Looks like Mike Dukaksis will be appointed as Teddy's replacement in Senate

[Politics_Guy25]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/17/dukakis_ducks_question_of_being_an_interim_us_senator/

There are narrow majorities in both chambers. YAY! The political advantages outweight the downsides here nationally. I do commend the Mass dems for taking one for the team though. We desperately need 60 with all GOP senators out to destroy us.

Mike is a great choice btw and a chance to get back into poltics and be the deciding vote on health care after all the garbage he went through in 1988.

The MSNBC article about needing at least one GOP vote freaked me way out so I did some digging and found out that the MA temporary replacement idea is not dead after all.

[napi21]

1. HA! I just asked about the status of this a minute ago on another thread!

I don't care WHO temp. replaces Teddy as long as it's a Dem who will be that 60th vote!

[BeyondGeography]

2. That would be great on more levels than my brain can handle

[keopeli]

3. Progressives need to consider helping challenged MA Dems in 2010 for taking one for the team. n/t

[majority]

4. wow

cenk called it

[sayso7]

5. He's the PERFECT pick

A reliable liberal vote and since he's not running for re-election he can laugh in the face of corporate lobbyists.

[DFW]

6. Dukakis is the logical choice

I did a thread on this weeks ago, hoping he would be the one picked as the interim Senator.

Not that I'm the last word in common sense, but it sure seems like a common sense pick to me.

[lillypaddle]

7. Mike's a great choice

good on him.

[genna]

8. MASS state legislative Democrats should be worried about health care

instead of fretting over their seats.

If Dukaksis gets in, I look forward to seeing how sedate he is for the rest of this term.

[cascadiance]

19. Hmm... When I see Mike's name spelled that way, I seem to be reminded of Gollum and "hobbitses"...

... and wonder if there's something tricksey going on behind scenes here... :)

[argonaut]

9. It's a really nice cap to the Duke's career.

If only he'd been President. *sigh*

[Captain Hilts]

28. He would have been a good one. nt

[Vinca]

10. That would be the perfect choice.

[Mass]

11. It is sad there are only narrow majorities.

This should be huge majorities if some Democrats were not playing power games with the Governor. But it seems it should pass as early as today.

Hopefully, it will be Dukakis and not some of the other names I've seen mentioned.

[zippy890]

13. 'Democrats playing power games with the Governor' like Senate president Theresa Murray?

what is with her? I can't figure her out, her thing with Governor Patrick what the hell she has against him except like you say the power politics thing.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Some of it may have to do with the fact that many of these legislators vote to strip the Governor of

this power just a few years ago.

[karynnj]

12. The NYT did the same in their story - I was going to check out the MA papers and blogs

but thanks to you, that won't be necessary.

I agree with you that many MA Democrats came through - especially Kennedy in writing that letter essentially on his death bed. That letter gave Kerry and other Democrats some cover in changing a law they just changed about 5 years ago. Kerry's strong involvement in making the case was great - especially as he is incredibly busy being the only MA Senator, chairing Afghanistan hearings (one today at 10 (for live video - http://foreign.senate.gov/Flashtest.html ) and an excellent hearing yesterday (http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/09/john-kerry-is-making-sense.php ) and working on the Rockefeller side of the Finance committee.

I think Dukakis would be a wonderful interim choice. I remember a few years ago hearing him speak - mostly on Amtrak issues. He is a good guy, who really was treated pretty badly after 1988.

[Thrill]

15. LOL Dukakis in Washington on the Hill. Priceless

Can't wait to see that. He is also very passionate about Healthcare!!

[Clio the Leo]

16. Here's to hoping we can FINALLY welcome Mr. Dukakis to Washington!!! NT

[JNelson6563]

17. Cool.

I like it. :toast:

[polmaven]

18. It may not happen until next week, though.

One of the North Shore Republicans has said he will block the vote from happening today. The question is not on today's "docket", and in Massachusetts it take unanimous consent to vote on any matter which is not on the docket. There is no session scheduled for Friday, so it will likely not be voted on until next week.

[eleny]

20. That's some sweet justice

[grantcart]

21. good OP

but in this case "taking one for the team" actually means correcting an earlier screw up of their own making.

[Vidar]

22. He's a good choice.

[SpartanDem]

23. Why aren't MA Dems more behind this?

Yeah I know it's cynical, partisan move after what they did to Romney, but as blue as that state is you'd there'd be more support.

[seaglass]

37. Because it is blatantly partisan. Both my husband and I loved

Ted and vote D but neither of us are happy with this at all.

[Cha]

24. It sounds good from all the input

I'm reading about Michael Dukakis. He looks good too:)

<snip>>From your article>>

"Democrats are deeply divided over the issue and are worried that Republicans will use the issue against them in the next election.

“It would have been great if this didn’t come up,’’ said Representative Stephen Smith, Democrat of Everett. “I feel very, very badly by anyone who is going to be challenged by a Republican in the next election.’’

Buck up Mass Dems..the repukes have nothing expcept a record of more nothingness.

[Arkana]

34. Nothingness--because there's like 5 of them in the Senate and House combined.

They have no power and no organization here. They're completely impotent as a party.

This state adored Ted Kennedy, and we're following his wishes and putting an interim appointment in his place. They assault that at their own risk.

[noiretextatique]

25. karmically delicious

senator dukakis :woohoo:

[Zoeisright]

26. Michael Dukakis, Michael Dukakis, he's the only candidate whose name

is fun to say!

Sung to a nonsense tune. I don't know the tune

[Captain Hilts]

27. PERFECT choice! The Poster Candidate for Over-Estimating the Intelligence of the Voting Public.

[krawhitham]

29. That sucks

I wanted him to run for the job. The fill in appointment has to agree he/she/it will not run for the seat

[seaglass]

38. As of now there is no such requirement.

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/

[Mass]

39. We need somebody younger than he is. He is already 75.

But he will be a wonderful interim senator.

[Milk]

30. That's been the rumor for weeks and I'm ecstatic

And I bet he takes the train to D.C. :D

James Carrol mentioned the other day that Deval should run for his seat as it would suit him better and I agree. I don't think he'd stand a chance of winning (well, some chance) but I'd love him as Senator. He's totally neutered as governor and he doesn't deserve that.

[blueclown]

31. Alas, Lee Atwater is not alive to see it. n/t

[Chipper Chat]

32. I'd love to see him enter the chamber driving a tank

and wearing a helmet. A nice "up yours" salvo to the Republican party.

[andym]

33. He could follow that up by handing out a copy of his ACLU membership card to the Republicans. nt.

[CTyankee]

40. With "Coming to America" blaring in the background! nt

[Raine]

35. GREAT choice

:thumbsup: would love for him though to get a full 6yr term

[MBS]

36. ditto!

he's a great guy. Perhaps he also could slip in a few speeches and votes for amtrak and public transportation in those 3 months.
Oh, I really hope this happens.