With Apologies to Frank Capra, et. al.

It's the headline du jour: "Mr. Burris Goes To Washington", referring obviously to Senator-hopeful Roland Burris (D-IL), appointee and political foil/sacrificial lamb/human shield of Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL). Sadly enough, Burris is no Jimmy Stewart/Mr. Smith and mores the pity. The Senate could use a few dozen Mr. Smith's right now.

This political circus plays out at a time when America is finally throwing out the old race-baiting political playbooks of the past. For the first time in our history, the country anticipates the inauguration of our first black president. Illinois has led the country in sending minority politicans to Washington, including the last two black Senators.

Yet to the dismay of most of us, Blago has dug deep into the political trash to pull out chapter 1 of race-baiting politics in appointing Burris to fill Obama's unfinished term. In a sad, perverse way he tweaks the nose of the now all-white Senate by daring them not to seat its only black member. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the Senate is now scrambling to find (or negotiate) a way out of this impasse.

A simple solution to end this carnival side show is for IL Secretary of State Jesse White to simply certify the legal appointment of Burris. Certainly White will have to hold his nose while signing the certification paperwork. No one wants to send a politically tainted appointee to the Senate and Burris is just that.

Nonetheless, Gov. Blagojevich, although under investigation, having been arrested, soon to be impeached and most likely indicted by April, remains the governor of IL. Per the state's constitution he has the authority to make this appointment, distasteful as it may be. Anyone with a modicum of morality knows Blago's actions in trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder was wrong.

However, the IL Democrats sat on their hands for years while Blago wildly exercised and abused his powers as governor. The IL Sen. Majority Leader, Mike Madigan, even chaired Blago's reelection committee, helping him to a 2nd term and basically approving his "pay-to-play" political games.

So all their bluster and condemnation today of Blago's activities is beyond hypocritical. Even after he was arrested, the Democrats sat on their hands and did nothing to strip him of his appointment powers or call for a special election. They are complicit in this circus of madness.

It was for all intents and purposes a legal appointment and should be recognized, as disgusting as that may be. Burris is all too anxious to add "U.S. Senator" to his political tombstone, so why should anyone stand in his way. Once seated, there are no Constitutional requirements that he be given any committee appointments or responsibilities. Any legislation he writes can easily be bottled up or killed in committee. He can serve until 2010, when the people of IL will gladly return him to his political exile.

Sadly, Roland Burris is a 20-watt bulb in a 100-watt world. His own pronouncements over the past few days amply demonstrate this:

"We are the junior senator from Illinois."
"No one is more qualified for this job than me."
"I am the magic man."
"This is all politics and theater, but I am the junior senator according to every law book in the nation."
"I am a United States senator. They can't stop me from doing my senatorial duties."
"We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained."

What more can be said? MN appears poised to send Al Franken to the Senate and IL is trying its darndest to send Burris.

Now more than ever the Senate truly is looking more and more like a carnival side show.