Thanks, Roland, for giving me an earwig… Heart’s song Magic Man…

When asked in a presser today how he can be on Capitol Hill and at impeachment hearings in Springfield on Wednesday, Burris said:

Well I am, I am the magic man.

When asked about his supporters pulling the race card he said:

I have never in my life and all of my years I’ve been elected to office thought anything about race. I’ve been elected four times in the state of Illinois and the great people of Illinois have seen the qualifications and the commitment Roland Burris has and race has never been a concern of mine.

When one looks at his Tomb in Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery, we see an entire section as follows:

Trail Blazer

First African-American in Illinois to become:

Illinois Attorney General 1991-95

Illinois State Comptroller 1979-91

Vice-President of Continental Illinois
National Bank 1964-73

National Bank Examiner U.S. Treasury Dept
(First Black in the Nation) 1963-64

President of the National Association of
State Comptrollers 1981-82

President of the National Association of
State Auditors, Comptrollers and
Treasurers 1985-86

S.I.U. Exchange Student to University of
Hamburg, Germany 1959-60

Photo Credit Politico.com Click for original

He’s never thought anything about race in all his life?

That’s the Seal of the State of Illinois above the Trail Blazer on the tomb by the way.

Update: Eric Zorn reprints his March, 2 1998 column regarding Burris’ “white boy” comment made about his Democratic Gubenatorial Primary rivals…

Burris: I look forward to serving our 13 million people with all of the crises that we have in this state and in this nation. And Illinois is need to have a full complement of representation and that’s what I’m seeking to do.

Q: What do you expect to happen upon your arrival in DC?

Burris: Well, I’m hoping and praying that I will be seated.

Q: Have you had any contact with the Obama Administration?

Burris: No I’ve not. None whatsoever. My people tried to reach out to reach out for them and, uh, {unintelligible. - Burris was turning around and looking at people behind him at the airport}

Q: How do you feel about your supporters bringing race into this issue here?

Burris: You know, I cannot control my supporters. I have never in my life and all of my years I’ve been elected to office thought anything about race. I’ve been elected four times in the state of Illinois and the great people of Illinois have seen the qualifications and the commitment Roland Burris has and race has never been a concern of mine. Certainly as a matter of fact, {interrupted to get closer to the microphones: Q: Sir? B: Oh, is there a problem? I have, um. I’m trying to talk to the young lady.} As a matter of fact I have looked upon the state of Illinois as the only state in the nation, think about this, that has elected four blacks statewide. Two United States Senators and two constitutional officers and now they have an appointed individual who is also black as United States Senator.

Q: Mr. Burris. Who do you plan to meet with and to do what you call these negotiations in Washington?

Burris: Well, I will be in touch with our senior senator, Dick Durbin, and hopefully he will have things outlined for me and set up there and we will proceed from there. I understand that he has a schedule for me from Harry Reid the majority leader and we will see what takes place there.

Q: Are you scheduled for Wednesday?

Burris: Wednesday, that’s correct.

Q: You’ve been subpoenaed to appear before the House Impeachment committee.

Burris: We’re handling that as well.

Q: How are you going to do that?

Burris: Well, I am, I am the Magic Man.

(more…)

The Illinois General Assembly is getting ready to strip Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) (Happy 52nd Birthday Rod!) of his power to appoint a replacement for President Elect Obama (D-IL) in the US Senate.

The state’s top two legislative leaders Tuesday said they will move fast to seize control of the process of selecting a replacement for

In separate statements, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones said they will call a special legislative session next week to repeal the state law that now gives the governor the power to fill Mr. Obama’s seat. Both said they will press instead for a special election to fill the remaining two years of Mr. Obama’s term.

“I am prepared to convene the House next Monday to change state law to provide for a special election for the U.S. Senate replacement,” Mr. Madigan said. “I would urge U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to take note of this action.”

This would be great! A special election will work even if Blagojevich does resign his seat as we called for yesterday and will at least give Illinoisans  a chance to seat a Republican as the Junior Senator from Illinois.

Let’s have that special election!

Governor Rod Blagojevich [Blah-GOY-o-vich] (D-IL) arrested this morning!

Just yesterday he said, “I don’t believe there’s any cloud that hangs over me. I think there’s nothing but sunshine hanging over me.” (source)

And this morning he was arrested at his home.

More very good information at The Capitol Fax Blog.

Like OJ, it seems that Governor “Hair” felt he’d gotten away with stuff for so long that nothing could touch him.

This blog calls on Governor Blagojevich to resign instanter so that Lt. Governor Quinn may assume the duties of Governor and appoint someone without any taint to complete President Elect Obama’s Senate term.

Merry Fitzmas!

More coverage:

Ann Althouse: Governor Blagojevich Arrested!, Hot Air, Instapundit, Michelle Malkin, Gateway Pundit, Outside the Beltway, Classical Values, Real Clear Politics Blog, Don Surber, Volokh, Political Byline, American Princess, Sister Toldjah, Fausta, Patterico’s Pontifications

Our post on Blagojevich’s quote about “Testicular Virility” is here.

Illinoize has a great new look! If you are interested in Illinois politics check out both Illinoize and The Capitol Fax Blog.