by Mark Silva
Roland Burris is so excited about his impending swearing-in as a senator, filling the Illinois seat of President-elect Barack Obama, that he is giving away tickets to Obama's inauguration.
Burris plans to present an eighth-grade class in Chicago with 30 tickets to the Jan. 20 inauguration. He will deliver the tickets at Paderewski Elementary School this afternoon.
Tomorrow, Vice President Dick Cheney, serving as president of the Senate, is scheduled to swear in Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, at 2 pm EST on the Senate floor.
Illinois' senior senator, Sen. Dick Durbin, who, like other Democratic leaders, had insisted that neither Burris nor anyone else appointed by the tainted Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be seated, plans to hold a private reception for the new junior senator.
Comments
Blago played his fellow dems like Ray Charles played the piano.
Priceless!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | January 14, 2009 11:23 AM
Looks as if Sen Durbin has lost allof of his CREDIBILITY with this issure and wanting a pardon for George Ryan.
Poor Illinois.
Posted by: Inky | January 14, 2009 11:27 AM
Go get them, Senator Burris. I look forward to voting for you in two years, you deserve all of Illinois' support, given the malignant state, President Bush and his cohorts, have left this great country !!
I know, as your career in Illinois politics will attest, you will do Illinois, and America, proud !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 14, 2009 11:42 AM
Nice gesture and all, but I'm sorry, how is a bunch of 8th graders supposed to get to Washington, D.C. at this late notice?
Posted by: Milw-Town | January 14, 2009 12:01 PM
"poor Illinois" Uh, huh.
A president from Illinois with two Democratic senators on a 1st name basis with him. Yeah, poor Illinois.
Posted by: Doug Zook | January 14, 2009 12:16 PM
I think the real test now is going to be how the rest of the Senate works with him. I hope they don't prevent him from working on committees. His chief of staff is probably going to have one of the hardest jobs in DC trying to work with the rest of the Senate behind the scenes. I hope that if the Senate tries to backbench Burris that the Trib calls them out on it.
Posted by: Karl | January 14, 2009 2:51 PM
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 14, 2009 11:42 AM
Don what about Burris do you support? His willingness to accept a tainted appointment from a corrupt Governor? His utter lack of respect and concern for the citizens of Illinois? His failure to acknowledge that people have legitimate concerns about this appointment?
I will surely vote against Burris min the Democratic primary for his willing participation in this disgraveful episode in Illinois history. There is nothing to praise in his dishonorable action. Nothing.
And that is from a staunch Democrat.
Posted by: Lou | January 14, 2009 5:34 PM
"Don what about Burris do you support?"
Posted by: Lou | January 14, 2009 5:34 PM
.
I can answer that one: It's Burris willingness to let an innocent man be executed rather than admit that the guy was wrongfully prosecuted.
Posted by: MJ | January 14, 2009 8:54 PM
Go go go Burris! You have served this great State with honor, you deserve that seat. You know what? some of us still hold that Blago innocent untill proven guilty in the court of law.
Dem was playing politics and Blago confused them all.
Posted by: Roula | January 15, 2009 1:00 PM