Politics trumps Principle. Perhaps it has always been true. Nevertheless, I am outraged that the Democrats in Massachusetts will attempt to overturn the law (Perhaps Republicans would do the same if they were in power.) they passed to prevent Republican Governor Romney from appointing a replacement for Sen. Kerry if he had won the Presidential election in 2004.
"Republicans have attacked Mr. Kennedy’s proposal as flagrantly partisan, and indeed, the state’s Democrats are in the awkward position of being asked to reverse their own 2004 vote to keep vacant Senate seats empty until a special election.
Until that year, Massachusetts law had called for the governor to appoint a temporary replacement if a Senate seat became vacant. But when Senator John Kerry, a Democrat, was running for president in 2004, the Democratically-controlled State Legislature wanted to deny the Republican governor at the time, Mitt Romney, the power to name a successor if Mr. Kerry won. The resulting law requires a special election 145 to 160 days after the vacancy occurs."
As soon as I learned of Sen. Kennedy's death, I said, "They will use him as a martyr in their quest to pass a flawed national health care overhaul." Here is the first attempt to do just that.
Is it any wonder that so many Americans do not trust their government and their politicians when flagrant partisan actions such as this are endorsed by political leadership? My guess is that Massachusetts lawmakers will roll over for this, despite the obvious hypocrisy underlying their narrow political interests. I also suspect that the New York Times editorial writers are even now crafting their columns to endorse such hypocrites.
Here's a story from the Wall Street Journal on August 28, 2009. Some Democrats do see the hypocrisy of the Governor's and many Democrats' position:
"...In 2004, Democrats took the opposite tack. When some Republicans complained of the cost of a special election, Democratic Rep. William Straus said such reasoning might have been used in a "totalitarian country" and that "one person, whoever happens to be governor, will not make the decision for you."
In an interview Thursday, Mr. Straus stood by his words, saying he recently heard from many other Democrats who feel Mr. Patrick is making a mistake.
Mr. Straus said there always will be a pressing issue in Washington that seems more important than having an election. "We need to hold ourselves to the higher principles of democracy," he said.
Massachusetts state Sen. Brian A. Joyce, a Democrat who headed the election-laws committee in 2004, agreed. "If we were to allow an appointment, it would be wholly undemocratic," he said. "When you cut through the rhetoric on both sides, it's pure partisan politics."
Where have all the principled leaders gone? It 's encouraging that at least two Massachusetts Democrats see the folly of the proposal. Is it too much to ask that all politicians stand for principle over power? [As I think about recent history of Illinois and New York, I've asked a rhetorical question question.]
2 comments:
You are right all the way. I have felt exactly like that for years, but unless all who feel that way get together and start some kind of movement , than it looks like our country is going to go to ruins and we have no one to blame but ourselves. I still can't understand why people keep voting the same legislators BACK into office each election. That only reinforces their power. We need the power back.
And what an opportune time for Kennedy to die. My sympathies to the family. It's always hard to loose someone you love but the media is making him to be a god. How quick we forget. Are our lives so boring that we need to focus on a man who was not honorable. I don't need to tell you. He was just another Senator looking out for his own self interest. He did do some good things, but really! Let's be realistic.
We need a big change in this country and we are the ones should decide what they are. We are not a nation of illiterates. Now is the time to start taking our country back. Shame on us for letting it get this far.
Thanks for your comments. I agree that voters are not a 'nation of illiterates.' I think the answer here is twofold: 1./motivated leaders who have proved themselves as such in other endeavors must decide to run for office, and 2./ voters at the grassroots level must become informed and engaged in the political process to support real leaders who choose to run against the entrenched, professional politicians.
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