Posted on 08/26/2009 12:21:02 AM PDT by Chet 99
(CBS) Although Sen. Ted Kennedy had sought to expedite the process of choosing his replacement to the U.S. Senate, it appears the process will be at least three to four months away.
As CBS chief political correspondent Steve Chaggaris reports, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick must set a date for a special election to occur between 145 and 160 days from now to fill the vacancy created by Kennedy's death. The two likely dates for a special election would be on the Tuesdays that fall within this range: January 19, 2010 and January 26, 2010.
Thanks to a law change in 2004, Gov. Patrick is not allowed to appoint a temporary replacement, meaning that seat will be vacant until the special election.
Last week, Sen. Kennedy sent a letter urging Patrick and the state legislature to amend that law change to allow for the governor to appoint someone for that interim period, someone who would not be allowed to run in the special election.
The Boston Globe reported over the weekend that the state Senate president, a Democrat, has changed her mind on opposing this idea and has been working to drum up support for that measure.
The state legislature is on recess until Labor Day, so no action is expected before then.
In his letter, Kennedy wrote: "it is vital for this commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election."
While Democrats hold a potentially filibuster-proof margin in Congress, the outcome of a health care reform bill could hinge on a single vote.
In his letter, Kennedy suggested the governor ensure the fairness of any appointment to replace him by seeking an "explicit personal commitment" his appointee will not seek the position on a permanent basis.
Succession: The sequence in which one person after another succeeds to a title, throne, dignity, or estate.
I guess we have our own royalty. Are we awaiting Kennedy III?
I think "hate" is a strong word. I don't think any of us "hates" Romney. A lot of us have complete disdain for Romney, though, just as we do for McCain, Huckabee and other RINOs.
A lot of it’s anti-Mormonism...
I seriously doubt that. That's sort of like crying "racist!" I've noticed that some Freepers who support Romney are Mormons, and I can't help but wonder if that's why they support Romney. Personally, I don't care much about Romney's religion; I care that his policies tend to be left-leaning and even socialist in some aspects and that he uses smoke-screens when it appears convenient to act like a conservative.
They hate Romney and they hate anyone who defends Romney.
No we don't. Again, we just don't like his politics.
Not one bit.
Your post was a tad Drama Queen-ish, really.
never said they did did I?
I don't know if it should get an "Oscar" or a "Tony"...
After all, while the post is on a screen where one can watch a movie, all the world is a stage...
If by “they” you mean the conservatives here on FreeRepublic, then you are half right.
We hate his politics. He is an ok guy and his hair is very nice.
The rest is bupkis...
Especially the whole lame “you guys hate Mormons" bit.
Take that crap back to the DNC...
“I got banned in the fall of 2007 for defending Romney.”
I mean come on, don't make this any easier, the low hanging fruit is just too tempting...
I think the shovel is yours on this one...
“I got banned in the fall of 2007 for defending Romney.”
Mittbot: "Duhhh...and I'm so smart I think I'll do it again. Hyuk!"
“Romnet no longer lives in MA. Kind of hard to run if you don’t live in the state”
...as long as he gets around to signing an apartment lease by election day, he can run.
Quite so.
Aren’t they usually ? And always johnny-on-the-spot with the propaganda reference links for Slick.
Kennedy was a socialist pig. Romney is a conservative republican who is being vilified by those who do not bother to really look at his positions. If Romney were a US senator he would be voting the same way as 90% of the freepers. By the way, I am not a Mormon, but I have been on the floor of six national republican conventions and chairman of 30 conservative and republican organizations. Romney would not only be the strongest candidate we could field for senator in Machusetts (the ass went to hell) but Romney would happily impress conservatives with his performance. He would be exponentially better than anyone else that is electable in the state. Remember also that to get the committee chairmanships back into the hands of the conservatives, republicans need to capture a majority of the senate.
