Mr. Burris goes to Washington

Well it’s on now. Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s choice to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, is headed to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Things could get ugly as the Democrats look to avoid a potential embarassment.

J. Taylor Rushing from TheHill.com writes about Tuesday’s potential showdown:

• Roland Burris will arrive on Tuesday at the door of the U.S. Senate for a showdown that a growing number of Democratic members would prefer not to have. Senate Democratic leaders want to avoid a spectacle that would attract a media frenzy should Burris attempt to gain access to the Senate floor to be sworn in as Barack Obama’s replacement.
• In a phone interview with The Hill, Burris said, “We’re going to go up to the [Senate] door, and if we’re turned away, then we’ll document all of that and consult our lawyers.”

• Two senior Democratic aides say efforts are ongoing to resolve the delicate situation created by Burris’s appointment by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). A Wednesday meeting is still planned between Burris, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), but that will be a day after freshman senators are sworn in as the 111th Congress.

• There are signs that both sides are indeed backing down slightly. Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer — an old friend of Burris’s from his days as chief of the Illinois State Police and a deputy inspector general in the state — said he plans to contact Burris’s staff Tuesday morning to consider options and avoid any confrontation

This is a tough one. There’s no doubt Burris is more than qualified for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I’m sure the Republicans have their popcorn ready for the haps in Washington on Tuesday. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll get mine out just in case. I still pop mine on top of the stove.