comment #1

crazynine says ...

[Comment deleted for tastelessness. The only reason "crazynine" hasn't been banned for life...I can't think of a reason but I'm letting it slide.]

comment #2

Brendan says ...

Love him or despises him, you have to admit the man lived a full American life. He was never really front and center of the story (outside of the story on the Vineyard), he always seemed to be overshadowed by brothers and other political figures, but he was always there. In the Senate all of these years, by the side of his sister-in-laws during the worst of times, smiling in those old black and whites with his large Irish-American family, and being one of the first to support Barry O to turn the tide with the blue-hairs. Teddy had a front row seat to the second half of the 20th century, a full life.

comment #3

Michael says ...

A nation of laws, not men.

Politicians, and you Wells, would embarass themselves far less if you would simply keep this in mind once in a while.

comment #4

EnglishBob says ...

Even the most liberal Democrats in Massachusetts realize that changing the law on Kennedy's behalf, again, would be seen as an absolutely shameless political move. Governor Patrick's numbers are in the toilet as it is right now and he's trailing in the polls behind a Republican and an Independent as he faces re-election next year. It would be political suicide for him to support changing the law back to what it was before Kennedy intervened and forced it changed in 2004. It's possible...but highly unlikely.

comment #5

bluetide says ...

I agree with Well's sentiment but I'm not sure it's possible. I'm not sure any such law could be made retroactive (which it would have to be considering that the vacancy has already occurred).

comment #6

Josh Massey says ...

Can you really, seriously argue that naming an immediate successor would be "the right thing to do?" Did you read the second half of the story you posted?

Imagine a Republican doing the same thing. Your eyes would be bleeding.

comment #7

TL says ...

The law would not need to be retroactive. It would just say, when there is a vacancy, the governor can appoint a interim Senator until a special election is held.

Massachusetts should do this, and we should all acknowledge that this is a political process instead of being shocked, shocked!, when politicians try to inject politics into the political process.

comment #8

mccool says ...

Michael ... you didnt see Bill Maher the other night, when he was ranting about American stupidity. He said 75% of college dropouts believe this is a nation of men, not laws. What I found really interesting was when he said polls show 4% of bloggers believe they are channeling God or gods. 1% believe they ARE a god.

comment #9

Sabina E says ...

RIP Ted Kennedy... I just heard the news when I woke up this morning. He was such a great man-- a man of honor, which is a rare quality in a politician. I thought it was cool that he was quickly calling for a replacement before his death-- he cared more about others than himself...

His death is a great loss for Americans.

comment #10

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

So, which right-wing nut-job will be the first to say something truly offensive today? My money's on Michelle Malkin.

comment #11

Krillian says ...

Kennedy wanted the law changed in 2004 when there was a Republican governor, and then he wanted it changed back when there was a Democratic governor. Every single freaking lawmaker in this country should ask themselves before they vote on something: "Would I want this law in place regardless of who has the power?" It's unfortunate this shamelessly hypocritical attempt at a political move is one of the last things he did.

comment #12

Joel says ...

The hypocrisiy is astounding. I can't believe that anyone would think that changing this law back after 5 years based on who is governor at the time is a good idea. I don't think that governors should have this power, anyway. We ended up with Roland Burris here in Illinois.

comment #13

thatmovieguy says ...

It should be fascinated to see if Teddy's "sins" are posthumously washed away the way Michael Jackson's were.

comment #14

Mowkeka says ...

More liberal hypocrisy.

If it were Bush or Romney appointing a successor...

comment #15

Travis Crabtree says ...

MikeShaeferSF -- Why don't you mourn the loss of Senator Kennedy by reading the many stories written about his achievements and stop wasting your time scouring the internet to find examples of "right wing hate" for no other reason than to feed your own hate?

You don't think there were PLENTY of snotty, bitter HuffPo and Kos bloggers dancing on the grave of Bob Novak?

Stop checking Malkin's site every thirty seconds. Let it go.

comment #16

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Regardless of his personal failings (and lets see how you would handle having all three of your brothers killed, 2 by assassins' bullets), Edward Kennedy did more for the public good than those who will be belittling him today on the airwaves and blogosphere.

