When Kerry is elected, who should have his Senate seat?

[Dying Eagle]

BTW, I LOVE MASS :yourock:

Keep the great future leaders of our country coming!!

[Beer Snob-50]

1. Joe Kennedy!!

I say let's get him back in to politics, because I feel he is the one hope of the Mass. Democratic Party!!!

[Dying Eagle]

2. OMG

2 Kennedy's from 1 state, the Repukes would have a field day with that one.

I am not saying its a bad choice, but wow

[rebellious woman]

3. Joe Kennedy

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. That's the beauty of the Senate, and Massachusetts

They aren't going to have ANY FUCKING SAY in the matter!!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Democrats won't have a say either

MA's Republican Governor gets to name Kerry's replacement.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. Except all such appointments are only temporary

Elections do follow.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Yes, but whomever he appoints will have the advantages of incumbency

A paid staff in DC and in Massachusetts, mailing privileges, and probably more publicity than his opponent.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. "Incumbent advantage" doesn't quite work for these cases

Ask Jean Carnahan about that. Yeah, whoever he appoints will get minor name recognition, but Massachusetts also has 10 Democrat Congressmen, and tons more of good Democrat candidates elsewhere.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Although MA has a lot more Democrats than Republicans

Its voters have shown that they ahve the ability to vote for Republicans. They haven't elected a Democrat to the Governor's office in 18 years!

Lincoln Chafee is example of an appointed Senator. He was appointed in 1999 and then elected in 2000.

Zell Miller was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2000 and was elected later that year.

But the best example is PA's Harris Wofford. He was vitually unknown when he was appointed to the Senate in 1991 to replace the late John Heinz. That fall he defeated Dick Thornburg, the former Governor and US Attorney General.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

18. State Senate is passing legislation to block Romney

he may not get to name a Senator after all. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

So much for your theory of Mass. I live there, and even the Repukes we vote in are liberal. Romney excepted-is a Mormon carpetbagger from Utah.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. "The one hope"??? What are you smoking?

Are you high? Massachusetts is FILLED with fantastic Democrats, including all 12 of the current Congressional delegation and almost the entirety of its state legislature.

[MAlibdem]

23. 9th District...Stephen Lynch...

My rep. Pretty good but Pro-life. Jacques would've been better.

[MaineDem]

24. I shudder at Joe Kennedy

I don't trust him. Never have. But that's just me.

[SenatorBulworth]

28. there are a few ....

kennedy, reich, mcgovern, frank I for one would have no prob with an of them:thumbsup:

[phillybri]

4. Won't Romney get to pick a Repug?

:shrug:

[progdonkey]

5. I think philly's right

though, it would be cool if Barney Frank could give up his House seat for the Senate. With the whole gay marriage thing, he would be such a big target that I think it would actually make the Right speechless.... (if only it were possible to shut them up) Besides, he's an amazing debater and every liberal's dream: he makes no bones about advocating the need for MORE government!
I'm not sure of Mass. law, but there is the possibility that Romney will be able to name someone to the seat. I doubt Romney would install a Repub, though, since he would be kissing his political ass good-bye in a state like Massachusetts; his win was extremely tough and he's on thin ice as it is.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. Congressman Jim McGovern (3rd District)

He's been a consisten voice in hammering Bush, even when it was unpopular and "unpatriotic" to do so. He's a liberal in the true sense of the word, and a very honorable man. I don't think we could do much better than Jim.

On edit: Philly is right - Romney will pick, and I'm betting it will be himself, but that's only temporary. There will be a special election.

[shawmut]

14. I'll mention a name no one else has mentioned

Robert Reich

[welshTerrier2]

15. The "Governor Appointment" Law will be gone by then

i had dinner on Saturday with a high ranking member of the Massachusetts Ways and Means committee and asked him about the status of a movement to change the law ... right now, Romney would appoint the new Senator WHEN Kerry wins ...

the proposed law would send the issue before the voters within 90 days after Kerry resigns his Senate seat ...

apparently there was some bad blood between the House and Senate leadership as a result of the gay marriage debate ... the proposed change to the appointment law was in big trouble ... but things have supposedly been ironed out and discussions are supposed to start again this week ...

no way should Romney be allowed to appoint anybody ...

btw, the current (so far) cast of characters is: Marty Meehan, Ed Markey, Stephen Lynch and Barney Frank ... some have speculated Barney won't go for it and Robert Reich might ...

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Do they have to votes to override Romney's veto

i believe there are at least a few Republicans in the MA legislature.

[welshTerrier2]

17. Yes ... absolutely ...

if the dems want to do this, it will happen ...

personally, i think they should wait until the day AFTER the election to actually put the proposed law to a vote ...

otherwise, the issue could be used against Kerry ... not sure if this would provide enough time to implement the law before Kerry takes office ...

[Kathy in Cambridge]

19. Mass leg is 95% Dem

no probs getting the votes...and a few of the Repubs don't tow the party line and side with the Dems.

[rebellious woman]

20. Hopefully NOT Marty Meehan...

[welshTerrier2]

21. and hopefully not Markey or Lynch either ...

frankly, if Barney doesn't run, I'd like to see either Jim McGovern (who doesn't plan to run for the seat) or maybe Robert Reich ...

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. Reich was on C-Span this morning

They probably have an archieve of it on their website.

[Killarney]

25. what's wrong with Ed Markey?

I don't know his record well. Curious.


I'd personally be a big fan of McGovern taking the seat.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

26. Markey is very liberal-don't know why the previous poster

doesn't like him. :shrug:

[Beer Snob-50]

27. meehan

is a bit of a showboat but i could probably rally around him.