http://newsblogs.chicagotribun...1/burris-takes-vi.html
Waiting to be sworn in later this week as the new junior senator from Illinois, Roland Burris spent an hour today at City Hall soaking in praise from aldermen and Mayor Richard Daley.
The City Council approved a resolution lauding Burris for having "the intelligence, character and reason that are the attributes of a great leader."
"I am speechless, honestly. I am just moved by the actions of this great City Council body and the comments from all the aldermen and the mayor. It's just wonderful," Burris said.
Several aldermen bemoaned that senators did not seat Burris immediately after Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him to finish President-elect Barack Obama's Senate term.
"He should have been seated without question," Ald. Ed Smith (28th) said.
Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) said he supported holding a special election to fill the Obama vacancy but added, "There has never, ever been a challenge to Roland Burris' integrity."
Burris said the ordeal has been "an experience---something that helped me grow and to learn and to be a better senator."
Burris and Senate officials still are working on the details of his seating, but Burris said he hopes to be sworn in at 2 p.m. Thursday.
He declined to say if he would run for a full term in 2010 but brushed off questions that he could not raise funds for a statewide campaign.
"I wish you all could see what's come into my home and into my office," Burris told reporters. "There are calls coming in even from Europe, encouraging me. From the state of Maine, from the state of Washington, from the state of Texas, from the state of Florida. Calls coming in, saying, 'Roland, whatever we can do.' "
Burris also said he had no problem with being lampooned on "Saturday Night Live": "Wasn't that great?"
Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) originally planned to push a resolution calling on the Senate to seat Burris. The resolution, however, became moot when the Senate on Monday agreed to admit Burris.
"You bring another perspective because you are not a millionaire," said Lyle, who is Burris' alderman.
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said Burris has integrity and is a role model for him.
"That was the best pick (Blagojevich) could have possibly made ... to untaint the process," Beale said. Federal prosecutors charged Blagojevich with trying to sell the Senate seat to benefit himself and his family.
Say one thing, mean another. Welcome to the new Democratic majority, caving to the radicals at the CBC.
Looks like Harry Reid and Obama have already lost control of their minions.
Waiting to be sworn in later this week as the new junior senator from Illinois, Roland Burris spent an hour today at City Hall soaking in praise from aldermen and Mayor Richard Daley.
The City Council approved a resolution lauding Burris for having "the intelligence, character and reason that are the attributes of a great leader."
"I am speechless, honestly. I am just moved by the actions of this great City Council body and the comments from all the aldermen and the mayor. It's just wonderful," Burris said.
Several aldermen bemoaned that senators did not seat Burris immediately after Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him to finish President-elect Barack Obama's Senate term.
"He should have been seated without question," Ald. Ed Smith (28th) said.
Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) said he supported holding a special election to fill the Obama vacancy but added, "There has never, ever been a challenge to Roland Burris' integrity."
Burris said the ordeal has been "an experience---something that helped me grow and to learn and to be a better senator."
Burris and Senate officials still are working on the details of his seating, but Burris said he hopes to be sworn in at 2 p.m. Thursday.
He declined to say if he would run for a full term in 2010 but brushed off questions that he could not raise funds for a statewide campaign.
"I wish you all could see what's come into my home and into my office," Burris told reporters. "There are calls coming in even from Europe, encouraging me. From the state of Maine, from the state of Washington, from the state of Texas, from the state of Florida. Calls coming in, saying, 'Roland, whatever we can do.' "
Burris also said he had no problem with being lampooned on "Saturday Night Live": "Wasn't that great?"
Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) originally planned to push a resolution calling on the Senate to seat Burris. The resolution, however, became moot when the Senate on Monday agreed to admit Burris.
"You bring another perspective because you are not a millionaire," said Lyle, who is Burris' alderman.
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said Burris has integrity and is a role model for him.
"That was the best pick (Blagojevich) could have possibly made ... to untaint the process," Beale said. Federal prosecutors charged Blagojevich with trying to sell the Senate seat to benefit himself and his family.
Say one thing, mean another. Welcome to the new Democratic majority, caving to the radicals at the CBC.
Looks like Harry Reid and Obama have already lost control of their minions.
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