For Senator Burris, One IS The Loneliest Number

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 2, 2009 7:00PM

We know he continues to find himself in deep trouble and that no one wants to see him elected in 2010, but we didn't know things were so lonely for U.S. Senator Roland Burris. The man infamously appointed by now-ex-governor Rod Blagojevich to replace President Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois is finding himself the Solitary Senator these days, according to a story from the Associated Press' Laurie Kellman.

Colleagues, with little to say to him besides hello, beat a path around him on the Senate floor. None of the Senate's tribal customs of collegiality and acceptance — backslapping, hugging, arm-touching and collaborating on legislation — are bestowed upon Burris. The 71-year-old freshman has not been taken under a wing of a veteran senator.

Burris often can be found standing between colleagues otherwise engaged, seeing the backs of their heads.

The other senator from Illinois, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, did the senatorial equivalent of telling him to resign. Burris refused, denying all wrongdoing in a suspected pay-to-play scheme. Even so, Democrats made clear they will not support him if he runs next year for the seat that President Barack Obama won in 2004.

Well, we suppose if he's not getting invited to any parties on Capitol Hill, he has plenty of time to work on that book of his.