Next for Burris: federal judgeship?

I believe we will soon hear some wonderful things about Sen. Roland Burris as Democrat power brokers "thank" the man for his "noble decision" not to seek re-election. Not so much lost for Burris anyway as he could find little support, financial or otherwise.

Democrats understand the prospect of losing two elective offices to Republicans; Burris and Lisa Madigan would both have faced strong opposition, which would likely split the vote, resulting in a win for the GOP.

Madigan's decision to stay put nullifies any attempt by a GOP candidate to be successful in a run for attorney general. So far, Mr. Clean (Quinn) stands alone, ready to take the fall for a tax increase that Madigan would not be able to explain away if she ran for governor.

The deal probably went down something like this: "Roland, ol' buddy, ol' pal, we will find you a federal judgeship and stop jabbering about how you got to Washington in the first place if you make a clean exit from a re-election bid."

There are 63 vacancies in the 871-member federal judiciary, including 15 U.S. appeals court judgeships waiting for a nomination from the president. Dick Durbin will make the choice. "Making recommendations to the White House on U.S. attorneys, federal marshals and judicial nominees is one of the most important jobs I have as a U.S. Senator," Durbin said in a statement.

Durbin will now make nice with his former colleague and get behind someone of the Democrats' liking who could win in what will be an expensive and ugly fight for the former Obama seat in the U.S. Senate.

Change HAS come to government. Oh boy.

Mark Anderson

St. Charles