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Why doesn't anyone just say it? On top of the taint of accepting an obviously cynical U.S. Senate appointment from Gov. Rod "stinkbomb" Blagojevich, Roland Burris is a pathetic replacement for President-elect Barack Obama because everything he puts out -- particularly in terms of his appearance and speaking style -- seems to be about caution and equivocation. He's a dull, timid pre-Obama type -- not of this era.
Burris -- face it -- looks like some kind of mediocre mouse. He's only a little over five feet tall, it appears. His voice is underwhelmingly soft and high-pitched. He wears a 1964 Adam Clayton Powell moustache. He exudes the aura of a go-along clubhouse politician in the David Dinkins mode. Yesterday MSNBC commentator Jonathan Alter said Burris has been known for years as "the Casper Milquetoast of Illinois politics."
The only good thing I can imagine is that he might one day be seen as a black Harry Truman.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 7, 2009 at 7:38 AM
comment #1
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
The whole spectacle is such a joke.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at January 7, 2009 8:23 AM
comment #2
dinther
says ...
In fact, Burris was a pretty good AG for Illinois. He had a reputation of one who took time to understand issues and did not abuse the AG post - as many do - as a platform for self-aggrandizement.
And after 8 years of a camera-ready buffoon who blustered his way into shredding two countries and half of one Constitution, one would think you would not use "caution and equivocation" as pejoratives.
Posted by dinther
at January 7, 2009 8:58 AM
comment #3
MikeSchaeferSF
says ...
Actually, Jonathan Alter said it on Olbermann last nite -- he called Burris (who he covered as a reporter in Chicago years ago) "the Casper Milquetoast of Illinois politics".
Posted by MikeSchaeferSF
at January 7, 2009 8:59 AM
comment #4
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
Wells to Schaefer: Thanks for bringing up the Alter remark...hilarious. I put it into the story.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at January 7, 2009 9:16 AM
comment #5
Joel
says ...
I’m from Illinois, and this whole thing is embarrassing. Can we recall Burris?
Posted by Joel
at January 7, 2009 9:26 AM
comment #6
Floyd Thursby
says ...
"Short people got no reason to live."--Randy Newman
Posted by Floyd Thursby
at January 7, 2009 9:45 AM
comment #7
Floyd Thursby
says ...
The only funny moment in the painfully unfunny FIRST FAMILY occurs when President Bob Newhart signs some legislation, passes out the signing pens to attending senators, and holds one in the air for the diminutive Rhode Island senator to jump for. Burris's appointment would be worth it if Obama would reenact this scene.
Posted by Floyd Thursby
at January 7, 2009 9:49 AM
comment #8
Al-Aurens
says ...
Burris is a self-aggrandizing git. He named both of his children after himself: Roland for the boy, Rolanda for the girl. He has a mausoleum that has already been engraved with his 'accomplishments.'
It's clear that he doesn't give one iota of thought or concern for the democratic process: it's all about adding another entry to his mausoleum. I couldn't care less about his height. The taller he is, the higher the shit is stacked.
I also love that some people are making this an issue of race. Yeah, that's the ticket...
Posted by Al-Aurens
at January 7, 2009 9:57 AM
comment #9
plastiqueelephant
says ...
Yeah, this whole series of events makes me sick. It's liike the Democrats, after finally pulling everything together, are intent on blowing-up the party. Burris, Richardson, Kennedy, Feinstein with all this weeks snarkiness are all expending political capital which Obama should be using on, I don't know, the economy and foreign affairs challenges.
Keep it up and the Dems may suffer a '94 redux. And that would be a disaster just as the Republicans looked consigned to eight years in the wilderness.
The fact that Burris accepted the appointment is sign enough that he lacks basic judgement and ethical standing.
Posted by plastiqueelephant
at January 7, 2009 11:30 AM
comment #10
George Prager
says ...
He could play Juror #9 in a new remake of 12 Angry Men. Blago picked him. There is nothing illegal about it. He's in. And thus, one of the most boring stories of modern times comes to an end.
Posted by George Prager
at January 7, 2009 11:43 AM
comment #11
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
Uh, Prager, "Blagojevich-Gate" might be a circus, it might be a national embarrassment for the Dems and it might be breathtaking in its brazenness, but the one thing no one will ever call it is "boring."
Burris has done nothing but tarnished whatever rep he built up as AG, if that is the case. Only a self-serving fool would have accepted that appointment and then forged ahead as if the entire shitstorm around Blagojevich didn't exist. The second he didn't release a statement saying he would only accept if the state legislature, Lt. Gov and/or current AG signed off signaled he was nothing more than an opportunist.
The fact that the black establishment, as the LA Times pointed out, has been deafeningly silent on this says it all.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at January 7, 2009 12:12 PM
comment #12
BurmaShave
says ...
There is also absolutely no legal reason he shouldn't be sworn into the US Senate.
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 7, 2009 8:04 PM
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