I agree. Seat Burris. He didn’t do anything wrong and he’s qualified. The only thing holding him back right now is the Illinois Secretary of State’s signature and seal on his documents, which the IL Sec State is required by state law to sign. As soon as that’s done, Burris will be seated in the Senate.

There are far more very serious problems in the country and the world. I’m currently listening to NPR Talk of the Nation podcast from 12/10/08 and they are talking about the huge number of layoffs that were happening just that week. Half a million jobs lost in November, likely the same number or more in December. We’re about to hit double digit unemployment. The stimulus package and Jan. 20 aren’t going to get her soon enough, and as of today, it’s less than two weeks!

I’m mad as hell that all this drama is taking focus away from the real problems we need to deal with, especially the lack of input and action of the Bush administration concerning another war in Israel, and the speed at which our economy is spiraling out of control.

I’m most worried about our overall standing in the world as a leader. How are we going to influence the Middle East when we have made such a mess of it? France and Egypt are brokering the cease fire? Where the hell are George Bush and Condi Rice??? Gaza could be wiped off the map in two more weeks.

Sherri

Being the Change I Wish to See – Sherris last blog post..Reduced Energy Consumption This Year v Last Year

It’s a laugh (?????) a minute here in Illinois.

When are we going to get back to the real problems in the world?

Let that (bleeping) Burris sit. He’s harmless. We have the economy and a new war.

I am no longer feeling shame.

I am aggravated!

Being from Louisiana, a truly corrupt state (Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews did a per capita study and we were number 2 behind North Dakota), stop worrying when your politicians commit crimes. Ours do it all the time.

William Jefferson (New Orleans Congressman) was finally defeated after it was proved he committed corruption and tens of thousands of dollars were found in his freezer.

Edwin Edwards committed so many crimes that we all forgot how many times he was indicted. The feds finally got him on one and he’s in federal prison now and will be for the rest of his life. We all voted for him against David Duke (the KKK Grand Wizard) knowing he was a crook. Our bumper stickers all read “vote for the crook…it’s important” because it was either corruption or racism and white power. We chose corruption, being a former slave state where lynchings took place as late as the 1960′s. Upholding the KKK was even against Louisiana’s sensibilities.

And then our history is filled with the very long list of the Long family, Huey P. and Earl K. They committed so many crimes before prosecuting was done that nobody really knows exactly how much money and other goods they ran off with.

Then there are our sex scandals. David Vitter, one of our current sitting senators, confessed to using hookers. Sex scandals seem to be more in the Republican camp than the Democrat camp, but that’s just recently. Richard Baker was another one I can remember off the top of my head.

These people are intoxicated with the power their offices bring, and for some, temptation is too overwhelming to resist. And for some reason they don’t believe they will get caught like everyone else.

It’s not your fault your politicians are criminals. So are ours and I didn’t do anything to cause it, even if I voted for them. They usually committed their crimes after that (exception Edwards). We can’t see into the future character of people. All we can do is catch crooks and prosecute them.

Sherri

Being the Change I Wish to See – Sherris last blog post..Religion and God’s Existence

I think they only ones who should be ashamed are the ones who did not vote.

Maybe too, we should consider term limits for politicians. Seems the longer they are in office without becoming a member of the hoi polloi the more likely they are to believe they can do no wrong. What is that statement from Lord Acton, “Power corrups and absolute power corrupts absolutely”?
bernie

From your mouth to God’s ears!

“Sure, we have a bad reputation in the world and it will probably never go away but Blago’s blatancy (and some suspect a little insanity) may just do the trick to finally clean up some of the corrupt Chicago Politics that have probably been here since the very first two people stood at the mouth of the Chicago river.”

DO YOU THINK THIS SCANDAL WILL DO IT?

Thanks! I forgot about Oprah! She certainly is a great representative of Chicago.

Unfortunately, I am not an ostrich. It is like watching a slow train wreck. You can’t keep your eyes off it!

I plan to keep blogging! Love it. And I have made new wonderful friends like you!

Yes, it is true. I am getting emails and phone calls about this scandal.

I guess it has international attention. He just goes merrily on signing bills as though nothing has happened.

No, I did not do it. But it rubs off a little when it is on the radio and TV all day!