Video: The surreal, race-baiting Blagojevich press conference; Update: No seat for Burris, says Obama; Update: Blago's General Counsel quits

A transmission from Bizarroland, where Blago’s only option to make sure Illinois has two Senators in January is to appoint someone himself rather than resign now and let the lieutenant governor make the appointment. I’m giving you four and a half minutes of lowlights, but if you can’t spare the time, skip ahead to 3:25 and watch Rep. Bobby Rush — a former Black Panther and the only person to defeat Barack Obama in an election — stoop to some of the most exquisite race-baiting you’ll ever see. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but the word lynch makes a cameo. Or rather, its first cameo; a second followed shortly thereafter.

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Below that you’ll find Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn responding to Blago by tearing him to pieces.

Update: Another plot twist: The Illinois secretary of state says he won’t certify the appointment. Does he have to?

Update: I told you what it would take to give Reid racial cover on this, right down to the complimentary pat phrase that would be used to describe Burris. And now, right on cue, here it is:

“Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat,” Obama said in a statement. “I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy.”

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Durbin chimed in, saying the appointment “will lead nowhere.” On to the Supreme Court!

Update: In court, the smart money’s on Blago and Burris.

Update: Tough day for Blagojevich: His General Counsel’s resigned, presumably to help the feds build a case against him.

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