Push to Name Quick Kennedy Successor Intensifies

[kpete]

Source: New York Times

Push to Name Quick Kennedy Successor Intensifies

BOSTON — The push to swiftly name an interim successor to Senator Edward M. Kennedy intensified Wednesday in the wake of his death, with Gov. Deval Patrick coming out strongly in favor of the idea and other top state lawmakers saying they were reluctant to leave the seat vacant for months.

Mr. Kennedy, concerned about the loss of a Democratic vote during the fevered effort to pass national health care reform — his most cherished legislative goal — had asked state leaders in a letter last week to make such a change possible. Yesterday, Democrats in Washington stepped up pressure on the Governor to see Mr. Kennedy’s wish fulfilled, and state legislative leaders said they would immerse themselves in the issue after a mourning period for Mr. Kennedy.

Under current law, a special election could not take place until at least 145 days after a Senate seat opens — in this case, mid-January.

Mr. Kennedy’s proposal would let Mr. Patrick, a Democrat, appoint a temporary replacement sooner. The governor said he would sign a change in law if the legislature approved it. He said it was particularly important for Massachusetts to have two voices in the Senate as Congress prepares to vote on overhauling the health care system — contentious legislation whose passage may well require every Democratic vote.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/us/politics/27succeed.html?_r=1&hp

[itsrobert]

1. Would it hurt to have vice-Senators?

Voted in on a ticket like President and Vice President? Senator is an important job, they are 1 in a 100. Why not a vice? Someone to step in quickly.

[valerief]

2. There doesn't seem to be a real need for that. In this case, the Mass. legislature

will probably push this along as quickly as they can so that a healthcare-supporting senator is in place for the vote.

[Oregone]

3. They already do

In the fine print, for example...

Max Baucus (D) - Senator
Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Glaxo Smith Kline - Vice Senator

[autorank]

4. Well said. There's one more

David Vitter (R-LA) Senator for Vice

[autorank]

5. Patrick is a very bright guy.

Democratic***Deval Patrick***1,234,984 (55.6%)
Republican *** Kerry Healey*** 784,342 (35.3%)
Independent *** Christy Mihos***154,628 (6.9%)
Green-Rainbow ***Grace Ross***43,193 (1.9%)


"Patrick built wide margins in liberal enclaves such as Cambridge, Newton, and Northampton. He also carried Boston, where Mayor Thomas M. Menino had put his organization behind Reilly, by well over 50 percent. Even in Quincy, where Gabrieli had the backing of the mayor and his political organization and where Patrick needed a strong win, Patrick was running even with Gabrieli after more than half the ballots were counted last night, with Reilly running last.

"Patrick has carried all kinds of different communities across the state, urban areas and suburban towns, and won support from all the Democratic and independent constituencies," said Doug Rubin, Patrick's senior campaign adviser."

Primary Win

http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/09/19/deval_patrick_wins_easily/

[bleever]

7. I really like the picture in your signature thread.

How admirable that Teddy, born rich, fought for the downtrodden.

[autorank]

9. That's a good one.

You've seen this on too but lets share;)


The Kennedy family pols all cared deeply about the downtrodden. I remember Bobby coming to California to support the farm workers union movement, a very unpopular position at the time. Got him nothing but he did it. Jack spoke out strongly on civil rights knowing he'd lost the South by doing so and Teddy was a beacon. Terrible loss but it generates gratitude that we had them.

[bleever]

19. My big revelation of the coverage was how consistently he spoke of the highest ideals.

Morality is trivialized in today's political conversation. It's been co-opted by some piously well-moneyed people who have domineered the all-important "Jesus" brand.

But these guys really talked turkey about right and wrong. Human compassion.

[autorank]

27. You know you're right about that.

That just hit me. He seemed like he liked most everybody but he was always on point - and health
was the key. Baucus and the other folks opposing real reform are praising him. They had better
not say it if they don't mean it. There are other Kennedy's that will remind them.

[Cha]

14. Just like FDR.

:fistbump::patriot::patriot:

[wisteria]

6. They have to do this. It was a resonable request from Senator Kennedy,

and it is the right thing to do.

[kelly1mm]

8. I agree they should modify the law. All states should have 2 senators.

They should not have ever changed it. In 2004, the Massachusetts legislature changed the law that allowed for an interim appointment of US Senator because they did not want to allow the then Governor, Mitt Romney, to have that power if Sen. Kerry won (maybe he did depending on how you see Ohio) the Presidential election. Hoisted on their own petard it seems. Will be (and is) pure political expediency but in this case they need to do the right thing and hopefully learn a lesson about unintended consequences.

[No Elephants]

23. Hoist by their own petard? Why? They can change the law whenever they want.

The notion that choosing Senators to fill vacancies was not supposed to be a political gambit is, IMO, fabricated and false.

The Constitution originally had the state legislature do it, period. I don't think anyone assumed Legislatures would be apolitical in making that choice.

Around the 1850's, Legislatures fell into infighting and took too long to choose, leaving seats vacant for long periods of time. Finally, in 1911, Congress passed a bill for a Constitutional amendment, but the Legislature still got to make all the calls. I don't think anyone assumed Legislatures would be apolitical in making that call either.

Yet, today, everyone is shocked, shocked, that political bodies make political choices based upon political considerations. I have no clue why.

[RBInMaine]

10. Get either Joe Kennedy Jr. or Nicky Tsongas in there, FAST.

[karynnj]

15. Tsongus would lose her Congressional seat - and it is not intended

that the person run in the special election.

[No Elephants]

24. I'd rather see Mike Capuano (permanently, not as the interim).

[Dinger]

11. Wasn't There Some Talk Of His Wife Taking the Seat?

Temporarily at least?

[No Elephants]

22. She would probably be more than capable, but I thought she said she did not want it.

[ruggerson]

12. Draft Barney

he's by far the best choice. He doesn't want to lose his seniority in the House, but I'm sure he could be talked into it.

[karynnj]

17. Why would he give up his chair in the house for what would be a 5 month time in the Senate

[ruggerson]

20. because he can run for a full term

and a Senator has a far bigger platform than a Congressman.

[karynnj]

21. I think a very senior Congressman has a bigger platform than a backbench Senator

Every MA politician is pointing out that the person taking the seat temporarily will not not - I've heard both Senator Kerry and Governor Patrick say that - and it is what Kennedy proposed.

[Cha]

13. Yes, it's very important for Massachusetts

to have two Senators now!

Let the right wing scream bloody murder until their lungs burn.

[WriteDown]

16. This can wait until January...

Will be just enough time to write a real Single Payer bill and pass that.

[No Elephants]

25. No reason for it to wait until January and single payer will not pass. Obama opposes it.

You keep posting that same recipe for cheating Massachusetts of a Senator AND defeaing health care. Keep posting it, though. Maybe I'll miss the post next time and some poor Democrat will take it seriously, to his or her detriment.

[WriteDown]

26. So Obama cannot be convinced?

Then the bill is not worth passing and MA does not need a Senator immediately. We need to be the rule of law party and not the party that changes the rules when they do not suit us.

[karynnj]

18. Kerry is asked about it at the end of this interview in Hyannis

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8612912