Burris simply destroying his political career

You know this column from Rockford-Register Star is something that I have had in mind for a while since the big news broke about Sen. Burris and the phone tap with him an Robert Blagojevich (he's the brother of Ousted governor). This is something I haven't yet seen in my regular sources. In fact people are still calling for Burris to resign his seat although he has no desire to do that. Why should he? He was willing to take an appointment from such an untrustworthy and dishonest then Governor.

I’m tired, dog-tired. I took care of six dogs in one house for six days. I’m all hounded out. It’s somewhat like how I feel about our junior senator, Roland Burris. I’m dog-tired of hearing from him. It’s not just the taped conversation where Burris is offering a fundraiser for now disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

It’s how Burris conducted himself that makes me sad and tired. Roland Burris is his own worst enemy. He, by himself, is slowly destroying an admirable political career. I’m reminded of a doddering old man scratching and clawing his way back to political relevancy. Burris wanted the U.S. Senate seat too much.

It seems, at least in the court of public opinion, the people of Illinois no longer have the same favorable view of Burris that they once had. For Burris to risk his legacy for a Senate seat showed a lack of character. Do I want Burris to resign? Not really, he has less than a third of his Senate term before Illinois decides on a new senator or, of course, possibly keeps the current one. Burris will do an adequate job in the Senate, nothing special. He will follow the Democratic leadership.

I can understand Burris not heeding calls to resign. It seems the Senate chase was all about him, not the state of Illinois. But what about us; what about the people of Illinois? Don’t we deserve better? Why do we continue to put too many flawed individuals in positions of authority over us? Why do we keep playing the sucker in a state peppered with political corruption and incompetence? Why don’t we demand better? Better ideas, better attitudes and better people are needed in our state government right now.

An admirable political career? Hmmm he was the first black elected to statewide office in the late 1970s. He also have had unsuccessful runs for either the US Senate, IL Governor, and Mayor of Chicago. Since he took this appointment from Ousted governor well things aren't looking so bright. If he was ever considered honest, that's been disproven, especially going by his actions. Especially going by a recorded conversation by wiretap.

Burris will probably still have his supporters. I suppose that's good, but unfortunately for Burris in his one last chance for glory, he may well have hurt himself. Chances are if he ran again, he may lose worse than he did in his last attempt for IL's governorship. In that last contest he faced off against then Congressman Ousted governor.