Ted Kennedy...Hey, Now That The Governor Of Massachusetts Is A Democrat, We Really Should Let Him Appoint A Successor Should There Be A Senate, Er, Vacancy Soon

Very human, very understandable, very hypocritical.

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.

A couple of thoughts.

First, that 2004 law was put into place because Democrats were horrified at the thought Mitt Romney might appoint a successor to John Kerry had the latter won the presidential race that year.

Now that a Democrat is back in charge, no worries about that and no need for the people to decide anything.

Second, this is admittedly unkind but unavoidable given this letter....Kennedy's concern about the people of MA having two Senators is noble and all but it doesn't concern him enough to resign. He hardly ever shows up (for more than obvious reasons) and Democrats know one reason they can't get cloture on health care is Kennedy (and Byrd) probably won't be there to vote.

It's unseemly to point this out (though it's true) and I wouldn't but for the fact that Kennedy and his acolytes are making him out to be far more noble than he is.

The third reason this letter from Kennedy reeks is because it was clear early on that he was interested in having his wife succeed him. Obviously that would be much easier should the governor appoint a successor and give her a leg up for any special election (should they keep that feature).

Kennedy's wife apparently denies she's interested in the seat but things change. I'm sure they'll be a "popular" cry to honor Teddy this way and noblesse oblige being what it is and all, she might be persuaded.

I really rather not post this stuff. I have tried to avoid Kennedy as much as possible since he has taken ill (if you can't say anything nice and all of that) but there will be enough faux lionizing of the man when he dies, we need not start now.

If the people of Massachusetts want to elect another fool to the Senate (and no doubt they will), that's on them but they have to have the chance to do it. A US Senate seat is not a personal possession to be bequeath, no matter what the Kennedys and Democrats seem to think.

More: Liberal Wonder Boy Ezra "JurnoList" Klein says Orrin hosta should vote for Obama Care should Kennedy be unable to. Yeah, I'm going to go with...No.

posted by DrewM. at 10:41 AM

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