DISQUS

carbon deforestation · 11 months ago

video feed is up, mics aren't on - no audio

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Looks like a nice crowd. Suppose they expect some action today?

Cheswick · 11 months ago

I heard someone say the room mic is up now. Then, silence. Is anyone talking?

carbon deforestation · 11 months ago

audio on now, roll call

Blue in DuPage · 11 months ago

audio is up

wordslinger · 11 months ago

Everybody's got their the-national-press-is-watching duds on.

carbon deforestation · 11 months ago

Those campaign finance records won't be very useful to this committee (more useful to the USA) it takes days to comb through and make the connections between contributions and contracts either via your own database or using Hynes's open book tool.

carbon deforestation · 11 months ago

Fritchey looks even darker today. Did he spray on some extra for the CNN cams?

OneMan · 11 months ago

Reading exhibit 45... Wow....

ArchPundit · 11 months ago

-oath of office

Only in his own mind, only in his own mind

wordslinger · 11 months ago

Currie made a point of calling him Attorney General. Durkin called him mister. No senator.

Anon-athon · 11 months ago

No opening statement? Hmmm...

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Love the lawyer whispering in his ear!

OneMan · 11 months ago

Here it is...

http://media.suntimes.com/images/cds/pdf/aryame...

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Roland didn't read the Complaint? REALLY?

OneMan · 11 months ago

He hasn't read the complaint? Seriously?

Lurker · 11 months ago

He's conferring with his lawyer on virtually every answer.

bmrnp · 11 months ago

Boy, he can't even answer his own questions! His lawyer has to whisper every answer in his ear. That's very suspicious.

ArchPundit · 11 months ago

Rod probably hasn't read it either.

OneMan · 11 months ago

Fritch.. Stop defending Roland, let him do it...

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

I can't get on!!!!!!!!

Lurker · 11 months ago

What's Fritchey's problem? Sheesh

Bill · 11 months ago

Nice going Fritchey!
What does all this have to do with Rod?
Burris is not on trial.

Toni H. · 11 months ago

The guy behind Currie is picking his nose! For God's sake Man - get a puffs!!!!

WCIL · 11 months ago

What's Fritchy got to hide? He seems rather nervous today

walter sobchak · 11 months ago

Why is Fritchey attempting to shield Burris? This is making the Democrats look even worse.

OneMan · 11 months ago

Also nice job trying to avoid mentioning the name of the attorney.

Nearly Normal · 11 months ago

C-SPAN has the hearing on cable. Comcast cable 21 for the central Illinois. Check your cable access if available.

wordslinger · 11 months ago

Lawyer Sam might as well add that 's' to his last name. Nobody gets it right.

Bill · 11 months ago

It is making the Democrats look fair, Wally.

Roy Cone · 11 months ago

Burris' lawyers are from his own firm (Gonzalez, et al.). According to its website, Tim Wright III used to be Bobby Rush's chief of staff, and Burris himself is "senior counsel" with the firm. One would think that Burris can answer his own questions without assistance.

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

HOLD THE BUS! The Governor's defense attorney, Sam Adam Jr. is offering the senate vacancy to Burris?????

Lurker · 11 months ago

The questions aren't unfair. Possibly unnecessary, but not unfair.

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

===offering the senate vacancy to Burris?===

Um, yeah. Where've you been?

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

He's Chancey Gardner?

Hair today, gone tomorrow · 11 months ago

Wow, Roland must have been one heck of a lobbyist. He can't remember his clients.

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

Rich,

===Um, yeah. Where've you been?===

Mostly answering irate phone calls. Sorry.

Macoupin County Kid · 11 months ago

"HOLD THE BUS! The Governor’s defense attorney, Sam Adam Jr. is offering the senate vacancy to Burris?????"

WAIT A MINUTE! The Governor has been arrested????

Nearly Normal · 11 months ago

C-SPAN also has the hearing online. Go to their website c-span.org and then click on the link for live radio/TV. The first c-span channel has the hearing.

