SENATOR BURRIS

As a former resident of Illinois, I am from Belleville originally, I want to weigh in on this Soap Opera in Illinois State Government. Today, it looks like Roland Burris will be admitted to the US Senate.

Many people have said this would NEVER happen. Senate Majority Leader, Harry "Scary" Reid said just last week that he would not allow Burris to be seated. Dick "the Dick" Durbin, the sitting Illinois Senator also said this would NEVER happen. My dear mother in law last weekend told me she did not think it would happen. And yet, it seems to be ready to take place.

Why? Isn't the Illinois Governor a crook? Didn't he try to sell the Senate seat? Isn't there a criminal trail ready to start? Well, maybe and maybe not.

First, let's drift back in time. Most of you do not know anything about History. Senators were always appointed by the State Governor. Much like the House of Lords, that the Senate was design around, these were never elected positions. The original goal was to balance the large states with big populations with the small states with small populations. The House would be elected by popular vote. The Senate would be appointed by the States. Governors tended to appoint friends and supporters...duh. Then in 1913, we passed the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. This provided for direct election of Senators and replacement by appointment in the case of death or resignation.

Zoom forward to today. The legally elected Governor of Illinois has the right to appoint the Senator to replace Obama. There really are not rules about who or who may not be appointed. Truth be known....I'll bet favors have always been exchanged for these and other appointments. Regardless, this is how the system works.

So, Roland Burris will be the new Senator. It is legal and nobody is going to try to stop a Black man from becoming Senator to Replace Barrack Obama. If I had been the Governor, I would have appointed myself. I still think he is going to be out of work soon.