Kennedy Successor to Be Chosen by Special Election

ap ^ | August 26, 2009 | staff

[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.

[WOSG]

Time to get behind the strongest Republican and get them elected.

That would be the best memorial to Ted K and his liberal legacy that we could make.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Teddy wanted it this way in 2004.

Oh, how I absolutely, positively ADORE pure, unadulterated poetic justice. ;)

[Vaquero]

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?

It is a state issue, in a marxist state....and they will do it. And nobody will do a damned thing about it.

[Vaquero]

well don’t eat that yellow snow if you don’t like it.

[dalebert]

hahhahaaa...notice they did not say fair election

[Verginius Rufus]

I expect they will change the law, if they think that 60th Democratic vote in the Senate will matter in the next 5 months.

The mistake was in drafting the law in 2004. It should have provided that if a vacancy occurs when the governor is a Democrat, he will fill the seat; if a vacancy occurs when the governor is not a Democrat, there will be a special election.

[zerosix]

“They” might but it would not be anyone that would be considered a “Republican” in any Red State — certainly NO conservative, i.e. Mitt Romney.

[concerned about politics]

“Any change could not happen immediately. Lawmakers are not expected to return to formal sessions until after Labor Day.”

Maybe by then the Kennedy love feast propaganda will have eased. Changing a law Kennedy wrote himself would be so blatantly partisan, maybe they'll actually think about what they're doing - especially if the people of the state are feeling buyers remorse over Oboma.

[WOSG]

one of Teddy’s many flawed predictions.

[SmokingJoe]

“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.”

I think Romney should run. He is the best chance Republicans have of winning that seat, given that he's won a statewide elections in Mass and was elected governor before.
Personally, I’d much rather have him sitting in the US senate right now, than waiting to 2012 to run for president.
Plus even if we wants to run in 2012, sitting in the US Senate is not gonna stop him running for president will it?
Real question though is, what are his real chances if he runs?
Any polls out there at all yet?

[SpeedRacer]

The Swimmer has finally met up with Mary Jo again.

I seriously doubt they met, or ever will... Luke 16:26.

[deport]

Will this be a jungle type election where all candidates regardless of party affiliation are on the same ballot with a majority needed to win? Does anyone know?

[Jeff Head]

I hope and pray to God in Heaven that a conservative is elected to follow him. That would be the most fitting epitath for this man.

“Socialism hasn’t worked in 6,000 years of recorded history because it didn’t have me to run it.” - Ted Kennedy

And despite all his efforts to the contrary, it never worked in America either. Even with him as the Jackal of the Senate trying his best to implement it. May God have mercy on his soul...but we are better as a nation with him permanenetly out of that position of power and influence.

Now we have Barrack Hussein Obama and his ilk, who will surely try to use the death of this old, corrupt man, to push through the biggest socialization effort in American history - ObamaCare.

We cannot let it happen. Stand firm, speak out, lean into their storm of word and ideologies...and push them back.

THE GRIM REAPING OF AMERICA

AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY

THE STORM UNLEASHED ON AMERICA

A PETITION ON FACEBOOK FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RESTORATION

A 4TH OF JULY TEA PARTY SPEECH

...and on the lighter side, take your mind off the Obamanation for a few minutes and enjoy some beautiful Western US scenery slideshows.

JEFF HEAD'S WESTERN US SCENERY SLIDE SHOWS

[RGSpincich]

"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," Kennedy said in a letter to Patrick.

Your not/were not thinking too clear, Teddy. In 2004 you didn't consider a 5 month vacancy to be troubling. In fact you advocated for it.

[DM1]

“Wow, maybe they’ll elect a Republican!”

i highly doubt it there will be so much heartpouring for Kennedy that to keep his legacy alive the MA will elect anyone with a D next to their name to the office. Anything could happen but again i highly doubt it

[La Lydia]

One of the occasions in which Ted Kennedy knowingly lied.

[NautiNurse]

Not sure Romney is a resident of MA anymore.

[Terriergal]

What I’m wondering is if Kennedy was so far gone as to be hours or just a day or two from passing on, how was he in the condition to be giving orders about how his successor will be chosen? I am wondering if someone just heard some more of his incoherent babbling. Maybe he was calling for a priest to confess.

Ted: “geb mea peest! wog Ize waz wog! Ikeed maygo! Keewd ahpor babbee saportn aportn “ (”Get me a priest! Wrong! I was all wrong! I killed MaryJo! I killed all those poor babies by supporting abortion!”)

liberal person standing nearby “what’s that Ted? You want the governor to appoint your successor? We’ll make that known to the public right away. We know they’re too compassionate than to deny a dying man his final wish!”

[Terriergal]

There are Republicans in Massachusetts? Oh yeah thats right... people like Olympia Snowe...

[Terriergal]

You have to give the rotten SOB credit where credit is due. He was a politician to the end. That's credit? :-) But you're right, God bless him... I pray that he repented in his last moments at least. It doesn't sound like it... but that's between him and God I guess.