Kennedy seat successor plan gains steam

[jefferson_dem]

Successor plan gains steam
Speaker Robert A. DeLeo ok with giving Gov. Patrick appoint power
By Hillary Chabot | Wednesday, August 26, 2009

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has given his behind-closed-doors blessing to an effort to hand Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint a temporary successor to U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, sources say.

While DeLeo has been publicly silent on the controversial measure tagged a power play by critics, the speaker indicated his tacit support.

The Winthrop Democrat met with his inner circle Monday to discuss Kennedy’s request for the temporary appointment and is looking at ways to fulfill the proposal as lawmakers started collecting votes, according to sources.

Kennedy wants lawmakers to allow Patrick to name a successor for five months until a special election can be held to elect a new senator so that there is a “continuity” of representation in Washington.

Kennedy has asked that the temporary successor vow not to seek the seat in the special election.

Patrick has previously backed the gubernatorial appointment power which was taken away from former GOP Gov. Mitt Romney by the Democrat-controlled Legislature. But Patrick has not taken a position on the latest Kennedy proposal.

However, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray yesterday told the Herald, “Certainly I believe it should be given serious consideration.”

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http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1193443&format=text

[Raven]

1. No other state in this Nation has as complete Democratic control

as Massachusetts. They damn well better do it and do it quick!

[whistler162]

8. I hope they don't......the law was changed to

make it easier to have a Democrat as a Kerry successor when a Republican was Governor and now they want to change it back to when a democrat is Governor.

Don't play bad politics. Let the process in place play out and then change the process.

[paulk]

10. when the plan was first announced I would have agreed,

but the more I've thought about it, the more I think that the Mass. Democrats should go ahead with this. After the last 8 years and the destruction the Republicans wrought, now is the time to exercise our power -

Elections have consequences and it's time for some hardball.

[whistler162]

12. There is hardball and then there is suicide politics.....

changing a law that was changed to benefit Democrats just because the Republican Governor is no longer in office is suicide politics.

[zippy890]

2. Mike Dukakis would be a good pick imo

there's been some talk of him being a possibility for the temporary senant seat before a special election

[cyclezealot]

3. Would Mike Dukakis help fulfil Kennedy's dream of health care reform.

. As Kennedy would have wished.. Was it not Idaho that replaced it's US Senator.. Or Wyoming.. The governor must appoint a member who represents the same party as the one who vacated the seat. In this case, make that an addendum to the Mass law, that still requires an new election in 5 months.

[zippy890]

4. Who should fill Kennedy’s seat?

'Potential interim appointees to the Senate seat include Michael Dukakis, who cares passionately about health care and Vicki Kennedy , who would be a fine choice as an interim figure'

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/08/21/who_should_fill_kennedys_seat/


Dukakis, at 75 has no interest in running for a Senate seat- but cares a great deal and knows a lot about health care.

Vicki Kennedy might have her eye on the open Senate seat in a special election, under the proposed plan would not be able to fill in over the months leading up to the special election.

[democrat2thecore]

5. I REALLY like the Dukakis temp plan - he knows his stuff -nt

[cyclezealot]

11. After the interim spot was vacated.

Mass has no lack of talented Democrats. I think my favorite would be Rep. John Olver.

[karynnj]

7. It also would be a very nice honor for a man treated very poorly

He lost to a dirty campaign. he freely has admitted that he didn't deal with it well, but it seems wrong to primarily blame a victim of things that never should have happened.

[Clio the Leo]

9. Wonderful idea! Love it! NT

[WI_DEM]

6. Usually I would be against this plan (given dems took power of appt away just a few years ago)

but these are times when we need every vote for a public option that we can get--so go for it. To the power goes the spoils, so go for it.