Kennedy looks to set stage for successor

Source: Boston.com (Boston Globe)

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff



Senator Edward M. Kennedy, in a poignant acknowledgment of his mortality amid a critical time in the national health care debate, has privately asked the governor and legislative leaders to change the succession law to guarantee that Massachusetts will not lack a Senate vote in the event of his death.

In a personal, sometimes wistful letter sent Tuesday to Governor Deval L. Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Kennedy asks that Patrick be given the authority to appoint someone to the seat temporarily while voters choose a new senator in a special election.

While Kennedy, who is battling cancer, does not specifically mention his illness or the health reform debate raging in Washington, the implication from his letter is clear: He is trying to make sure that the leading cause of his life -- better health coverage for all -- advances in the event of his death.

Kennedy said in his letter, which was obtained by the Globe, that he supports the current law, which gives voters the power to fill a Senate vacancy. But he said the state and country need two Massachusetts senators.

"I strongly support that law and the principle that the people should elect their senator,” Kennedy wrote. ''I also believe it is vital for this Commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election.''

...

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/08/kennedy_headlin.html

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Darn, looks like he knows his time is soon :(

:cry:

with us for many more years, but it's clear he knows how things stand.

His passing will hopefully motivate recalcitrant Senate Democrats to pass healthcare reform with a vigorous public option.

Because if it doesn't, nothing else will.

I can even see the bill being dedicated in his name.

because of the rules relating to the reconciliation process. You can pass a watered-down bill through reconciliation, but not the public option. There is no way the public option will get 60 votes, even with sympathy for Kennedy.

There is still a chance that the fucksticks in our party can be strongarmed into voting for cloture to beat back a filibuster and then will be free to vote against the bill. Of course that brings us back to the issue of Teddy's seat.

rather than spur the senate to a good bill, many, like Baucus, are actually waiting for Ted to die so they can have their way.

He's been fighting for it for years. I do hope that the Gov. and legislators change the law so that there will be 2 Senators from MA just in case he doesn't make it. He's been fighting for a while, and I truly hope that he can be there to cast a vote. :crossing fingers:

And his vote being the deciding one for reform...

but that probably won't happen.
He didn't make it to the senate floor for the Sotomayor vote and I didn't hear anything about him being able to attend his sister Eunice's funeral. So, chances are he is not doing very well at all these days.
Heard that President Obama was planning on visiting him soon when the Obama family is vacationing at Martha's Vineyard.

Our prayers go out to him and his family.

I think instead of just believing what the press reports we think positively about his recovery.

Senator is a fighter and that's the way I want to invision him now.

It is inspiring that there are people in this world like Senator Kennedy who see a cause like health care as a cause that is bigger than themselves. It is commendable with everything he must be dealing with that he is trying to fight this fight by handing the reins over in a responsible manner, so that another strong Democrat can step forward and continue the fight.

Senator Kennedy is a truly great man. I wish him all the best. I would love to see him pull through this and legislate for many more years all the while knowing that a national health plan was a part of his legacy to this country.

Can't imagine the Senate without Ted.

and will miss him terribly.

I hope he gets the outcome he, and we, all deserve.

that might happen because health care has been so important to him. I still hold onto hope and pray he will lick this awful disease.

is passed.

It should already have been done.

I had dreamed that a real healthcare reform law would be called the Edward M. Kennedy American Healthcare Act of 2009.

But if its a crap bill, forget about it. Call it the Nelson-Grassley Fucking of America 2009.

The Lion must be there.

The Lion of the Senate. He is just that.

:cry:

:cry:

i.e., negotiating how long he would be allowed to stall, I had a morbid thought:

He (and all of the pubes) are just hoping that Teddy dies before this thing ends. That would give them some kind of perverse pleasure that they would consider a victory no matter how it goes down.

SCUM !!!! :puke:

...I'm afraid I wouldn't put it past them. Delay, deny, obstruct. Spite is the name of the game.

Expect to see the financial interests which oppose health reform drag up any Kennedy related scandal they can in order to keep the same thing from happening now.

