Resolved, the Big Ten stinks.

This is an Open Thread.

Responding to my post criticizing her previous post, Digby argues that the politics of not seating Roland Burris, Blago's pick to fill the Illinois Senate seat, is horrible (I'll stick to the politics in this post, having written enough words on the legal issues). I disagree. Ian Welsh gets it right imo:

Here's the fact: Blagojevich was caught, on tape, trying to sell the seat. He is corrupt. He is tainted. It may be true, on the strict letter of the law, that Blagojevich is still entitled legally to appoint a Senator (since the Illinois Senate has refused to do its job). Morally, however, it is odious to allow a Governor who, again, is caught on tape trying to sell the seat, to appoint someone to it. Letting this play out legally, right to the Supreme Court, is the right thing to do. If the Supremes rule that Burris must be seated, so be it. It is then on them that a man appointed by a known seat-selling Governor is in the Senate. It is not on Senate Democrats that they were willing to allow someone who was willing to accept a tainted seat to enter the Senate.

Exactly.

Speaking for me only

It's fun to read law professors discuss constitutional issues. It is a different world than litigators like myself get to see. Here is a discussion by Professor Brian Kalt of the Akhil Amar and Josh Chafetz article positing that the Senate can stop the Blago appointment of Burris. Discussion on the flip.

Around 7pm last night, four and a half hours after leaving suspicious packages at Aspen banks, these letters from now deceased Aspen bombing suspect James Chester Blanning, Jr., were delivered to the Aspen Times. (background here):

More...

Via DHinMi, former Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell has passed away:

Claiborne deBorda Pell, the quirky Newport blueblood who held the affections of blue-collar Rhode Island and championed better education of the poor during a 36-year Senate career, died shortly after midnight today at his home in Newport. He was 90 years old.

Senator Pell was best known for his dedication to trying to make college affordable for all (see Pell grants.) By all acounts, he was a very good man. RIP, Claiborne Pell.

Sure, the US embargo of Cuba should be lifted. But that does not change the fact that Cuba has suffered 50 years of tyranny during the Castro regime, which came to power on January 1, 1959.

Like most rational people, I find US policy towards Cuba to be incredibly stupid and counterproductive. Unlike many people, I do not care for pretending that the Cuban regime is not repressive and a disaster for the Cuban people.

This year, I hope to see change, in US policy towards Cuba and in the Cuban government's policy towards its own people. Realistically, I doubt I will see either.

Speaking for me only

Digby and Jane Hamsher [in a comment, Jane states that her objection is to excluding Burris from the Democratic Caucus, not to attempts to not seat Burris. My apologies to Jane for my confusion.] misunderstand the Blago Farce. Digby cites Jack and Jill blog writing:

Harry Reid, as well as the President-Elect, needs to explain why Traitor Joe Lieberman was allowed to keep his Senate seat . . .

Digby argues, by implication, that Burris has a better claim to a Senate seat than Lieberman. A few facts get in the way of this silliness. Joe Lieberman won an election. Rod Blagojevich is about to be impeached and likely go to jail - for trying to sell a Senate seat, among other things. Burris would be appointed by Blagojevich, not elected by the people. Suuure, Burris has the better claim. Sheesh. More errors on the flip.

Happy New Year everyone.

This is an Open Thread.

Update: The suspect, James Chester Blanning, Jr., on parole for racketeering, has committed suicide. More updates here.

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One of the biggest nights of the year in Aspen is New Year's. Not this year. Police evacuated downtown -- 16 blocks in all -- because someone, possibly this 71 year old man dropped off two suspicious packages with threats inside. Police identify the man in the photo as Jim Blanning of Denver (formerly of Aspen) and are out looking for him.

The Aspen Police Department said the packages came with "a note (that) indicated a credible threat to the community."

Authorities hadn't said by 11 p.m. what was inside the packages. They were wrapped in Christmas paper and had pizza boxes underneath them, said Officer Stephanie Dasaro. Surveillance pictures got a clear image of an older man leaving the packages.

Hillary and Bill Clinton were the perfect choice to start the ball drop in Times Square tonight. They looked radiant and it was great to watch them dancing afterwards.

More photos below.

Given the stink adhering to the Blagojevich administration, the principled decision of Rep. Denny Davis to decline a possible Senate appointment might call into question the wisdom of Roland Burris' decision to accept one. It's true, as Burris pointed out, that Blago is presumed innocent, but the taint of criminal allegations that Blago tried to sell the Senate seat should have caused Burris, like Davis, to step back and await an untainted opportunity for the job.

Does Burris deserve the job on his merits? Apart from accepting questionable campaign contributions (what politician hasn't done that?), this is cause for concern about Burris' fitness to hold political office:

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Are you going out or staying in tonight?

I'm doing both, out to an early party then back home in plenty of time to watch the ball bounce.

From all of us at TalkLeft, we wish you a Merry New Year's Eve, and if you are online, thanks for spending some of it with us. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.