Senator Kennedy Dies
Just breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. This marks the first time in 56 years that there has not been a Kennedy in the Senate. However I do not expect this condition to remain forever. The late Senator’s son Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) may well run for the Senate at some point and there are many Kennedy family members still in Massachusetts (including former Boston Congressman Joseph Kennedy).
It means that only one member of the Joseph P. Kennedy clan is still alive, 81 year old Jean Kennedy, sister to a President and two Senators.
As to replacing Kennedy, under current law there will be a special election to fill the vacancy somewhere between 145 and 160 days following the vacancy. That would place it somewhere between January 17th, 2010 and February 1st, 2010. Assuming they stick to a Tuesday that would probably mean January 19th, 2010 (both because it is the quickest date and would allow some symbolism for Democrats of being almost 1 year after President Obama took office)
I am not sure if the law would allow a special primary of some sort or if the nominees would be chosen at some sort of state party convention.
Ironically the law used to allow the Governor to fill a vacancy by appointment but the Democrats changed the law in 2004 to prevent then Governor Mitt Romney from naming a GOP replacement if Senator John Kerry won the White House. Kennedy had asked the legislature to change the law but they did not move quickly enough. I am using a bit of my lawyer hat to presume they can’t change the law after the vacancy occurs.
Personally I think that a combination of the two systems would be a good idea. When it comes to naming a short term replacement, follow the Wyoming rule which allows the Governor to name someone but they have to be from the same party chosen by a list submitted by members that party. Then you could have a special election in a few months.
As to possible candidates, former Congressman Joseph Kennedy is a clear contender if he decides to get back into politics. Another would be state Attorney General Martha Coakley (since Kennedy’s widow Vicki has previously indicated she is not interested in the seat. Obviously any of the current House members (all Democrats) are on the list as is former Congressman Meehan (who has a huge war chest).
On the GOP side the field is more limited, with former Lt. Governor Kerry Healy as a leading option along with businessman Jeff Beatty, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and former Ambassador Chris Egan Of course any Republican would have a tough time winning unless there is some sort of Democratic party split.
I hope you don’t consider the above to be getting to political too quickly, but I figured we do need to have the basic facts at hand and indeed as a political junkie I suspect the late Senator would want folks to know. However I think we can save debate over the above names and dates can wait for another thread.
Love him or hate him nobody can deny that Kennedy was indeed the lion of the Senate. A member since 1962 (which means he took office shortly after President Obama was born), he became a legendary figure in the body, leading many fights over the last five decades (60′s, 70′s, 80′s, 90′s and 00′s).
Regardless of party, he was the kind of man people just couldn’t help liking. One of his closest friends in the Senate has been Senator Orin Hatch, a very conservative Republican from Utah. Ronald and Nancy Reagan considered him one of their closest friends, despite the obvious political differences.
Indeed he is well known for being among the first to offer sympathy and support to members of Congress following the death of a loved one. Perhaps this reflects the own tragedies of his life (consider that by the time he was 40 years old he had seen one brother die in war, two brothers had been murdered, a sister had died in a plane crash and another had been lobotomized. Plus of course his own personal burdens, and all of it in the public eye).
More details coming out indicate that in the last couple of weeks his condition had deteriorated to the point that he was not able to communicate with family members nor was he able to take a call from the President. If true then it seems his passing is truly a release from suffering. I can’t imagine anything that would be more frustrating or upsetting to a man who built his life on eloquence with the English language.
I plan to post some more detailed reflections on his life once I have time to properly organize them but for now we can use this thread to discuss his life and impact. It goes without saying that I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to his family, friends and loved ones
Although you can get coverage from pretty much and news site, here ia link to the story on CNN.
33 Responses to “Senator Kennedy Dies”
May God have mercy on your soul Ted Kennedy, its in his hands now.
[...] Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceJust breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. This marks the first time in 56 years that there has not. Read more [...]
