The Galactic Core

The astronomy picture of the day, the Galactic Core, in infrared. Jonah Goldberg suggests we can see Blago's hair from space--who am I to disagree? Governor Alien or Governor Radioactive, Blago continues to stun the Dem "leadership", phasers or no. It's a 21st century scandal, and the corrupt core of Democrats in Illinois is out there bigtime. DiFi brushes back Obama on Panetta and defies her Senate colleagues Durbin and Reid to urge Burris be seated. Leftie Sun Times columnist Mark Brown says The One should intercede to plead for Burris to withdraw:)

Even before he was elected president, it wasn't Obama's style to directly confront the down-and-dirty side of Illinois politics. I haven't always liked that approach, preferring reformers who stick their necks out, yet I understood why he felt it should be enough to come through the local wars with his own hands clean.

But we're in a bind here, one created in part by Obama's run for president. He bears some responsibility. [snip]

It's true Obama has bigger issues these days demanding his attention.

But as I recall him saying of John McCain when the Republican tried to back out of a debate in the midst of the Wall Street crisis, a president has to be able to handle more than one problem at a time.

The Tribune is appalled, presses for Burris to withdraw and for a special election. Burris goes before the Illinois House Impeachment Committee tomorrow, and the House may vote impeachment by the end of the week. But Roland Burris is weighing his legal options as well. Illinois Sec. of State Jesse White is getting restless, complaining he's been made the fall guy for Burris not being seated in the Senate.

In other news, the Greenies, (not the little green guys) are engaging in thug theater about the Barackstar's trip to the inauguration.

As they say, truth is stranger than fiction.

P.S. Roger Simon, The Politico, "What to do about Burris?" (he stole my line:):

Let us now praise Roland Burris. The guy held public office for 16 years in Illinois, and he didn’t get indicted once. Not once!

That ought to qualify him for something.

UPDATE: Byron York, "On Capitol Hill, Dems Dither..." John Nichols, The Nation: Not a Great Day for Senate Democrats.