Democratic leaders from Chicago to Washington are furiously condemning the appointment by Rod Blagojevich of Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate vacated by Barack Obama. Harry Reid is promising, though may not be able to Constitutionally deliver on, a blockade to prevent Burris from assuming the seat. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is threatening to refuse to certify Burris. The lieutenant governor ripped Blago a new one for having the cajones to make an appointment after being arrested for corruption.

But, as Blagojevich himself pointed out, Illinois Democrats, or at least those in the state legislature, could’ve prevented this. First of all, both chambers are controlled by Democrats, so there’s no excuse for inaction. Impeachment proceedings appear to have stalled, while calls by the governor himself to order a special election by law were ignored. Why? Because Democratic leaders in Springfield feared losing the seat to a Republican. Instead they wanted Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn to appoint a Democrat. Except, of course, that Quinn can’t do such a thing as long as Blago is governor. Which would bring us back to the impeachment that’s gone basically nowhere.

So, in a desperate attempt to make sure the seat stayed out of Republican hands, Illinois Democrats have brought upon themselves a corrupt governor appointing a man who will have to run in two years anyway to fill the spot vacated by the President-elect. Oh well.