Not a good sign: Ailing Kennedy Asks for Speedy Replacement Process

Ailing Kennedy Asks for Speedy Replacement Process
Updated 8:18 a.m.
By Perry Bacon Jr.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who is suffering from brain cancer and has missed most of the sessions of the Senate this year, has sent a letter (PDF) to Massachusetts leaders asking for a change in state law to allow his seat in Congress to be more rapidly filled.

The letter, first obtained by the Boston Globe, asks state lawmakers to select a temporary replacement should a U.S. Senate seat become vacant. Under a 2004 revision to the Massachusetts succession law, a U.S. Senate seat that becomes vacant can only be filled through a special election held at least 145 days after the seat becomes available, leaving the state with only one senator for months.

Though it does not articulate this, Kennedy's letter seems an effort to assure that Democrats in the Senate are not missing a key Democratic vote should the longtime senator succumb to cancer in the middle of the debate on expanding health insurance, long one of Kennedy's passions. Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate when Kennedy is able to participate and might need all of them if the chamber's 40 Republicans unify to oppose health-care reform efforts.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/08/ailing_kennedy_asks_for_speedy.html

I certainly don't have any information on this, but it's possible that he's doing this not because of a change in his prognosis but simply because he wants to make sure things are set if/when something does happen. Like how preparing a will doesn't necessarily mean that you think you're going to die soon.

I'm just going to go ahead and hope I'm right on this... :-/

He wasn't able to accept the President's Medal, and he wasn't able to attend his sister's wake or funeral. He's always been a fighter, and I believe he's quickly running out of steam...

I honestly don't think he'll make it to the end of the year.

It's going to be a monumental loss, not only for my state, but for the entire country. We know he has limited time, but losing him will still be a huge shock...

:(

I hope that he is able to enjoy the time he has here with us, however long that may be.
And if giving up his seat, or knowing that his ..."replacement"...(?) is someone he feels good about helps, I'm glad he's chosen to take this step.

Our family's experience with the same cancer was so unexpected, and painfully brief. Each day, for everyone of us, is precious.


I believe Ted and his family know that all too well.

:grouphug:

I met the man a few times when I worked on the Hill for another Massachusetts Congressman and he's just an unbelievable human being. Every bit as nice and affable in person as he seems from afar - I'll never forget him. I feel dirty saying more as it feels like I'm delivering a eulogy for someone that hasn't died yet, but I'll be greatly affected by his loss.

It will always come back stronger and worse than before. I had a close family member die of the exact same thing and have since been involved with groups of people who have the same kind of brain cancer and it just sucks. Sounds like he just wants to make sure his seat is filled quickly, if/when the cancer comes back.

I guess i just take the comments to suggest that there's a new, worse prognosis.

too-disgusting-even-for-them posts.

Well at least somebody over there has an ounce of class, even if the majority of them are plague-riddled cockroaches.

How long would that take?

Oppose? Favor?