Blagosphere

Blocking Blago

Can Dems keep the gov’s pick out of the Senate?

In appointing Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, Rod Blagojevich seems determined to take the Democratic ship down with him. Democrats are now scrambling to block the former state attorney general’s appointment. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois’ other senator, Dick Durbin, have made their opposition to Burris clear. The Democratic leadership issued a statement saying that anyone appointed by Blagojevich “will not be seated by the Democratic caucus.” However, the Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that the House could not block the appointment of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. so long as he met the constitutional requirements for age, citizenship, and residency. Politico also runs a brief profile of Burris, who was Illinois’ first black statewide elected official. The best detail about him? His two children are named Roland and Rolanda.