Transitional woes: Reality check

The Democrats are hitting a few speed bumps ON JANUARY 6th Fred Thompson, a former senator and actor, glad-handed his way across the Senate floor. Edward Kennedy, who suffers from a brain tumour, strode up and down its aisles. And the 91-year-old Robert Byrd had an aide wheel him about. But on the 111th Congress’s first day, everyone’s mind was on who was barred from making small talk atop the chamber’s blue carpeting. In a heavily trailed showdown, the Senate’s secretary refused to let Roland Burris, the man appointed to fill Barack Obama’s seat, onto the floor. As they gear up to run Washington, DC the Democrats’ problems are growing, and Mr Burris is the most distracting—for the moment. Few worry openly about his qualifications. Though he is hardly a figure of great renown, except for his ego (he has pre-built himself an elaborate mausoleum, listing his achievements), he did serve as Illinois’s attorney-general. Rather, senators object to the man ... (link)