Posted on 08/26/2009 5:33:31 AM PDT by kellynla
Unlike most states, a successor to fill Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's seat in the Senate will be chosen through a special election, not by the governor.
Massachusetts law requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after a vacancy occurs. The law bans an interim appointee.
The law was changed in 2004, when Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat, became his party's presidential nominee and Republican Mitt Romney was the state's governor. Before the change, the governor would have appointed a replacement to serve until the next general election.
That would have created the opportunity for Romney to install a fellow Republican in office, a move that Democrats who control the state legislature sought to prevent.
Last week, Kennedy asked Massachusetts lawmakers to change state law to give Massachusetts' current governor, Deval Patrick, a fellow supporter of President Barack Obama, the ability to appoint an interim replacement to Kennedy's seat should Kennedy be unable to continue serving.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
As an aside, some years ago, when Kerry Healey was seeking to be governor, I was at a local Republican meeting and our state rep (Repub) was there. People asked him how he felt Healey's campaign was going. He basically said:
"Well ... ah ... I ... umm ... I attended a speech that she gave last week and ... ah ... well ... it wasn't as bad as some of her other ones."
I believe Kerry Healey is a pro choice RINO so I would not vote for her. Are there any MA Freepers out there who can tell me something about the other potential GOP candidates, should a special election be allowed to go forth?
I am not a fan of MASS-OF-2-$h!t$ (go Yanks!!!) but I am sure there are at least a 30% conservative factor as there is in my home state of the peoples republic of NY. So I will not lump all Massachushins into one marxist pool.
Maybe the Great Man (/s) should have resigned earlier .....
Oboma has been such a disaster, a law change would be suicidal. Are they that self defeating enough to pick another democrat?
I know the state isn't one of the brightest when it comes to common sense, but would they be that masochistic?
Anything less would be un-American.
Romney moved out of state.
“No mention of Mitt Romney on the Republican side? Winning that senate seat could propel his presidential ambitions... It’s risky, but if can win Kennedy’s old seat he’d be well on his way to winning the Presidency.”
I am not a big Romney fan but if I was one of his advisors I’d consul him not to to force himself to win two elections when all he cares about is the big one.
The mood is that people are pretty “wee weed” up (read, pissed) at the current administration but this is, after all, Massachusetts where unions and special interests run the show. It will be like any other election where the electorate sit back and watch the POS corrupt political machine force in a leftist. It is SOO difficult for me to vote when you know your vote is meaningless yet I do it anyways in the hopes that some miracle will happen.
“Any change could not happen immediately. Lawmakers are not expected to return to formal sessions until after Labor Day.”
Just watch them change the law AGAIN!
If the Catholics of Massachuetts were Catholic it could be a very interesting election.
Can’t let the Michael Jackson like coverage of Ted’s death deter the enthusiasm to kill Obamacare.
You know that the Libs will invoke the Ted Card when it comes to any opposition from this day forward.
If I were he, I'd never take my chances in a state where the lobotomized voters punch the Dem side of the ballot like suicidal lemmings no matter what disasterous condition the economy or societal culture is in.
Leni
If The Swimmer had been man enough to resign at least four months ago, a new junior Senator would already be seated. As it stands now, an election will not occur until 2010.
I am surprised by no mention of Mitt. Maybe he doesn’t want to associate with Ma$$ Mittcare.
“Pardon me if I don’t get all wee-wee’d up about his passing.”
Lord I hope the “wee wee” thing goes away soon.
Every time I read it, I hum a certain Frank Zappa tune in my head and frankly, it’s gross....:))
Do I misremember, or do Romney at least put his MA house on the market?
Also, does anyone know, I presume there would be a primary round gone through first? If not, I’d think Republican discipline in running only one candidate could prevail. I just can’t imagine that’s the process.
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