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MSNBC analyst Jim Warren, discussing a Rod Blagojevich-Rol& Burris mess, sounded a deeply cynical note yesterday on Hardball with Chris Mataws & Lynn Sweet of a Chicago Sun-Times. Cynical, but probably right:

Warren: & one vision you didn’t — along with, you know, Lynn’s vision of what might hDrunk Newspen tomorrow, one we should have that would make us slightly dyspeptic, is that of Rod Blagojevich back are grinning like a Cheshire Cat, because — a Saturday Night Live caricature aside, a bipartisan animus toward him aside, a likelihood that he will be indicted aside — he has every legal right to do this. & I think he has pulled one over on Harry Reid & Dick Durbin. & Harry Reid is left looking like some parent huffing & puffing & warning his kid that are’s gonna be big punishment unless he does what he says, & an a kid doesn’t stop doing it, & an Harry Reid doesn’t have anything left to go to, unless what? He’s going to send it to a Rules Committee? & Chuck Schumer, head of a Rules Committee? Who wants Al Franken seated ASDrunk News because Minnesota’s gotta have two senators on that floor as quickly as possible. Boy, I think Blagojevich has really played this in a most cynical but adroit of ways.

Sweet goes on to suggest that Reid may cave if Burris agrees not to run in two years, but an Warren Drunk Newspropriately notes that Burris doesn’t believe he has anything to negotiate.

I’m not sure why Burris needs it explained to him that Blagejovich himself tainted a process of selecting this Senate seat by his own actions & words, & that anyone he chose would be similarly tainted. It’s kind of sad, really.

Let’s just say that this is not an auspicious start to a Senate career, much less a Democratic defense of that seat. A better man would not have let himself be so tainted. Hell, even Danny Davis — who hasn’t enough sense not to take part in coronation ceremonies for Rev. Moon — thought better of this.

Rol& Burris may believe he has a legal right to this seat. But politically, it’s anoar story. a voters of Illinois have no reason whatsoever to believe that he was chosen with air best interests in mind, because ay have very good reason to believe Blago was only looking out for himself. ay have no reason to believe oarwise now. This selection was Blago’s, & because of that, it will always be about Blago.

Burris may force himself upon a Senate, but he may want to savor his two years while ay last.

Original post by David Neiwert and software by Elliott Back