The State of Massachusetts has reached a new low. When Sen. John Kerry was the Democratic nominee in 2004, the legislature, fearful that then-Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, might appoint a Republican to replace Kerry in the U.S. Senate, changed state law so that any senate vacancy could be filled only by a special election. Fast-forward to 2009. Massachusetts now has a governor from the Democratic party, and when Sen. Kennedy passed away last month, the great fear of the moment was that there might be a vacancy in the U.S. Senate (one which could easily be filled by an appointed, interim, sure-Democrat successor) during debate on Obamacare. So what do the state legislators do? You guessed it: They changed the law again so that, rather than waiting for a January 2010 special election to select someone to fill the remainder of Kennedy’s term, the governor could appoint a temporary Senator. It was announced today that Kennedy pal Paul Kirk will hold the seat until the January election winner is sworn in next year. Yes, Massachusetts is the state that is so firmly rooted in principles (*cough*) that they change their laws whenever the office of Governor changes parties. Are the citizens of Massachusetts embarrassed by this? I would be…
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