Kennedy: Fill Seat Quickly


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Associated Press

BOSTON -- Sen. Edward 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 Kenneday be unable to continue serving.

Under state law, an election is required within 145-160 days after a Senate seat becomes vacant.

That would temporarily leave Massachusetts without a voice in the Senate -- and Senate Democrats potentially one vote short on any health care overhaul legislation.

Kennedy said he supports the special election process, but wants to ensure the seat is filled during the course of the election.

The state last changed its succession law in 2004 to require the special election. Before that the governor was allowed to name a successor.

At the time, Democrats were worried that then-Republican Gov. Mitt Romney would be able to fill any vacancy created if Democratic Sen. John Kerry was elected president.[emphasis added]

Politics. <_<

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Hmmmmm. I thought that political talk was not permitted here?

But now that the door has been opened.......

Uh, never mind. I was going to mention something about a former president. One that came in second in a national election but was appointed anyway. His brother being governor of the state where it was decided had nothing to do with it of course. The one that lied about the need to invade a sovereign nation and then invented reasons to do so. The same one that was "re-elected" (is that technically correct...can you be re-elected when you never were elected in the first place?) because the "terror level" was conveniently elevated on the eve of the election.

But I not going to mention any names.

I'm just going to muse about this hopeful scenario:

JAIL.... Rhymes with NO BAIL.

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Hmmmmm. I thought that political talk was not permitted here?

In the politics forum? It's fine. Here, watch:

One that came in second in a national election but was appointed anyway.

He was elected. The president is elected by the electoral college. The electoral college is selected by the state legislatures. Full stop. There is no national election. If you don't like it, propose a constitutional amendment.

The same one that was "re-elected" (is that technically correct...can you be re-elected when you never were elected in the first place?) because the "terror level" was conveniently elevated on the eve of the election.

The threat level was elevated in August for a few specific targets. The national threat level wasn't elevated at all in 2004.

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So lets say the president wasn't really elected (most people know better) but does that make it right for King Kennedy to rewrite rules so he can appoint a new senator with out any election. Well maybe it does in our new socialism.

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but does that make it right for King Kennedy to rewrite rules so he can appoint a new senator with out any election.

Just because he wants to doesn't mean its going to happen.

Well maybe it does in our new socialism.

Please...

Anyway... yeah JDoors, *politics* <_< Stuff like this happens on both sides of the curve. -_-

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So lets say the president wasn't really elected (most people know better) but does that make it right for King Kennedy to rewrite rules so he can appoint a new senator with out any election.

But if rewriting the rules is wrong, then Kennedy's proposal to undo the last rewrite would be righting a wrong. Ethics is hard :(

Well maybe it does in our new socialism.

I miss old socialism.

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if your

politics is right wing

then naturally

your against kenedy

if it is best for your county

then it should go ahead not so long ago a vice president

and president

made there own rules

and look how many people died and are still dying

for 9 years the american public put up with it

then they changed there minds

and they are getting hell for trying to change the rules

so no more people need to die

americans moan and groan about nine eleven

bit look how many were killed in vietnam-.cambodia

iraq

ect

and many parts of the world

i happen to be a fan of this ted kennedy

the others were war mongers

ted kennedy is popular outside of the usa

and right now that is some thing americans could do with

marty

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if it is best for your county

then it should go ahead

It doesn't affect the country. It's not even clear how it would affect Massachusetts.

not so long ago a vice president

and president

made there own rules

and look how many people died and are still dying

Federal law requires that someone respond to that with snark about Chappaquiddick.

ted kennedy is popular outside of the usa

and right now that is some thing americans could do with

The world isn't high school. There are more important things than being popular.

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Federal law requires that someone respond to that with snark about Chappaquiddick.

More people have died in the back seat of Ted Kennedy's car than were killed in the 3 mile Island disater.

LOL.

I guess the "no poltical talk" rule here on BT has been suspended.

That's fine with me.

Let the games begin!

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Kennedy supported Vietnam long enough to put him ahead, I believe.

Your turn to snark about Bush and Vietnam. Bonus points if you work cheerleading into it.

Bush was drunk throughout the Vietnam war. But wasn't he in the reserves? Or was that preserves?

In any case, here's a tribute to the "Man who didn't know much".

Edited by irregularjoe
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Why does the "royalty" always want to change the rules for themselves? Didn't Bloomberg just do the same in NYC?

What was it momma said? "Do as I say, not as I do"

Apparently that IS our system: Change the rules to favor themselves, then when it no longer favors them, change it right back. I like that Kennedy said, "Oh ... I 'support' the current rule -- But I want to change it." Huh? If that ain't doublespeak I don't know what is.

IrregularJoe: The "World and Politics" forum was created a while ago, looks like you missed it when it came out. We've been warned to keep it from getting out of hand, but that's about it.

*****

Personally I'd rather the forum be used to have intelligent conversations regarding current events rather than just bash someone using links to sites created and maintained by crazies, but I don't run the place.

Edited by JDoors
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If Kennedy is really concerned about having 2 votes down the road from Mass., he needs to resign now. That will give the state more time to hold the required election. It's not like he's performing daily activities that go with the job now.

Edited by sethook
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If Kennedy is really concerned about having 2 votes down the road from Mass., he needs to resign now. That will give the state more time to hold the required election. It's not like he's performing daily activities that go with the job now.

Resignation, no matter how obvious the need might be, isn't in some people's vocabulary (the guy DID remain in office after an incident that would have been, at the very least, the end of nearly any other politician's career).

Not that it matters any more (R.I.P.), but I wonder WHEN the issue of succession first came up. I would think it should have been one of the first issues to be taken care of once the Senator became active again after his diagnosis.

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