Roland Burris was appointed by a governor with the constitutional authority to do so. The Legislature met and did not strip this power away.

As an Illinois resident i feel this position by the Democratic party is not what i want. If the governor is not impeached because of lack of evidence, if the charges against him do not hold up, if we try to hold an election which would cost millions we dont have, all this could take months.

I in no way approve of the governor breaking the law but that has yet to be proved.

He is innocent until proven guilty.

The governor has political enemies and he has been under constant criticism since taking office.

Justice should prevail. I personally want that seat filled now!!!

As an Illinois resident I say: Political machine hacks like Burris are an embarrassment to our state. Jeez, is this the best we can do? Put in a Blagojevich campaign contributor?

Keep this jerk out as long as legally possible. To paraphase Martin Luther King, let's judge Burris on the content of his CHARACTER, not the color of his skin--no matter whether he's mauve or purple.

Burris' poor character is not what we need in the Senate!

Isn't Mr. Burris' problem with the Illinois Secy of State, who did not sign his paperwork? Why isn't he protesting and giving press conferences back home, in front of the Secretary of State's Office?

If I understood yesterday's news correctly, his paperwork was rejected because it was not signed by the Secy of State of Illinois, and it is required to be signed by the Secy of State in order for the candidate to be accepted.

So why is he bringing this to Washington? It seems like someone in Illinois has an agenda to embarrass Obama ...

Watching it all implode into 4 year olds bickering with each other is the most fun.

The Democrats are putting on a spectacle to distract us from their real course of business: increased spending, forfeiture of 401(k) accounts, censorship of the airwaves.

So buying Senate seats is OK if you are the daughter of an assassinated President?

Frankly, until Illinois' Secretary of State Jesse White (also an African-American, BTW) certifies the appointment, the Senate is still completely within it's rights. Burris' first legal battle is with his fellow Illinois democrat.

In a perfect world, Blago would have stepped down (or at least delegated his appointment power to the Lt Gov) in order to avoid this mess. But my home state's governor doesn't live in a perfect world -- though he's clearly not living in the real world, either.

But Secretary White is doing Harry Reid a favor, for the moment. In all likelihood, Burris will prevail in his mandamus action here in Illinois soon, however, and the Senate's hand will truly be forced.

one stroke of the pen and he's turned this whole thing into a pissing contest by proxy between the US Senate, Jesse White and Roland Burris. I'm glad my cats aren't this clever, I'd be doomed.

Meanwhile, Reid does his best to ensure that the Democrats don't make any actual gains from the Nov. elections by refusing to seat both Franken and Burris. In the words of Jed Clampet, "pitiful, just pitiful..."

As another resident of Illinois I couldn't be more embarassed by this. I blame the majority of this on Blagojevich. I really wish we had a recall provision to remove an imcompetent and delusional governor. I frankly cannot believe Blago was re-elected, but the Republicans had to run one of the least likable people ever against him in the last election.

No matter the fate of Burris, I want the legislature to move quickly on impeachment and remove Blago ASAP.

What a putz Reid is.

I like Jesse White. It's too bad he was called upon to do this to buy time. If the Illinois House doesn't manage an impeachment then I predict White will sign by week's end. But then again, I thought Blago would step down.

Seat Burris so the rest of the Illinois Dem Party can start the campaign to unseat him in 22 months. Don't seat him and drag out this pathetic display.

The Senate Dems don't have a leg to stand on -- they should let Burris take his seat and the issue will go away quickly. Blago did nothing illegal, Burris did nothing illegal, and the appointment will stand eventually. Why not now? What's the point of all this?

Once again Harry Reid is showing himself as a weak and incompetent leader. He should be replaced now.

I think a recall provision would be a disaster in Illinois. Recall provisions have to be used responsibly and the politicians in Illinois are incapable of that. A recall intiative would become a standard strategy for any losing party in the Governor's race.

And it's you. On what basis do you claim CK is "buying" a Senate seat? Why do you imagine that a statement like that, trying to create racism as if we didn't already have enough of it to go around, is worth making?

Burris must be seated ASAP!!!!.. Sen. Ried racism has ben outted!!

Diane Feinstein!

She helped break the Blago engineered impasse with her capacity for fairness, justice and doing what is morally right.

She has consistantly proven herself to be a conciliator and a wise woman...she has always kept her dignity and composure even while withstanding slurs against first, her gender, then her political origins, San Francisco, then of course her religion/ethnicity, and now, she gets to be ignored as the hated and despised (by those who hold fiercely to their one, and ONLY frame of reference) "wealthy white woman in politics" ...

I, among millions of other Californians, are deeply grateful she didn't take the easy road many years ago and spend her all her days at Spas and Union Square shops , quick jaunts to Carmel for those "perfect shoes" or being a Tuesday morning docent at the De Young...she could have done all of that, perhaps also dabbled in selling restored Victorians as a hobby, and NO ONE would have found fault with her for such a life of privilege...how DARE she want to USEFUL and an agent of CHANGE for her country??