Bizuayehu Tesfaye/AP
In this Jan. 23, 2008, file photo, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley speaks during a news conference in Boston. Coakley is among the Democrats who could seek to be the successor to the seat held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has officially become the first – and thus far the only – politician to make a bid for Ted Kennedy’s vacant seat in the US Senate.
Kennedy, who died last Tuesday, had urged lawmakers to allow the governor to appoint a temporary replacement for his seat until a special election could be held. On Sept. 9, a Massachusetts legislative committee will rule on that request.
In the time being, speculation has swirled around the possible candidates. On the short list: Michael Capuano, a congressman from Somerville, Mass.; Stephen Lynch, a congressman from South Boston; Congressman Ed Markey; and Joseph P. Kennedy II, the former US representative.
As Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post writes, “If [Kennedy] runs, it’s likely that Markey, Capuano, and others take a pass. If he decides not to get in, this race turns into a free for all.”
For now, Coakley has the spotlight. According to the Boston Globe, Coakley today picked up the nomination papers necessary for a Senate run. The attorney general will now need to obtain 10,000 certified voter signatures to qualify for the Dec. 8 Democratic primary.
“Coakley has been quietly been putting together her Senate campaign over the past year, but has yet to announce officially. She has told associates she will run for the seat even if a Kennedy family member enters the race,” Frank Phillips and Matt Viser of the Globe write.
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<< Eliot Spitzer: The comeback kid? | MainJoe Kennedy must run. We need a Kennedy to fill a Kennedy’s shoes. No brainer
1. Sublimewoody | 09.01.09
Why wouldn’t Joe Kennedy run? He is, after all, entitled to the position
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Is he really? See this is one of the problems with this country right now. Everyone thinks they deserve what they want regardless of the level of effort. Have either of you considered that maybe Joe Kennedy doesn’t want to run?
Kennedy to replace a Kennedy a No Brainer???? Seems to me our ancestors came to this land to get away from Birth right assumption of power. Well I guess you are right not using your brain at all is a no-brainer.
I find it interesting that in nearly every study the increase in CO2 levels in the past always lags behind the increase in temperature. That is, the temperature increase leads to an increase in CO2. CO2 is the result of warming not the cause.
It’s not a surprise that the scientists can’t seem to find a correlation they LIKE. The difficulty is proving that CO2 is the problem and not the result of warming. After all, if they don’t explain why CO2 is the cause they won’t get the grants next year.
Strong political desire to make CO2 the poison is not enough…there really should be some proof.
Entitlement is something that Edward Kennedy would never consider for his successor. Anyone good enough to fill the shoes of the late Senator should be able to win on their own merit rather than run on just the name of Kennedy. I prefer thinkers and doers to stand in the shoes of a US Senator.
I believe Sublimewoody was being SARCASTIC, to those who missed it.
However, I don’t think anyone should write off a Kennedy stepping up for the position - people said the same things about Ted Kennedy, that if his last name was Moore, that he would have had no chance. Well…. guess what. He ended up being one of the most influential and successful senators of all time. One thing I’ve learned not to do is underestimate a Kennedy.
That said - I’d love for Martha Coakley to run. She has the gumption and the liberal ferocity to serve as a true successor for Kennedy.
Martha Coakley is an excellent replacement - I was very impressed with her the first time I heard her speak a couple of years ago. I like her politics. Very honest and intelligent woman who doesn’t allow the old-school politics to get in the way of getting things accomplished.
“Entitlement is something that Edward Kennedy would never consider for his successor.”
Hahahahahaha You do know how Ted got the senate seat right?
So much of Senator Edward Kennedy’s “The Dream Shall Never Die” speech is relevant now. It makes me sad that so many Americans do not know how much it was really he that advanced the dreams of his brothers into reality. So many of us who want now to pick up the “fallen standard” need the example his life offers of HOW liberal ideals can be transformed into something real that betters the lives of our neighbors.
I put together some of the audio of the speech, accompanied it with images and ideas that highlight some of his accomplishments, and put it into a video. The following page also has information on the 6 (of 13 or a minority) Democratic senators in the Senate Finance Committee who have yet to pledge their support for the public option in the Kennedy Health Care bill. They are responsible for holding up the compromise (between the present RepublicanCare and the Single Payer liberals want) of a public option.
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1. Sublimewoody | 09.01.09
Why wouldn’t Joe Kennedy run? He is, after all, entitled to the position.