Urgency pervades Kennedy hearing Kerry leads Demsa pitch for in...

A plan to allow the governor to appoint an interim replacement to Edward Kennedy's seat in the U.S. Senate received a powerful endorsement yesterday from leading Democrats, including Sen.

[IRA_Pittsfield]

They always seem to find a way to "rewrite" laws that benefit themselves. Let the people decide, thats the way this land of promise was born. PS i didn,t see it but it nice to see Barry get razed in prime-time.

[Tricia]

This is SO WRONG what Massachusetts is doing and it figures that Kerry is leading the charge to again change the law to favor Democrats. Where is the public outrage?!!?

This whole thing reeks of ETHICS VIOLATIONS!!! Remember the rule of law and how everyone is so concerned that we do not violate it? Well, this is a clear case of violation!!!

[pat the painter]

Funny how Kerry never complained about Kennedy missing over 95% of the votes over the last fifteen months, or how he never seemed to care about his absence while running for president. We have survived without senators before and will continue to.

On a side not shouldn't be ilegal for congressmen to run for the senator's seat, since if elected we would still be short a representative in the commonwealth.

At least Milk Carton Martha won't miss any real work as AG since she hasn't done anything of importance anyway. Will Sgt Shultz be her campaign manager?

[Rob]

John "I am a war hero for shooting the cong in the back" Kerry would lead the fight to break the law his party set up in Mass! Kerry is another Massachusetts poster child for term limits. Maybe voters in this state will just wise up soon!

[Sam]

It doesn't surprise me elected democrats in MA. want a law changed again when it benefits them. It does always surprise me that the people in MA. always roll over and remain silent when any politician with a "D" in front of their name do as thery please with no fear that they will be voted out of office!!!

[Former Blue 1 Adams MA]

Patrick wants someone to be personally 'committed' to him? NO! How about committed to us in the Commonwealth!

[Brian]

"Big decisions are being made now -- not in five months," Kerry said. "And important votes are coming now -- not in five months. Massachusetts cannot and should not be underrepresented."

What a joke Kerry is. Were there any important votes in 2004 when you were running for president? How many of those were you present for Mr. Kerry?

And votors in this state just march in lock-step with these Democrats. It has nothing do do with being underrepresented. It has everything to do with being represented by Democrats. Does anyone honestly believe you would hear this same nonsense from these hypocrites had Healy been governor?

[Hypocrite DemocRAT]

Kerry's the biggest hypocrite of the bunch. He was AWOL for over a year as he danced around the country begging for votes, 2003-2004.

tEDward was a Zombie for the better part of a year, if he was concerned he would have done the right thing and stepped down after they probed his pickeled grey matter. The state could have had an election last November at little or no cost to the voters.

The rest of the state democrats? Spineless zombies following the puppeteers pulling their strings.

[SAL]

My plans to move back to Egremont are TOTALLY gone--
I hadn't really realized how awful a State this has been-- I wouldn't ever think it as a COMMONWEALTH.

[Wake Up]

I totally agree with all of the above statements. But let me ask each of you -- what you have done about this so far (other than a quick posting here that the lawmakers don't even read?) Call your state lawmakers, or at minimum email them! Yes, I know - it likely won't do any good, but if they get flooded with these, then there's at least a chance that it will spark a fear that geee - they may be jeopardizing their own re-election and so they better not vote for this!

DO SOMETHING PEOPLE! CALL AND WRITE TO THEM TODAY!

[Kayemtee]

Of course it's hypocrisy to install in interim senator in light of the refusal to do so when Romney was governor. However, it should be done immediately to give the Democrats one more vote in the Senate when the health care bill will be decided. Massachusetts elected a Democratic controlled legistature and it should act according to the interests of the constituents who elected them. I am sure that a majority of voters in Massachusetts want to see Ted Kennedy's dream of health care legislation enacted. Should only republicans be allowed to use sharp tactics to get their will done? Do you remember when Republican controlled state legislatures around the country reapportioned congressional districts in non census years to gerrymander districts to elect more Republican congressmen? I'm tired of ineffective Democrats being unwilling to play hardball and always coming up short.

[Wake Up]

Kayemtee wrote:

Of course it's hypocrisy to install in interim senator in light of the refusal to do so when Romney was governor. However, it should be done immediately to give the Democrats one more vote in the Senate when the health care bill will be decided. Massachusetts elected a Democratic controlled legistature and it should act according to the interests of the constituents who elected them. I am sure that a majority of voters in Massachusetts want to see Ted Kennedy's dream of health care legislation enacted. Should only republicans be allowed to use sharp tactics to get their will done? Do you remember when Republican controlled state legislatures around the country reapportioned congressional districts in non census years to gerrymander districts to elect more Republican congressmen? I'm tired of ineffective Democrats being unwilling to play hardball and always coming up short.

