Dr. Dean is perfect for Kennedy's Senate seat....

[Polemicist]

Dr. Howard Dean would be perfect as the "seat warmer" for Senator Kennedy's seat, until a special election is held to name a permanent replacement. I'm confident Massachusetts will change the law to allow their Governor to name a temporary replacement for Senator Kennedy.

Dr. Dean is a New Englander and on that basis would be appealing to Massachusetts legislators.

Dr. Dean isn't a player in Massachusetts politics, so he wouldn't be a threat to run for the seat in a special election.

Dr. Dean is a strong progressive and would vote as Senator Kennedy would have voted.

Dr. Dean is a passionate advocate for universal health care and would be an asset in that debate from day one.

Dr. Dean was formerly chairman of the DNC and thus would be familiar with and know all the major national political figures and could hit the ground running.

Dr. Dean's appointment would energize progressives nationally and would re-energize the Democratic base for a renewed push to success in the health care reform debate.

[Sanity Claws]

1. He has never lived in Massachusetts

That might be kind of a problem, don't you think?

[DURHAM D]

2. I assume you are joking. nt

[Joanne98]

3. Not his state.

[Polemicist]

6. New York wasn't Hillary Clinton's state...

And arguably, New York wasn't Bobby Kennedy's state either.

We are talking about a temporary appointment and an outsider might be preferable due to internal Massachusetts politics.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. They both lived there, however briefly, before running.

This is a dumb as the "Imagine how cool it would be if Caroline took Teddy's seat..." thread from yesterday.

[Polemicist]

15. Establishing residency is a very simple thing...

I'm not saying Dr. Dean should run for the seat. I'm saying he would be an excellent choice as a temporary appointment.

I think it's extremely dumb to dismiss an option like this without proper consideration. Dr. Dean is an expert in health care reform, which was the cause of Senator Kennedy's life. And that is my primary consideration in this recommendation.

I'm not proposing a sentimental appointment, as Caroline Kennedy would be, but rather a rational one.

[onenote]

4. some folks who actually are from Massachussetts might disagree

including Ed Markey, Barney Franks, Joe Kennedy, among others.

[cali]

5. He's a Vermonter. No Vermonter would trade states merely for a Senate seat.

[Polemicist]

13. Dr. Dean would remain a Vermonter...

Regardless of a temporary appointment to a Massachusetts Senate seat.

This temporary appointment has tremendous national implications. It seems some people only view things through a narrow local view. Perhaps politicians in Massachusetts would view such an appointment equally narrowly.

I guess having lived in 5 different states over the last 20 years, I don't view things so "state centrically". I view the national interest first. Maybe I'm out of step on this politically.

I'm just thinking of the reason for changing the law and making this appointment now instead of in 5 months. And the primary reason is the debate on health care reform and the 60th vote against a filibuster of the same.

With that logic in mind, Dr. Dean is the perfect choice.

[karynnj]

16. Doesn't that then give VT 3 Senators and MA one

You might want to consider that the BG in 2004, made a point in their Boston guidebook to note that Kerry was not a native born MA person. This in spite of the fact that Kerry is a direct descendant of MA's first governor, though his mother and his father was born and raised in MA. His dad was in the air force and in the hospital in Co when Kerry was born there. Additionally, his family returned to MA when he was a year old.

Given this, do you think they want someone who is really still from VT? There are people from MA who would be as good as Dr Dean.

[Obamanaut]

8. When the law on filling empty seats is changed again, perhaps they

should put that page in the 'big book on how we'll run elections this time' using velcro. It'll be easier to change next time.

[CatWoman]

9. have you really thought this out?

[Polemicist]

17. Yes I have thought this through.

But I'm not sure you have.

What are your reasons against Dr. Dean? That he doesn't live in Massachusetts? That's easily remedied. Are you concerned that politicians in Massachusetts might object? I think they might actually prefer an out of state choice, to remove local politics from this temporary appointment.

Lots of politicians in Massachusetts will be angling to run for this seat. They won't want to gift a potential primary opponent with the advantage of incumbency. And they might not want to tip their hand as to whom they might support in the special election. So they will be looking for a seat warmer who won't run for the permanent seat. I believe a Vermonter isn't a risk to change his mind and decide to later run for the seat. In that regard he would be a safe choice for Massachusetts politicians. Dr. Dean doesn't belong to any party faction in Massachusetts.

And if health care reform is the overriding concern to change state laws and make this appointment, it would be a shame to appoint a weak and uninformed person with no national presence. It would be much smarter to appoint a national name with influence.

So, yes I have thought this through, thank you very much.

[Stephanie]

10. Recommended

But the thread police got here before me.

[bemildred]

11. Works for me. nt

[Critters2]

12. There's that annoying little issue of having to live in the state you represent.

Seems kind of important.

[Sebastian Doyle]

19. Didn't stop Hillary.

Or Alan Keyes, for that matter (even though he got his ass kicked by some guy with a funny Muslin name)

[bobbolink]

14. Actually, I think you make some very valid points.

I'm sorry you got so beat up over it.

So many come here just to hit others. It's sad.

Thanks for voicing your idea!

[w4rma]

18. Bet he would win the primary and then the seat. And that's what matters. (nt)