burris' son got a job from blago he's not qualified for, 5 months ago! oy vey!

[mucifer]

BURRIS' SON GOT STATE JOB FROM BLAGO
SCANDAL MUSHROOMS | He serves as housing authority counsel despite facing foreclosure on his own home

February 26, 2009

BY CHRIS FUSCO, TIM NOVAK AND DAVE MCKINNEY Staff Reporters

The son of embattled Sen. Roland Burris is a federal tax deadbeat who landed a $75,000-a-year state job under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich five months ago, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

Blagojevich's administration hired Roland W. Burris II as a senior counsel for the state's housing authority Sept. 10 -- about six weeks after the Internal Revenue Service slapped a $34,163 tax lien on Burris II and three weeks after a mortgage company filed a foreclosure suit on his South Side house.....
more at:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/burris/1450607,CST-NWS-burris26.article

More bad news for our state of IL. :cry:

[npincus]

1. RUH-ROH... has this hit the airwaves yet?

[mucifer]

3. It's in the suntimes so it will be everywhere soon.

[KharmaTrain]

7. All Over The Place Here In Chicago...Actually Broke Last Night

I heard someone comment on the radio that Burris is trying hard to dig himself in...he knew that he'd be found out and that he knew the Senate would never expel him...specifically cause he was black. Sound racist, but sadly, many folks agreed with the caller...including yours truly. A real shameful man...desperate for one last bite at the apple and didn't care how he did it.

Well he did say he won't run in 2010...oh goody!!! He wouldn't stand a chance in a primary. But each revelation just amps up the heat and the pressure on him.

One last fear is of having a special election with a short primary...or even worse an open primary election where the GOOP may sneak in and steal the seat.

[npincus]

8. Jeez Louise, you'd think this would be ALL OVER cable news this morning...

what the hell are those "laptops" in front of the "Morning Joe" anchors anyway- plastic props? Our 'news' media is all about production... thank G-d for the internets.

[KharmaTrain]

13. It Will Be Later...

Things are moving fast these days. They're still not finished trashing Jindal...or spreading the right wing lies. It's tought to be a spinner these days with so many things to spin and bullshit about.

I think a part of the reason that its not getting much play is there is little the GOOP gains from this. If Burris resigns, Pat Quinn will name another Democrat. It's all but assured that there won't be a special election before 2010 and the GOOPs bench in this state is just as pathetic as they are nationally. It works better for them to have Burris around...a constant reminder to all about Blago. If he vanishes now, so does the last of the Blago scandal that they can exploit.

Cheers...

[tekisui]

2. Burris needs to go. Soon.

[Avalux]

4. Well, this certainly isn't going to help Burris stay in the Senate.

Another detail he didn't think was important to disclose? He's DONE.

[babylonsister]

5. Wow. Rec'd. nt

[mucifer]

6. Another thing. The drum beat for a special election in IL is getting stronger.

Even Governor Quinn is saying he wants a special election. The local press is also pushing for special election. I actually agree with this. It's just too ugly now to appoint someone else. It's very possible Barack Obama's senate seat will go republican.

[AngryAmish]

9. Why are people acting surprised by this?

This is why government exists in Illinois - to give n'er do well relatives of politically connected people taxpayer money. Nepotism is the coin of the realm.

We elect these assholes. We deserve it.

[mucifer]

10. we did get an upgrade on the President of the United States of America. He came from Chicago.

Don't forget that.

[AngryAmish]

11. Remember he is a creature of the Machine, also.

One is not Emil Jones' point man in the IL Senate and operate seperately from the Machine.

[mucifer]

14. Well he sure isn't john mccain.

[nichomachus]

28. Could you set that bar any lower?

[Hannah Bell]

51. it's laughable. & the media is hyping it because someone wants burris out,

not because the nep is out of the ordinary.

[firedupdem]

12. Disaster from the very beginning. If we lose that seat he needs

to inscribe that info into his granite thingy along with the fact that he was appointed. What an embarassment.

However, if Illinois couldn't afford a special election the first time around, we don't need one now. I wish he would just go so Durbin could appoint someone that can actually win the seat in 2010.

[madrchsod]

the foster- milk nazi special election cost my county

several hundred of thousand of dollars. i have no idea what the total cost was across the 14th district. state wide..10`s of millions

[rolltideroll]

20. Godwin law

Kicks in at post 13.