Why not ask the hundreds of waitresses and cocktail lounge hostesses that Ted and his old drinking buddy Chris Dodd used to pull under tables in the private rooms what they would call him? He only stopped doing that because he lost the ability, not the libidinous nature. At Chappaquiddick the man got away with manslaughter, at the very least, and became famous because he survived with a veritable target for a last name. I completely empathize with those who loved him, as it hurts to lose a close relative and friend. But he was no friend to this country's citizens, and measured his own “generosity” and “compassion” by how much of our money he could spend. I have zero respect for his so-called legacy. Now watch the Brain Police come out and demand I be tarred and feathered.
The Liberal Lion is gone.
The greatest American family that ever lived has lost it's last corner stone. Magnificent service sir, thank you.
Your entitled to your opinion just pardon my laughter.
I do give accolaydes to Eunice, she was a phenomenal woman and Bobby wasn't so bad either. The rest? Pffft!
[...] died, his family said. He was 77. …Dvorak Uncensored – http://www.dvorak.org/blog/|||Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceJust breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. [...]
[...] fight against brain cancer. …Chronicle-Telegram – http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/|||Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceThis marks the first time in 56 years that there has not been a Kennedy in the Senate. However I do [...]
icdun–you are so, so right.
[...] Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceJust breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. This marks the first time in 56 years that there has not.Read More [...]
[...] fight against brain cancer. …Chronicle-Telegram – http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/|||Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceThis marks the first time in 56 years that there has not been a Kennedy in the Senate. However I do [...]
[...] Senator Kennedy Is Dead at 77 – Prescriptions Blog – NYTimes.comJust breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. This marks the first time in 56 years that there has not. Read more [...]
[...] died late Tuesday night. He was 77.Prescriptions – http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/|||Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceJust breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. [...]
[...] fight against brain cancer. …Chronicle-Telegram – http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/|||Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceThis marks the first time in 56 years that there has not been a Kennedy in the Senate. However I do [...]
The was a sad news. Lets just pray for him. Condolence to the family.
- Emo -
[...] Senator Kennedy Dies | The Moderate VoiceThis marks the first time in 56 years that there has not been a Kennedy in the Senate. However I do not expect this condition to remain forever. The late Senator’s son Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) may well run for the Senate at some point and …Read More [...]
[...] means that only one member of the Joseph P. Kennedy clan is stRead more at http://themoderatevoice.com/44414/senator-kennedy-dies/ Tags: 1932-2009, Dies, Edward, Kennedy, Senator, Ted, vicki kennedy « So Long, [...]
“Lets just pray for him.”
Emo – I prayed for a long time that his state would not vote for him, so we could stop all the asinine legislation he was drafting to give amnesty to lawbreakers. He might as well have put up billboards all across Mexico and South America…… “Come to America, where you will not be prosecuted if you kill someone in a car accident.” If you know anything about illegals, they do get away with murder in America, with or without a drivers license!
I don't think one incident constitutes a man's life's worth. My theory is that he was drunk -which is why he wasn't driving, and was unable to free his staffer from the car. After which, he panicked and delayed reporting the accident.
Senator Kennedy did have a lasting effect upon our country and was always a champion of those who had no representation. Forty-seven years of public service is a lifetime– and he was able to work with the opposition more effectively than just about anyone else in the Senate.
While not surprised, as he was 77 and battling cancer, I am saddened by the death of Senator Kennedy. Noted as both gifted and flawed, he single-handedly was the most note worthy of legislators. May his family find peace in his death. ?? RIP, Senator Kennedy… your work here is done. ??
RIP. He was in my mind a man of many contradictions- a complex man with flaws but also strengths.
Great families of US history are equal parts myth, greatness and abuse of others. The Bush and Kennedy families have their own fans. Being from Michigan, the Ford family shaped Michigan's industry and government. Like the Kennedy's, the Ford's had greatness and infamy as a legacy…
I think the largely respectful and sympathetic reaction from most conservatives to the death of Senator Kennedy is an interesting contrast to the vulgarity-filled hate-fest from much of the liberal blogosphere in reaction to the death of Tony Snow and other conservatives.
