RIP Ted Kennedy

[Truthordeal]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if Massachusetts law is any different, but from what we learned from the ordeal with Ron Blagojevich in Illinois after Obama left the Senate, it's typically the governor that appoints someone to replace the Senator until a special election. The choice has to be confirmed by the state Senate.

Matter of fact, I think this provision is in the Constitution, rather than state laws.

Although, I've got to say, I liked Blago's style. Right when the end was near he made sure he was a sufficient pain in the ass by spitefully nominating Roland Burris to the Senate in Obama's place. He knew the brouhaha over the state senate not confirming him because he was black would happen, and made sure that his nominee got in. Crafty, very crafty. Totally something I would do, by the way.

[Lord J Esq]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if Massachusetts law is any different, but from what we learned from the ordeal with Ron Blagojevich in Illinois after Obama left the Senate, it's typically the governor that appoints someone to replace the Senator until a special election. The choice has to be confirmed by the state Senate.

Matter of fact, I think this provision is in the Constitution, rather than state laws.

I would suggest you look into this stuff before idly speculating. In Massachusetts, current law is that a special election be held a relatively short time after a vacancy appears. The governor does not have power to appoint anyone in the interim. In fact, in a dose of irony, it was Kennedy himself who lobbied to have the law changed: It used to be that the governor did have appointment power, but, in 2004 back when Mitt Romney was governor and Senator John Kerry (also from MA) was plausibly about to leave the Senate for the White House, the Democratic-dominated MA state legislature changed the law removing the governor's appointment power.

Although, I've got to say, I liked Blago's style. Right when the end was near he made sure he was a sufficient pain in the ass by spitefully nominating Roland Burris to the Senate in Obama's place. He knew the brouhaha over the state senate not confirming him because he was black would happen, and made sure that his nominee got in. Crafty, very crafty. Totally something I would do, by the way.

Well, that's honest of you. Not very laudable, though. Blaggy was a crook who got caught and chose to spite everyone by taking down the Senate seat down with him as he sank. That he was good at it simply makes his villainy all the more damnable.

[Samopoznanie]

I knew very little about Ted Kennedy before his diagnosis with brain cancer, save for the oft-rehashed talking point about his drunk driving accident. Some of the comments and reflections in the last few days have been very nice. It's brought out number of civil personal reflections from a crowd of politicians who usually come off as boring, inept, petty and bickersome. The respectful tone in itself was a novelty. I particularly liked McCain's brief commentary, with its sincerity and humour. Reminded me of the character he showed in his concession speech. Kerry's was very nice too, a different personality than the stiff and cumbersome man we saw in 2004.

McCain: http://www.necn.com/Boston/Politics/2009/0...1251505790.html

Kerry: http://www.necn.com/Boston/Politics/2009/0...1251507106.html

It's a pity that it takes this sort of circumstance to get elected representatives to show a degree of maturity and thoughtfulness. If they can retain even a bit of it when debate kicks off again in the Fall, that would be great. More likely that they'll go back to throwing mud. But we can hope, right?