Thanks, Bucco, for the news references. But they say pretty much what I pointed out earlier.

In the AP article it wqs reported that, "(Senate Majority Leader) Reid was told by Obama that if Burris had the legal standing to be seated — despite controversy surrounding his appointment by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — it should be done "sooner rather than later..."

The other article, from the Opinion page of USA Today, written by an author specifically opposing the Burris appointment, said "Burris' supporters assert that the Senate has no legal justification for refusing to seat him. But Article 1, Section 5 of the Constitution unequivocally makes each house of Congress "the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members."

Regarding the law that governs the seating of new members of either the House or Senate, there are more rules, laws and common law that applies in addition to the Constitutional reference cited. From all that I've read, most legal scholars have concluded that it would be impossible for the Senate to block the seating of Clark Burris, given that he had been legally appointed by a sitting state governor.

While I have nothing against Clark Burris, I am offended that the corrupt governor of Illinois has outsmarted everyone else involved in this sad situation. But given all the facts available, I can still understand the reversal in statements by both President-elect Obama and Harry Reid. I'm sure they'd like to have their initial statements back, but I also think that they've concluded that Burris will eventually be seated, so wasting a lot of political energy on delaying the inevitable would not be in anyone's best interest.

No one will argue, I think, that there aren't a lot more important issues facing the Senate and the House than spending any significant time and energy delaying the seating of a replacement Senator which was eventually going to happen anyway.

Critics of Obama and Reid can interpret the same facts that I've cited anyway they wish. I'm sure I'm not going to change their minds, as they are not likely to change mine.