Edited to include links to the RW attack on Kennedy:

http://amyproctor.squarespace.com/blog/2009/7/18/40-year-anniversary-of-ted-kennedys-chappaquiddick-scandal.html

http://kevincolby.com/2009/01/22/the-story-of-ted-kennedy-the-chappaquiddick-murderer/

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/rich-noyes/2009/07/18/40-years-chappaquiddick-ted-kennedy-would-have-brought-comfort-mary-jo-k

http://thehuffingtonriposte.blogspot.com/2009/07/ted-kennedy-still-has-to-answer-for.html

http://www.freedomslighthouse.com/2009/07/sen-ted-kennedy-tried-to-defend.html

http://blogs.wsj.com/capitaljournal/2009/07/22/the-car-crash-that-changed-history/

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzMyNTgxMmExNzBiOTMzZWY2YjZmZTQ1MjZkZmQ2MDY=

Apparently NPR.. "National Public Republicans"...even did the health insurance industry's business for them

http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2009/20090720050917.aspx

The fact that the MSM did not get into the act shows us that American business as a whole is fed up with the high cost of insuring its employees. And that, my friends, is why we will eventually get meaningful health reform.

All GOP RW talking points are from opposite day.

leaving the scene of an accident. Don't the SOBs believe in the rule of law. He was probably drunk driving, too. He probably had a drunk driving accident in his youth.

While it is horrible beyond words that a young woman died as a result, drunk driving accidents were not exactly unheard of back then. long before MADD and the rest of the education and awareness that has since developed. (And they still happen way too often.) However, even the drinking is speculation on my part, so I probably should not say even that. All we know for sure is that it was a car accident in a deserted part of an island off Cape Cod. Back then, there would have probably not even been street lights on that road.

He has had so much grief and has had to do so much for his family ever since. Not to mention what he has done for the country, a man who never had to work for a living if he didn't want to. I'd love to know what his accusers do for anyone that is comparable.

The idea that a Kennedy, all of whom (except poor Rosemary) lived to serve, did not even try to save Mary Jo would be laughable if it were not such an ugly story about such a tragic event. I would not only stake my life on that part of his story's being true, I would stake anyone's life on it. It would not be within any of them not to try.

It's a miracle he got himself out of that car on the bottom of the ocean at 3 am or whatever, probably drunk, let alone been able to get her out. He's a hero, but not a super-hero, ffs. They need to shut their ugly, crap filled, libelous mouths.

Just tell them to STFU. And take a page from their nasty playbook. Every time they mention Ted Kennedy's youthful driving accident, mention Laura Bush's and her dead ex-boyfriend who had dumped her and was dating one of her friends when he died. Ted had no motive drive a car he was in off a bridge. What happened clearly was not intentional. Larua Bush's ex-boyfriend, on the other hand--what a coincidence, huh? And the police never bothered to test either young driver for alcohol, despite the fatality. No court case, either, let alone two.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/laura.asp

Snopes discount malice on the ground that Laura would not stop to think think things through. And they almost always assume, without thinking about it, their own immortality. For those two reasons, they take risks that people of fifty would never take. (Stick to the facs, Snopes. That's what you're good at. Motives and like, not so much. Psychologists, you're not. But, I'm sure Laura appreciate those comments.)

The real issue here? It just kills them that the Republicans don't have anything remotely like the Kennedys. So, they have to tear them down, if not kill them.

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussien is seeing and developing weapons of mass destruction"
Ted Kennedy, 09/27/02.

That would be so low that even a few blue-dog Republicrats might be offended.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I really hate thinking about his no longer being here with us. He has always been such a huge force. :(

I won't tell.

I hope he can hold out to see this through!


Prayers to God for you, Teddy!

I so wish that we did not have to deal with this. I posted earlier today that I suspect that the insurance companies through their agents in Congress whom I shall not name here are purposely delaying this with their silly balking about the public option so that Democrats will no longer have 60 votes. Chris Matthews suggested that in a passing remark in his interview with Representative Weiner.

I wish that Kennedy would come out in favor of a robust public option. If he just issued a statement supporting it, it would mean so much to working, lower middle-class Americans.

As it is, H.R. 3200 requires a $5,000 deductible for one person and a $10,000 deductible for a family per year in addition to payment for insurance. That deductible is far too high.

In a discussion posted in the video section, the former insurance executive, Wendell Potter and Keith Olbermann pointed out that Max Baucus wants the deductible to cover 35% of the cost of medical care so that insurance companies only have to pay 65%. A bill assessing Americans with that kind of burden for healthcare costs would be worse than pointless. If that kind of burden is placed on ordinary Americans and called health care reform, Democrats will never, ever be elected again. We will not be a viable party. We will never be trusted.

We need Senator Kennedy to point this out publicly. He is the only voice that can lead the Democrats to understand that the public option must be included and that the public option must be open to all.

I wish God's blessings on Ted Kennedy. We are all so grateful for his public service.

