Marathon Pundit: Ill. Dems could have avoided Blago-Burris mess by authorizing a special election

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Ill. Dems could have avoided Blago-Burris mess by authorizing a special election

Almost immediately after it was revealed the Governor Rod Blagojevich tried to sell Barack Obama's senate seat, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) called for a special election to name Illinois' next senator. But fearing a Republican pick-up of the seat, Durbin, almost certainly egged on by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) backed off that declaration.

Look at the mess the Democratic Party has created.

The Washington Post has more:

Blagojevich's choice of Democrat Roland Burris "is emblematic of the old-school, pay-to-play culture that has plagued Illinois for generations and this appointment is another embarrassment for the people of Illinois ," said Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) laid the blame for the current problems in Illinois at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid'ss (Nev.) feet.

"Senator Reid and the Democratic leadership in Washington and Springfield decided to play politics with this Senate seat and unfortunately, the people of Illinois are now paying the price," said Cornyn.

While it's almost certain that Burris won't ever be seated in the Senate, Blagojevich's attempt to do that makes for yet more problems for Democrats in Illinois and Washington -- turning a bad situation into a political nightmare.