What Ted Kennedy Wants
He’s trying to change election rules—again.
The Washington Journal
Senator Ted Kennedy, who is gravely ill with brain cancer, has sent a letter to Massachusetts lawmakers requesting a change in the state law that determines how his Senate seat would be filled if it became vacant before his eighth full term ends in 2012.
Current law mandates that a special election be held at least 145 days after the seat becomes available. Mr. Kennedy is concerned that such a delay could leave his fellow Democrats in the Senate one vote short of a filibuster-proof majority for months while a special election takes place.
“I therefore am writing to urge you to work together to amend the law through the normal legislative process to provide for a temporary gubernatorial appointment until the special election occurs,” writes the Senator.
What Mr. Kennedy doesn’t volunteer is that he orchestrated the 2004 succession law revision that now requires a special election, and for similarly partisan reasons.
John Kerry, the other Senator from the state, was running for President in 2004, and Mr. Kennedy wanted the law changed so the Republican Governor at the time, Mitt Romney, could not name Mr. Kerry’s replacement.
“Prodded by a personal appeal from Senator Edward M. Kennedy,” reported the Boston Globe in 2004, “Democratic legislative leaders have agreed to take up a stalled bill creating a special election process to replace U.S. Senator John F. Kerry if he wins the presidency.” Now that the state has a Democratic Governor, Mr. Kennedy wants to revert to gubernatorial appointments.
Beacon Hill has long sported heavy Democratic majorities, so the state legislature has the votes to grant Mr. Kennedy’s wish. But does it have the chutzpah? An election is the more democratic option. After witnessing recent attempts by incompetent Governors in Illinois and New York to fill Senate vacancies, Massachusetts voters may have soured on such appointments. Especially when Mr. Kennedy’s motivation for changing the law is so obviously born of partisan interest, not principle.
Wild Thing’s comment…….
You know…a normal guy would have resigned when the terminal situation was given by the doctor. He would have gone to live in peace the last few months. But being a liberal he is not a normal person so forget what I just said. hahaha
Consistent Liberal (and Kennedy) MO – if you can’t win by the rules, change the rules.
Mary Jo was unavailable for comment.
The only thing Kennedy is principled in is the abuse of women. Besides Mary Jo, remember the young woman who was raped by his nephew while he was in the house?
To bad it’s probably to late for Mary Jo’s family to bring a wrongful death suite against Kennedy.
I’d rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than driving with Ted ‘Doggy paddle’ Kennedy!
Ted Kennedy – the man who took up the banner of amoral behavior and helped lead the Democrat Party further down the path of socialism.
Rules apply to you like they do everyone else, Chappaquiddick Ted!
What kind of miserable sonofabitch makes one of his last acts on earth, a POLITICAL ACT!
This crapweasel is worse than I thought. It’s creepy and evil. He wants to extend his influence from beyond the grave. Astonishing.
Welcome to hell, Mr. Kennedy
Yankeemom, this is exactly what the left
does time and time again, you are so right.
“if you can’t win by the rules, change the rules.”
BobF., oh yessss I forgot about him,
his name was Patrick. That whole
thing was so obvious he got away
with what he did.
Darth, good one! Me too!!
Tom, he has lead the way your right.
Anonymous, Ditto that!!!!
Rhod, you are so right.
You said it so perfect what I was
trying to say about what a normal
person would do compared to what
Kennedy is doing.
This really shocked me what he
is doing.