Listen, I’ve Disliked Blago Since Before It Was Cool

Illinois Supreme Court: “No further action is required by the Secretary of State or any other official to make the Governor’s appointment of Roland Burris to the United States Senate valid under Illinois law.”

Dick Durbin, paraphrased by Reuters: “No one can occupy the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama until the governor of Illinois is removed and a new appointment can be certified.”

Or, as Andrew Jackson so eloquently put it: “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!”

Oh, remember the good ol’ days, when the Democrats were chastising the GOP for playing fast and loose with the Constitution?  Blago is Blago, but they have to seat Burris.  If they want to expel him after doing so for being friends with Blago, that’s a different discussion — but the only qualifications the Senate is authorized to judge an appointment on are those required by the Constitution of all Senators.  This whole schtick is getting really embarrassing to watch.  The Kentucky State Senate tried the same thing a few years ago (except to seat someone who clearly didn’t meet a residency requirement), and it was more or less when most people outside of the GOP Senate caucus agreed that David Williams had jumped the shark — his shining moment came when he declared (my numbers are likely wrong, but that doesn’t really hurt the point) that if the Senate voted to consider four years as ten years this vote would alter reality, more or less.

More from Durbin: “He said the Senate seat could remain vacant until Blagojevich is removed from office and the lieutenant governor takes over, making a fresh appointment.”  Right.  Because removal from office nullifies all the acts made by a governor while in office.  Neat trick, huh?