The governor is innocent until proven guilty.  That means his appointments are valid.

I wrote about this vaste waste of political time, energy and capital on my blog .  It's about the economy, stupid - and the environment - and global social unrest....

I thought the voters were pretty clear - no more politics as usual.

It is my understanding that the governor has the authority to appoint the senator.  Not the secretary of state. The governor has not been stripped of his power at this point- so whether you like him or not- he still has the authority to appoint. The Majority leader of the senate should have no say so!!   Really boils down to the democrats not recognizing the authority of the state versus the central government. Interesting though, that the democrats would deny the population of Illinois, that they so vehemently say they fight for, any representation.   They just don't get it! 

Somebody promised something that is not going to happen!  And now they are throwin' a big ol' fit! 

Let Burris serve.  I guess the senate isn't capable of embarrassment! I'm embarrassed for it.

If nothing else this action of trying to be seated in the senate shows Burris is not a person who uses good judgment.    What person in their right mind would accept an appointment by a governor about to be impeached because he has been caught telling the world the seat is open to the highest bidder?  To many people Burris looks like he must have been the highest bidder.  He would have a cloud hanging over him for months if not longer.  No, this governor's ability to appoint someone has been tainted and it must be turned over to the people of Illinois to properly elect a successor.  Although admittedly, the people of Illinois don't exactly have the best track record of picking public servants and No, I don't mean Barack Obama. 

If nothing else this action of trying to be seated in the senate shows Burris is not a person who uses good judgment.    What person in their right mind would accept an appointment by a governor about to be impeached because he has been caught telling the world the seat is open to the highest bidder?  To many people Burris looks like he must have been the highest bidder.  He would have a cloud hanging over him for months if not longer.  No, this governor's ability to appoint someone has been tainted and it must be turned over to the people of Illinois to properly elect a successor.  Although admittedly, the people of Illinois don't exactly have the best track record of picking public servants and No, I don't mean Barack Obama. 

Burris himself stated just a few short weeks ago that no appointment by the embattled governor should be valid or recognized beacause of the suspect circumstances surrounding the governor.  Of course, he made this statement before the governor selected him. What a hypocrite Burris is proving himself to be. Illinois should hold a special election - period. Burris should run if he wants a chance at the senate seat. Let the people decide.

I think that if White isn't signing the paperwork, there must be a reason why he isn't.  Maybe he knows something that we don't know.  But, until White signs the necessary paperwork, then he shouldn't be appointed. 

I think it is kind of strange that a 71 year old man gets appointed to that position.  What are the chances he'll get re-elected?  Slim to none.  We need some new blood in there.  Someone that is going to be there for the long haul.

I think Burris should embrace life and retire.  But, living in California he's not nor ever will be my Senator.  So, I am not too concern about it.

I think this guy is a moron taking the appointment in the first place, but let's move on here.  Let him in - he will have no more power than one lone vote - and then let him get voted out (or in) in the next election.  It seems that he wasn't involved in this profit scam, so he is just some schmuck wanting to be in the US senate.  Can't blame him, I guess.

I feel that Burris should have not agreed to take the senate seat because of the turmoil that Blagojevich has caused.  Blagojevich has entangled Mr. Burris in his web of troubles.  I sure hope that these issues can be dealt with quickly so that we can get on with more important stuff like the economy.

Just another Republican ploy.  Sore losers!  I would think Americans would be more outraged at a confessed sex offender from Idaho still in the Senate.

Would you want your son or grandson in a public restroom with Larry Craig?

By the way, his conviction was upheld by the state of Minnesota the same day Illinois governor was charged.  Did any of you pay attention to that?

I can't believe Burris was naive enough to honestly think the appointment would stick! Give me a break! The point is that the nomination by the governer is tainted! If this is such a big deal, let the people of IL decide. Let them vote on who should be the next senator.

   Stop arguing over power, stop taking special interest money, start initiating bills to correct this sad situation we're in. Start listening to the people you supposedly represent. Kick those corporate lobbyists loose. Government is for the PEOPLE not the corporations.

Anyone who bothered to actually do some critical reading and research for themselves would recognize immediately that Roland Burris is one of the most classy Public Servants ever involved in Illinois politics.  His integrity is unquestionable.  He successfully retired from politics some years ago after a career marked by grace, pragmatism on behalf of the public good, and bipartisanship.  RevDave, "many people", including perhaps yourself, might be better served if they bothered to read up on an issue rather than simply parrot pundits' opinons, regardless of those opinions' legality.  The state is ill-served by allowing the senate to proceed without our full slate of representation, i.e. two (2) senators.  Regardless of the accusations, Gov. Blagojevich is still, like anyone else, innocent until proven guilty of illegal acts.  The released tapes certainly show a person using profanity and being otherwise crass in a private conversation but the legality of those conversations has yet to be decided in a court of law.  One does wonder, though, how one can be arrested in front of a large invited media presence, and still not be actually indicted several weeks later.  The thing is, this situation is not about the governor, it is about the Roland Burris, an honorable man, and the state of Illinois' vacant senate seat.  It is cynical beyond decency for other politicians jockeying for position to, through the media, seek public mandate to ignore the same body of laws cited by the government in its decision to arrest the governor in the first place.  What do these politicians have to gain(?) one asks?  Well, some feel entitled to the position themselves, some have relatives and/or friends they'd like to see in the position, there may even be a pay-to-player still out there somewhere, but the honorable Roland Burris is not one of them.

Remember:  "Readers are Leaders" means "with comprehension"...

How much did Burris pay for the seat? Thats the only question.

I am not a democrat but I am sure that Burris should be seated.  The sitting governor has not been found guilty of anything and has the legal authority to appoint the replacement Senator.  When I hear people using words like "tainted" I would answer back with "kangaroo court."  It is pretty bad when legal authority can be nullified by rumor and innuendo.  We have to watch the extreme liberals as they believe a person is guilty by accusation and mob rule, not necessarily by facts and legal judgements.

It would be refreshing to follow the law/rules for a change.  There are already FAR too many examples of disastrous results from our political and business leaders not playing by the rules.  America needs to get back on track.

Any person with ehtical and honest standards would have said NO to Blago when he extended the job offer. Mr. Burris has shown his true character - or lack thereof - and is ONLY interested in self promotion. If this deal they are rumored to be making is actually an ambassadorship after 2010, I will choke. My taxes for Mr. Burris, the circus clown? He was a milktoast public official who never did anything good or bad; never took a posiiton. Basically, he took his paycheck and went home and worked on his self-promoting mausoleum. Until this event, I didn't have a negative opinion. He has shown to be as much of a user as Blago.

As of now the Gov. has not been convicted of anything nor has it been shown that Mr. Burris did anything wrong. They should have investigated Mr. Burris when the Gov. Appointed him. This should have been done very very quickly because of the outstanding charges against he Gov. Yes I do believe that all are innocent until proven guilty.Down the road they can remove both parties if is proven that a crime was committed,till then seat the man and then proceed and prove that either one was doing something wrong.With the info.they have on the Gov. I believe he will be convicted of a serious lack of trust. And if it is found later that Mr. Burris was guily of something than remove him as well.

Blago is bad news but Burris seems to be a decent man. Once the Sec of State signs on, Burris should be seated immediately. We need all the Democratic senators we can get.