LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.  
November 23, 2009
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Most Read

Lou Dobbs for President?

Obama's Job Approval Slips Below 50 Percent

Let the Debate Begin

Beautiful Steamer

Home Sales Jump 10.1% in October

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
Freedom’s Fight: Part II

Digs
Financial Meltdown 101
Vetting Sarah Palin

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Kennedy’s Seat Is Temporarily Filled

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   
Posted on Sep 24, 2009
Paul
dipity.com

Paul Kirk, a close friend of the Kennedy family, speaks at Ted Kennedy’s funeral last month.

With Ted Kennedy’s death, the Democrats fell one vote short of the 60-seat threshold needed to stop a filibuster in the Senate. But now the governor of Massachusetts has named former Democratic Party Chairman Paul Kirk to temporarily fill Kennedy’s seat, giving the Democrats a major tool in the fight for health care reform.

The BBC:

The governor of Massachusetts has named Paul Kirk as a temporary replacement to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.

Mr Kirk, 71, is a former Democratic Party chairman and worked for Sen Kennedy for eight years.

The move means that Democrats in the US Senate have regained the majority needed to push through President Obama’s healthcare reform agenda.

They fell one seat short through the death of Sen Kennedy.

The Massachusetts state senate voted on Wednesday to allow the state governor to appoint a temporary replacement senator.

Read more

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


Elsewhere: .

Comments

Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

By OzarkMichael, September 24 at 11:15 pm #

well, you are polite so i shall respond politely.

When Mitt Romney was governor, the Massachusetts state senate passed a law that prevented the governor from replacing a US senator(Teddy was sick at that time). They said it was more democratic if the seat was unfilled.

Since the Governor is now a Democrat, the state senate just decided to change the rules back in a hurry so that a new Democratic senator can vote for health care. I say, “Democrats make the rules to suite themselves. There is no ideal or principle that they conform to.”

And friend, my comment that the democrats
make the rules to suit this is right on point and has merit.

Report this

By faith, September 24 at 9:28 pm #

The Massachusetts voters did, wilfully, vote in a democrat to represent them.  That
democrat was Mr. Ted Kennedy.  Why shouldn’t Mr. Kennedy be replaced with
another democrat.  By choosing Mr. Kirk the ideals and emphasis of his
predecessor will be carried through the term.  Your comment that the democrats
make the rules to suit this is off point and lacks merit, sir.

Report this

By OzarkMichael, September 24 at 8:54 pm #

Regarding the Massachusetts state senate, there is no real principle or ideal to explain their sudden change of heart, except” “We are Democrats and we make the rules to suit ourselves.”

Report this

Add Your Comment

Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!







Number of characters remaining: 4000

Notify you when others comment on this article?


Are you a human?
Retype the word you see here.


Please read and abide by our comment policy.
By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

 
 

 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
Copyright © 2009 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.