Scrambling to Fill Kennedy’s Seat Before an Election — Fair?

Fair? This isn’t a school yard game of tag. The state of Massachusetts has the right to fill its Senate seat, and it has a proper, majority-elected legislature to deal with minor law changes.
And this is minor – it is only filling the seat until the special election, which would occur just like under the current law. A special election is the right way to name a replacement, but if the people of Massachusetts (or Texas, or Utah, etc) want to fill the seat for the months it takes to run the election, their choice.
Both parties set laws to suit what their members want when their members have an overwhelming majority in the state. That’s kinda the idea behind majority rule (with prudent protections for the minority).

jhw, you left out the part about Mitt Romney. Why?
It doesn’t ‘suit’ you?

Fair? Who cares!
What matters is that the Senate comes up with a Health Care Reform Bill that is worth a damn.
That will require input and compromise from both sides so 59. 60, 61 Demos is meaningless unless one party plans on passing something without any votes from the other. Reform of that type is doomed to fail.

There is a law on the books already which is in date previous to death of Kennedy.
They can change law once again for political reasons but what they can’t do is override their current law with new law just to predate the Senators’ death.
You can’t change the rules once the games is already over just so you can get your way

“You can’t change the rules once the games is already over just so you can get your way”
Dave | Aug 27, 2009 1:57:03 PM
Government by your house rules for Monopoly games?

1- cahanging the rule/law after the fact is described as an ‘ex-post facto’ action and is wrong, perhaps illegal.
2- majority rule- interesting. however, majority rule is what one finds in a Democracy, which is anathema to the form of government that the USA constitution established, namely, a Republic. The majority CANNOT vote to take a right away from another person.
To be honest, until the government, in iits idiocy, decided to put forth the 17th amendmnet, the Senators for all states were chosed by their respective state legislatures, in the manner prescribed by the constitution and thus maintaining the balance of power between the interests/rights of the citizens vs. the interests/rights of the states.
Teddy chose to change it, so his ‘legacy’ should be required to obey it.

The Democrats set up the Massachusetts law, and now it no longer suites them. They have legislated themselves into this present day situation. Too bad; live with it!

No comment!

ddg:”And, jhw, you stated that you hoped they leave it open to force the Republicans to take full responsibility for blocking the health care!”
What I actually said:
“Although to be honest, I almost hope they leave it open”
I have no interest in debating with someone who lies about (or is puzzling unable to understand) my real statements.

OKAY – you ALMOST hope they leave it open-
same thing, jhw!
Go on, try to wiggle out of it.
You said it – I believe you that you
‘ALMOST’ hope!
You can’t stand it when someone catches you in a statement that YOU made.
What was your intent when you said that statement that you ALMOST hope?

OK guys take it outside … Each State is entitled to 2 Senators. Now Massachusetts has only 1. The sensible and fair thing to do is for the Governor to appoint a temporary Democratic replacement until the special election is determined. Simple. What happened in MN should NOT be repeated in Massachusetts because of partisan politics. Federal standard supersede states. Period.

In New Orleans We had ‘Big’ Charity Hospital. Katrina damaged Charity, but new plans are in the works.
Charity was for the uninsured. They pulled you through, but the lines were VERY long; no tender loving care given; it was pretty sparse in appearance and after-care.
Try to find a Nursing Assistant to help you with your bath or toilet. Good luck!
VA hospital in Mississippi cut my uncle’s legs off before he died. That’s what killed him, I believe. They don’t treat – they cut!
When I was a kid, my mom couldn’t afford to take me to the doctor’s for shots, etc. We went to the free clinic.
We were there for a good part of the day. I remember being hot, tired, and wanted to just go home. I suppose my mom was really tired.
Anyway, my point is this: government-run hospitals and clinics do the job. Thank God for them. However, unles you have experienced it YOURSELF, how can you say that you want our government to be in charge of your care? The hospitals and clinics will have to follow government’s rules because they will be tied to their apron strings.
So if Public Option does go through, and you find yourself waiting in lines that you could not have imagined, and waiting for a Nursing Assistant to help you to the toilet when you are hospitalized, think of this little history lesson of what it means to be a patient of a government-run institution.
You won’t feel so clever when you have had an operation and you just need help getting on or off the commode; you call for help, but nobody answers.
Welcome to YOUR ‘Big’ Charity where ever you live.
Welcome to your future.
Also, don’t talk ‘honorable’ to me, Ed. Congressman Jefferson and some of his family are going to do prison time because they stole money/bribery, etc.
I don’t even know what else. You must have read about Jefferson of New Orleans?
His family even stole from the schoolboard! Do you know how poor New Orleans is?
Yes, they are democrats. Would you call the Jefferson’s honorable, too?
Maybe you would, Ed.

I meant may he rest in one piece in peacefulness. Amen.

“Absolute Power corrupts absoutley”
The Democrats will have their way on healthcare, but of course they want the “Cover” of a “biPartian” bill.
It is very important that they have some one else to blame when the single payer plan they envision goes down the toilet.
No, I would prefer to see them change the law to suit their purpose, and simply do it themselves. They can explain to their constituents why They single handedly turned America into the third world hell hole they so despratley and feverently wish for America.
I think Amnesty is another thing they will have to do all by themselves, as citizens will be VERY unhappy when they shove that down our throats as well.
Democrats just can`t get enough of that “GREAT SOCIETY” crap, and they SHOULD own the problems they create. No scape goats, NO EXCUSES, NO MORE BLAME GAMES!
“Absolute Power” doe indeed corrupt absoutley.

Ted Kennedy was scarred because of the mistakes of his youth. Those mistakes over shadowed the good things he might of been able to do. How can a man understand the weight of national health care plan when he has millions in the bank? I have nothing, but do not want a free ride that is too costly.

I guess Ed C in OK believes that the ends justifies the means. As do most of the people who are in favor of a “Democratic” version of healthcare. I wonder how Ed C would feel if the shoe were on the other foot. If the Republicans could change a law in a state that would make it impossible for a Democrate to get eleceted. I wish that eveybody would take a step back and take a deep breath. Quit making the “facts” suit your point of view.