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Kennedy Seeks Change in Massachusetts Succession Rules

Harshaw said:
Why the states ever gave that up, I have NO idea.
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They couldn't get their **** together in their own legislatures early in the 20th century, evidently. Little did they know that by ceding their right to appoint senators that they would eventually cede all the rest of their rights as well.
 
Coronado said:
That string of words means something to somebody, I guess ...
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Think about it..:lol:

In a letter to Massachusetts leaders, Kennedy asked that Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick get the authority to quickly appoint a successor to his seat — presumably a Democrat –rather than waiting five months or so for a special election. To maintain the appearance of fairness, Kennedy requested that the governor pick someone who will commit to not run for the seat at the time of the special election. Kennedy’s request would require legislators to alter a 2004 succession law that requires a special election be held to fill a Senate vacancy.

A Liberal Yankee turns Successionist. But in this case, he's trying to AVOID a Vote of the People.:doh
 
dragondad said:
Modern day right wing Christians.......full of hate.
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Others have said it to the people on the right already in this thread...good to see exhibiting classlessness is not something beholden to a single side.

I actually don't have a HUGE issue with what Kennedy is asking for though I would rather see them not change it simply because he's asking. But appointing an "interum" senator for the 5 months before the special election would at least provide Mass with someone representing them in that seat between the time of his death and the time the people can elect someone new.

I would rather them just have a faster election, but I imagine that:

1. The setup time to get the election going
2. Time to campaign that doesn't cause them to start campaigning while the man's still alive

may be why the 5 months time table is there. I would find it very distasteful to find people campaigning for a Senate seat of a man still alive on his death bed.
 
Carole said:
In 2004, Massachusetts Democrats devised a plan to keep John Kerry's Senate seat in their party's hands by blocking Republican Governor Mitt Romney from naming an interim replacement should Senator Kerry win the White House. They forced a change in the state's succession law from exactly what Senator Kennedy is asking for today to the new requirement of a special election.

In June of 2004, the State Senate voted, almost entirely on party lines, to change the nearly century-old electoral rules and was able to stave off a veto from Governor Romney thereby assuring there would be no Republican appointed to the seat should Senator Kerry win the White House. Robert E. Travaglini, the State Senate's president at the time said, "This is an elected position, not an appointed position, and there's been a process that's evolved over a period of time where I believe the people should vote and voice their opinions in situations of significance."

Evidently the opinions of the people and their right to voice them are no longer significant. At least not according to the Democrats of Massachusetts.

TalkingSides.com - The Democrats' Favorite Strategy: When You're Losing Change The Rules
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Additionally, the significance of Kennedy's suggestion is to help insure passage of the Healthcare legislation should there be a tight vote in the Senate.

If there is a lengthy vacancy it could affect the outcome of the matter.
 
disneydude said:
In Massachusetts do you really think it is going to matter?

What is the likelihood that the people are going to elect a Republican to replace Kennedy?

Let me give you a clue....ahhhh.....zero.
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If it doesn't matter, perhaps we should leave the proccess the way it is, instead of letting chappaquidik kenedy change the rules./
 
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
If it doesn't matter, perhaps we should leave the proccess the way it is, instead of letting chappaquidik kenedy change the rules./
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It COULD matter if the healthcare legislation comes down to a close vote in the Senate after Kennedy's passing.
 
bhkad said:
It COULD matter if the healthcare legislation comes down to a close vote in the Senate after Kennedy's passing.
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This is massachussets, they will replace leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death kennedy with an equally liberal player.
 
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
This is massachussets, they will replace leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death kennedy with an equally liberal player.
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Of course but how quickly they do it is the salient point here. If healthcare comes to a vote before a successor is chosen or voted in there will be no Massachusettes senior Senator and no one taking his place for that period of time. In that case they will be a man short and the Dems could possibly lose the healthcare vote.
 
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bhkad said:
Of course but how quickly they do it is the salient point here. If healthcare comes to a vote before a successor is chosen or voted in there will be no Massachusettes senior Senator and no one taking his place for that period of time. In that case they will be a man short and the Dems could possibly lose the healthcare vote.
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After the demise of the "Programs" given to us by Liberal Democrats...:lol:
 
They should probably combine this thread with the other one that is the same topic.
 
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