Any Kennedys other than Teddy currently in Congress?

[raccoon]

edited--I thought RFK Jr. was in Congress, and someone set me straight.

[bdamomma]

1. Patrick Kennedy Rep for RI.

[maddezmom]

2. Patrick his son

RFK Jr is an activist but does not hold an elected seat.

[raccoon]

3. Thank you. My bad. nt

[global1]

4. Which Brings Up A Question - Why Is Teddy Choosing His Wife Vicky Over......

his own flesh and blood son to take over his seat when he's gone?

[Kingofalldems]

5. Patrick is in R.I. not Mass.

[MNDemNY]

7. His son lives in RI not MA.

[global1]

15. One Can Move Back To Mass If A Senate Seat Is At Stake.....

are there residency requirements in terms of length of time lived in state? Let's say Patrick moves back to Mass - could he then take over the seat or does he have to live in Mass for a number of years before he could qualify?

Where I'm coming from is why would Teddy pick his wife - not really a Kennedy by birth over his son that is? If it's because of a residency requirement I could understand. But if residency isn't the issue - what is? Unless Patrick just doesn't want to move back to Mass from RI.

But that thinking didn't stop Cheney from claiming residence in Wyoming to become VP.

[gaspee]

17. One can only hope

He gets his useless ass out of my state. He's a tool - a loser and an idiot - please let him move to MA and get the hell out of RI. He moved here only because he thought he could win here. He couldn't even get into a decent school so went to PC and stayed here to be a big fish (with the name Kennedy) in a very tiny pond.

And yes, I've met him. Many times. My sister is friendly with him and knows him quite well. He's really not the brightest bulb on the tree.

[MADem]

22. ......

:rofl:

Jesus, how fucking REFRESHING. :thumbsup: :applause:

Someone who actually KNOWS a little history about old Ambien Pat! And who isn't hauling out the boo hoo orchestra with misplaced sympathy and insane "solutions."

Naaah--you keep him, we don't want him. REALLY.

I want Barney Frank in that seat. He's the smartest guy in the MA delegation. I also love the fact that the gay haters despise him, and more importantly, FEAR him, and he drives them nuts because he can argue circles around those nitwits. The fact that he manages to have a slight lisp while simultaneously sounding like a brutish, thuggish kneecapper worthy of a character role in a crime drama only adds to his persona.

[gaspee]

26. Poor Paddy

Couldn't get into an IVY even with the name "Kennedy" - I can't stand him. I wish he'd move back to *your* state - I'd straight up swap Barney for him!

We have two shitty reps in RI and two great Senators. I'm glad the Senators are relatively young and aren't going anywhere for a very long time.

Jim (I'm paralyzed, vote for me!) Langevin, DINO extraordinare and pill popping Paddy.

[bdamomma]

28. why is Jim Langevin there? couldn't we get someone bettter than him?

[maryf]

30. I take umbrage

with the term "Paddy" even if it is a nickname for Patrick. It is a derogatory term for people of Irish descent, thanks for your consideration in advance.

[gaspee]

34. Being Irish

I have many a Paddy in my family - it's a nickname for Patrick and that's how I use it.

My family name starts with Fitz - can't get much more Irish (other side of the family is German.

[maryf]

44. I wanted to show how it came across

I was too strong and in my family we spell it Patty. and I'm Irish and German on both sides (shot of scottish). Peace, Mary

[MADem]

36. Oh dear. I know quite a few Irish Paddys. Given name Patrick, who don't have a problem with it.

It's how they sign their bloody names.

If his name weren't Patrick, there'd perhaps be a cause for offense. But his name IS Patrick. It's like getting angry at calling ROBERT Dole Bob, or something...

[maryf]

43. Sorry I didn't make myself clear...

as it was in the heading it was how it read, I just was trying to make you aware of how it looked. I figured you didn't mean it like that...

[MADem]

46. I wasn't the one who used the reference initially. I was simply commenting on your taking offense.

I really do know a half dozen Paddys and have one over on a far end of the family as well. If you're Patrick, your Paddy or Pat unless you correct us and demand an alternative.

[maryf]

48. I caught that

:)

[KamaAina]

47. I take umbrage with the "pill-poppin'"

because I have been calling Mrs. McSatan "Pill-Poppin' Polly". :-)

[MADem]

33. You DO have BRILLIANT Senators. You're quite fortunate in that regard.

You get way more clout per constituent in that body than, say California, or Texas, or any of the more populated states.

I know it doesn't make up for your shoddy show in the House, but it surely must ease the pain a bit.

[Hippo_Tron]

38. Barney Frank is a wonderful public servant, but...

He has far too much seniority in the House to give it up to and start all over again in the Senate, especially when he's in his late 60's.

[MADem]

39. NONSENSE. As I have said elsewhere, seniority is out the window in the Senate.

And it has been since LBJ was the majority leader. And that was over half a century ago.

Look who's leaving, too, and who is gone....Lott, out, Warner, going, Hutchinson, bye-bye...it's a whole new ball game. There are plenty of holes to be filled. No shortage of opportunity at all.

Would be nice if he could get in there and start shaking some shit up.

