Most people agree it was political chutzpah at its worst when Gov. Rod Blagojevich ignored the federal corruption charges hanging over his future and dared to make a business-as-usual appointment of Roland Burris as U.S. senator.

It didn't stand to reason that Blagojevich would want any potential senator to carry the political baggage of a tainted appointment. It didn't stand to reason that a quality candidate would want a U.S. Senate appointment carrying the scent of suspicion.

Yet barring a bizarre development, Burris will be sworn in Thursday as the junior senator for Illinois by Vice President Dick Cheney. That was the announcement from Burris' office Tuesday, one day after Senate Democrats backed off their initial revulsion over any appointment by Blagojevich.

Burris' actions and statements throughout this odd episode in Illinois politics have been professional and dignified. It will not be fair to forever judge his actions as a senator as tainted. Burris has a long and honorable career in public service, including a stint as state attorney general. He may succeed as a U.S. senator. His desire to serve appears sincere.

Burris may prove to be a fortunate choice for Southern Illinois. He is a native of Centralia and an undergraduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Those are longtime roots in the region and Burris likely still has an innate familiarity with our people and our issues, which would escape those who rise to power in Chicago.

Fact is, our state will soon have two U.S. senators who come from our region. Senior U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin lives in Springfield, not Chicago. And Durbin was born and raised in East St. Louis and often describes himself as a native of Southern Illinois.

It will be good to have both U.S. senators in our corner, at least until 2010, when the term vacated by President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled for election. Perhaps Durbin, Burris and our U.S. representatives will work with Obama to resurrect the FutureGen project in Mattoon and advance other clean-coal initiatives. Perhaps the proposed federal infrastructure spending will find its way into the region.

Let's hope for the best, despite the regrettable beginnings.

Burris deserves a chance to succeed on his own merits. Let's give him a chance. The rest is up to Senator-designate Burris.

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