U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy ready to step down immeadiately,

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

IMO if a politician has to step down for health reasons or whatever he/she should be replaced by someone from their own party (Democrat or Republican, wouldn't matter). That would prevent a lot of the games that are played when the decision maker is from the opposite party.

That was the reason they changed the law in 2004, to prevent such shenanigans: Let the people decide, not a partisan governor. Of course, who makes that decision? Who decides which member of the deceased senator's party would be the best fit? After all, the parties are not homogeneous, are they?

[Anh map 2,098]

Good riddance! This guy is a disgusting idiot pig, he killed that woman riding in his car while he was drunk and then he had his family cover it up, just a killer, how people forget the history of this guy so soon! He has been living a charmed life anyway, should have been in prison all these years instead of US Senate stealing the taxpayers blind!

Ailing Ted Kennedy asks for speedy replacement process

In a stunning admission of his frailty, an ailing U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is asking the governor and legislative leaders to rewrite state law to allow for a temporary gubernatorial appointment to his seat.

Kennedy's request comes in the midst of the heated national debate over health care, which has been the senior senator's focus in Congress for decades. He does not address his battle with brain cancer in a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick and state leaders, but Kennedy does signal his struggle could be nearing an end.

"I am now writing to you about an issue that concerns me deeply - the continuity of representation for Massachusetts should a Senate vacancy occur," Kennedy wrote in July 2 letter to Patrick, state Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.

In the letter, Kennedy asks that legislation be passed to change a law adopted in 2004 to provide for a special election to choose a new U.S. Senator in the event of a vacancy.

The law was pushed through during the 2004 presidential election because state lawmakers wanted to prevent then-Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing a successor for U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, who was the Democratic presidential nominee.

Click here to see a copy of Sen. Kennedy's letter.

Under the 2004 law, a special election is mandated within 145 to 160 days after the Senate seat becomes vacant.

"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 for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election."

Kennedy also asks that the interim post be filled by someone who makes "an explicit personal commitment" not to run in the special election for the vacant seat.

Kennedy, 77, makes no mention of his medical condition. Last week, he skipped funeral services for his older sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 88, but did attend a private family wake in her honor.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008. He was initially treated with surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment. But despite his battle with cancer, Kennedy has attempted to keep working.

"For almost 47 years, I have had the privilege of representing the people of Massachusetts in the United States Senate," Kennedy wrote in his letter. He added that serving in the Senate "has been — and still is — the greatest honor of my public life."

Despite speculation that Kennedy's wife, Vicki, is interested in the seat, family aides have said she is not interested in replacing her husband either temporarily or permanently. One of Kennedy's nephews, former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, has also been described as interested, along with a number of the state's remaining congressional members and local lawmakers.

Amid similar speculation about a Senate vacancy last fall, when Kerry was under consideration for secretary of state, Murray was adamant that the law not be changed. After recent inquiries from The Associated Press, aides to both Murray and DeLeo said they are unlikely to back any change.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politi...&position=2

Ignorant post.

Ask the Kopechne family how ignorant the statement is.....

The Right Wingers love to condemn Ted Kennedy over that incident without anyone except Ted knowing exactly what happened.

Left wingers like to think that nothing happened.

And there it stands....

Drunk driving deaths aren't seen as real crimes. But the corpses are just as dead.

[nowhereman 1]

Good riddance! This guy is a disgusting idiot pig, he killed that woman riding in his car while he was drunk and then he had his family cover it up, just a killer, how people forget the history of this guy so soon! He has been living a charmed life anyway, should have been in prison all these years instead of US Senate stealing the taxpayers blind!

Ailing Ted Kennedy asks for speedy replacement process

In a stunning admission of his frailty, an ailing U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is asking the governor and legislative leaders to rewrite state law to allow for a temporary gubernatorial appointment to his seat.

Kennedy's request comes in the midst of the heated national debate over health care, which has been the senior senator's focus in Congress for decades. He does not address his battle with brain cancer in a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick and state leaders, but Kennedy does signal his struggle could be nearing an end.

"I am now writing to you about an issue that concerns me deeply - the continuity of representation for Massachusetts should a Senate vacancy occur," Kennedy wrote in July 2 letter to Patrick, state Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.

