Now that the question of what to do about Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat is no longer an academic one, folks in Boston seem to be giving the issue a little re-think. Remember Kennedy wrote to the governor recently asking him if he couldn’t perhaps do something about that terrible law Democrats passed in 2004, the one that called for a special election in the event of a Senate vacancy FIVE MONTHS after the seat first opened? That got everybody so steamed …
Because honestly, a bit of arbitrary legislation dreamed up for the sole purpose of preventing Mitt Romney from appointing a Republican successor to “President” John F. Kerry should be allowed to stand on principle. Otherwise, people might begin to suspect that the legislation was cooked up with one very partisan aim in mind!
But now legislators are coming around, maybe, to the idea of getting rid of the whole five-month wait thing, because they don’t want to be held SINGLEHANDEDLY RESPONSIBLE for depriving health care reform of one precious vote and maybe even killing it. Especially when health care was one of the things that mattered most in the world to Ted Kennedy, who really could not have picked a less convenient time to die.
In an interview with a local Massachusetts television station this morning, [Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Mike Capuano] signaled that he was supportive of Kennedy’s request to have a temporary appointee until the election can be held.
“It would be a real slap in the face to the country if the only reason we can’t get a health care bill through is because of a vacant seat,” he said.
As of yesterday, the president of the state senate is likewise “open” to the idea of a temporary appointment.
Fate of Kennedy’s Senate Seat Unknown [Washington Wire]
{ 78 comments }
I can see where MA was coming from. Woukd you want Mitten’s appointing your senator? He’s probably pick onw of his brood or Glenn Beck or something.
Couldn’t they just do a Weekend at Bernie’s kinda thing where they prop Kennedy up in the Senate and have him “vote” Aye with a series of ropes and pulleys to animate his limbs?
All those months of Kennedy’s health in limbo, plus the Coleman-Franken delays, have put us in an unusual place. Drive the legislation through, or wait for ’10 and another round of Senate seats?
This would be a lot easier if Diaper Vitter and John Rensign would suddenly grow consciences and abruptly leave their posts.
Given the volume of legislation Ted Kennedy helped pass, this is a great meta-example of how an already near-useless Democratic Party has a really depleted minor league system of forward-thinking legislators. The fact that the major league roster is half-filled with insurance and pharmaceutical industry shills may trigger a completely apathy towards anything political.
Maybe they should have a reality-show style competition – Who Wants To Be Massachusetts’ Next Senator? Contestants can be plunged two at a time inside a car into a river in the dark. First one to make it to the surface makes it to the next round.
OT….Cal Thomas has a very nice column up on the FOX website. Talks about his long friendship with Kennedy and how he believed him to be a truly good person. Then, you get to the comments. What a bunch of creeps troll about on the FOX Forum.
Yuck.
Countdown to some rightwing douchebag tool declaring “World War Three” and saying they will “Go Nuculer”….
Yeah, that’s right. Not letting up on Saint Teddy.
It’s a real shame the death panel didn’t let him live.
This is turning into the Wellstone funeral all over again. The Democrats will try to use sympathy over Teddy’s death as a rallying cry and there will be a backlash that dooms healthcare reform.
OO! OO! OO! PICK ME! PICK ME!
i found Teddy’s replacement:
http://www.lutralutra.co.uk/site_media/images/squirrelizer/1251297564090714452147244.jpg
Huh, so you’re saying that Democrats did something stupid that came back to bite them in the ass? I never thought I’d see the day.
who really could not have picked a less convenient time to die.
Indeed. The man had absolutely no concern for the incompetence and ineffectiveness of others.
[re=395234]Gallowglass[/re]: They should have made the language of the bill clear, I think: Mitt Romney is not allowed to make any appointments, whatsoever.
To think, due to the lack of adequate media coverage in the afterlife, we are going to miss a true magic moment:
I refer, of course, to the meeting in which a still-sodden Mary Jo Kopeckne hands Teddy back his equally sodden wallet . . . .
Whether by appointment or election, the Massachusetts Constitution requires that this Senate seat be filled by a person with the surname Kennedy. There’s plenty of them. And that way they don’t have to re-paint the name on the office door.
You don’t have to be a moron to get elected to the Massachusetts state legislature. But it helps.
I agree with the special election thing. But we do need a proviso for an interim senator, maybe one who wouldn’t be eligible to run as an incumbent in the special election. Makes sense to me.
Anyway, I just tendered my resignation at my job Friday. My last day here is September 4. So if they need me to placehold until January, I’ll do it. “U.S. Senator” would look great stenciled on my mausoleum.
Is Massachusetts fresh out of Kennedys now? If so, I nominate my mom. She hugs tress, gives to PETA and, best of all, lives on golf course in MA. Win, win and win.
I have a feeling that even if the MA legislature does this, the governor’ll probably pick some Kennedy clan window dressing, and not a real socialist activist rabble-rouser who knows something about policy, which is what would really do justice to Kennedy’s legacy. Where are today’s Abbie Hoffmans, anyway?
