton.
bloggless on February 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Heh. Good one, Dad.
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 5:26 PM
It’s like watching a never-ending food fight.
Save Blago!!! My all time favorite Dem crook. lol
Cody1991 on February 24, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Yeah, that’s my theory, too. They are secretly thrilled that he’s so over-the-top stupid and ridiculous, because it makes the rest of the Dem Gangsters look almost normal.
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 5:31 PM
My buds in the white community think he would have been a credit to his race., I guess we’ll never find out.
JohnBissell on February 24, 2009 at 5:33 PM
What does Blago have to say about this?
OmahaConservative on February 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
The Feds must have something really bad on Burris if the Democrats are going to such great and public lengths to disown him.
myrenovations on February 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
No, it’s just that they feel with a Black President, they don’t need a Black Senator.
Burris should stay, and should run for re-election. The fact that a Governor who was moved up after a political witch hunt doesn’t like him is probably a resume’ enhancer. That Durbin doesn’t like him is definitely a plus.
Stay in the game Burris, keep putting pressure on them. Make them appear to be as racist as the Democrats really are.
Snake307 on February 24, 2009 at 6:37 PM
You can email Roland and tell him your thoughts.
His email is:
senator_rolandburris@burris.senate.gov
He should step down. Let Illinois get someone else in the seat.
Obama likes to talk about foreclosures bringing down the value of everyone’s home. Burris being in the Senate lowers the stature of every senator.
4thQTR on February 24, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Oh me oh my…such a fuss.
The easy solution is give the Senate seat back to Obama and put Burris in the White House.
Rockygold on February 24, 2009 at 7:26 PM
It’s probably kinda crass to even broach the subject, but would this mean Roland Burris will get a Refund?
Mr Michael on February 24, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Just negotiating his pension now.
Barf alert…. Princess Pelosi is wearinga Nero sweatshirt standing next to Bumbling Biden as they introduce the pres.
FireBlogger on February 24, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Yeah, like Durbin would surrender his seat if he was in the same situation.
thegreatbeast on February 25, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Burris. Dumb as a chimp.
kens on February 25, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Follow the money. It’s not the paycheck – you know he’s still making money on the side from his business. It’s the healthcare, pension and peerage for life.
AH_C on February 25, 2009 at 12:39 PM
And articulate!
VekTor on February 26, 2009 at 1:45 PM
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