I WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO TAKE OFFICE. You must remember this.

Emil Jones, Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich :: Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama.

But before Mr Obama affirms that he will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, he is in the odd position of urging that the Senate not seat Governor Blagojevich's pick, Roland Burris, contributor to Mr Blagojevich's campaigns. The Senate Democrats appear to be concurring with Mr Obama's request.

The pick is a shrewd one by the governor, who has denied any wrongdoing and intends to go about business as usual until he's tried. He enlisted Representative Bobby Rush to make the identity politics case.