They should appoint this guy, State Senator Robert O’Leary, to take his place. He’s not only a good guy, but he looks enough like a Kennedy that you want to ask him if his mom was a cocktail waitress in Hyannis during the 1950s.
http://www.senatoroleary.com/images/headshot.JPG
Just give John Kerry 2 votes & be done with it.
http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/08/26/byrd-wants-health-bill-renamed-for-kennedy/
It’s to bad Caroline moved to New York. I’ll bet she’d be great!
My first thought on hearing the news was “Who are the wingers going to use as their boogeyman now?” Ted Kennedy was a stock character in their fund raising efforts. I bet they just keep using him to scare the base and raise money.
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: holy shit, I think you may be on to something here.
In all seriousness, couldn’t the MA legislature have just mandated that interim appointments had to come from the same party as the departing senator? That would have tied Mitt’s mitts, surely. But I may be missing something.
[re=395235]groove[/re]: “…where they prop Kennedy up in the Senate and have him “vote” Aye with a series of ropes and pulleys to animate his limbs?”
Ol’ Ted would be fine with this — Irish machine politics, it was in his blood.
He died last night.
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: Eeeeeerie!
People, haven’t you seen Weekend at Bernie’s? We can do this.
Oh you people know that.
Capuano spoke at my school’s graduation this year.He was not popular choice. (Why go looking for someone when you can repay the House member who secured millions for your controversial BioLab?) He’s also a pretty terrible speaker, also. Major fail if he succeeds inhis probable bid to follow Teddy for the Senate seat.
[re=395243]norbizness[/re]:
the Demos do indeed lack a deep bench…
I think Weekend at Bernie’s II is even more instructive, as human beings can be reanimated via Caribbean riddims without having Andrew McCarthy or Jonathan Silverman engage in awkward physical comedy.
Damn! Even Wonkette isn’t a Chappa-whatever free zone! (Don’t make me go to Daily Kos, people.)
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: OMG!!!
Thirty six odd comments (some odder than others) and no one has yet suggested the most logical and delicious solution? SENATOR BARNEY FRANK (D-Fuck You Idiot)!
If Stephen Lynch runs, I am so campaigning for him. He would be the greatest senator, like, ever.
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: I love it.
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: Love child, never meant to be/Love child, take a look at me!
[re=395269]Neilist[/re]: Yawn.
My fave new game:
If Kennedy was the “Lion of the Senate”, as NPR keeps hammering home, for no reason, who are these others?
The Giraffe of the Senate?
The Hippo of the Senate?
The Kookooburra Bird of the Senate?
The Three-Toed Sloth of the Senate?
The Lesser Kudu of the Senate?
Please, post your inputs -
Pay back’s a bitch.
[re=395288]Marcel Parcells[/re]:
I think you meant:
“It’s too, you know, bad , you know, Caroline moved , you know, to New, you know, York. I’ll, you know, bet she’d be, you know, great!”
[re=395344]twowheeljunkie[/re]: It’s really too bad we don’t have great men like you, twowheel, in the senate. Stop hiding your light under a bushel!
[re=395245]Tybalt[/re]: oh….harharhar!! Hey, you know then we could line up all the people who were actually helped by causes he championed. Do you have a venue that can hold 40 million people?
Seriously, fuck off.
[re=395269]Neilist[/re]: Oh, neilist. Sometimes you have a wry and acerbic sense of humor. And then there are times like now where you’re a a seriously unfunny twat.
I’ve got a great idea. Let’s insinuate Chappaquiddick into everything, always, forever.
Yes, I’m looking at you, Neilist, you fucking tool.
[re=395343]snideinplainsight[/re]: The Giraffe of the Senate? Was Sen. Obama, currently vacant.
[re=395360]Advocatus_Diaboli[/re]: a-fucking-men.
[re=395343]snideinplainsight[/re]: Grassley is clearly the snake of the Senate, as in snake in the grassley. Joe Lieberman is clearly the bassett hound of the Senate. John Kerry? A horse, of course. Larry Craig is the pubic louse of the Senate.
Today we are all senators from Massawhatsis.
[re=395355]Gopherit[/re]: Yeah, remember how he fought tooth and claw against the patriot act? How he valiantly opposed going to war in Iraq for no particular reason? How he tirelessly fought to expose torture? How he led the fight to impeach George Bush?
Yeah, neither do I.
[re=395343]snideinplainsight[/re]:
John Kerry – Horse(face) of the Senate
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: I would have named him Kingsley. Kngsley Ned Kennedy.
[re=395343]snideinplainsight[/re]:
The Giraffe of the Senate? No contest, Lindsey Graham
The Hippo of the Senate? Al Franken / Patty Murray (take your pick)
The Kookooburra Bird of the Senate? Olympia Snowe.
The Three-Toed Sloth of the Senate? Robert Byrd / John McCain (death match)
The Lesser Kudu of the Senate? Lisa Murkowski.
[re=395289]rev_matt_y[/re]:
““Who are the wingers going to use as their boogeyman now?”
Answer:
Sponge Bob – Soaks society. Jobless corrupter of youth– and he lacks spine.
Porky Pig – Fat New Deal liberal.
