Speaking of resignations, Herr Krause. It seems like the honorable
Democratic surrogate Burris is doing so under pretence of corruption
in your blue-vote State of Illinois.

Lets see if this cut and paste is lengthier than yours, shall we?

Roland Burris, resign

February 18, 2009

The benefit of the doubt had already been stretched thin and taut by
the time Roland Burris offered his third version of the events leading
to his appointment to the U.S. Senate. It finally snapped like a
rubber band, popping him on that long Pinocchio nose of his, when he
came out with version four.

Let's see if we have it right: Burris had zero contact with any of
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's cronies about his interest in the Senate seat
being vacated by President Barack Obama—unless you count that
conversation with former chief of staff Lon Monk, and, on further
reflection, the ones with insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John
Wyma and, oh yeah, the governor's brother and fundraising chief,
Robert Blagojevich. But Burris didn't raise a single dollar for the
now ex-governor as a result of those contacts because that could be
construed as a quid pro quo and besides, everyone he asked refused to
donate.

The story gets worse with every telling.

Enough. Roland Burris must resign.



His protests that he had nothing to hide just don't square with his
obvious attempts to hide something, as evidenced by the evolving
truths in three sworn statements to the House impeachment panel. His
Jan. 8 testimony before that panel contradicted the affidavit he'd
filed three days earlier. On Feb. 5 he submitted a "clarification"
detailing the contacts he'd failed to mention on the stand.

Now he has admitted that the governor's brother hit him up to raise
campaign cash, and in at least one conversation, Burris raised his
prospects for being appointed to the Senate.

Rob Blagojevich's attorney has acknowledged that the feds likely have
at least one of those conversations on tape. Burris told reporters
Monday night that he "talked to some people about trying to see if we
could put a fundraiser on," but "they said, 'We aren't giving money to
the governor.' "

The hole just gets deeper and deeper, and Burris keeps digging. He has
no credibility.

And many Democrats are losing theirs.

Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D- Chicago), who
chaired the impeachment panel, sat on Burris' amended testimony for
more than a week.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed that
no Senate appointment by the disgraced Rod Blagojevich would stand—
until Blagojevich appointed Burris.

They told Burris to go to the impeachment committee and testify fully
and truthfully. And he did not.

And now what? "He went before the state Legislature and he obviously
convinced them, but we'll have to see… I hope he didn't try to avoid
or mislead anyone..." Reid said Tuesday. Durbin is on an overseas trip
and hasn't bothered to comment on the tomfoolery back home. Late
Tuesday came word that the Senate Ethics Committee has started a
preliminary inquiry.

Finally, remember that Illinois Democrats failed to do right by the
people and schedule a special election for this Senate vacancy. If
they had done that, voters today might be weighing the lost
credibility of candidate Burris, instead of expressing their disgust
with Sen. Burris.

Disgraceful. Disgraceful all around. There's only one honorable action
for Burris: resign. Strip this whole wretched process out of the hands
of the politicians and give it back to the people.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/o...,6946762.story