Any good proposals for who should succeed Senator Kennedy . . .

temporarily or permanently -- ????

who served in the House in the 80s and 90s.

The governorship of Massachusetts was pretty much his for the taking at one point but he wasn't interested. I think he enjoys his work at Citizen's Energy.

Yes, I know there is a problem with gaining a position of power with heritage, but I think they might be the only ones qualified to finish his work.

there is only the one family qualified?

continued and frankly it will be easier to select someone from that smaller group than out of 300 million Americans, of which only 1% may be qualified to be a Senator.

what was said. And you know it. Why attempt to twist what was said?

The networks have been calling all day. Ive been doing my best to proactively dispell the rumors about accepting the position (sending emails and such about not having my mind made up about it to CNN). I don't mind doing interviews about how people are being too presumptuous.

Wouldn't that make certain heads explode?

I can see Rachel running for office some day but right now I think she likes goring sacred cows from the sidelines.

to replace those who can't finish their terms? It happened with Paul Wellstone and more recently with Joe Biden and Barrack Obama.

after he won the presidency.

awhile. Bummer.

senator can be seated sooner.

:shrug:

edit: According to this article, she said she doesn't want the job.


The Atlantic Wire
Tracking Opinions
as They Break
Aug 26 2009, 10:35am by Benjamin F. Carlson
Who Will Succeed Kennedy?
Commentators debate who will replace the liberal lion, and if the replacement will come soon enough for health care reform
It was only a month ago that Ted Kennedy wrote a letter urging the Massachussetts Legislature to overturn the law to allow the appointment of an interim Senator if Kennedy's seat went vacant. Commentators remarked then that Kennedy had advocated for the law in 2004 to prevent Mitt Romney from filling John Kerry's chair, and the appeal went largely unheeded.

Now these questions of succession have become far more urgent. Kennedy's 60th vote for the Democrats will have no replacement until January special elections, if at all.

Who may replace Kennedy?

* Kennedy's Wife, hints Sarah Wheaton in the New York Times. "In the letter discussing his successor, Mr. Kennedy said the appointee should offer the "explicit, personal commitment" not to run for the seat in the special election. His wife, confidant and policy adviser, Vicki Kennedy, has been subject of speculation in the state as a possible successor, though she said before his death that she was not interested."

* Kennedy's Nephew, speculates a report in Politico. "There's also a chance a Kennedy will be on the special election ballot, with Joseph Kennedy II expected to consider running for his late uncle's seat."

* A Long Line of Democrats, Politico also says, reporting a list of a number of party members in Massachussetts angling for the seat, including "Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley...Reps. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.)." This is "the first time a Massachusetts Senate seat will be open since 1984, and a long line of Democrats are expected to consider running to succeed him."

http://atlanticwire.theatlantic.com/read-more.php?id=822

certainly for the temporary position if that passes. Maybe even in the special election. Who knows?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dukakis#Post-election

In August, 2009, the 75-year old Dukakis was mentioned as a possible successor to Edward M. Kennedy in the U.S. Senate.

mike's a good man, would have been a great president and has earned it

Bobby Kennedy, Jr. would be great -- but he doesn't live in MA -- he's in NY state.


I noticed tonight watching hearings on Sexual Assaults in our military that Niki Tsongas --

widow of Paul Tsongas -- is now in the USHR - in her first term.

A Repug and I know nothing about her --

he would be my choice for the one to run for that seat.

Rachel as the 5 month place holder would be wonderful to see

but there is the problem that he's the RI rep --

and further, he is afflicted with alcoholism as his mother has been.

Perhaps it will be less severe, but has been a problem for him.

Ted's son Edward is an investment banker and lawyer -- believe living in Connecticut --

and in 2007 there was some discussion of his trying for a seat in the House.

This is the son who had part of a leg amputated due to cancer when he was very young - 12, I think!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Kennedy,_Jr.