That Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) is near death is no secret. He wasn’t able to attend the recent funeral of his sister Eunice even though the proceedings were conducted a scant few miles from his home where he continues to battle brain cancer. 

He did, however, have energy enough to send a remarkable letter to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and state government leaders on August 18. It asked that the Massachusetts law dealing with the procedure for filling a vacant seat in the U.S. Senate be altered. The law, enacted in 2004, calls for any void in the state’s representation in the U.S. Senate be filled via a state-wide election no later than five months after the vacancy occurs. Kennedy wants an interim appointment made immediately so the state will have “continuity of representation” in the Senate while the election is held. His letter did not indicate whether the void need occur because of death, leaving open the possibility that he could resign if his wish becomes reality. 

With the letter, the long-serving senior Bay State senator evidently conceded that he will be unable to participate in any further Senate work, including a looming vote on healthcare, one of his long-championed projects. It would seem to the casual observer that he is looking out for the best interests of the country and his state, but a further examination of the way the current law regarding succession came to be reveals a related and quite different motive. 

In 2004 when the junior Massachusetts Senator, John Kerry, became the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, the state law regarding Senate succession gave the sitting governor the power to fill a vacancy. Had Kerry won that election and properly resigned his senate seat to take the higher office, then-Governor Mitt Romney would have named his successor. But Romney was a Republican and he undoubtedly would have chosen someone from the GOP to fill the vacancy — maybe even himself. 

So the heavily democratic state legislature swiftly changed the law to what is on the books today. Kennedy’s letter contained his agreement that there be the election to fill a void as current law calls for, but now he wants the law altered so that the current governor, a democrat, can immediately fill the seat, and then have the interim appointee step aside while the election for a successor proceeds. The law does not call for such an arrangement. 

According to the Boston Globe, Kennedy advisers including Kerry, “began discussions months ago about pushing for a change in the law.” Having made a change in 2004 to assure keeping the seat in democratic hands, they now want to change it again to guarantee that heavily democratic Massachusetts could be counted on to support the Obama administration’s agenda and the Democratic Party’s wishes without any interruption. 

Senator Kennedy and others can claim that they are concerned only about the nation and some important votes looming in the U.S. Senate. But the blatant willingness to toy with a Massachusetts law that democrats shoved through to passage in 2004 indicates another certain goal. It may be hoped that Massachusetts voters will see through this latest call for another raw power play to serve the Democratic Party. But those same voters continue to send no one but the most liberal democrats to both the House and the Senate. And the state legislature has only a few lonely Republicans in each of its houses. In Massachusetts, whatever the Democrats want, they usually get.
    
Forecasts indicate that population density shifts expected to be gleaned from the 2010 census will result in Massachusetts losing one of its 11 seats in the U.S. House. There doesn’t seem to be any way that Bay State Democrats can tinker with federal laws to avoid that loss. But don’t be surprised if they try.   

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danwhitehead1

August 21, 2009

173.57.15.38

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A blatant grasp for power indeed!!!

It's as clear as crystal that a power grab is exactly what it is. That this foul, poisonous, bloated old toad, AKA The Chappaquiddick Skin Diver in certain circles, has managed to stay in power for so long does not speak well of the moral stance of the people of Massachusetts. The fact the he didn't go to prison for the murder of that poor girl so long ago is nothing less than a shame and a reproach. I certainly won't be shedding any tears when he's dead and gone to his place. He should drown, just like that poor girl he murdered.

still free

August 21, 2009

64.12.117.9

Votes: +1

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One last shot from King Ted

Even from his deathbed, Tax'em Teddie is still stacking the cards in his favor ... just not in Ted's nature to give up the reins--they may have to pry them from his cold dead hands. Unless he can convince his wife to take them. After Hale Boggs died Louisiana got stuck with Lindy Boggs for what seemed like forever, so anything is possible.

Not to worry--we've still got Carter out there stirring up trouble everywhere he goes. And then there's Slick Willie, no slouch in the sleight of hand, blazing his own trail as he tinkers and meddles everywhere he can. (What ever happened to his golf games with Vernon Jordan? I think that's his name.)

The truth is definitely stranger than fiction.

JohnnyO8142

August 22, 2009

72.28.19.88

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Teddy the swimmer is at it again. Even when he is close to meeting his maker the last bastion of crazy kennedy politics just won't go away.

danwhitehead1

August 23, 2009

173.57.15.38

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Someone once said - - -

- - - that every time Carter lied he grew a new tooth. I'm betting that every time the old Chappaquiddick Skin Diver lies he puts on another pound.

bg

August 24, 2009

67.53.28.211

Votes: +1

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I won't shed any tears either...but part of it, I believe, TK had some strings pulling at him to make him dance to what the Insiders wanted. Remember he had two brothers who were killed while in office. The power mongers have very sharp teeth.

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