Considering that public good and that every law has its exception, I have no problem with the special appointment while I do recognize the hypocrisy. At least we on the Left realize it when we do it, with the Right it such a daily occurrence they usually don't.

comment #17

Howlingman says ...

The only Kennedy brother to die of (more or less) natural causes.

comment #18

Emmanuel_Goldstein says ...

I love the stare he's giving Rumsfeld... if looks could kill. I'm going to miss him terribly. I'm only 22 so I haven't had a lot of time with him, but I am well enough aware to not simply cheer him because of his name and famous siblings but his personal achievements that have been astounding. I feel like I just lost a very assuring and altogether rational voice that looked out for all of us.

As for the successor issues. I understand the claims of hypocrisy; but this is a far too important time and much too important of voice to leave unfulfilled for the many months it would take to complete the special election. Hopefully a bipartisan deal can be reached because we need all hands on deck as soon as possible.

comment #19

Emmanuel_Goldstein says ...

By the way, I just heard a recent quote of republican Michelle Bachmann's where she said that "All Christians must pray for health reform to fail."

Seriously. Is this what the religious right has come to? To pray AGAINST health reform that would actually help the millions of Christians who currently don't have health care, or are paying ungodly amounts for current care that's shoddy at best? Be rational about this people, and face the absolute facts. Health care reform is needed, and it will be beneficial to all of us, whether we currently have health care insurance or not.

For goodness sake; I nearly fell out of my chair listening to some of you conservatives say, regarding Kennedy succession plans, "A nation of laws not men." Don't kid yourself, and look in the mirror, because nearly everything you oppose on Obama's agenda is not about the legislation itself, but an opposition to the man. That's the real hypocrisy.

comment #20

Travis Crabtree says ...

Oh please.

comment #21

Michael says ...

but this is a far too important time and much too important of voice to leave unfulfilled for the many months it would take to complete the special election.

You mean, it's a far too important time to actually, you know, follow the law??? If the state legislature would like to change that law and appoint someone without the election, that's fine. That's the process. As to any response to your "nation of laws, not men" comment...I'll just let your extrapolation speak for itself.

comment #22

mccool says ...

understand the claims of hypocrisy; but this is a far too important time and much too important of voice to leave unfulfilled for the many months it would take to complete the special election.

That's how you wind up with fucking dictators. THAT is how Mussolinis and Francos and Chavezes and Ceausescus seize power. That, RIGHT THERE. People compromising their laws and their rights at "important times". WAKE UP.

comment #23

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Unless I am reading this wrong, the appointment would only put in place a senator UNTIL the special election. Thus ensuring that work of the senate could continue uninterrupted.

Dammit, we can't even do straight up hypocrisy right. We have so much to learn from the Right...

comment #24

Michael says ...

Deathtongue, the senate work can continue uninterrupted with a special appointment only because Kennedy happened to die at an inconvenient time for the Dems. He could just as easily have passed when Dems had a fillibuster proof majority, or no majority at all, and no one would think of making a run at changing the law. Therein lies the hypocrisiy (which really isn't a big deal...I mean, OMG, a politician's being hypocritical!!11!!!!1!) And if they pass that law, it's cool.

comment #25

Emmanuel_Goldstein says ...

Good response Crabtree. Highly enlightening.

Michael - It would be following the law, as soon as the law was changed. Is that not correct?

And for Mccool... you are just funny to listen to. I love how in response to my comments, which are in no way radical or dangerous, you find a way to compare them to Mussolini... Franco... Chavez? You need to wake up, and realize how ridiculous you sound. Have a conversation, debate, argument, whatever it may be, without being like these current fools who compare Obama to Hitler and his administration to the Nazis, because they also don't have a prudent or logical response that makes any damn sense.

"That. RIGHT THERE." Yeah, that, RIGHT THERE. People compromising their sanity and veracity at important times. WAKE UP.

comment #26

Jonah says ...

"Oh please."

Travis Crabtree, lowering the bar with every response.

comment #27

mccool says ...

Emmanual ... the ease and willingness with which you capitulate is truly frightening. That wasn't hyperbole on my part. When you start compromising laws and making exceptions at "important times," then laws cease to have any authority. If the government is going to do what is CONVENIENT, then what is to stop them from doing anything???

