PAUL KIRK Tapped For Kennedy Senate Seat

AP -- The governor of Massachusetts has named former Democratic Party chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. to temporarily fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat.

Gov. Deval (deh-VAHL') Patrick's announcement Thursday means Kirk will serve in the post until voters pick a replacement in a Jan. 19 special election.

Patrick says the issues before Congress are "too important to Massachusetts for us to be one voice short."

Kirk is a Kennedy family friend who served on the late senator's staff for eight years and is chairman of the JFK Library Foundation.

Kennedy's widow, Vicki Kennedy, and son Edward Kennedy Jr. had urged Patrick to pick Kirk.

The appointment allows President Barack Obama to regain a critical 60th U.S. Senate vote he needs to pass a health care overhaul.

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Comments

[Jason369]

The dems in mass change the rule of law to suit their needs. They took away the ability for the governor to appoint a senator because they were scared Mitt Romney was going to appoint a republican. Then they change it back so they can try to ram socialized medicine though. Its despicable. If the republicans did this it would be front page news coast to coast.

[Cinnamonape]

Actually the Republican Party did this to Democratic Gov. Kitzhaber in Oregon in 2001...nary a peep.

[Jason369]

nope

[Cinnamonape]

And three States require an interim appointment to come from the same party as the Senator being replaced.

[Jason369]

Not when Mitt Romney was gov. You need to check your facts.

[berrycooda]

Here we go again....
voted for it when we were against it...
and now we changed our mind and
voted for it because we want it this way.

Politics as usual...if the shoe fits.

[GrizzlyBowman]

It's good that the Massachusetts Government Ventriloquist Supply Repository could fill a replacement marionette requisition order on such short notice.

[imworking4me]

Someone ought to get a tranquilizer gun, and get Grizzly in the rump with a strong dose.

[GrizzlyBowman]

I still won't be as doped up as MacKenzie Phillips.

Or that hooker who did the nasty with Eliot Spitzer.

[roshni]

All the best to Sen Kirk as he continues Teddy'd work on healthcare reform.

[Gonzaloo]

Sen. Kirk best wishes in your effort to support our President Obama.
Keep up that Kennedy idealism!

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

sounds like a qualified person.

[huffposeur]

ted kennedy came into the senate in 1962 when a kennedy-approved seat-warmer named benjamin smith stepped aside. paul kirk is the benjamin smith for the 21st century.

[oldwhitewomantoo]

And what a good choice he is!

[roshni]

Indeed he is a great choice.

[Scriobhaim]

What a riot! oldwhitewomantoo and roshni agree that Kirk is a great choice for seat-warmer! Har, har, har! Do they think that's a compliment??

[imworking4me]

Since that's what Kirk and the Commonwealth wants, then it is!

[wyldthings]

What's next in Mass. You will probably have to approved to run for office!!

[ECBA88]

Almost every other state has this same policy...

[Oonagh]

The Guv of Fl, a Republican just appointed a seat warmer so that when his term is over he will run for that post.

[Scriobhaim]

Except Massachusetts when a Republican is governor and the state senate Mafia decides to recreate the world... yet again... in its image.

[moderationisbest]

At the time Jessie Helms was thought to be close to resigning for health reasons, the North Carolina Republican legislature removed the Democratic governor's power to appoint a successor. Years later, now that Senator Helms has passed, the Republican legislature has restored this power to the newly elected Republican Governor's office.

Wow, what would the hypocrites on the limousine liberal left done if that had happened. You on the angry left are as hypocritical and judgmental as all those quacks on the religious right.

[steve12]

It was wrong when the Democrats did it to Romney. It would be wrong if a Republican legislature did it to a Democratic governor. Enough said. Now, let's proceed to make history and pass universal healthcare.

[Checquoline]

Not enough said. The people of Mass wanted a democrat and Romney would have appointed a repub. The state wins. NOW enough said.

[kid5rivers2]

We don't want him to be a carbon copy of his predecessor: let him be his own man. Thus, let the whatever chips lie where they'd fall.

[steve12]

I don't think you have much of a choice. He can vote as he pleases without any repercussions. He's not running for the Senate or any other office. He doesn't need to raise money. He only has to worry about his own legacy. Kirk is probably the freest Senator in Congress.

[Grannysue]

Good, you will never fill Ted's shoes but at least go to D.C. and tell the other DEMS to forget the GOPERS, use the majority and get the healthcare bill through with a PUBLIC OPTION.

[WeAreTheWorld]

What a puppet show Massachusets has become.

[stokely]

Cry me a river ...

take care

[Thabit]

you mean like florida and texas are now ?Alabama and south carolina mississippiiiiii and tennaseeeeeee awww come on when the right does it it's just finnnnnneeeeeeeeeee

[AmerikaWaning09]

Amen, it's worse when you live here. very embarrassing!

[Mister C]

Same as yourself

[WeAreTheWorld]

Typical Democratic shenannigans

[alienator]

As the supreme court says, "to the victor goes the spoils", or is that just for repugs?

[alienator]

As the supreme court says, "to the victor goes the spoils", or is that just for repubs?

[Mister C]

And Rethugfooligan Tomfoolery

[rabblerouser42]

Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat To Be Filled by Captain Kirk
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=9004

[banja]

Gov Paterson, this is how it is done, your waffling showed weakness. Gov Patrick was quick, decisive and got it done. Congs Sen Kirk, lets get health reform now.

[RightOn5]

Oh Please. It was Kennedy who changed this law when Romney was Governor now back again to suit. So transparent and laughable. Jr. High School . Still waiting for some grown-ups to assume some leadership in this country from the WH down.

[steve12]

I was not aware that Kennedy was a dictator and his will was law. I was under the impression that laws generally require a legislature and a governor in order to be passed. Perhaps I missed a civics lesson

[RightOn5]

don't forget Blago's guy Burris. LOL

[InfosolutionWiz]

banja

WELL SAID! Patterson drag his feet and make a poor choice hurting himself in the process.