"The Once and Future Junior Senators from Illinois"

Six days from now, on what will be an historic occasion, Barack (formerly Barry) Hussein Obama will be inaugurated the Country’s 44th President; the first black elected to the post. But tomorrow, in a less celebrated, but no less historic moment, for the first time, a black man will succeed another black man as member of the U.S. Senate.

Roland Burris is scheduled to be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. Thursday by Vice President Dick Cheney, who will be carrying out one of his final official duties, acting in his capacity as President of the Senate. If nothing else, what I bemusedly refer to as The Tale of the Three B’s, has been the epitome of political theater at it highest. That it will culminate on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.’s 80th Birthday must be the kind irony that would make King smile, but not as much as the Inauguration, the day before the King Holiday.

The central characters in the end game of this melodrama, each an unwilling player in his own right, are Barack, Blagojevich, and Burris. I am sure you know the story. Blagojevich, the Illinois Governor was busted several weeks ago, arrested December 9, 2008, for having been caught on tape trying to sell President–elect Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. Barack, who was immediately cleared of any involvement in the onerous scheme, quickly condemned the Governor, and opposed any selection the besmirched Illinois Head of State might make.

The State Legislature threatened to enact a resolution stripping the Governor of the authority to appoint a successor to Obama, but ultimately opted not to take that draconian step. It is unclear exactly why the legislative body decided not to follow through on the action, but in retrospect, they are certain to conclude that was a miscalculation of mega-proportion.

Blagojevich proceeded to do what the Illinois State Legislature apparently considered the unthinkable; he appointed a successor to Barack Obama; Roland Burris. The President-elect praised the appointee, but opposed the appointment, or at least the discredited Governor making it. The Governor maintained his innocence, and argued further that he was not only authorized to make the appointment, but required by law to do so. Senator-designate Burris pointed out that he was in no way connected to the scandal, had been duly appointed by a sitting Governor, and fully intended to assume his seat in the Senate Chamber and represent the people of Illinois. Meanwhile, the Democratic leadership of the Senate, headed by Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and Senate Majority Whip, Dick Durbin, also the Senior Senator from Illinois, vowed to deny Burris access to the Senate floor.

As the posing and posturing ensued, and numerous analysts debated whether the Senate should seat Burris, the real question of the hour was, would they? On this question, numerous analysts thought it inevitable from day 1.
Pertinent Case Law, including a 1969 Supreme Court case involving Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, seemed to favor Burris’ position. Of course, it did not hurt that Burris had served Illinois in two previous statewide elected capacities, State Comptroller for 12 years, and Attorney General, for 4 years. In an additional irony, Burris, like MLK, and Adam Clayton Powell, before him, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; a life member, in fact.

As Senator-designate Burris argued, he was not implicated in the Governor’s scandal. Come to think of it, the Democrats may have a few bigger fish to fry. As they assume control of both branches of Congress and the Presidency next week, the economy, wars and rumors of wars, trade and budget deficits, immigration reform, and tax policy, just to name 7 items, are all issues that scream for attention and resolution. This was clearly a bad time to be pulled down by the undertow of political morass an extended series of intra-party court cases would ensure. Not that there is ever a good time for such folly.

Besides, if they really want Senate based intrigue, they can always look to New York, where Caroline Kennedy is still trying to win the approval of Governor David Paterson, Minnesota, where Norm Coleman appears to have been ousted by former Saturday Night Live Comedian Al Franken, and is still engaged in a legal challenge, and/or my personal favorite, Delaware, where Vice President-elect Joe Biden is holding on to his seat, to the bitter end.

In fact, it looks as though come January 20th, “The Once and Future Junior Senators from Illinois” can meet on the Capitol Building steps and hold a conversation about how “The Past is Prologue.”

I’m done; holla back!

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For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Burris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_White_(politician)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Durbin

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/13/roland-burris-to-be-sworn-in-as-senator-on-thursday/

http://www.beloblog.com/KMOV_Blogs/vickiesviews/2009/01/senator-roland-burris-champion.html

http://www.politicalintersectionblog.com/2009/01/illinois-senate-appointee-roland-burris.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Clayton_Powell,_Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paterson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Coleman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Franken

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_Day