Roland Burris today repeatedly announced that he is "a United States Senator".

Burris is not a Senator as he insists, and should know better (as a former Illinois Attorney General) than to say so...he can't be seated tommorow. He will have to sue Jesse White to do so.

Under the Rules of the Senate, a certificate for the appointment must be presented. The Secretary of State must sign it in addition to the governor of the state. The Illinois Secretary of State (Jesse White) has refused to do it...until a completed certification is presented to the Secretary of the Senate...Burris is not eligible to be sworn in and seated under the Rules of the Senate.

Contrary to many reports aired today...Burris can't be seated Tuesday, even if the Senate were to cave...because under their own rules...he doesn't have his credentials. Also, my reading of the law is such that Burris can't even sue the Senate first and use the decades old Powell decision in the Federal courts yet. He would have no legal standing as a petitioner. He is not going to be deprived his seat based on Senate actions...he is initially being deprived by the Illinois Sec. of State withholding his legal certification...so, look for the first legal move to be a suit regarding that...Burris v. White.