JasonArvak-I think we just get our news from different places as I have seen much venom from the right on this, excluding politicians and I do not remember seeing any venom against Snow. I do not doubt it existed but if you want to see the running hate threads about Kennedy go look at Politico's commenters. I do remember the Nixon hate but I joined in on that one, no reason to re-write history because of a death but being nice is expected.
To honor him after death we should continue, instead of lamenting it, to fight the noble fight. As soon as we can return the threads back to healthcare and the Cheney prosecution, the better. He would want it that way…
Various observations:
* This was not surprising, and as I said earlier, the awarding of the medal by Obama as a likely sign of increasing anticipation of his impending death.
* This is also not that big a deal, given that Kennedy's best and most important years were long ago, from the 1960s into the 1980s. He was sunk not only by Chappaquiddick by in 1980 by Carter and by the public reaching its limit with so much liberalism. Kennedy in the 1980s then doomed himself for future White House consideration by going with the far left, such as with the [anti-US-Western] “nuclear freeze” [disarmament and appeasement and anti-nuclear idiocy in general].
* Lefty talk radio like silly Stephanie Miller (childish and ditzy) promptly said that this more than ever is “why” we “need” to see the Dem health care effort passed. Non-lefty talk radio, instead, insisted on being factual and looking at the man's entire history and putting it into correct perspective.
* Christopher Matthews made an idiot of himself again. He referred to Obama (in the context of liberalism and the health care entitlement crusade) as the “last [Kennedy] brother.”
* Sadness over his death, and sympathy, will be exploited as another emotional appeal to get the health care effort passed.
* Most important now is who replaces him. Someone noteworthy in Washington now among lib Dems from Washington, Barney Frank, is the obvious leader for consideration. However, moving him to the Senate means a loss of not only his seat in the House but more importantly, what he has been doing as a leader among the liberal Dems in the House, where all the Congressional action of note is. Hence it may be someone else like Deval Patrick or someone chosen by Patrick (or by others in the government of Massachusetts) who makes the decision, or final decision. (Who knows — with the Dems, it could easily be Representative Patrick Kennedy from Rhode Island who takes the MA Senate seat, or, say, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.)
“Kennedy was indeed the lion of the Senate”
The _liberal_ lion. (“We're off to see the Wizard. [hiccup]“)
“I don't think one incident constitutes a man's life's worth.”
Chappaquiddick alone didn't sink Kennedy. He was a leader among the Dems in the 1970s and sometimes during the 1980s, too.
And he does have a record of action and activism and results related to vast expansion of the role and place of the federal government, and of entitlements (adding to the legacy of the 1930s and 1960s), as some saner people on local Detroit metro radio noted when discussing the man earlier today.
“The Liberal Lion is gone.”
As was said earlier, RIP. And, he took his best party-related tales to the grave.
(Now he can share competing party tales with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. [grin])
You weren't here at TMV when Mr Snow passed. Put yourself up on a pedestal all you want.
Patrick, that was a very good piece. Compassionate and also informative.
I also want to note CStanley's comment, which I thought was very classy.
“Sadness over his death, and sympathy, will be exploited as another emotional appeal to get the health care effort passed.”
This was sooooooooooooo predictable. And they haven't waited a moment, either. (Desperation!)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TedKennedy/story…
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/08/pas…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-scher/yes-ge…
DLS- Yes Kennedy had a record of activism- one that liberals are proud of. He embodied the values of the Democratic party– altho I am more a Clintonian (centrist) Democrat myself on many issues.
I think RFK had the dream but Ted's work made that dream come true. Of course RFK's dream was a nightmare to entrenched interests, which may be why he was assasinated.
why does other countries belive we loved any “kennedy”.????????????????? i think the late president john was the only decent one…it is in gods hands to judge now ..thats good