Vicki and the Vacancy

According to Susan Ferrechio of The Washington Examiner, there is bipartisan support for Vicki Kennedy to take over Ted Kennedy's office. Indeed, says Ferrechio, some think she would be "perfect for the job." Ferrechio quotes Orrin Hatch as saying that Kennedy is a "brilliant lawyer" and "a solid individual." She also quotes Chris Dodd as saying that if Kennedy wants the position, he will back her up. There are only two problems with this picture.

1. Kennedy has stated that she does not want the position
2. It's not legal for her to take it.
   

But not to worry! The Democrats mean to solve both of these problems.The Massachusetts state legislature is getting ready to debate a bill that would give Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick the authority to appoint an interim senator to fill the seat until a special election is held." And the democrats have been pushing for Kennedy to take fill that position. She is, after all, according to John R. Bohrer of the Huffington Post, 'the only logical choice." Plus, Obama needs her vote and that certainly justifies changing the rules!

So whether or not Kennedy wants the position, and whether or not the voters want her to have it, she may very well be pushed into it.

Dr. Blanchard mentioned the possibility of this sort of dirty politicking in an earlier post. He said this:

Elections are contests, and when you change the rules in mid-game to favor one contestant, that's cheating. I am guessing that Kennedy won't get his rule change. Just right now, Massachusetts Democrats don't want to give the voters another reason to be irritated.

Maybe the Massachusetts Democrats are not as wise as he thought. Hatch is certainly not as wise as I thought.