Can Ted Kennedy name his wife to take his seat?

Frustratedlady

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:34 AM
Original message

Can Ted Kennedy name his wife to take his seat?

I was thinking there were instances when this happened.

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MNDemNY

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:35 AM
Response to Original message

1. No.

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zipplewrath

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:36 AM
Response to Original message

2. Not Ted, the Governor

Typically senate seats are filled by an appointment from governors. I'd have to check on the exact rules for Massachusetts.

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SoFlaJet

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:37 AM
Response to Reply #2

4. Ted can ask Duval Patrick to name her

and I'm sure he'd grant the request of a dying man.

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karynnj

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Thu Aug-13-09 10:09 AM
Response to Reply #2

17. They require a special election

The rules were changed in 2004 to prevent Romney from getting to make an appointment for Kerry.

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SoFlaJet

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:36 AM
Response to Original message

3. Jean Carnahan

taking Mel's seat?

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SteppingRazor

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:39 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. But in that case, he was running for election when he died...

And the acting governor said he'd appoint Jean if Mel won the election. Mel did so, Jean got the appointment, and the loser -- John Ashcroft -- got the Attorney General gig as a consolation prize.

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SoFlaJet

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:42 AM
Response to Reply #5

7. Ha! That's right-Ashcroft lost

to a dead guy. I liked Jean C-I'd like to see her daugher or son take that seat back.

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Bill McBlueState

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:40 AM
Response to Original message

6. There would be a special election

See here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/07/31/romney_veto_overridden/?page=full

Massachusetts enacted this to keep Romney from appointing a Republican if Kerry had been elected President.

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SoFlaJet

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:43 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. So run another Kennedy

and it stays in the family-and more importantly-DEMOCRATIC

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SteppingRazor

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:46 AM
Response to Reply #8

11. Eh, it's Massachusetts.

I think it'd stay Democratic regardless, and Mitt Romney notwithstanding.

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Bill McBlueState

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:47 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. Ideally,

the voters will select the candidate they think is best for the job. (In Massachusetts, this may well be a Democrat named Kennedy.) I don't think any particular family should get to lay claim to a Senate seat.

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Frustratedlady

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Thu Aug-13-09 10:06 AM
Response to Reply #12

15. I mean to finish out his term if he is too ill to do so, himself.

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Frustratedlady

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:47 AM
Response to Reply #6

13. Thank you. I was thinking there was a senator or rep who had a serious disease...

and the comment was made that the seat was his, but could be filled by a member of his family, but I can't remember who, whether it was while he was living or had to be after his death. It wasn't that many years ago, but just long enough I can't remember the congressman involved.

I'm not anticipating Ted's death, but was thinking that this would be a way to keep his vote for the health care reform if he wasn't able to come to the senate for the vote.

I know...that's asking too much for that to be possible.

Grasping at straws, I know.

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Bluenorthwest

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:46 AM
Response to Original message

9. This is the United States of America

and political offices are not inherited nor passed on by those who hold them.

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Frustratedlady

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Thu Aug-13-09 10:08 AM
Response to Reply #9

16. I realize that, but I was talking about the rest of this term in the event.

he was too ill to do so.

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FarCenter

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:46 AM
Response to Original message

10. Under Massachusetts state law, vacant Senate seats can only be filled by a special election

per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Reggie_Kennedy

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goclark

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Thu Aug-13-09 09:55 AM
Response to Original message

14. I read that the Kennedy family doesn't like her. : (

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