Bill · 11 months ago

Spare us the cheap prosecutor tricks. Why ask Burris to testify to the public record? OK, Roland, off the top of your head, rattle off all of your clients since 2002.

wndycty · 11 months ago

Is Durkin auditioning for AG?

Porcupine · 11 months ago

You would think Burris would be better prepared for some of these questions...he must've spent most of his time the past couple of days buying office furniture.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Roland shouldn't have brought his lawyer along. It just looks bad. Not that the lawyer is doing anything wrong, but that voters should expect Burris to be able to present himself in a more open manner.

So far, the Committee is doing exactly what I thought it would do. It is asking questions that shouldn't have to be asked. With each question, and with each passing minute, and with each Burris response, Burris is getting soiled, regardless.

Every time his lawyer pipes in, Burris loses credibility.

Burris didn't get elected, but we are seeing him as a candidate. Candidates don't present themselves as though they are at a trial.

Not good.

walter sobchak · 11 months ago

I didn't leave my buddies lying face down in the mud in Viet Nam to be called 'Wally' William.

wndycty · 11 months ago

Is Durkin trying to establish Burris as a stalking horse for Rod in 2002?

Bill · 11 months ago

Sorry Wally. You should have gone to Canada.

Levois · 11 months ago

Not liking Durkin's questions!

A Citizen · 11 months ago

Ms. Chairwoman Currie, do you now or have you ever had a contract with Perry Mason and if not, why not?

Cheswick · 11 months ago

When Burris stalls, he reminds me of those pro bowlers just before they throw that 9th frame.

Chicago Cynic · 11 months ago

Wow. Roland seems even more clueless than I imagined.

BandCamp · 11 months ago

Any momentum the Repubs hope to keep in this ordeal is fading fast. Why is Burris here? This is futile. This is about Burris' ego. Move on to the impeachment vote tomorrow. This seems to be a useless sideshow.

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

I think Mr. Burris should refrain from the term "nobody's business"

wndycty · 11 months ago

Durkin is not concerned with the here and now, he is beating up Burris for re-election. The impeachment panel has become a joke.

Cheswick · 11 months ago

Ask him about that mausoleum, where'd he get it, how much.

wordslinger · 11 months ago

Windy City, you bet. This is good stuff.

Lou, I think you understand.

Bill, Walter's channeling the Big Lebowski, dude. And The Dude Abides.

Anonymous · 11 months ago

wndycty - that is exactly the claim

carbon deforestation · 11 months ago

Durkin and the Republicans are smart (politically) to get Burris on as many different topics as Currie will allow. No other time do "senators" have to go under oath for a political grilling. I agree with Lang, some of these questions aren't relevant but they sure will come back to haunt "senator" burris. Won't be necessary though, GOP, he won't survive the Democratic primary.

Bill · 11 months ago

Lou's right. The purpose of this whole line of questioning is to make Roland look bad. It is not working. So what if it "ironic"?

Chicago Cynic · 11 months ago

This is an amazing show.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Durkin's questions are not surprising. His line of questioning may be uncomfortable, but Burris opened himself up to these questions by accepting a corrupted governor's appointment.

These men were allies politically, and they are allies today in a very public way. For the Democrats to complain doesn't help Burris.

Former State Employee 2 · 11 months ago

Roland just alluded to the fact the if he were AG when this happened to the Governor.....would he have read the complaint then?

Deep South · 11 months ago

Durkin is the one who is looking bad.

wndycty · 11 months ago

Is this circus about impeaching Rod or just tarnishing Burris.

Cheswick · 11 months ago

So many hypotheticals. Ridiculous.

Anyway, I thought the Republicans liked Roland Burris. Why so much hostility?

Bill · 11 months ago

Durkin just made a fool out of himself.
That's more like it, Mary! SENATOR Burris.