In the letter, Kennedy asks that legislation be passed to change a law adopted in 2004 to provide for a special election to choose a new U.S. Senator in the event of a vacancy.

The law was pushed through during the 2004 presidential election because state lawmakers wanted to prevent then-Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing a successor for U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, who was the Democratic presidential nominee.

Click here to see a copy of Sen. Kennedy's letter.

Under the 2004 law, a special election is mandated within 145 to 160 days after the Senate seat becomes vacant.

"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 for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election."

Kennedy also asks that the interim post be filled by someone who makes "an explicit personal commitment" not to run in the special election for the vacant seat.

Kennedy, 77, makes no mention of his medical condition. Last week, he skipped funeral services for his older sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 88, but did attend a private family wake in her honor.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008. He was initially treated with surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment. But despite his battle with cancer, Kennedy has attempted to keep working.

"For almost 47 years, I have had the privilege of representing the people of Massachusetts in the United States Senate," Kennedy wrote in his letter. He added that serving in the Senate "has been — and still is — the greatest honor of my public life."

Despite speculation that Kennedy's wife, Vicki, is interested in the seat, family aides have said she is not interested in replacing her husband either temporarily or permanently. One of Kennedy's nephews, former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, has also been described as interested, along with a number of the state's remaining congressional members and local lawmakers.

Amid similar speculation about a Senate vacancy last fall, when Kerry was under consideration for secretary of state, Murray was adamant that the law not be changed. After recent inquiries from The Associated Press, aides to both Murray and DeLeo said they are unlikely to back any change.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politi...&position=2

Ignorant post.

Ask the Kopechne family how ignorant the statement is.....

The Right Wingers love to condemn Ted Kennedy over that incident without anyone except Ted knowing exactly what happened.

Left wingers like to think that nothing happened.

And there it stands....

Drunk driving deaths aren't seen as real crimes. But the corpses are just as dead.

If Kennedy got away with manslaughter then he'll answer for it pretty soon. Did his family cover it up? Perhaps, but the facts are unclear from what I know about the incident. I would compare this more to the Jon Benet Ramsey incident than the OJ incident... the facts in the Jon Benet case are also unclear but OJ got away with murder as far as I'm concerned.

However this discussion is so lets

[Peikko 1,575]

You think anyone cares about that? All this salivating over a corpse is obviously too juicy a bone for some to let go ot.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

You think anyone cares about that? All this salivating over a corpse is obviously too juicy a bone for some to let go ot.

Salivating? Bone? Juicy? Get a hobby!

[natty bumppo 297]

maybe with this change of the old guard ... massachusetts will finally have a chance ....

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

maybe with this change of the old guard ... massachusetts will finally have a chance ....

Lets hope the electorate do whats right.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

[nowhereman 1]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

A lot of those CEOs are in the WH now.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

Who wants to go to heaven anyways? It's just full of Mormons.

Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce

To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:

Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.

Milton, Paradise Lost, Book One

Edited August 21, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

A lot of those CEOs are in the WH now.

Goldman sachs?

[nowhereman 1]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

A lot of those CEOs are in the WH now.

If they got millions in bonuses while the company was going under they are criminals IMO... doesn't matter which political party.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

A lot of those CEOs are in the WH now.

If they got millions in bonuses while the company was going under they are criminals IMO... doesn't matter which political party.

What about Obamas sweet real estate deal?

[nowhereman 1]

Well need to find the lawmen that will actually have balls enough to go after him in the first place back then.

God will have balls I wish He posted press releases. I'd love to know how hot it will be where teddy goes.

Remember God is bi-partisan so all the scumbags (Republican & Democrat) will have to answer to him... add the big company CEO's and hell is going to get real crowded.

A lot of those CEOs are in the WH now.

If they got millions in bonuses while the company was going under they are criminals IMO... doesn't matter which political party.

What about Obamas sweet real estate deal?

I never heard of that, but if you throw in sweet deals every mofo involved with Haliburton (e.g. Cheney) would be included too... if you're gonna paint then paint both sides of the room. All politicians have a skeleton in their closet & some have a boneyard. Most are somewhere in-between.