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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)
Ed Brayton also blogs at Positive Liberty and The Panda's Thumb
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Posted on: January 6, 2009 9:16 AM, by Ed Brayton
Roland Burris says God is on his side and wants him in the Senate:
"We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained," Burris said. "I am not hesitating. I am now the junior Senator from the state of Illinois. Some people may want to question that and that is their prerogative."
No, Mr. Burris. Rod Blagojevich is not God and his transparent political maneuvering cannot be confused for righteous intent.
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Comments
Blagojevich may not be God, but Burris is right that he's the junior Senator from Illinois, more's the pity.
Posted by: Ginger Yellow | January 6, 2009 10:20 AM
Ugh. It'd be nice if we had the kind of sane world where a comment like that rendered moot your earlier post about whether the Senate could refuse to seat him, because he'd clearly shown himself to be unworthy of political office. Unfortunately in the eyes of many this disgusting spiel probably makes him look more desireable as a representative.
Posted by: Morgan | January 6, 2009 10:24 AM
Burris and Ginger Yellow are flat-out wrong regarding Burris' status. He's the nominee, he's not a Senator. The 111th Congress has its swearing-in ceremony at noon today, EST.
Burris claims he will present himself, and Reid is claiming he will not allow Burris to participate. Not sure what the status of Franken is regarding his participation.
Today will be an interesting day.
Posted by: Michael Heath | January 6, 2009 10:35 AM
I think we need to consult Pat Robertson on this. If he says Burris' appointment is mandated by God, well, that is good enough for me.
Posted by: carlsonjok | January 6, 2009 10:37 AM
Man, we've gotta start getting in on these proclaimations of divine intent.
Even for small stuff it'd be fun. I may give it a shot at a fast food place. "God wants me to have that cheeseburger! Who are YOU to defy the will of God!?"
I bet it'd work for speeding tickets too.
It's no more illogical or insulting than the way these people use it.
Posted by: JThompson | January 6, 2009 11:03 AM
Former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris was turned away from the Senate this morning after being told he does not have permission to be seated as the junior senator from Illinois.
Posted by: abb3w | January 6, 2009 11:32 AM
Yeah I heard him make that statement while I was on an elliptical machine last evening and nearly fell off!
He is NOT the junior senator because Jesse White, the Secretary of State of Illinois, refused to sign the document. Without his signature, the paperwork is not valid.
Trust me-living in the Chicago media bubble has been a blast this past month!
Posted by: Rev. AJB | January 6, 2009 11:50 AM
Burris had said he wouldn't show up at the Senate unless he were assured entrance. He said he didn't want to create a spectacle, but it looks like he changed his mind.
I don't know anything about his qualifications, but the fact he accepted the appointment under the present conditions doesn't speak well for him. I'm embarrassed on his behalf.
Posted by: Greg Esres | January 6, 2009 12:09 PM
JThompson, it could also make a great pick-up line at bars. "When I saw you I heard a choir of angels. They said you should screw me in the bathroom."
Posted by: Abby Normal | January 6, 2009 12:13 PM
This kind of statement always confuses me. How can they insist in one breath that God is all-powerful, and whatever He ordains, must happen -- and then worry that people will be able to deny what God has ordained. Doesn't it occur to them that this is a bit contradictory?
Besides, what good would it do to pray to God for help in making sure God is not thwarted. If God had the power to stop the thwarting, would he need to be asked as a favor?
Posted by: Sastra | January 6, 2009 12:22 PM
First time poster. Let me just say this about Burris. I grew up in IL but went to school in TX. During the first year we had a mandatory public assembly per semester and Burris was one of the speakers. Even back then (1992 or 1993) I remember thinking he was nothing but a typical politician douche. Nice to know nothing has changed.
Posted by: Adam Coffman | January 6, 2009 12:29 PM
I'm of two minds on this: yes, Burris is -- through no fault of his own -- tainted merely by being appointed by Blago to fill a seat that Blago is credibly accused of having tried to sell; that can't look good under any circumstances. And ANYONE he appoints would be just as tainted.
OTOH, the state of Illinois is still legally entitled to TWO voting Senators, just like all the other states. And according to the law currently in effect, the governor of IL has the duty of appointing people to fill US Congress seats that are vacated in midterm. If the people of IL want to change that law, or impeach their current governor, that's cool with me; but that law is still in effect, that governor is still governor, and that state still needs to be fully represented in Congress.
Is Burris himself visibly unqualified to serve as a US Senator? Is there even a reasonable suspicion, at this time, that Burris bought his appointment? If the answer to both questions is "no," then he must be seated. And if incriminating evidence turns up in the future, then the DoJ can pursue it, and/or the Senate can, by a vote of two-thirds, expel him. And if none of that happens, he'll have to run for reelection later on. There's really no valid reason at this time to deny the people of IL the representation to which they're entitled.
Posted by: Raging Bee | January 6, 2009 12:35 PM
If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, religion must be right next to it, so Burris shamelessly claims God's mandate. Predictable, if not original. P.S. I presume God wasn't available for comment.
Posted by: Raymond Minton | January 6, 2009 1:15 PM
Raging Bee - while I appreciate the people of Illinois' dilemma, that isn't the Senate's problem, it's the state of Illinois' problem. I would argue Illinois' citizens should be pushing for the state's legislature to repair this mess along with pushing the Executive Branch as well - specifically the Sec. of State, AG, and the Gov. himself. Massive political pressure often works.
Posted by: Michael Heath | January 6, 2009 1:58 PM
OTOH, the state of Illinois is still legally entitled to TWO voting Senators, just like all the other states. And according to the law currently in effect, the governor of IL has the duty of appointing people to fill US Congress seats that are vacated in midterm.
As a resident of Illinois, I wouldn't feel bad about having just one senator and one president from my state until Blagojevich gets taken out of office.
If the people of IL want to change that law, or impeach their current governor, that's cool with me; but that law is still in effect, that governor is still governor, and that state still needs to be fully represented in Congress.
I haven't seen any polling done, but I'm pretty confident in saying that the people of IL do want to change the law, impeach the current governor or do anything which will strip him of all powers immediately. My gut feel is 80%+ would disapprove of allowing Burris to be seated right now.
We also won't be fully represented until a special election is held for Rahm's vacancy (the governor does not have power to appoint a replacement to my understanding).
Posted by: Odie | January 6, 2009 3:18 PM
Ed, quoting Burris:
"We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained," Burris said. "I am not hesitating. I am now the junior Senator from the state of Illinois. Some people may want to question that and that is their prerogative."
At one time, as hard as this is to believe, Roland Burris was a sane man.
Not any more.
Anybody got a white-hot wire so I can burn the memory of this dribble out of my brain? Please?
Odie:
As a resident of Illinois, I wouldn't feel bad about having just one senator and one president from my state until Blagojevich gets taken out of office.
As a fellow resident of Illinois, I wouldn't feel bad about sitting around with one less Senator until 2010 or however long it takes to make this entire pile of manure a moot point.
We also won't be fully represented until a special election is held for Rahm's vacancy (the governor does not have power to appoint a replacement to my understanding).
I live in Emanuel's district, and luckily for me, you're entirely correct in your assertion.
Posted by: Chris Krolczyk | January 6, 2009 6:57 PM
Funny how God's will invariably coincides with the speaker's desires...
Posted by: schism | January 6, 2009 7:24 PM
Another Illinois resident here who would rather go with one Senator than have this twit seated.
Posted by: Don't Panic | January 6, 2009 8:45 PM