BandCamp · 11 months ago

OOHHH Rep. Flowers....OMG. Save it.

Hair today, gone tomorrow · 11 months ago

Rep. Flowers, a question please.

Mo · 11 months ago

Political, yes...He got the senate seat. Personal, yes...It's being etched in his tombstone.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Rep. Flowers did an excellent job.

But we're not through.

Levois · 11 months ago

The show is about to start isn't it?

Bill · 11 months ago

Black is such a blowhard. What does releasing the report have to do with Burris?
Go back to sleep!

Nearly Normal · 11 months ago

Now will everyone on the panel get their two minutes of face time on the show?

OOh, Rep. Black is getting testy!

Little Egypt · 11 months ago

Frtchey's being WAY TOO defensive.

Bakersfield · 11 months ago

Bill, despite Harry Reid's best efforts it is not "SENATOR Burris" just yet -"Political Opportunist Burris" definitely.

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

Mr. Adams sits at the table with Gensen, but he is NOT Blago's defense attorney?

Hair today, gone tomorrow · 11 months ago

From the Trib,
Lawyers for Gov. Rod Blagojevich have filed a sealed motion to remove U.S. Atty. Patrick From Fitzgerald and his assistants from prosecution of the case against the governor, a federal judge disclosed today.

WCIL · 11 months ago

So Adams is not a lawyer for the Gov's defense even though he has sat a the defense table throughout the meetings

wndycty · 11 months ago

The GOP sees today's proceedings as an opportunity to set the table 2010. The issue at hand (Rod's impeachment) is not relevant and is the furthest from their minds.

Barny's Burger Barn · 11 months ago

It seems to me that the GOP members, fed up with their insignificant role as a minority party in the GA, are trying to turn this impeachment hearing into a witch hunt for things having zero bearing on how Mr. Burris came about being named to the vacant US Senate seat. They need to get on with it already! They have what they need to make the vote and kick it on down the street! We as a state can ill afford this BS gamesmenship by the GOP and I hope they don't pull this stunt on the House floor; this state will be broke in the next 30 to 60 days and we have a lot of actual important work ahead!

Macoupin County Kid · 11 months ago

"We as a state can ill afford this BS gamesmenship by the GOP and I hope they don’t pull this stunt on the House floor; this state will be broke in the next 30 to 60 days and we have a lot of actual important work ahead!"

So let's blame the minority....lol....

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

Hair today, that's posted in another thread. Quite a while ago, in fact. Check the blog before posting stuff, please. Thanks.

Bakersfield · 11 months ago

Oh come on Barny- like this hearing is actually going to delay the impeachment one day, one minute.
Burris needed to testify and to face questions about how he and Blago's symbiotic relationship.

Cheswick · 11 months ago

Off topic: Why have we been lead to believe Sam Adam Jr. is part of the criminal defense team? If he's not, what is he?

God help us · 11 months ago

The Republicans on the committee are demonstrating why the House GOP keeps becoming a smaller minority.

Bill Black fell off the anger management wagon again, and Jim Durkin may or may not have a mental retardation.

Why is Burris even sitting for this witch hunt?

Bill · 11 months ago

Burris is making the repubs look petty, vindictive, and rude. He is a master showman.

Bakersfield · 11 months ago

You know what, most of you are right, this is the fault of the GOP. All of it. Everything that has happened since the 2nd Tuesday in December is George Ryan's fault.

Glad I am now on your side.

Just My Opinion · 11 months ago

December 16 was his press conference

I knew it before term one · 11 months ago

Fritchey has lost my vote for the 5th CD.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Have you seen the polls people? If you have, then you would better understand that when the GOP asks questions to Burris, the party is asking questions the vast majority of Illinoians are also asking.

Open your eyes!

The GOP is not misstepping by being cynical.

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

Thousands of people were involved in this?

Can Roland Burris be worthy of THAT much praise?

