Roland Burris and family, Vice President Cheney at ceremonial Senate swearing in at the Old Senate Chamber (photos by Lynn Sweet)
WASHINGTON--Ending a painful chapter for Democrat Senate leaders, Roland Burris was sworn in by Vice President Cheney as an Illinois senator on Thursday. At a reception afterwards, hosted by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill,) Burris said "It's a dream of a lifetime'' to become a senator. Burris was appointed by impeached Illinois Gov. Blagojevich and Democratic Senate leaders did not want to seat a Blagojevich appointee, but relented after political pressure and racial politics forced them to reconsider and swear in Burris.
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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Let the baby have his bottle...
The following is an excerpt from an Associated Press article regarding the U S Senate's vote to release the second 350 billion TARP funds. It was a close vote, but it was a victory for Obama.
"In his first Senate vote, Roland Burris voted with his leadership, Harry Reid and Dick Durbin, who had just last week been blocking him from taking his seat. Burris, Reid and Durbin chatted amiably on the floor and Durbin even polished Burris' senatorial pin for him."
The attempt to deny Burris the U S Senate seat was a Republican fueled political trick. The Republican inspired talking point "tainted" was repeated by the media and adopted by the public. Unfortunately some Democrats also fell for the trickery.
The rule of law prevailed. The Democrats in the Senate and Obama will need the vote.