Mark Kirk deserves to beat seated, immediately

Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., is a fraud.

There is no two ways about it, the man should no longer be serving in the United States Senate.

In early 2009, Burris was appointed to serve in the interim basis before a special election could be held to fill the remainder of the Senate term that became vacant when Barack Obama resigned after being elected president.

The special election was held last on November 2 along side the regularly scheduled election for a full 6-year Senate term.

The people have spoken, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk won the special and general elections, why is Burris still serving?

Burris was appointed by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Soon after the Senate seat was vacated, stories surfaced that Blagojevich was trying to sell the seat to the higest bidder in a play-for-scheme.

Blagojevich was soon indicted on federal corruption charges and was eventually removed from office by the Illinois legilslature unanimously and banned from ever holding elected office in the state again.

But not before he appointed Burris.

Burris was so tainted by the Blagojevich scandal that the United States Senate did everything they could to prevent from seating him in the Senate but recanted the effort when they had no legal recourse.

But now, with a Senator who was elected popularly by the people, Illinois officials are dragging their feet since Sen.-elect Kirk is a Republican, stating that they don't have to certify election results untill November 23.

Illinois is a heavily Democratic controlled state and it makes you wonder if Kirk's opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, would be faced with the same kind of opposition?

The lame duck session of the Senate begins on November 15, where two other people elected in special elections, West Virginia's Joe Manchin and Delaware's Chris Coons, will be sworn in. Both Manchin and Coons are Democrats, their states are run by Democrats and the U.S. Senate is controlled by Democrats.

Starting to see a pattern?

If Burris had the slightest sense of honor, he would resign the seat and request that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn appoint Kirk ahead of the certification deadline or keep the seat vacant.

But honor and politics rarely mix in Illionois and I doubt it will start now.