Southern Illinois · 11 months ago

No one better qualified? of course he's the "Magic Man"... How about letting the people of this great State have a say if Mr. Burris is the most qualified.

Bill · 11 months ago

You all will have a say when Senator Burris runs for re-election in 2010.

wndycty · 11 months ago

I think Rod shouldn't have made the appointment, but its legal and no matter how hard the committee tries to beat up Burris there is absolutely nothing they can do to stop Burris. It has to be killing them.

Macoupin County Kid · 11 months ago

"How about letting the people of this great State have a say if Mr. Burris is the most qualified."

Ain't gonna happen....

Fan of the Game · 11 months ago

===Why is Burris even sitting for this witch hunt?===

Because it is a requirement Harry Reid set for his seating as a US senator.

Also, how can anyone be surprised that any politicans--Republican or Democrat--would use this circus to their own advantage? It's what they do.

Cheswick · 11 months ago

What question remains unasked? What more do we need from this witness.

Phineas J. Whoopee · 11 months ago

I bet their are about 200 staffers, reporters and politicos firing their engines to look into that 1.2 million dollar loan-which I'm sure stinks to high heaven. Noone and I mean noone is dumb enough to give Burris 1.2 mil for nothing and then forget about it.

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

The 17th amendment to the constitution came about due to corruption in Illinois Government during the election of Senator Lorimer in 1909. The 17th amendment allows for the appointment of a US Senator by a sitting Governor. Like it or not, corrupt or not, Blago is still sitting as of 4:25 PM today. Google: Lorimer & the 17th amendment.

Bakersfield · 11 months ago

Hey, Fritchey now has to suck up to the African-American population in the 5th! But yeah, as a Republican who will be crossing over to vote in the primary I will be leaning away from him after today.

I knew it before term one · 11 months ago

It breaks my heart that these guys can't ask a clear question. Chapin should have said, "A prosecutor has to not only have an opinion before filing a case, he must also have evidence in support of the case, or he can be sanctioned for just throwing stuff at the feet of the court. He has to substantiate his filings. You said you supported AG Madigan’s motion and you said you would have filed the same motion to have him disqualified to serve. What would you have put forth in your motion to support your request to have the court remove him from office?”

RobRoy · 11 months ago

Burris apologists need to understand that he's brought all this on himself by accepting the Senate appointment from Blago. If he was not prepared for this then he's either ignorant or naive beyond the pale.

Animous · 11 months ago

I'm late to the testimony and might have missed it but, has anyone bothered to ask him why he accepted an appointment to USS from a governor whom Burris said should resign a few weeks earlier???

Speaking at Will · 11 months ago

Good Lord, what a waste of time that was. Off to washington for Burris. Hopefully I never have to see his face again.

Fan of the Game · 11 months ago

===If he was not prepared for this then he’s either ignorant or naive beyond the pale.===

Who said he wasn't prepared for it?

Pot calling kettle · 11 months ago

I see Steve Brown is acting as one of Burris's aides for the afternoon.

Bill · 11 months ago

Excellent job, SENATOR Burris! I'm proud to have you as my US Senator.

Odd · 11 months ago

When did Steve Brown become Sgt at Arms of the committee? Maybe just being nice but he looked like one of Roland's handlers leading him out of the committee room.

walter sobchak · 11 months ago

Bill's world view, already limited by how far he has stuck his head up our soon to be impeached Governor's colon, would be much improved, if after the impeachment, coming back to reality, he watches 'The Big Lebowski.' You have no frame of reference here, Bill, you're like a child who has wandered into the middle of a movie and wants to know what it's about...

Say WHAT? · 11 months ago

Rich,
Are you still at the hearing?

Cheswick · 11 months ago

As a downstater, I'm much more confident in Roland Burris's abilities to represent the entire state than say Jesse Jackson, Jr., or Danny Davis. I hope I don't regret saying that.

Bill · 11 months ago

I know exactly what it is all about Wally.