No Immediate Action On Kennedy Succession

Ailing Senator Had Sent Letter Asking Mass. Gov. To Expedite His Replacement

(CBS)  Although Sen. Ted Kennedy had sought to expedite the process of choosing his replacement to the U.S. Senate, it appears the process will be at least three to four months away.

As CBS chief political correspondent Steve Chaggaris reports, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick must set a date for a special election to occur between 145 and 160 days from now to fill the vacancy created by Kennedy's death. The two likely dates for a special election would be on the Tuesdays that fall within this range: January 19, 2010 and January 26, 2010.

Thanks to a law change in 2004, Gov. Patrick is not allowed to appoint a temporary replacement, meaning that seat will be vacant until the special election.

Last week, Sen. Kennedy sent a letter urging Patrick and the state legislature to amend that law change to allow for the governor to appoint someone for that interim period, someone who would not be allowed to run in the special election.

More stories on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy:

"Liberal Lion" Remembered
In His Own Words
"The Last Brother"
Life in the Public's Glare
In Pictures: The Kennedys
CBSNews.com's complete coverage of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's life and death

The Boston Globe reported over the weekend that the state Senate president, a Democrat, has changed her mind on opposing this idea and has been working to drum up support for that measure.

The state legislature is on recess until Labor Day, so no action is expected before then.

In his letter, Kennedy wrote: "it is vital for this commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election."

While Democrats hold a potentially filibuster-proof margin in Congress, the outcome of a health care reform bill could hinge on a single vote.

In his letter, Kennedy suggested the governor ensure the fairness of any appointment to replace him by seeking an "explicit personal commitment" his appointee will not seek the position on a permanent basis.

Read Kennedy's letter to Gov. Deval Patrick and state congressional leaders

[sly_64]

No one should be allowed to hold public office for that long ! Term limits !!!! It just becomes a power play, and is no good for the common person. GRIP Now !

[jsd330]

sly_64

I agree 100%.

[lovegetpeace]

When someone defends the Rich and Super Rich like GWB, Cheney, Ronald Reagan, Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales, Rush Limburgh, Robert Novak and Sarah Palin, nobody misses them.

When someone defend the poor and weak like Jesus Christ, Clinton, Kennedy, Martin L King and Obama, the world misses them.

[endurorob]

hclinton2012 August 26, 2009 12:23 PM EDT
I think if Ted Kennedy had seeked medical care from Cuba, Canada or the UK, he would be alive today! This corrupt US Healthcare killed him, plain and simple!



Take a look at the odds of surviving cancer of any kind in any of these countries compared to the U.S. Your odds of survival are at least double if you are treated in the U.S. Your statement is completely ignorant.

[ibsteve2u]

I pity Massachusetts. They are about to be invaded by the worst of America's (and Australia's) right-wing demagogues.

[TheMasses2002]

Does Mass like changing laws just so they can be more advantagious to dems?
---------------

I have changed nothing .................

[woeisme1]

It's too bad we cannot clone Kennedy. The jealousy of the terrorist republicans here is evident - they can only WISH they had the likes of Ted Kennedy in their party.

[woeisme1]

Ted Kennedy was soooo right on so many things.

A man, born into extradornary priviledge, he was a stalwart for the less fortunate, a champion for the rights of the common man. It'll be 100 years, if ever, that we witness as great a Senator - truly the Lion of the Senate has passed.

Ted Kennedy was respected by the world for his tireless efforts to shore up the rights of the less fortunate, to champion the causes of the common man, for the respect he extended all men despite their background, race, religion, or political affliation.

America will miss him - I know I will.

The many derisive comments posted here just show how utterly devoid of class so many republican sheep are.

The American Taliban Revolutionary Republican Fascist Party has released the trolls and they are hungry for their daily dose of bashing just about everything including this great man and Senator.

The American Taliban Revolutionary Republican Facist Party needs to be outlawed and renamed what it, and all its little ignorant and evil trolls represent, a domestic terrorist organization.

[cs4466]

Ted Kennedy was soooo right on so many things.

A man, born into extradornary priviledge, he was a stalwart for the less fortunate, a champion for the rights of the common man. It'll be 100 years, if ever, that we witness as great a Senator - truly the Lion of the Senate has passed.

Ted Kennedy was respected by the world for his tireless efforts to shore up the rights of the less fortunate, to champion the causes of the common man, for the respect he extended all men despite their background, race, religion, or political affliation.

America will miss him - I know I will.

The many derisive comments posted here just show how utterly devoid of class so many republican sheep are.