Seniority is less a factor now than ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE in assigning seats on committees.

You don't think Barney can't bring it in hand over fist? He's a frigging ATM.

He can have any seat on any committee he WANTS, and if he has to wait a few years for a chairmanship, that ain't so bad. Especially if the chairman lets him run things--which is the sensible thing to do, because Barney IS the smartest guy in the room.

He's only 68--wait till you get there, you'll think that's young.

[Hippo_Tron]

41. Every Senate Committee Chairman is at least in the middle of their third term

Boxer and Feinstein have the least seniority among the committee chairs. Boxer will be running for a fourth term in 2012 and Feinstein was re-elected to a third term in 2006 but served for 2 years before being elected to her first full term.

I don't doubt that Barney Frank would ascend through the ranks much quicker than a typical senator, but seniority is still a factor and he would still have to wait at least a decade to get a committee chairmanship.

If it were up to me Barney Frank would be President. But I don't think he has any plans to run. Maybe he could be Speaker of the House. That's the most powerful job in Congress.

[MADem]

42. And if Barney outraises them in funds, they CAN step down to do other things.

First they look at the purse.

How do you think Clinton got on SASC so quick? And NY had NEVER had a seat on SASC--after all, which HUGE military installations grace that state?

She needed the national security cred. She brought CASH to the table. She got the seat.

Believe me, people carrying sacks of cash move up quickly. That IS how it works. Bill Frist sure as fuck didn't "earn" his way up the ladder, did he? Bush ORDERED everyone to vote for him, or face Bush's wrath. That's how he got the gig.

There are a couple of people in front of Barney for Speaker, which is a job that is given to one not by us, but by their peer group. Steny is next in line, if Nancy has had enough. And Emmanuel (who is hoping Obama wins so he can leave the House and take HIS seat) is back in the line too, because he's no fundraising slouch himself AND he's done a lot of new rep grooming.

Barney hasn't had the opportunity to cast his fundraising net far and wide. On the national stage, I think he could rake it in.

[bdamomma]

27. you speak your mind don't you leave it to a RI'er, we take no shit.

[hack89]

21. We Rhode Islanders would love to get rid of him. nt

[MADem]

19. He's not choosing anyone. The people of MA will do that when the time comes.

He made a suggestion.

He needs to be 'disabused' of that idea.

He has a legacy, and he will destroy it if he continues trying to cram his Louisiana second wife into a seat that a lot of the MA delegation have had their eye on for most of their careers.

The idea is just not 'on.' People who are devastated by the news of his illness are saying "Uh...WTF? No WAY," to this idea.

If Vicki wants to perpetuate his legacy, she should do so with good works and perhaps positions on policy shaping boards. She could even make it work as a political appointee of some sort.

She really doesn't want every single detail of her life to be dissected, I don't think. And that IS what will happen if she plays any elective role. Look what happened to one-term Jean Carnahan--and she was a popular choice given the circumstances, AND like Caesar's wife. It was fine for her to act as a substitute, but the Senate is a place where you earn it.

You work your way up, you develop a relationship with the people of your state. Vicki Kennedy has a relationship--with TED Kennedy. NOT the people of Massachusetts.

Most people in MA would not recognize her if they hit her with their car. Most people here in MA would not recognize her VOICE, either.

She's that dark haired woman with sunglasses who is usually behind Ted in the pictures. You usually can hardly see her face, she often wears a big hat or a baseball cap if she's out at the beach to go with the huge sunglasses.

She's a tabula rasa, but that would change--and probably not in a good way--if she decided she wanted to take his seat.

Lousy idea. LOUSY.

[JKaiser]

8. Patrick is the son of Robert Kennedy

[stellanoir]

10. No

Patrick is Ted's kid.

[JKaiser]

11. oh I am sorry.. I was thinking of Joseph Patrick Kennedy II

[maryf]

14. who was in congress in the late 90's

not sure what he's doing now...

[MADem]

24. Getting oil from Hugo Chavez. Tried to run for MA gov. His ex-wife put the

cabash on that, as did the perverse, babysitting-molesting behavior of his brother. Plus, he was playing with fireworks, which are illegal in MA, and burned one of his kids. It was a disaster, that whole campaign. That was, oh, ten plus years ago.

Around that time, the late JFK Junior coined that "poster boys for bad behavior" phrase. Major coffin nail.

Since then, he's continued doing the CITIZENS ENERGY gig--expanding it, too. His relationship with VZ, while doing a wonderful thing for the poor in MA and other states by getting cheap fuel to keep people from freezing, makes him toxic.

There is no chance he could run for that seat and win. NONE.

[maryf]

31. glad he's working with the poor...

They seem to do more good out of office...

[kestrel91316]

40. Actually that was Joseph Patrick Kennedy III. Joe II was the

oldest son of Joe Sr, the one killed in WW II who was supposed to be prez, and that's how JFK got the job.

[MADem]

23. I'm sure there are days when Ted wishes that were the case.

Between beating up airport policewomen and driving under the influence of Ambien and booze, he's a real prizewinner. And that's just a few recent highlights.