You are willing to compromise the integrity of our voting process to push through legislation with which you agree. You believe your ideas should trump the rule of law at this "important time." No single man is important enough for this compromise, and no single idea is worth this sacrifice. You don't see this?

comment #28

Travis Crabtree says ...

I was serious.

Don't you think that perhaps you need to re-evaluate your zen?

I'm guessing that within SECONDS of finding out about the death of Ted Kennedy you immediately scoured the internet, AM radio and Fox/Faux/Fixed (whatever Kos is telling us to call it this week) for ANY sign of negativity and/or tastelessness and scurrilousness.
("I can't WAIT to hear the mean things the right will say!")

Conflict conflict conflict.

Relax.

Let it go.

comment #29

rayciscon says ...

Rest in Peace big man.

The Kennedy's are the closest this country ever came to royalty. I have to say in retrospect that their dominance is at an end.

Royalty and our country as a representative republic just don't mix. I'm glad to see that President Obama appears to be coming back from that level of adoration.

The Kennedy's, Ted in particular, flaunted their power and popularity with alarming frequency. He did things, and got away with things, that would have ruined normal Americans--up to and including jail terms.

The perfect example is current Massachusetts law concerning the replacement of vacant Senate seats. He was intimately involved in taking that power away from a Republican Governor--God forbid a conservative be named to the senate!. Democrats in Mass, need to suck it up and lie in the bed they made...

He had his POV, he had his constituency, he was simultaneously loved and ridiculed. He was a big man, who left a big mark... for better or for worse.

comment #30

Travis Crabtree says ...

Excellent post, rayciscon.

comment #31

Chicago48 says ...

The wife should be appointed and then run for the seat; ala Sonny Bono.

comment #32

DeeZee says ...

"It will be a travesty if the Massachusetts political process somehow fails to quickly appoint a liberal, public-option supporting replacement for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy"

Considering this is Massachusetts we're talking about here, there's no way a Republican who gets nominated would win, if they didn't have the same liberal views or stances as Kennedy's constituency.

Krillian: "It's unfortunate this shamelessly hypocritical attempt at a political move is one of the last things he did."

Unlike Bush's bank bail-outs, of course.

movieguy: It's funny that Bush's DUI was never a problem to the Ted Kennedy-haters.

mccool: Um, Chavez was elected.

Travis: "I'm guessing that within SECONDS of finding out about the death of Ted Kennedy you immediately scoured the internet, AM radio and Fox/Faux/Fixed (whatever Kos is telling us to call it this week) for ANY sign of negativity and/or tastelessness and scurrilousness."

When you have them going after Vonnegut, it's only natural.

comment #33

DeeZee says ...

So Limbaugh says the Dems are exploiting Teddy's name to push through health care reform. (Thanks to This Modern World for the tip.) http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/08/limbaugh-calls-democrats-health-care-plan-an-insult-to-kennedys-memory.html Because the other party didn't use the 9/11 dead as an excuse to illegally invade Iraq....

comment #34

Travis Crabtree says ...

Can you EVER discuss ANY issue without resorting to your tired old "I know you are but what am I?" fallback, DeeZee?

Good god it's old.

(here... I'll save you the effort...)

"as old as G.H.W. Bush's ties to Nazi war criminals?"

You're welcome.

"as welcome as we were promised we'd be in Baghdad?"

Oh shit... now I'm doing it....

"like the way Reagan 'did it' to the working poor?"

Help me! I've turned into DeeZee!

"the way the U.S. 'helped' the people of Cambodia, resulting in millions of deaths?"

Aaahhhhhhhhhh!

comment #35

televisiontears says ...

All I want to say is that it's been really disheartening for me to see Ted's death used as a partisan tool on both sides of the aisle today. Not just on this thread, but everywhere. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, the Senator did more for his country in one year than most of us will in our entire lifetime. Can we pause while his body cools to at least respect that.

That said, your above post elicited quite a fucking chuckle from me. Not that DZ's unlike a fish in a barrel, but well done, sir.

comment #36

televisiontears says ...

That last bit was in response to Travis, of course.

comment #37

DeeZee says ...

Ask Massachusetts to appoint a temporary Senator. http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4923/content.jsp?content_KEY=2762&tag=hk1_e1

comment #38

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