Burris must go, and we must have special election to name new senator

2 comments February 19th, 2009

There’s no doubt about it: Roland Burris withheld part of the truth to the state’s House Impeachment Committee. He even admits it, most likely because he’s probably on an FBI tape agreeing to try to raise funds for Rod Blagojevich’s campaign war chest, a contradiction of what he told the impeachment panel.

Burris has to resign. Otherwise, politicians will continue to scam the system as usual, figuring that Blago’s only crime was  that he failed to have three degrees of separation between himself and the shakedown people working his pay to play scheme.

And no, I do not think Gov. Pat Quinn should make the appointment for Burris’s replacement. I have no doubt he would be above board in his decision-making, but the problem now is that no Illinoisan in his or her right mind would believe it.

The mood of most people I talk to is that “they’re all corrupt.” Gallows humor about Illinois pols can be heard in every coffee shop and corner saloon. Folks are bitter, cynical and angry.

So, when Burris inevitably loses his Senate seat, let’s have a special election. Let the people decide who the next senator should be.

We’ve clearly had it with the political class, and we’re ready to kick them out of the game.  “Yer outta here.”