[madrchsod]

15. who in the hell is going to run from either party?

since there will be no primary we`ll have another candidate "selected" for us. we are going to spend millions to have a special election where no one will vote. then next year we`ll go through the whole process again.

to bad the boys in washington were so hell bent on filling obama`s seat because they could`t wait till blago was thrown out and they were afraid of who quin would pick.durbin`s statements are just sickening.

if the voters elect a republican the fault can be laid at the door step of the guys in washington and the former governor. our only salvation is the republicans pick a hard right candidate and the big cities get out the democratic voters. out here it`s going republican and this shit could cost foster in the 14th the election next year.

[flobee1]

16. I'm getting really tired of this crap

Hold a trial-If he's guilty THROW HIM IN JAIL!
Same goes for Madoff, AIG ceo's and the Madoff guy that tried to skip out of the country.
Do it all on tv
The country needs to see this done
nothing will inspire confidence like these people being held accountable.

If a law was broken-
HANDCUFF THEM
show them being led out of the building they've been hiding in on the 6 o'clock news

Showing Blaggo going for a jog after all this shit just makes me sick

[madokie]

17. Burris seems like such an affable guy

but keep in mind that sorry bastages come in all shapes and sizes and the ideology driven

[nichomachus]

29. You mean "affable" as in

continuing to seek the death penalty for a suspect -- even after he had proof the guy was innocent -- just to further his political career?

If that's the case, then, yeah, he's a hell of a guy.

[Lost in CT]

33. He is a screaming loon. Honestly if he was white he wouldn't have gotten

within a thousand miles of the Senate.

I know that sounds crass but in this particular case it couldn't be more accurate.

[rolltideroll]

18. Proud to be on DU

The Repub. would be defending this guy to the death Nice to see that our side realizes you have to hold Dems to the same standard as the GOP. This guy is a national disgrace and needs to do the dignified thing and step down.

[marshall]

19. This kind of quid pro quo is more palatable than outright selling

And I'm sure it goes on all the time, on both sides of the aisle. It's called networking in the public sector.

[Occam Bandage]

27. Quid-pro-quo nepotism and corruption are okay if you're a Democrat, apparently. nt

[marshall]

32. How do you think Chelsea landed her job?

It's part of the game. You just can't be blatant about it.

[Occam Bandage]

35. Corruption is okay if other Democrats get away with it. nt

[marshall]

38. But is it corruption if done properly?

Maybe I'm jaded, but if everyone is doing it and it seems to be accepted then is it really corruption?

There are unspoken rules in any system. Political dynasties such as the Kennedys, Clintons, and Bushes are built on those rules. People like Blagojevich are similar to the "nouveaux riches" who come in and crassly overstep the rules of the system that one must learn by observation since they aren't written down.

[hfojvt]

36. where's the quid again?

I will get your son a job, and in exchange for that I will appoint you as US Senator. Roland Burris must be fricking Tom Sawyer. Tom, if you remember had to whitewash a fence, but ended up having neighborhood kids pay him for the privilege of doing the work for him.

[struggle4progress]

49. Maybe it's all part of a brilliant, larger scheme to disguise the corruption:

Blago obviously wouldn't get much from one such appointment, but if he made lots and lots of appointments like that, economies of scale would kick in! Suppose there are hundreds or thousands of people who Burris knows, who held jobs during the Blago administration: spouses of people Burris knew in grade school, nieces and nephews of people who lived a few houses down from Burris, business partners of people who went to church with Burris, neighbors of clients of Burris, and so on ... It's a vast criminal conspiracy!

[Captain Hilts]

21. Gettin' really ugly rill quickly. Call it a night, Mr. Burris. nt

[1776Forever]

22. So long to "how it was always done" in the past! It is time for a change - sorry to hear it though.

Mr. Burris seems to have been a very hard working person.

Will it ever change? Let's hope so! President Obama is truly trying even though with the few lobbyist he has in his cabinet it seems very hard to do so.

:shrug:

[jtrockville]

23. Blago is such a fiasco.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Blago's middle finger to the Democratic Party

[Occam Bandage]

25. "Seat him already," DU said. "Obviously this guy is clean," DU said.

"Why would we have any reason to believe that Blagojevich made a corrupt appointment," DU said.

