Now he's not just a banty opportunist with limitless self-regard and the irritating tendency to speak of himself in the second first person plural ("We are the senator."), he's also a victim—a victim of guilt-by-association and, some are muttering, a victim of racism.

By raging impotently about his appointment to Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat, Democratic leaders, with an assist from the Republicans and the media, gave Burris a martyr complex to go along with his other traits.

A little more than a week ago, no one would have thought it possible to make the pompous, simpering Roland Burris any more insufferable.

Never mind that a scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him as an act of defiance, not statesmanship. Never mind that voters have repeatedly said "thanks, but no thanks" to Burris since 1994. Never mind that he wasn't on anyone's short list to replace Barack Obama until Blagojevich cast a devious eye upon him.

The Man doesn't want to seat Roland Burris because he's black.

Absurd? Yes. All this talk about "plantation politics" and lynching and Sheriff Bull Connor is beyond daffy during the very week that an African-American man is leaving his home in Chicago to travel to Washington, where he will be sworn in as the next president of the United States.

But it resonates because there really is no good reason not to seat Burris.

Blagojevich is sleazy to the bone? That may be, but he's still the governor, and the Burris appointment appears to be legal.

Burris is mediocre? If so, he'll hardly be the first legislative lightweight in the upper chamber. And, unlike some of his prospective Senate colleagues, his record is refreshingly clear of financial and sexual scandal.

The voters of Illinois ought to be the ones to fill such a lengthy vacancy in Washington? That's a fine idea, Bunky, but it ain't the law. And we can't go back in time to change it.

All this was obvious from the moment rumors began flying last Tuesday morning that Blagojevich was preparing to stick a potato in the exhaust pipe of those demanding his resignation by appointing Burris.

Anyone able to see more than one move ahead on the chess board would have realized that an indignant and ultimately futile tizzy over the Burris appointment would divide Democrats along racial lines, distract from the serious business and the festivities in Washington, and boost Blagojevich's popularity among African-Americans.

Look three or four moves ahead: Burris will be at least an OK U.S. senator, probably a decent one and maybe even a good one. He's annoying, but he's not a nitwit, a kook or a criminal. And he'll almost certainly be a reliable Democratic vote, but not one that stands to tip the balance either way.

It's not too late for Democratic leaders to reverse their magic trick. They need to laugh this one off. Score one for G-Rod. Let Burris have the seat, deny him his martyr's robe and move on, already.

The 2010 campaign, when he'll have to stand for re-election, will begin in the next few months anyway.

Voters will have their say soon enough.

UPDATE; Here is my take on Burris' appearance at the Capitol Tuesday morning.