Senate scramble

Electoral politics so dominated the 110th Congress that one could not help looking forward to January 2009 for some respite.

As the economy froze in its tracks, it was clear that governing this year would present huge difficulties, that millions of people would suffer from the recession, that remedies would exacerbate long-term fiscal concerns and undermine the dollar. But, still, there was the silver lining of a lull in fighting over congressional seats.

So here were are in January 2009, and what is everyone talking about? Not the fiscal stimulus package, a behemoth that promises to grow to somewhere between $850 billion and $1 trillion, although most people are keeping a weather eye on that, to be sure.

Instead, however, Capitol Hill is focused sharply on the same stuff that hogged lawmakers’ attention in the run-up to Nov. 4 — the acquisition of congressional seats.

The biggest story in a week of huge congressional news is about whether Roland Burris will or will not take the Senate seat previously occupied by President-elect Obama. There is the possibility of a physical standoff on Tuesday when the man selected by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) arrives to assume his responsibilities as putative junior senator from Illinois.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) insists that the chamber’s leadership has the right to block the nomination; Obama concurs that the nomination is tainted by federal accusations that Blagojevich sought to sell the seat; and the Senate sergeant at arms has been brought into discussions to make sure there is nothing approaching a fracas at the Senate door.

Then there is the Minnesota Senate seat, still hotly contested between the incumbent, Sen. Norm Coleman (R), and his challenger, comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken. Franken has a margin of more than 200 votes following a tortuous recount, but litigation appears certain.

There is more. Who will be appointed to take over the New York Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D), shortly to undergo (and presumably sail through) confirmation hearings as Obama’s secretary of State? Caroline Kennedy, daughter of JFK, is the front-runner, but the decision is being scrutinized and debated intensely on both sides of the aisle.

Because it was senators who mounted the strongest bids for the presidency, the opening days of the 111th Senate was always going to be unusual and historic. But the addition of Burris and Kennedy, plus the piquant possibility of Minnesota electing another non-mainstream leader — remember Gov. Jesse Ventura (I) — have made this month’s events in the debating chamber absolutely riveting.