The stench from Illinois' rotting political corpse continues to permeate the Land of Lincoln. The latest example is Sen. Roland Burris' surprise affadavit that, in fact, he had been tapped to donate to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's retirement fund. But, the senator, maintains he didn't perjure himself when he appeared before the special legislative committee on impeachment Jan. 8. This, once again, doesn't pass the smell test.
Three weeks after Sen. Burris, D-Chicago, is sworn in he apparently remembers that the former governor's brother, Rob Blagojevich, hit him up for a $10,000 campaign donation. The affadavit was quietly filed Feb. 5. Which Democrat was holding that news hostage until the Chicago Sun-Times broke the story in its Sunday editions?
The whole Burris appointment to the Senate seat of President Obama, the one the ex-governor tried to peddle first to the highest bidder, gets curiouser and curiouser as this latest drama unfolds. Why didn't Burris tell the legislative panel he was approached by Rob Blagojevich? He had nothing to lose then. Now he makes up some story about how he actually answered lawmakers' questions when it was posed if he had contact with anybody representing the former governor. The senator's a lawyer, isn't he; an officer of the court? Didn't he have a responsibility to report this?
And to think, most Illinoisans actually originally believed Roland Burris when he said he was an honorable man. There is a difference in being honorable and conveniently overlooking an important fact. Is there no honor among Illinois pols? This is yet another stain on the Land of Lincoln.
I believe that Pat (The Mighty) Quinn was asked if he would have considered Burris, and Quinn replied that he would have no problem with Burris; just that it was Blago who appointed him.
"Oh yeah, Burris is a great guy, a well-regarded public servant. Heck, I'd appoint him to the Senate. But Burris' appointment is 'tainted', so Burris shouldn't accept the job."
Darn! How does Quinn manage to twist himself like that without needing a chiropractor? Could it be because he actually has no backbone?
THE HOUND SEZ: The Hound thinks Gov. Quinn is way, way over his head and appears in the early stages to be a waffler.