But he's Ted and Joan's prizewinner, not Bobby's -- and Bobby had a few of his own.

No one likes anyone with a "Do you know who ***I**** AM??????" attitude.

[maryf]

6. Wish Bobby Jr. were..

He's an environmental lawyer for the NRDC, and founder of the Waterkeeper's alliance, very anti-corporate power, writer, but as said above not a representative. He gave support to Clinton, last November so was counter to his uncle; but as he lives in the same county and state as Hilary...(got an email from me regardless as it was very early in the race at the time).

[flvegan]

9. I read that he was eyeballing Hillary's seat if she got the nom.

And, that if she didn't, he was considering CT. Don't know how much of that is simple rumor. He'll make a fine president some day.

[maryf]

13. I heard Hinchey got nod

From Hilary to be her successor, but I wonder about Bobby shooting for AG, like his dad, that would be more his thing, IMO, but you may be right. The needle in the arm incident back in the 80's where he almost died (his brother did die of an overdose), may be part of the reason he's avoided running for office. It got him started as an activist due to the community service he was mandated to serve; a case of turning a bad incident into something which has grown into a huge part of his life...

[MADem]

25. We in MA do not automatically love Kennedys because of their name, you know.

We respect their service, sure.

But RFK JR. has NO CONNECTION to our state, except that he comes here on vacations.

He is a NEW YORKER. And if Clinton goes to the White House, he'll probably run for her seat.

It's great that he is an environmentalist and has kicked heroin, but NY can have him. We have enormously capable politicians here in the Bay State. We'll choose from that rich field.

When John Kerry tried to "carpetbag" his way into LOWELL, he got his ass waxed. We don't go for that crap, at least in jobs that MATTER.

The Kennedy name by itself isn't going to get anyone a job here anymore. Kennedy MONEY can get your name out there, but if the people don't like you, they'll tell you to pound sand.

Don't believe me? Ask Joe.

[maryf]

29. Sorry, I miss your point?

Perhaps you replied to the wrong post? I said nothing about Massuchusetts or that the Kennedy family deserves adulation especially from Massachusetts. They are fallible human beings.

I do think Bobby Jr. has done a great deal to meet noblesse oblige, especially in regards to denouncing "nobility" I don't worship him; I do think he's perhaps the brightest of the batch from his generation, and is perhaps making up for some of the sins of his ancestors...

He's done a lot, and within recent years has declared he will not run for office for his family's sake.

In other words he's a good guy, but not a god anymore than any of us. Listen to Ring of Fire if its still on once in a while...

[MADem]

32. The theme of this thread (prior to editing) was that the SON of Ted should replace him, rather than

the WIFE. AAR, the "blood tie" was noted.

The original core of the discussion centered around Ted's replacement. Who, of the blood relations, might do. In that context, the names being put forth were "suggestions"--Patrick, Joe, RFK, Jr.

That original "which blood relative should replace Ted" core of the discussion has been subsequently edited away, because there was some confusion about which punk belonged to Ted, as well as what state he represented.

[gaspee]

35. Funny how the NO DYNASTIES

(and yes I meant to cap that) people -- complaining about Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton are just fine with giving a seat (no earning needed!) to another Kennedy.

If we want change so badly, some new blood in the seat would go a long way.

Silly of me to point this out, I know :sarcasm:

[MADem]

37. Well, I suppose it all depends whose ox is getting the old gore!

If you don't like someone and don't want them to succeed, then dynasties are BAD. If you do like someone, they're GOOD.

I think it's best to judge people on their own merits. They shouldn't be ruled out BECAUSE of their name. They shouldn't be RULED IN, either. And it's also silly to deny that people who have been well exposed to a "business" or a "line of work" aren't going to have a leg up on a newbie to the profession.

It doesn't mean they're better, they simply have a head start.

How they do in the work, well, that depends on THEM over the long haul.

All that said, tragedy shouldn't be the vehicle to force us to take a pig in a poke (no disrespect to anyone intended, it's simply an expression to connote an unknown quantity....disclaimer provided because there's so much darned OFFENSE around here, lately!).

[maryf]

45. "I think it's best to judge people on their own merits."

Absolutely! and not on anything but! thanks!!

[Retrograde]

49. I was complaining about this

before it was fashionable, way back in 1964 when Robert Kennedy ran for senator in New York, where he was not eligible to vote for himself (long residency requirements back then). The only time in my life I supported a Republican - I was only 12 at the time, so I have some excuse.

Letting a relative fill a seat when the incumbent dies or is incapacitated is common, but I think it should be contested in a general election as soon as feasible so whoever has the seat has a chance to actually earn it.

[hack89]

12. Patrick - unfortunately. nt

[gaspee]

16. The Useless

Patrick is a rep in RI.

[hack89]

20. He is my congress critter

damn carpet bagger!

[MADem]

18. If you think Patrick is a good "substitute" for Ted, rethink that.

First, he represents RI. RI has two fine Senators that aren't going anywhere.

Second, he has a pills and booze problem. He got out of rehab not too long ago.

He's the guy that the Cap Cops picked up at two or four in the morning having a booze and Ambien moment, driving while completely unaware of what he was doing.