So, you openly admit that it's hyprocrisy, but think they should do it anyway? Helllooooooo???? Do you also openly admit that ACORN has been going around the country registering people that aren't allowed to vote, along with people who are dead, and now THEY are going to do the US Census and are THE most corrupt "Community Organizers" in the country? So that the Dems can get more Congressional seats? And you sound like we should have "this" healthcare reform "for Teddy" -- great, wonderful Teddy who should've died in jail!! Give me a break! How about we start doing what is RIGHT and LEGAL and MORAL and reject BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans CRAP! How about THAT????

[Tricia]

Kayemtee wrote:

I'm tired of ineffective Democrats being unwilling to play hardball and always coming up short.

This isn't playing hardball. This is doing something that is ethically wrong. I would come out strongly against Republicans if they did the same thing. There has to be a line drawn somewhere between right and wrong or the politicians will continue to get away with murder. You let one thing slide and soon they will all be playing dirty.

[IRA_Pittsfield]

Hey Kerry go back to doing what you,ve always done for this state-NOTHING!!!I,m a Nam-vet and i don,t know who i **** hate more you or Jane Fonda . your both **** heads.

[USN Oldsmobile]

Too bad Teddy couldn't have taken one last drive, as captain of a ship, with all the massachusetts democrats aboard.

[Kayemtee]

Tricia wrote:

<quoted text>
This isn't playing hardball. This is doing something that is ethically wrong. I would come out strongly against Republicans if they did the same thing. There has to be a line drawn somewhere between right and wrong or the politicians will continue to get away with murder. You let one thing slide and soon they will all be playing dirty.

I beg to differ. This is not unethical. The members of the state legislature are the duly elected representitives of the citizens of Massachusetts. It is within their authority (persuant to the US Constitution)to legislate the method by which a US senator is replaced. If the citizens of Massachusetts are not satisfied with what their state legislators do, they are free to vote them out of office in the next election. These legislators are free to make the judgement that it is to the advantage of their constituents to have two senators representing them in Washington at this crucial time. Please tell me why you believe this to be unethical.

[Kayemtee]

Wake Up wrote:

<quoted text>
So, you openly admit that it's hyprocrisy, but think they should do it anyway? Helllooooooo???? Do you also openly admit that ACORN has been going around the country registering people that aren't allowed to vote, along with people who are dead, and now THEY are going to do the US Census and are THE most corrupt "Community Organizers" in the country? So that the Dems can get more Congressional seats? And you sound like we should have "this" healthcare reform "for Teddy" -- great, wonderful Teddy who should've died in jail!! Give me a break! How about we start doing what is RIGHT and LEGAL and MORAL and reject BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans CRAP! How about THAT????

The duly elected representatives of the massachusetts State legislature have the legal right to change the way a senator is replaced. There is nothing immoral about it. If we want to talk immoral, it is immoral for Americans to go without medical care while we give the richest Americans a 1.5 trillion dollar tax cut.

[Tricia]

Kayemtee wrote:

<quoted text>
I beg to differ. This is not unethical. The members of the state legislature are the duly elected representitives of the citizens of Massachusetts. It is within their authority (persuant to the US Constitution)to legislate the method by which a US senator is replaced. If the citizens of Massachusetts are not satisfied with what their state legislators do, they are free to vote them out of office in the next election. These legislators are free to make the judgement that it is to the advantage of their constituents to have two senators representing them in Washington at this crucial time. Please tell me why you believe this to be unethical.

It's unethical because they are playing fast and loose with the law. The Legislature is doing everything in it's power to keep themselves in power. You don't see a problem with that? Sure, they are saying they are doing it all in the name of health care for Americans and maybe in this instance they really believe that as do many Massachusetts Democrats, but the truth is that they are just trying to consolidate power for themselves and as we are learned in grade school, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

When the people allow their government to get away with this power play because in this instance it supposedly may be helpful to Americans (although that remains to be seen), then you are essentially allowing your government to make their own rules to keep themselves in power. The next time they will do these same power plays just to keep Republicans out of the State and themselves in control just as they originally did when they changed the law in the first place when they tried to prevent a Republican from being appointed in Romney's place. The corruption on Beacon Hill will only worsen the longer the Democrats keep a tight rein over Massachusetts through their one party domination. That will be the end result.

[HellerCarbonCapN TradeLLC]

It always surprises Massachusetts residents just how corrupt their own state is, and has been, literally for decades.
Thank you, Liberal Democrats, for the stark reminder.

[Dannika]

Kayemtee wrote:

<quoted text>
I beg to differ. This is not unethical. The members of the state legislature are the duly elected representitives of the citizens of Massachusetts. It is within their authority (persuant to the US Constitution)to legislate the method by which a US senator is replaced. If the citizens of Massachusetts are not satisfied with what their state legislators do, they are free to vote them out of office in the next election. These legislators are free to make the judgement that it is to the advantage of their constituents to have two senators representing them in Washington at this crucial time. Please tell me why you believe this to be unethical.

Totally alcoholic behavior, or is it the behavior of an abuser? Try putting the shoe on the other foot? How do you want your opponenets to behave?
Shall we all fight dirty and be unethical?

Unethical: Changing the rules every 2 minutes.
Taking the ball home when things do not
go your way.

How about we play fair & look to
each others good, & stop championing
our own way.