Peppermint Patty – Lesbo femtard. Her life-long partner Velma, also.
Bo – Obama stooge. Gets free healthcare and flea baths at taxpayers’ expense.
Al Sharpton
Tinky Winky – (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
Bumblebee Man – Fucking, job-stealing, Mexican-speaking illegal.
But not Elmer Fudd – NRA member.
Ed Markey. Srsly. Totally in the public service spirit of Kennedy, but with a good driving record.
[re=395373]gurukalehuru[/re]: I am trying to decide if you’re being snarky. Because, if you aren’t you’re a total Palin.
He voted against the Iraq War spending and spoke out about it every time. He voted against the Patriot Act and spoke out about it. He and Russ Feingold lead the Dem senators in trying to investigate the illegal wiretapping and were pushing for impeachment hearings. What was he supposed to do beyond that? Come here and snarkily and impotently bitch and moan like the rest of us?
I am suspecting Palin. Don’t be a Palin.
[re=395373]gurukalehuru[/re]: Kennedy’s willingness to cross party lines only enhanced his credibility when he needed to stand alone as a progressive prophet. In early 2003, while so many in his party cowered in fear, Kennedy stood against the impending invasion of Iraq, warning that it would “undermine” the war against terrorism and “feed a rising tide of anti-Americanism overseas.”
- from today’s op-ed by E.J. Dionne in the WashPost. But don’t let facts get in your way – what fun would that be??1?
[re=395373]gurukalehuru[/re]: Hey, you sad bag of clown shit, Get your facts straight. He voted against the war, for perserving habeas corpus and for reports on the CIA torture shit, against warrentless wiretapping, oh arrghh. You obviously know nothing, about anything. He’s my Ted Kennedy and I will STILL vote for him, forever.
[re=395462]Madame[/re]: How can clown shit be sad? I bet it smells funny.
[re=395282]Cape Clod[/re]: Good Lord.
[re=395376]ALIVE![/re]: Sorry, but John McCain is the Angry Bear of the Senate. Or the Pedo Bear. Or whathaveyou.
[re=395348]Gopherit[/re]: I could replace Teddy as the Senate Sot that’s for sure.
[re=395324]DemmeFatale[/re]: Must be only people of a certain age even think about Chappaquidick. I’m no spring chicken, but the thought just never entered my mind when I saw him on TV. It’s only when someone else brings it up that I think, “oh yeah, he did do that, huh?”
[re=395542]twowheeljunkie[/re]: klassy. More importantly, what’s your stance on bathroom stalls? I’m going with wide.
[re=395331]user-of-owls[/re]: This straight guy says HELL YES! Put a Boston street fighter in the Senate; a certain Chicago street fighter seems to have left his knife in the gutter at 63rd and Halsted.
MAAAAASSSSSSSSHOOOOOOOOOLLLLESSSS
[re=395547]RoscoePColtraine[/re]: Yeah, guess it must have been a media sensation, “back in the day.” (I was a little Demme then.)
[re=395629]DemmeFatale[/re]: Well shit there are still wingnuts with anti Jane Fonda bumper stickers on their cars/trucks. Moving into the future isnt their strong suit.
[re=395355]Gopherit[/re]: Seriously, are you unfamiliar with this site? Fuck I am already tired of the whining everytime someone snarks St. Teddy. Nixon did some tremendous things that spurred positive change while he was President. (‘s true, look it up). Would that prevent us from having a go at Tricky Dick? If you don’t like seeing politicians mocked, go somewhere else.
[re=395700]Tybalt[/re]: Fuck you. I’ve been posting here since before they let you graduate from middle school You are ignorant, and quite possibly stupid, judging from your comment. Go eat a bag of dicks.
A wee Irish Blessing in honor of Ted.
May those who love us, love us;
and those who don’t love us,
may God turn their hearts;
and if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
may he turn their ankles
so we’ll know them by their limping.
Today, you Neilist and the nutters are limping!
HipHopOpotamus says: “Capuano spoke at my school’s graduation this year.He was not popular choice. (Why go looking for someone when you can repay the House member who secured millions for your controversial BioLab?) He’s also a pretty terrible speaker, also. Major fail if he succeeds inhis probable bid to follow Teddy for the Senate seat.”
But he should get the job because what’s important is he’s kinda cute. Except for the meth teeth but he can’t help that…he was mayor of Somerville. God bless my State…I feel sorry for you suckers who don’t live here. Also.
…on an unrelated note (or maybe not since Kennedys also like dick talk) why is everyone’s favorite insult here “go eat a bag of dicks!” Don’t knock it ’til you try it while drunk & high at the pines by Fenway Park. I’m just sayin’. also.
[re=395331]user-of-owls[/re]: I’m with you,Senator Barney Frank sounds great.
[re=395417]Gopherit[/re]: [re=395440]snideinplainsight[/re]: [re=395462]Madame[/re]: Thank you.
[re=395440]snideinplainsight[/re]: Haha you made [re=395373]gurukalehuru[/re]: look like a dipshit. Only in America.
Comments on this entry are closed.