The American Taliban Revolutionary Republican Fascist Party has released the trolls and they are hungry for their daily dose of bashing just about everything including this great man and Senator.

The American Taliban Revolutionary Republican Facist Party needs to be outlawed and renamed what it, and all its little ignorant and evil trolls represent, a domestic terrorist organization.

by woeisme1 August 26, 2009 11:01 AM EDT

WELL SPOKEN SIR! *salute*

[pepperwood2]

RIP TED - I agree with Obama that you were the Greatest Senator of All Time. You will also be noted for being brave & having the courage to stand up to those evil right wing conspirators.

Rest assured, that our agenda would have suffered greatly, if you were the one to have drowned instead of Mary JO at Chappaquiddick. Your quick thinking saved the day. We're so proud of you!

[endurorob]

schotzy81 August 26, 2009 9:21 AM EDT
Sounds like Kennedy's eternal political manuevering got the better of him on this one. He wanted to ensure Mass. was short one senator while a Republican was governor and now it looks like because of that Obama is going to have one less vote on Obamacare this year.

Kennedy helped write this law. Now Mass. has to live with it.



I am sure the libs in Mass. will do there best to push through a cahnge to the law so they can honor killer Kennedy.

[schotzy81]

Sounds like Kennedy's eternal political manuevering got the better of him on this one. He wanted to ensure Mass. was short one senator while a Republican was governor and now it looks like because of that Obama is going to have one less vote on Obamacare this year.

Kennedy helped write this law. Now Mass. has to live with it.

[endurorob]

User_00000000002945496845 August 26, 2009 9:05 AM EDT
It's called politics, Einstein. Does anyone remember how Texas Limbaughricans redrew state political boundaries to preserve their majority. No one has forgotten.



How adolescent of you to justify one misdead by citing another. I guess in your mind two wrongs do make a right.

[tmittelstaed]

You mean like when the Republicans justify killing abortion doctors because they claim abortion is murder?

[endurorob]

So what happens if they change the law so the dem Governer can make an appointment then in the future we have the same situation but with reoub governor. Will they change the law again? Does Mass like changing laws just so they can be more advantagious to dems?

[schotzy81]

Of course they will.

[tmittelstaed]

The situation with Romney was an exception. Normally in the situation where a governor is in charge of filling a senator from the opposition party's seat as a result of a vacancy, the gentlemen's agreement among parties is that the governor will appoint whoever is selected by the opposition party.

There have been many cases of Democratic governors appointing a Republican to fill a vacating Republican Senators seat, and of Republican governors appointing a Democrat to fill a Democratic senators seat.

Romney by contrast made it clear he would choose the appointment, and not solicit input from the Democrats and he did not rule out appointing a Republican senator to fill John Kerry's seat. That is why the legislature passed the law.

[courgl]

Does anybody recognize that Senator Kennedy is the one who helped put the law in place, that now he wanted changed? Because at the time, there was a Republican governor in place and the reasons for the law are no different now. It's hypocritical to change now and only being discussed for political gaming. Respects to Senator Kennedy, for he was a good man.

[User_00000000002945496845]

It's called politics, Einstein. Does anyone remember how Texas Limbaughricans redrew state political boundaries to preserve their majority. No one has forgotten.

[patocc123]

That is done in every state of the union. Not just texas. In fact I betcha the lines where redrawn in the current area you live now within the last 10 years.

[tmittelstaed]

As a liberal Democrat Edward Kennedy really irked me no end. He knew darn well that he was close to the end of his life yet he couldn't resist running in 2006 just one more time. He should have stepped aside then and groomed a younger Democrat to take over for him. Now, just when we need that 60 vote edge in the Senate for the health care bill, he goes and dies. Wow as if that wasn't expected...NOT!

[crispy-gmx]

I agree with Senator Kennedy that the law should allow for an interim appointment until a special election can be held, especially if that person is not allowed to then run for the office.

[schotzy81]

I'm guessing if Mass. gets a Republican governor in the future and this comes up again, you'll be one of the crowd clammering for a special election.

[mitdgreenb]

Crispy -- the law was changed from having an appointment to having a special election because the Democrat party machine in MA did not want a Republican governor (at the time) to appoint a Senator to replace John Kerry if he won the Presidency. Now, with a Democrat governor, they want to change the rules back. The problem is not with either method -- both are "fair" -- the problem is with a party machine that changes things to suit its purposes, not necessarily the best interests of the people. Hypocrisy is never pretty and it's now on display here for all to see.

[cs4466]

A liberal lion has passed, and we shall miss him. But never doubt that another will fill his shoes. His legacy is enormous and his contributions significant. Rest in peace, Senator Kennedy.