The contention of course, is that the endorsement is not law – merely formality. Does the Secretary of State actually have the authority to reject an appointee of a sitting governor? (Not being a lawyer – I have no clue who is right.)
I am glad I live in a squeaky clean state – no corruption here.

Scot – I think RJS has hit it right on the head – from what I understand SoS Jesse White does not have a discretionary power in this instance.
But you’re right about Burris having sipped too much of Gov. Blagojevich kool-aid.

This whole mess leaves many of us in the Land of Lincoln in a state of consternation (no pun intended). While Mr. Burris hasn’t apparently slept with too many ghosts in his past, you have to question his present state of judgment and discernment in even being on that platform with Gov. Poisonovich in the first place. And now displaying the determination to see this through and look as foolish and vain as the Gov. Unfortunately, I think he will have his seat in the Senate. Those already in their seats can only hope they can wait him out. This makes them all look much more pathetic than how we usually joke about them as politicians. I think Blago knows this game better than we give him credit for. He’s got us pegged.

You couldn’t make this stuff up. Seriously, this is better than anything the writers of LOST or 24 have ever conceived. It has taken what could be a dull time of year and given it a spice and pyschosis rare seen.
This makes Jesse Ventura look like a genius.

But, unless I’m mistaken, the senate does have the authority not to seat him.
So Burris isn’t “junior senator from Illinois.” Not until/unless the senate chooses to recognize him.

I can’t imagine why anyone from Illinois would seem to be upset? They elected this governor not once but twice. It seems funny that the one time something is going to be done by the law, allow the governor to appoint a replacement, everyone is up in arms. Burris is correct. He has the appointment. The job is his.

Jim,
Whether or not the governor is guilty of the current charges against him, the severity of them–no to mention the amount of “proof” already in the media–seem to me more than enough reason for people to be upset, if not an actual answer to the legal question.

If I were Burris, I wouldn’t have accepted the nomination on the grounds that I would rather wait out the investigation. Doing otherwise, seems to have bought Burris some headaches. ‘Course if Blago is cleared, he would probably move on and pick someone else on his list, leaving Burris out in the cold. This is the rubber meets the road in situational ethics and sacrifice for the greater good.