It’s probably a little karmically questionable to pick on a man dying of brain cancer, but I just can’t let this one go.
Back in 2004, Senator Ted Kennedy encouraged the Massachusetts state legislature to amend the rules for replacing an outgoing U.S. Senator. At the time, fellow Massachusetts Senator John “Flip-Flop” Kerry was running for president while the governor was GOP-man Mitt Romney.
Obviously the prospect of Romney appointing a Republican to Kerry’s potentially vacant seat was too much for Kennedy to handle. So with Kennedy’s encouragement, the law for replacement changed: a special election has to be held within 5 months of the seat becoming vacant.
That was then. This is now.
Sensing his own mortality, Senator Kennedy is seeking to change the law AGAIN. He sent a letter to Massachusetts state leaders and Democratic Governor Deval Patrick asking that the governor be allowed to appoint an interim-Senator until a special election can be held. Kennedy says:
It is vital for this commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election.
In 2004 that five months was critical to avoid the horrific possibility of having a Republican senator from Massachusetts. Now, any vacancy leaves the Democrats with one less vote in the Senate, and with Kennedy’s lifelong goal of health-care reform on the line it’s imperative that Massachusetts have two voting senators at all times. You know, because he said so.
It’s nice to know that if you’re a Kennedy you can just ask for the law to be changed in your favor and it will probably happen.
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Hey, the guy got murder at least temporarily legalized, back in the day. He can do ANYTHING, this suspiciously strong swimmer.
People like to talk in hushed tones about the “Kennedy Curse”. The only curse on this tribe of obscenely arrogant rapists, murderers and crooks is their own belief that rules simply do not apply to them. For a bunch descended from a vicious bootlegger, they sure are haughty.
Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailale for comment.
Um, hasn’t his seat technically been vacant for almost a year? How many votes has he participated in since his relapse? Oh, and is he using MassCare for his treatment of his brain cancer?
Is this the same guy who did not attend his sister’s funeral. Yeah, great morals there Teddy. Democrats – don’t do what I tell you not to do, but it is okay when I do it. See, it’s different. I am a Kennedy.
I do believe the Kennedy’s sold their soul to the devil, and they are really hoping that their Catholicism will save them from life in Hell. (A happy world run with sense and sensability, and very little government involvement.)
Kennedys = Hypocrisy
Hell Ted learned from the best, his Father Joe, bootlegger, yellow journalist, adluterer with Mob ties back to prohibition. Brother John, adulterer, philanderer, corrupt politician. Brother Bobby followed in the footsteps of his older brother and had serious ties to organized crime which he never actually caused the arrests of any one of importance. Add in all the cousins and nephews and it all falls into place, Money means you can do ANYTHING you want and the consequences don’t apply.
Word has it Obama alterego/sidekick Rahm Emmanuel personally petitioned Kennedy to request this to avoid losing a single rubber stamp vote in the senate.
The Dems better be careful how they go about passing the torch because I see some pitchforks being offered up as will.
So does this mean the Kennedy Town Hall for tonight is cancelled?
I live in Massachusetts and there are many like me here that are outraged by this HYPOCRACY. Don’t like the law you had changed because it might not work for ya now? No worries! Change it back!! Really Ted? Is that the legacy you want to leave behind? Really??
The Kennedy Curse is an urban myth. They’ve not had any more tragedy than the average family. They just happened to turn them into a media event. There’s not enough candles in the entire universe to light so someone can pray that family out of Purgatory.
Captain Jack got it wrong when he said the deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers… there’s one more for the murdering Kennedys. I’m sure he somehow committed some hypocritical act while still in the womb.
@Jack: Although this is dubious at best, I guess it makes a better legacy than Chappaquiddick. And being the largest liquor receptacle outside of a Jack Daniels distillery.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that after a wildly successful run, the cash for clunkers program will come to a close on Monday, August 24th at 8 p.m. EDT
Doesn’t ‘privilege’ translate out as ‘private law’?
They should probably just give Teddy a pain pill and send him home.
Does anybody read past the name Kennedy? Hell, I’m no fan of the guy but really.
The article says
” the law for replacement changed: a special election has to be held within 5 months of the seat becoming vacant.”
Then he said:
“It is vital for this commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election.”