[hfojvt]

41. actually it was about 50-50

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4753759

Many making the legal argument that as long as Blago was Governor he still had the right to make that appointment, and, as such, it was a legal appointment.

But I am not sure how you think that anybody whose son gets a government job is somehow dirty.

[struggle4progress]

48. Perhaps I am obtuse -- but I have no idea what you are trying to say. Do you imagine this story

credibly indicates some corruption? If so, can you provide a coherent picture of the corruption you imagine here, and back it up with some evidence?

[Kablooie]

26. Well, good for him! I'm happy for him. -- ummm. what?

[Romulox]

30. Nothing is funnier than hearing politicians debate over which bribes are legal, and which aren't.

[hfojvt]

31. oh noes Burris clearly got the Senate seat in exchange for

Blago giving his son a job. That's a clear bribe isn't it? Plus, the man has a law degree, so how is he not qualified for the job?

[RaleighNCDUer]

34. It is bizarre, isn't it?

Burris' son gets the job two months BEFORE Obama's wins the election, and somehow this is connected to Burris getting Obama's seat.

I mean, HUH?

[hfojvt]

39. But we have to prove how self-righteous and pure we are

by regularly throwing Democrats under the bus for even a perception of a hint of impropriety. I really do not understand the exchange here. The Governor does my son a favor and in return for that he appoints me to the Senate. Maybe I was blackmailing him by sitting on some information that would get him indicted and impeached. That would clearly explain why he appointed me after he was arrested.

[Hannah Bell]

52. someone wanted blago out, & someone wants his appointee out.

that's why the cover stories don't make complete sense.
there's no real cause & effect here.

[bigtree]

37. this is bullshit. This was BEFORE Obama's seat was open.

. . . and the 'scandal' was supposed to be about Burris giving something to Blago, not the other way around.

[hfojvt]

40. don't rain on the parade

This is a meeting of the politician-haters club. Logic is not a factor. When Republicans and the M$M throw mud at Democrats, what else can we do except go with the flow. The drumbeat of the RWNM it's like a pied piper.

[cobalt1999]

46. Like no one knew the seat would be coming open at that time

:eyes:

Some people will defend the most vile creatures as long as they are with the political party they support.

I've seen it with republicans and now some democrats.

Refuse to be a hypocrite.

[bigtree]

47. refuse to spread bullshit

there is no investigation into this because it's not a crime. It's clearly not related to the appointment unless you're claiming Blago paid Burris off to accept the appointment. That's just ridiculous on it's face. This job has NOTHING to do with the appointment.

[inchhigh]

42. Big Deal! This actually SUPPORTS Burris does not hurt him

The accusations are that Burris was encouraged to bribe Blago, not the other way around. Is someone claiming that Blago bribed Burris to take the job?

[Pachamama]

43. How could this kind of info not come out during the beginning of the debate on whether he should be

seated? This isn't hidden info....isn't there anyone out there in the media or gov't that knows how to do a vetting process and investigate basic things....like did any member of that persons family receive any $$$, favors....a job??? :eyes:

[bigtree]

44. you mean Blago bribed Burris

. . . to get him to take the seat?

[EFerrari]

53. Because five months ago, Obama's seat was not open and hopefully

someone would be able to do the math.

[backscatter712]

45. He's got some 'splainin' to do

I'd strongly recommend he quietly resign.

[Hannah Bell]

50. what's the backstory on IL political establishment v. blago?

never in a million years will i believe he was ousted for the reasons stated, nor that burris is having problems for the reasons stated.

[KharmaTrain]

54. He Didn't Play Well With Others...

including Democrats. He ran as an outsider...which in 2002 was a good thing, especially in light of the corruption that would send George Ryan to jail. No sooner was he in office than stories began to circulate of Blago's own patronage games as well as bypassing the legislature to create a state medicare program that has nearly bankrupted the state...along with other battles.

He made a lot of enemies, especially in the last couple years...so much so there was a ballot initiative last November to enable a recall...it passed, but it was non-binding. Many of us were glad to see this guy gone and Pat Quinn...a lifelong Progressive as Governor.

As far as Burris...I am sure this story didn't just pop out of nowhere and is an attempt to rachet up the pressure on Burris to resign. There are a lot of people with motives to want Burris out and to embarass him in the process. Looks like there's more to this soap opera to play out.

[npincus]

55. Kicking... not a peep from the cable talking heads...