Eunice because we've had the great privilege of having them among us. Rosemary, poor thing, never had a chance. Joe, Jr., died during WWII the war (as did his sister Kathleen. John and Bobby, of course, were assassinated in the prime of their lives. Only Ted and Eunice were left to tell thee. And tell thee they both did. Oh, how they did.

Joe, Sr, was a philanderer and away a lot. I cannot imagine how great a mother Rose Kennedy was to raise a family, each of whom saw their lives as being of service to their country and fellow human. And all such appealing people.

Often, a Governor appoints a Senator's successor until an interim election or, somewhat less democratically, until the next regular election. In Massachusetts, the Legislature appoints a successor who serves until the next regular election. (I suspect the legislature is the appointer in Massachusetts because the Legislature has been overwhelmingly Democratic for years, but the Governor is often Republican. However, some of the Massachusetts Democrats are not as liberal as people assume.)

Everyone was saying Teddy wanted to hand pick his successor, continuing the dynasty. The Legislature would vote in his nominee in a heartbeat, I believe, because Massachusetts owes him so unbelievably much. Instead, Ted is trying to get the law changed to the interim election scenario, the most democratic one of . Why did we expect otherwise of him?


To all those Fitzgeralds and Kennedys who are gone, RIP. To Ted, Lion of the Senate, still thinking of us, you are the Irish American King of Hearts and Politics. We love you so much. Stay strong.

hint --> P.K.

He is a rep for Rhode Island. Can't live in a different state.

Let's hope he's just being overly cautious and actually recovers.

Another possibility would be one of his nephews if they still have legal residence in the state -- Joe Kennedy, former Congressman from the 8th comes to mind.

eta: probably the real reason for changing the law is to give a temporary appointee the advantage in the election -- that's also the best reason for the state to leave it alone. MA politics are dirty enough without opening up this can of worms.

He is probably struggling to stay alive so he can vote at this point. Bless him for thinking so hard about his constituents when he should be thinking about himself.

Senators should have some sort of second in case they pass on; that would be more fair.

:cry:

Source: Boston Globe

Kennedy, looking ahead, urges that Senate seat be filled quickly
Seeks law change for interim post
By Frank Phillips

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, in a poignant acknowledgment of his mortality at a critical time in the national health care debate, has privately asked the governor and legislative leaders to change the succession law to guarantee that Massachusetts will not lack a Senate vote when his seat becomes vacant.

In a personal, sometimes wistful letter sent Tuesday to Governor Deval L. Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, Kennedy asks that Patrick be given authority to appoint someone to the seat temporarily before voters choose a new senator in a special election.

Although Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, does not specifically mention his illness or the health care debate raging in Washington, the implication of his letter is clear: He is trying to make sure that the leading cause in his life, better health coverage for all, advances in the event of his death.

In his letter, which was obtained by the Globe, Kennedy said that he backs the current succession law, enacted in 2004, which gives voters the power to fill a US Senate vacancy. But he said the state and country need two Massachusetts senators.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/08/20/kennedy_looking_ahead_urges_a_quick_filling_of_senate_seat/?page=1

to see a public option and other needed health care reform. Time for Obama and Reid and Pelosi to crack the whip and get it the heck done.

slow-walking the whole thing. How gruesome!

What a hard thing to face, but showing his determination to the last. He's led a complicated life, but I think moves like this prove his dedication to this country.

Putting the needs of the people in his state above his own. He makes me proud.

:loveya: Senator Kennedy.

I wish you the best.

Sonia

His term continues through 2012. He's covering his bases in the event that he does not make it because he doesn't want to leave the Senate one vote short on health care. Also, if Patrick can name an interim during the 5mo. period between his potential passing and the special election, he can name someone who will definitively vote for health care. They would not be eligible to run in the special election and therefore wouldn't be swayed by political pressures (though they would be small in this state at any rate.)

Lo, there do I see my Father..
Lo, there do I see my Mother
And my Sisters and my Brothers..
Lo, there do I see the line
Of my people back to the beginning..
Thay do bid me to take my place among them..
In the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the Brave may live forever.

significant part of my life.

:cry: JFK, MLK, RFK Rest in Peace

I guess it sounds good politically. Why not just allow a Senator to specify their successor in case they are forced out of office, who will serve the remainder of the term. Having the governor choose allows for the possibility of them selecting a Republican to replace a Democrat, which puts Democratic Senators in danger.

And I have no opinion as to when that would be. Anyone think we should chip in and send a nice floral tribute to The Lion of The Senate?

Not 100 dz. as we did for Helen Thomas but, something from DU to let him know we're grateful to him and his tireless fight all these years for health care.

After all, I hear they happen every day.:(