Something Slimy in The Bay State
August 20, 2009
For the record, I don’t know tons about the Senior Massachusetts Senator, Ted Kennedy. I am too young to remember how he got off scott-free when he was drunk-driving and drove his mistress girlfriend off a bridge and killed her. I am also too young (and not that interested) in learning all the various ways he has acted corruptly throughout his policital career. If the people of Massachussets want to be shepherded by a crook, well, that’s their prerogative. And yes, I do recognize the irony of the fact that I currently reside in California, home of Nancy Pelosi.
When I worked in DC for a semester there was a common saying on the Hill; “Democrats are evil and Republicans are stupid.” Ever since that time I have kept an observant eye on the political manueverings of the Democrats and have witnessed the unfortunate truth of that dictum. Again this morning I learned about something that deserves some illumination because it may affect more than just those in The Bay State.
When Al Franken stole the MN senate seat last month the democrats gained a super-majority number of Senators (60) and because of this can vote as a unit and pass any number of bills despite Republican opposition. Of course the current measure of interest is the Health Care Reform bill which the President hopes will pass during this next session of Congress.
Unfortunately MA senator Ted Kennedy was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. For obvious reasons he will need to quickly abdicate his seat as Senator, thus putting in jeapordy the Democrats super-majority status. So, Senator Kennedy’s solution to ensure this doesn’t happen? Change the MA state law so that the Governor can supersede the people and quickly appoint a new Senator of his choosing under these conditions.
It doesn’t take a second-grade education to see through that manuever. The administration did promise a new transparency … This is politics, I suppose.
But here’s where it gets extra slimy – The current MA law requiring a special election in these cirmustances (which could take anywhere up to 5 months) was put into place BY TED KENNEDY back in 2004 when a Republican (Mitt Romney) was governor of MA. That was when (then)MA Senator John Kerry was running for president and Kennedy and the Democrats wanted to ensure that Romney didn’t have the authority (as most Governors do) to appoint a Republican into the vacant seat should Kerry win.
So, let’s recap. In 2004 Ted Kennedy doesn’t like the law because it MIGHT favor Republicans, so he changes it. Then, 5 years later when his own law might turn around and bite his party in the butt, he decides to change it again! THIS MAN HAS NO PRINCIPLES! And did I mention he is a senior member (read: REPRESENTATIVE) of the Democratic party.
In other words, LAWS DON’T MEAN ANYTHING unless they benefit those in power, and our elected officials should feel free to change the laws at their discretion based on their own political self-interest. Forget about passing laws and amending constitutions for the benefit of the people … of course human nature is corrupt and will go to great lengths to secure power. Our forefathers knew this. That’s why they adopted a system of governance called democracy which is supposed to protect the people from those in power.
I’m sick and tired of watching events like this unfold with little to no attention from the media and zero repurcusions for the men/women who supposedly work for us. We the people would do well to start paying attention to maneuvers like this. Not to be overly dramatic, but if we don’t demand some integrity soon it will soon be too late.
