Free Republic

The Kennedy clan has to be wondering lately, what the ____ (fill in blank) happened? The past year has not been kind to America's Royal Family. With yet another brutal winter storm having virtually shut down America's capital, our liberal friends in those snowy climbs will have ample time to pause and reflect on the demise of the Kennedys during the past year. First Caroline met with unexpected criticism in her quest to fill Hillary Clinton's term in the Senate, whereupon she withdrew from consideration. What the ____ (fill in blank) happened? She's JFK's daughter! She's Teddy's niece! Her uncle...

Find common ground with Obama, or resist his agenda?

As Sen. Scott Brown sweeps into his new office, it’s the end of the line for several of Sen. Paul Kirk’s staffers who are being ushered out of jobs a week earlier than expected. Kirk staffers weren’t talking today, but friends and colleagues of the group say some of the staffers were upset by the accelerated swearing in date. One Democratic colleague said the “carpet was pulled out” from preparations for a day that already promised to be emotional. Kirk’s office had worked for weeks to turn over the beloved Russell 317 office suite to Brown by Feb. 11, welcoming...

Here is video of Scott Brown being sworn in this afternoon as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts by Vice-President Joe Biden. The swearing in took place in the well of the Senate Chamber. . . . (VIDEO)

A triumphant Scott Brown arrived to a rock star’s welcome outside the Russell Senate Office Building today to begin the whirlwind swearing-in process. “Hold on. Let me get my certification papers,” said the U.S. Senator-elect as he pulled up in a Cadillac Escalade. He had to leave his trusty old GMC Canyon pickup at home for the flight to the Capitol. “I’m happy to be here,” he told the press swarming around his vehicle. Brown then pulled his certification papers out of the back. When asked what his top priority would be after being sworn in today at 5 p.m.,...

Sen.-elect Scott Brown (R) will be sworn into office Thursday, a week earlier than expected, after he asked officials in his home state of Massachusetts on Wednesday to certify his election "without delay." Brown's addition to the Senate will mark the end of the 60-vote majority Democrats have held for much of the past year and give Republicans enough votes to block legislation as they choose. Brown won a special election Jan. 19 for the seat of the late senator Edward M. Kennedy. He had been slated to join the Senate on Feb. 11, but in a letter to Massachusetts's...

Brown arriving in Senate a week early; Dems scramble By: Susan Ferrechio Chief Congressional CorrespondentFebruary 4, 2010 With Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts headed to Washington to be sworn in Thursday -- a week earlier than expected -- Democrats were scrambling to push through union-friendly nominees for key posts in the Obama administration.Brown asked Massachusetts election officials to certify his win immediately and now he is expected to be sworn in during an afternoon ceremony. He will become the chamber's 41st Republican, which will give the party enough votes to block controversial nominees like Craig Becker, President Obama's pick...

Join Tim Cahill, his running mate Paul Loscocco, and hundreds of volunteers for the Grand Opening of their headquarters in Quincy! Any and ALL of Tim's supporters are encouraged to come, so feel free to bring along your friends!! During the grand opening, Nomination papers for Tim will be passed out. After stopping in at Headquarters, help us reach 10,000 signatures to get Tim and Paul on the Ballot. Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010 Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm Location: 180 Old Colony Ave, Quincy MA

Interim U.S. Sen. Paul G. Kirk Jr. announced tonight he will give his final address to the Senate tomorrow afternoon clearing the way for Sen.-elect Scott Brown to take his seat. Kirk’s staff announced the senator will “deliver his final speech on the floor of the United States Senate” at 3:45 p.m.

In a previous post on Big Government, I questioned why Senator Paul Kirk has not stepped down as the Senator from Massachusetts, as he should have on January 19th. Today, the attorney for Senator-elect Scott Brown stated in a letter Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick that Brown wanted the results of the January 19 election certified by 11 a.m. Thursday, so they could be forwarded to U.S. Senate officials for immediate action. Governor Patrick’s office also issued this statement via email today: As the Lieutenant Governor stated earlier today, the Governor will convene the Governor’s Council at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning...

Scott Brown, the Massachusetts Republican who won late Senator Edward Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat, could be sworn into office on Thursday if he is formally certified the winner, Senate aides said.

Sen.-elect Scott Brown, the successor to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), will be sworn in to office Thursday afternoon, giving Republicans 41 seats in the upper chamber.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) said Tuesday that Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts has been “way overblown.” Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), disputed the assertion that voters in Massachusetts’ are very liberal.“This whole notion that it’s a liberal state -- how many Republicans do I have to mention who got elected up there?” Kennedy said, citing Republican governors such as Mitt Romney, Paul Cellucci and William Weld.Kennedy added, “This is way overblown. Bottom line is, it just served a lot of people’s political interests to spin this story the way they wanted it.”

Thoughts...Can we get a lawyer to rescind ALL VOTES cast by Kirk since the day Scott Brown was elected? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT KIRK BY LAW IS NOT SUPPOSED TO VOTE AFTER SCOTT BROWN WAS ELECTED AND HE STILL IS. ALL VOTES CAST BY HIM SHOULD BE NULL AND VOID.

The Republican who captured the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat says he wants to be sworn in immediately, not next week as planned. An attorney for Scott Brown says in a letter Wednesday to Massachusetts Gov. Deval (deh-VAHL') Patrick that the senator-elect has been told there may be votes in which he wants to participate.

The Massachusetts secretary of state has delivered certified election results attesting to Scott Brown's U.S. Senate victory, moving him toward his swearing-in. Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign the official certification form at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, allowing Brown to be sworn in as scheduled on Feb. 11. Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray says Brown could be sworn in earlier if U.S. Senate officials agree. The later date gives Brown time to hire a staff and complete preparations for his new job.

THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT Brown's Campaign Buoyed By Tea Party The Group's Members 'Want To Know Who's Next,' Says One Local Leader In Massachusetts by Neil MunroTuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 Tea Party activists claim some credit for Scott Brown's Senate upset in Massachusetts, and there's good evidence that the decentralized movement played an important, albeit indirect, role.Way back last April 15, Brown courted the movement by appearing at two anti-tax Tea Party events. "I've been up there for 11 years, and I've never voted for one tax increase.... You have to hold your legislators accountable," he told the crowd at...

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: For those reading 2012 implications out of Sen.-elect Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, Mitt Romney’s monthly PAC newsletter provides some insights. Brown, R-Mass., is featured in two pictures in the newsletter, and Romney takes full ownership of his victory: “As supporters of the PAC, you deserve a thank you,” the newsletter from Romney’s Free Strong America PAC reads. “Your support made it possible for Governor Romney to get behind Senator Brown from the very beginning, when polls showed him a 30-point underdog and everyone assumed the outcome was pre-ordained in favor of the Democrats.” “Governor...

Tea Party activists from across the country poured money into his campaign coffers and littered the blogs with pleas of support to Massachusetts voters for him. But Senator-elect Scott Brown, a Republican elected just two weeks ago to the U.S. Senate seat long-held by Ted Kennedy, does not give them all the credit for his victory. Barbara Walters, guest hosting ABC’s This Week pressed Brown on his thoughts on the grassroots movement that has claimed much credit for his win. “The Tea Party movement was important to your victory. How influential do you think the Tea Party movement is going...

The Senate has voted on three pieces of legislation today that required 60 votes–to raise the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion, to reduce the deficit by establishing five-year discretionary spending caps, and Ben Bernanke’s confirmation–all of which interim Senator Paul Kirk (D-MA) has voted on. In addition, there have been other Senate votes since Scott Brown was elected as Massachusetts senator that Kirk cast a vote.