Harry Reid hits reverse gear on Burris appointment

Dingy Harry and Dick Durbin appear ready to throw in the towel and seat Roland Burris to Obama's vacant Senate seat. They are either spineless or a couple of complete blowhards. You get to be the judge.

Jan 7, 2009 7:10 pm US/Central
Senate Dems May Seat Burris, But No Final Deal
Blagojevich's Senate Pick Meets With Reid, Durbin
WASHINGTON (CBS) ―

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (left) and the Senior Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin hold a press conference following a meeting with Illinois Senate appointee Roland Burris at the US Capitol on Jan. 7, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Roland Burris is back from Washington, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate says the only thing he regrets is not taking the oath with the newest members of the 111th Congress.

Burris told reporters when he returned Wednesday to Chicago's Midway Airport that he had a "great meeting" with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin.

He says his only regret from the whirlwind two-day trip is not being able to walk on the Senate floor to be sworn in with the newest legislators.

Burris says he watched the ceremony on television and thought, "My gosh, that really should have been me."

The former Illinois attorney general is scheduled to appear in Springfield Thursday before Illinois House members investigating Blagojevich's impeachment.

Senate leaders began to clear the way for Roland Burris to take over President-elect Barack Obama's vacant seat, saying they wanted the issue resolved quickly.

Burris met Wednesday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin, a day after his paperwork was rejected at the opening of the 111th Congress.

They called the meeting ''positive'' and indicated that the Senate would be open to seating Burris once legal hurdles are resolved and Burris clears the air over his appointment.

Senate officials in both parties, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly for Senate members, said there is a growing expectation on Capitol Hill that the saga will end with Burris being seated. Full story here.