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.
SeeBS Viacommie doesn't reveal WHO changed the law or WHY or WHY they wanted to change it back so soon.
Lousy Rat infested media.
the democrats changed the law to deny a republican governor from picking a senator, now they want it changed back because a democrat is governor
reminds me of another incident
democrast were against extending the term limit for new york mayor when gulliani was mayor, but when they had a democrat mayor, they extended the term limit
One local pol came out and said it: they want a Dem in there. (was in one of the papers yesterday)...
...and corruption.
“Vote for Romney! He didn’t murder his girlfriend like Kennedy did!”
I wouldn’t worry too much about party purity at this point. Getting Romney in the Kennedy’s seat would be awesome...regardless of his baggage.
“Total B*LLSH*T that Kennedy wrote any letter, who really wrote the letter??????????”
EXACTLY - I’ve been wondering that from Day 1. People that are dying of brain cancer are not exactly spending their last months delving into intricate policy analysis.
It wasn’t that close. Ted beat Slick Willard by a 58-41% margin.
Vote Conservative, huh ? Given that he was a Socialist disaster, that’s highly unlikely.
If they really want someone better than Kennedy to replace him, they need to find a phone book and a dart.
Romney was elected governor in Massachusetts and was within one percent in the polls when a Kennedy anti Mormon smear came out in the last minute. If Kennedy did not have the family name and fortune behind him, Romney would have beaten him, and won just as he did for governor.
Romney can win in that state just like he did before.
Slick Willard doesn’t want to be Senator. He didn’t in ‘94, he just wanted the shortest cut to the White House by ‘96, and that was by defeating Ted. We don’t need another Socialist RINO in the Senate.
Kennedy had Drain Bamage, before and after. Besides,
Reid was already in office.
Post #33. He tried to out-liberal Ted, and with predictable results. He was an unprecedented disaster as Governor and buried the state GOP. Slick Willard can disappear, that’s the best thing he can do for us.
He is not as liberal as you are painting him. He is a conservative on many issues and is far better than any democrat in that state. I hope he runs and wins. When he ran for governor, he won by five percent over the democrat....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election,_2002
Yep. Ted got the law changed so Romney couldn’t appoint Kerry’s possible successor.
Now they can’t appoint Ted’s successor unless they cheat and change the rules again...
Like Jim Jeffords and Arlen Specter?
Gawd. They’re referring to it like it was Kennedy’s right to pick a successor.
The Democrats love royalty. That’s why they like the elitist Democrats so much.
Notice the National Review endorsement...
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YmMxYTUyYzA1YTk2YzE5NGVmNjc0OGFjYWJmNzMzNjI=&p=1
And the list of issues....
http://www.ontheissues.org/Mitt_Romney.htm
Don’t get hung up on a single issue... look at the big picture. Would you rather have another socialist like Kennedy? Romney is a conservative even if imperfect.
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