DISQUS

VanillaMan · 10 months ago

Sometimes, a bit of pointed meanness works.

I believe that pointed meanness is the duty of voters. If politicians don't like it, they can find other work.

Roland Burris wanted to be a US Senator in the worst way. Good thing he didn't want to be a fireman or we would have lost the entire Shawnee National Forest if there was a fire there.

Three weeks? Tough. No excuses will be acceptable. Getting rhetorical rocks thrown at you is what should be expected if you want to be a US Senator.

Either wear a helmet Senator, or hide in your Taj Rolando for coverage.

You Go Boy · 10 months ago

We (well,me anyway) are so ginned up to attack pol's due to the disgust factor being elephantine, fairness dictates you take a breath an assess the reasons/excuses. There's probably something to what Durbin said (I rarely make that observation). Give Rolland a few months then see if any criticism is due.

babs · 10 months ago

Should we wait a few months for his office to answer their phones? There is a basic level of office administration that anyone should be able to accomplish - in no time. I bet he could have a campaign office staffed and supplied in a week. Why not a Senate office?

Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan · 10 months ago

That's what you get with all of these "professional campaigners" in office instead of "public servants" there to do a job and accualy work.

Shore · 10 months ago

It would be interesting to see if the guy from colorado who is also new to d.c. is having similar problems.

That said, even as a Republican I am inclined to give the guy a break for now on getting his office up and going. Obama had 6 months to get ready for day 1-they start planning transitions in the summer and few if any agencies even have their #2's (Deputy Secretaries or "D") on line yet.

If this is going on in a month, then it will be time to worry.

Chicago Cynic · 10 months ago

Rich,

I think you're cutting Roland way too much slack here. Roland's vision for becoming a Senator was always very simple - he wanted to be called Senator and get the perks. Nothing more. Nothing less.

He has no idea of what it means to be a Senator and no ability to carry out the job. He's been on the job almost a month. He has no clue. That's unlikely to change even with all the help he's getting from Harry Reid.

wordslinger · 10 months ago

The legendary Prince of Darkness, Robert Novak of Joliet, when faced with a politician or public official who refused to return his calls, would leave this message:

"Tell him there are sources and there are targets."

And he backed it up, too.

Nearly Normal · 10 months ago

There were a lot of good people working in Obama's Washington senate office. Many no doubt moved to jobs in the West Wing or to work for other senators after the election. Good staff can be difficult to find but surely someone would have clued Burris into that situation a long time ago. The fact that he did not have a chief of staff to do the work of getting the rest of the staff together is his problem.

Fairfield · 10 months ago

I phoned Sen. Burris in DC on Friday afternoon about the stimulus bill (pro) and got through on 2 rings. Sen. Durbin's office was swamped.

Chicago Cynic · 10 months ago

But he does have a Chief of Staff - Darrel Thompson - he was supplied by Harry Reid's office.

Niles Township · 10 months ago

Burris should enjoy his 2 year stint. There is no way he will even be nominated again.

Amy · 10 months ago

oh, this story just sounds phony to me. who in their right mind would reach out to get Roland to do anything right now? you have two senators, pick the one who knows what he is doing...Durbin. sure Roland should pick up the phones, but why waste time with someone who is, and always will be, behind.

Rich Miller · 10 months ago

Amy, Burris is the US Senator. You don't think reporters ought to call him and ask questions?

Amy · 10 months ago

you are correct about reporters. but the story about reaching Burris started with some downstater saying he could not get through. citizens who want something done should reach out to Durbin.

I do think, though, that it is interesting how one decides which senator to call, since we have two. for service, there are no districts, you just pick. have never looked at what kind of reports they do....yearly reports on calls, letters, visits, but did see the post Hillary report on things done in office. i'm calling the one who does the most. have not seen a report from Durbin, but we all know that he's always been with it.

Adam Smith · 10 months ago

This is absolutely fair criticism. There is ample support staff in the Senate that jumps to action to get members' up and running. Staff? Roland has had more than ample time to hire up at least the first handful of the 30-or-so staffers he will eventually get.

Time to stop sketching out new lines for the his monument and get his act together. This is not rocket science. Answering phones and responding to constituents is always job one.

Arthur Andersen · 10 months ago

Cut the guy some slack.

He's had a heck of a time finding a stonemason willing to work at night out at the mausoleum to add all the new trailblazing achievements, let alone not get lost in the Capitol and see that his phones are answered.

"Customer Service" and "Roland Burris' office" are almost never found in the same sentence and this is just another example.

jimbo · 10 months ago

I called Burris' office SATURDAY about the stimulus & got thru.