While the overwhelming sentiment is against Gov. Rod Blagojevich in naming Roland W. Burris to fill the vacated senatorial seat held by President-elect Barack Obama, perhaps I am the only one out here who is not against this bold move coming from the governor. That is okay. During my eight years of writing political op-ed pieces there have been times when I bucked popular opinions.
I still hold firm to my original article on him stating that in this country we are all presumed innocent until a jury renders a verdict that proves otherwise. Blagojevich in naming Burris to fill that vacated seat was a bold move and almost a thumbing his nose at those who are against him presently. Constitutionally, the law is on Blagojevich’s side.
As a proponent of the judicial system where the jury decides the fate of any defendant, do we automatically believe the charges leveled by U.S. Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald or do we allow the facts presented to be proven in a court of law? As I perused Buzzflash.com this morning, I saw one piece calling Blagojevich delusional. To me a delusional act would be to allow that seat to fall into the hands of the GOP should a special election be called for and held. Quite frankly, Democrats need that seat to stay in Democratic control. I hope that Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid comes to understand this as well as the rest of the Democratic majority.
This past election, Democrats fell short of the sixty-seat super majority which would have been filibuster proof and with the loss of the Georgia seat to Saxby Chambliss in a run-off election, it dealt a blow to that super-majority. Thankfully the Alaskan seat went to the Democrats and hopefully Al Franken will prevail in Minnesota, but still the Democrats do need that seat coming from Illinois to stay within the Democratic column.
The citizens of Illinois deserve to be fully represented in the senate in order to move the country forward and let the business of the people be the primary focus of that governing body.
As we all know, the economy has been in an economic melt-down where President-elect Barack Obama has proposed a stimulus package to help create three-million jobs and he will need a majority of the house and senate to help pass it.
In reading this article, one will see that “House, Rep. John Boehner, is beating the January rush and indicating some early opposition to President-elect Barack Obama's ever-growing economic stimulus plan.”
Boehner cited, “The American people are facing tough economic times, and they expect Washington to act - but we must act in a responsible way that helps get our economy moving again, not with more pork-barrel spending that does nothing but give taxpayers' money to special interests and campaign contributors. Republicans are prepared to work with the incoming Administration and with Democrats in Congress to craft legislation that will help our troubled economy."
I immediately zeroed in on the words responsible and pork barrel spending and in looking back during the first six years of the Bush administration, the Republican majority were anything but responsible. Also talk about pork, what about that American embassy built in Baghdad that has cost the American tax payers over $500 million dollars and built with slave labor?
It was this one statement coming from Boehner which made me howl with laughter when he said, "I hope that the Democratic Leadership will agree that such a massive piece of legislation should be debated in a fair, honest, and open way. To that end, I would ask the Democratic Leadership to guarantee that such a bill will not be brought to the floor of the House unless there have been public hearings in the appropriate committees,"
Does anyone remember how the Democrats were shut out of crucial debates in the first six years of the Bush administration and where Democrats were forced to hold meetings in the basement? CBS News reported: “Rep. John Conyers, the House Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, and other Democrats met in a basement room of a House office building Friday to hear a panel of lawyers and activists discuss whether Bush had committed an impeachable offense.”
Does anyone remember how the GOP called the D.C. police on Democrats back in 2003? I sure do. Are they suddenly changing their stripes? In reading this one piece, it cites, “Chief of Staff of the Ways and Means Majority staff informed the Democratic members that Chairman Thomas had asked to get the police to remove the Democratic members because the Republican members needed the room to meet in themselves”
As Governor Blagojevich sided with union workers the day before he was arrested, we must all remember that it was Republican senators who have consistently attacked unions. When the bailout to the automakers fell through the floor it was Republicans like Shelby, Sessions and Corker who led the charge by siding with foreign automakers in their states.
I will go on record citing that those who refuse to seat Governor Blagojevich’s pick should re-think their decision and approve of Roland W. Burris to fill that senate seat. We as a country can separate the appointer from the appointee. We must change direction in this country for the people who voted for it and let the judicial process deal with Governor Blagojevich. It is after all the American way.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
