Burris will be seated. All the blather from Reid, and a few others, has just been public relations cover. Harry knows, and knew, full well that he probably can’t block Burris on constitutional grounds.
(The constitutional clause is admittedly not totally clear and the courts have not made a once-and-forever ruling. But I feel safe in saying the balance of legal opinion is against Reid.)
It clearly won’t be blocked in Illinois either unless Blago fumbles the paperwork in some manner such as not getting the proper letter to the Secretary Of State.
So what is really happening? With this appointment Blago has firmed up his support in Chicago. It gives him the firm backing of black leaders there. Mayor Daley, not black, also is happy because the matter gets settled without any disturbances in heavily black neighborhoods.
The appointment is met with disgust by Republicans and some Democrats. But they weren’t by now Blago’s friends anyway, So he lost little or nothing with them.
And despite any posturing in public statements the Illinois Democrats in the legislature will not impeach Blago unless he is so clearly doomed there can be no point in not doing so.