How, in any way shape of form, does suggesting that the special election be held within the mandated 5 months = hypocricy on this one.
Asking for an interim senator is not hypocritical when stated at the same time that a special election will be held. If the person appointed actually wants to run for the seat, I don’t even think it would necessarily be an advantage. He/she would need to be in Washington dealing with the current mess instead of campaigning.
Ed: good to see you read the article so you could identify that the hypocracy is that he is asking to change the law BACK to what it was 5 years ago, before HE push to get it changed in the first place. It is hypocritical to claim that the governor shouldn’t be allowed to put a non-elected person in the seat when he is likely to appoint someone you don’t like, but should be allowed to when they will appoint someone you do like. Either it is the role of the governor to decide or it isn’t.
Literacy, great for keeping you from looking like an idiot.
drm31415
Actually, I don’t see that at all. To change it BACK, would allow the governor to appoint a replacement for the entire term, with no special election involved.
This is not what is being suggested here. He is not at all trying to eliminate the special election. In fact, Ted goes out of his way to say he supports the special election.
From the AP article:
“Kennedy asked Massachusetts lawmakers to change state law to give Gov. Deval Patrick, a fellow Democrat and supporter of President Barack Obama, the ability to appoint an interim replacement to Kennedy’s seat should Kennedy be unable to continue serving.”
‘Interim’ is the key word here. The suggested law change is to allow an temporary appointment while waiting for the special election. A special election that did not exist 5 years ago. A special election that not only didn’t exist 5 years ago to magically go back to, but a special election that nobody wants to get rid of.
From the AP article:
“Kennedy said he supports the special election process, but wants to ensure the seat is filled during the course of the election.”
So where’s the hypocracy . Where’s the attempt to revert back to a permanent appointment by the Gov?
Furthermore:
“”It is vital for this Commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election,” Kennedy said in a letter to Patrick.”
Is there something in that request to the governor that says anything about doing away with the special election within five months? I don’t see it if it does. I see a request to enable two senators to represent Mass until the election.
While I see where you are coming from Ed, I do think that Teddy is leaning more toward hypocrisy on this one. If it is so important to have an interim senator, why didn’t he push for that while Romney was governor? I doubt he would be pushing the issue so hard if the present governor announced his intention to appoint a Republican to Teddy’s seat.
I also don’t really understand why legislators continue to “serve” in their seats when their medical status prohibits them from actually participating in the legislative process. If you are incapacitated, you should step down or allow someone to be appointed in your stead (depending on what the law allows, as it may vary on the state and local levels). I felt the same way when that senator from one of the Dakotas (or somewhere around there) was in a coma or had an incapacitating stroke or whatever was wrong with him. He couldn’t work for nearly a year, his constituents weren’t being served, but his party didn’t want him to step down because the governor was from the opposite party and would likely have appointed someone from that party. How is this good for the CITIZENS, who are the only ones who should be considered?
With all the compassion in my heart, if you are too sick to serve, write a letter of resignation!!!
AllyKat,
Thanks for your response. But of course the answer to all your questions is “politics.” A filthy game to be sure, played on both sides of the ailse, paid for by the same lobbyists to both sides of the ailse.
You asked:
” If it is so important to have an interim senator, why didn’t he push for that while Romney was governor? I doubt he would be pushing the issue so hard if the present governor announced his intention to appoint a Republican to Teddy’s seat.”
You know what, I just erased a whole bunch of typing defending my opinion, but you make good and rational points yourself. I’ll leave it at that.
You said:
“I also don’t really understand why legislators continue to “serve” in their seats when their medical status prohibits them from actually participating in the legislative process. If you are incapacitated, you should step down or allow someone to be appointed in your stead ”
I couldn’t agree with you more. If you are unable to perform, you should be replaced just like anybody else in any other job. There should be a law dictating attendance requirements to keep your seat.
It all comes down to the magic number of 60. If Teddy has to leave his seat because of his health, the Democrats won’t have their super-majority for five months.
RIP, Ted. There’s lots we didn’t agree on, but thanks for bringing all that Federal money to Mass. for us.
Enjoy my money MC.
Good…, as they say, all good things come to an end. Actually, this could be considered a BAD thing b/c it’s CRAZY, we are giving people money to live more vicariously and lavishly than before all this economical bust took place