Should Sen. Roland Burris resign?

The buzz is loud. Should Roland Burris resign from his seat as the "junior Senator from Illinois"?

Let's play the Devil's Advocate here. He was legally appointed by Illinois' governor. The governor was under a cloud and kicked out of office shortly after he appointed Burris, but he was still, legally, the governor of Illinois. And he had the sole and legal right to appoint a person - any person - to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama.

Secretary of State Jesse White climbed up on a shaky pedestal and announced he would not sign the form to certify the appointment.

And the U.S. Senate said it would not seat Burris without Jesse White's signature.

And they both lied. Well, let's say, they "changed their minds."

When those in the U.S. Senate first announced that they wouldn't seat Burris, I wondered what right could they have not to seat a duly-appointed replacement to an open seat of a State.

OK, so now Burris is there. Is possession 9/10th's of the law? Does that count for a seat in the U.S. Senate?

Can the powers in Illinois really unseat an elected Senator?

The U.S. Senate apparently has the right to unseat a Senator. How long will that take? And at what cost to other, more important, affairs of this country?

Should Illinois blow $50,000,000 to fill a seat for a year or so? By the time Burris could be removed and a special election held, his term would be almost over. He might have a few friends in high places who would fund an attempt at electing him to a full term. Would he have any chance at being elected?

Should we just let him stay for the few remaining months of that seat? Don't we have more important business and ways to spend $50,000,000 in Illinois?

That didn't take long - Burris "confesses"

Ah, the truth starts to emerge. And so soon after clearing the hurdles of his appointment to a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Why would U.S. Sen. Roland Burris speak up now? What could possibly prompt him to “remember” that there actually were several others with whom he discussed the Barack Obama's Senate seat? Why now, instead of later? Or at all?

Could the rantings of Blago on the talkshow circuit be making him nervous? Could the fact that people often choose to save their own skins be an effective memory-jogger? If you might get pushed out in front of the bus, is it better to leap out in front of it and hope the driver brakes in time?

His attorney provided the excuse of “fluid nature.” Poor Burris. He "was unable to fully respond to several matters." And maybe we still believe in the tooth fairy.

Several news sources reported that Burris “quietly” filed an affidavit on February 5 with State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), head of the impeachment committee that heard sworn testimony from Burris. Be sure to reach today’s article on www.chicagotribune.com, which is much more complete than today's article in the Northwest Herald. The Tribune article includes this wonderful statement: “Currie, who is House majority leader, said the affidavit suggests Burris wants to be 'very forthcoming.'"

That’s kind of like saying, “Now I’m going to tell you the truth.” Every time I hear that one, I immediately wonder what is it that I have been told previously!

You’re a little late, Sen. Burris.

Did Burris perjure himself at the impeachment committee? What will be the effect, if he did? Criminal prosecution? Removal from the U.S. Senate? How long will that take? Is Pat Quinn already picking out a replacement for Burris?

Just what, exactly, do you have to do to get kicked out of the Senate?