The Senate drama – What now for the Harry Reid/Roland Burris showdown? The Washington Post lays out the options. Almost everybody agrees a special election would be preferable but Burris appears ready to fight it out.

Update – Reid caves: "Senate Democrats have no choice but to change their tone about Roland Burris becoming a U.S. senator because Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich "called our bluff" in appointing someone over their objections, a senior Democratic congressional source conceded Wednesday."

Really? The U.S. Senate has no choice but to take somebody appointed by a runaway, felonious Governor? What if he had appointed David Duke? Or Al Sharpton? Or Tom Cruise?

Well, they played the race card and won. Congratulations, Bobby Rush! No lynchings today.