Top Dems won't budge on Burris

An interesting tidbit on this last twist in the corruption story of Rod Blagojevich from the Politico:

Reid also hinted there may be some room for negotiation over the Burris situation, although where that middle ground exists is unclear. He also said the Senate might very well accept a Burris appointment if it were made by a new Illinois governor or by the lieutenant governor Pat Quinn.

"I’m an old trial lawyer," Reid said. "There’s always room to negotiate."

Also Reid talks about the use of the race angle:

To be sure, Reid has been reacting all weekend to news reports that revealed he called Blagojevich about the Senate seat and allegedly told the Illinois governor he thought Jackson, Jones and Rep. Danny Davis -- all black Democrats -- might have trouble winning statewide in Illinois. Reid said he's done nothing to try to block these potential candidates -- and says he believes such conversations with the governor may indeed have been picked up by the Blagojevich wiretaps.

"He's [Blagojevich] making this up to divert attention," Reid said on Meet the Press. "Jesse Jackson Jr. is someone I think would be a good senator. … Anyone to suggest anything racial is part of the Blagojevich spin."

To be sure when everyone made their statement about the attempted appointment of Roland Burris to the US Senate, every said that there's nothing against the former state comptroller and attorney general they're concerned about who made the appointment. If times were different I can't say I'd be opposed to it because Burris may well not be a bad choice. The problem might be the appointer. I'm glad to see that Sen. Harry Reid might be open to allowing Burris to serve in the US Senate. I'd look forward to the results of these negotiations.

Article via Capitol Fax, however the thread I link to talk about updates regarding the Special Investigative Committee that is investigating any possible charges for Blagojevich's impeachment.

BTW, read this article entitled "Harry Reid's Unhappy New Year".