Mr. Burris Goes To Washington

"WASHINGTON -- Roland Burris, being Roland Burris, put it to me this way Friday when we talked: "We are the senator.""

And...as Change of Subject's Eric Zorn said:

Originally posted: January 6, 2009
Was Roland Burris' swagger in a suitcase lost by the airlines?

I've never seen Roland Burris looking less cocky and full of himself than he looked this morning walking in and out of the Capitol and then speaking to reporters at a bouquet of microphones, It was appealing, actually -- the knitted brow, the occasional halting step, the look in his eye that suggested he knew he was in a very serious moment that didn't call for his customary rooster act. (Tribune photo by Nancy Stone)

Still, I think he misplayed his hand this morning by going to the Senate, brandishing his (incomplete) credentials, being turned away and then referring to himself in a very brief statement (below) as "the junior senator from the state of Illinois." (The Swamp live blogged it here)

This isn't a public relations battle or a campaign. It's a legal fight. And once Burris wins it, which I believe he will, he'll have to work with the senators whom he was trying to embarrass with his unnecessary little stunt today.

So apparently Mr. Burris has gone to Washington to find the door closed in his face like an unwanted Fuller Brush Salesman? Methinks, Mr. Burris went to Washington to make a scene and cast a nasty light on the upcoming inauguration...the New York Times has a nice little write up:

Burris Is Blocked From Taking Illinois Senate Seat

WASHINGTON — Roland W. Burris, the would-be junior senator from Illinois, arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday morning for the start of the 111th Congress and was greeted like a celebrity, even though he remains a private citizen, at least for the moment....Somehow, Citizen Burris made his way to the office of Nancy Erickson, the secretary of the Senate, to whom he presented his credentials, only to have her reject them. Afterward, the aspiring legislator stood in the rain outside and declared, “Members of the media, my name is Roland Burris, the junior senator from the State of Illinois.”

Not yet, he isn’t.

Not yet is right. Mr. Burris went to Washington to make a scene and to force some hands. Send him back to Dat Killa Chi. And did anyone see Wonkette on the topic? Here, allow me:

Roland Burris Tells Media That Roland Burris Is Awesome

Here’s another brilliant press conference with everyone’s favorite death monument of a U.S. Senator, Roland “Don’t Lynch Me” Burris, who’s talking to the media at an airport shortly before his flight to Washington. Because he’s coming! The reporters ask him questions for eight minutes and he tells them all to shut the hell up, for eight minutes.

The best part comes around 1:45 when a reporter asks Burris how he will be in both Springfield and Washington for meetings at the same time, on Wednesday, and Burris replies that he is “the magic man.” Oh… oh that is just naughty.

Other highlights include the opening questions about race, during which Burris claims he would never play Racial Politics. Then he mentions how great it is that he is one of a select few black Senators in American history. Very select few. Like, it’s really something that needs to happen for him..

[Note to self: follow Wonkette going forward]

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

[Note to all of you: also read this post on Wonkette called Nobody Famous Wants To Run For Senate Anymore]

I don't know much about Roland W. Burris, so I did a little googling and found this thing of interest from it seems like 1994:

You can say this about Roland Burris: He's consistent. At a ceremony to announce his candidacy for U.S. Senate in 1984, the then-comptroller of Illinois flatly refused to answer questions about his ideas because he wanted the "latitude" to espouse his agenda after the election. At the launching of his 1990 bid for attorney general, Burris pronounced virtually the same thing. At a Springfield press conference to announce his candidacy for governor in 1994, Burris once again dodged questions and vowed to be more specific on the issues after the election.....So what does Roland Burris stand for? To listen to Burris, the answer is: Burris... And Burris, who more than once has said he'd like Illinois to be known as the Land of Burris...

Can I say if it smells like a skunk, it generally is? Here is what Tom Baer is saying on Huffington:

The appointment of Roland W. Burris to the United States Senate, vise Barack Obama, by Governor Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois has been greeted with virtually unanimous condemnation by members of the Senate and the press. The reasons for opposition assigned are the fact that the Governor appears to have tried to sell the Senate seat as disclosed in a number of court-authorized wiretaps; that the Governor has been arrested (but not yet indicted) pursuant to a federal criminal complaint; and that, from all tha appears, the Governor is shortly to be impeached and convicted by the Illinois legislature....

Also check out what is being said on Huffington about Bill Richardson...It's a shame, truly a shame, that once again, even if we feel hopeful about an incoming U.S. President, the spectre of filthy, dirty, corrupt politics as usual has to once again come calling at the SAME time - like this thing passed to me in a blog called The Orange Juice Blog - this one is a stunner - “Gideon’s Trumpet” reveals Clinton connection to New York redevelopment...dirty, dirty,dirty. The more things change, the more things stay the same in U.S. politics - it doesn't matter what party...