Kennedy was a socialist pig. Romney is a conservative republican who is being vilified by those who do not bother to really look at his positions. If Romney were a US senator he would be voting the same way as 90% of the freepers. By the way, I am not a Mormon, but I have been on the floor of six national republican conventions and chairman of 30 conservative and republican organizations. Romney would not only be the strongest candidate we could field for senator in Machusetts (the ass went to hell) but Romney would happily impress conservatives with his performance. He would be exponentially better than anyone else that is electable in the state. Remember also that to get the committee chairmanships back into the hands of the conservatives, republicans need to capture a majority of the senate.
“If Mitt Romney is in, I’m out!”
That kind of attitude would guarantee the socialist democrats control of the country forever. I would much rather see a Romney than a Kennedy in every way. Remember without all the republicans, the fascist democrats would (do) have a working majority and the committee chairmanships.
What action would they take?
Massachusetts general laws says that Patrick must declare the special election IMMEDIATELY. There would be no time for the legislature to change the law.
I just found the relevant election law on the Massachusetts Law website.
Note the part in section (a) that says "the governor shall immediately cause precepts to be issued to the aldermen in every city and the selectmen in every town in the district, directing them to call an election..."
PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE VIII. ELECTIONS
CHAPTER 54. ELECTIONS
PROCEEDINGS UPON FAILURE TO ELECT, AND VACANCIES IN STATE OFFICES
Chapter 54: Section 140. Senators and representatives in congress; vacancies
Section 140. (a) Upon failure to choose a senator or representative in congress or upon creation of a vacancy in that office, the governor shall immediately cause precepts to be issued to the aldermen in every city and the selectmen in every town in the district, directing them to call an election on the day appointed in the precepts for the election of such senator or representative. The day so appointed shall not be more than 160 nor less than 145 days after the date that a vacancy is created or a failure to choose occurs. Filing a letter of resignation creates a vacancy under this section, even if the resignation is not effective until some later time, but the date of the election to fill a vacancy under this section shall be after the resignation is effective.
(b) If a vacancy under this section is created after February 1 of an even-numbered year, the governor shall not issue the precepts required by subsection (a), except as subsection (c) provides for a vacancy for senator.
(c) If a vacancy is created for senator in congress after April 10 of an even-numbered year, the governor shall issue precepts under this section, unless section 152 requires that office to appear on the biennial state election ballot in that year. If this section prevents issuance of precepts for senator, the office shall appear on the biennial state election ballot in that year. If a vacancy for senator is created after April 10 of an even-numbered year, but on or before the seventieth day preceding the regular state primary, the precepts shall appoint the day of the regular state primary and the biennial state election for holding the special primary and special election required by this section.
(d) If at the time a senator or representative in congress is elected at the biennial state election, there exists a vacancy in that office, the senator or representative shall also be deemed to have been elected to serve out that vacancy.
(e) A senator elected to fill a vacancy under this section shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
This says that the governor IMMEDIATELY announces the date of the special election.
The seat is vacant. When is Patrick going to announce the date of the special election? Why is he talking about changing a law that is already in progress? He is required to name the date NOW!
-PJ
Election laws are of little concern to Democrats — unless they can be used to their advantage.
Irrational attacks against people instead of ideas or philosophies is a sure sign of mental weakness. The attacks on Romney are not justified. The only criticism that has any reality attached to it is the health issue, but the fact is that when the Massachusetts legislature changed Romney’s proposal (which would not negatively impact private care) to one closer to government control, Romney as governor VETOED the health bill. Romney never signed any legislation related to health care. The Democrat state legislature voted 80% TO OVERRIDE HIS VETO and that is why that state has the health plan that it does. The health care system in Massachusetts is clearly the fault of the democrats alone. And no, I am not a Mormon. I am a bible believing christian, raised up in the Baptist church, and I have been on the floor of six national republican conventions and been the chairman of thirty conservative and republican organizations and have probably done more to elect conservatives than any ten other people in this forum combined.
Please refrain from personal attacks that have nothing to do with reality.
We tried that and got OBAMA!
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