Governor Deval Patrickis calling for the Massachusetts Legislature to reverse the law calling for a general election in the event of a U.S. Senate vacancy, to one allowing Patrick to appoint a successor to Ted Kennedy. This move has been anticipated for several weeks. Kennedy himself, who lobbied for the law to be changed in 2004 when it did not favor the Democrat Party, asked just last week to reverse it, once again. The Massachusetts Legislature, made of almost exclusively of Democrats, will, in all likelihood, bow to the Governor's request.
Who's on the short list? Barney Frank, U.S. Congress, 4th District (MA-D) (according to Mass. Political insiders). Frank, who said he was not interested in running for the Senate Seat, may change his tune "for the good of the country" if asked by close associate, Barack Obama. It is highly unlikely that the Governor would attempt to continue the Kennedy political dynasty, but, that said, with Massachusetts, anything is possible. What is needed, however, for the Obama administration, is a tough salesman, one who is not in the least bit shy about pushing health care reform, and shares the ideology of the administration - Frank fits that criteria.
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I confess I know virtually nothing about Massachusetts state law but is there a possible constitutional crisis here? It seems questionable that they can do this in the middle of an actual vacancy. Seems since state law has essentially already kicked in and they are required to set a date now, that intersted parties (such as Romney) have a grievance of violation of due process? Wouldn't they have to do this prior to a vacancy? Just curious.
Chuck, anything that happens in Massachusetts politics is questionable – I believe that the laws governing the Commonwealth and its representation are subject to the whims of the Legislature (which ignores the wishes of the people, time and again). Therefore, nothing that this bunch would do would surprise me.
It is possible (but not probable) that the Legislature will ignore Patrick (happened before) and run with an election - possible, but not probable.
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