Paul Kirk named to Kennedy's seat

[Lasher]

Source: USA Today

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has just named Paul Kirk, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, to replace the late Edward Kennedy.

Kirk, a former Kennedy aide, will serve in the post until a permanent replacement is named in a special election Jan. 19. It gives Senate Democrats the critical 60th vote needed to overcome a Republican fillibuster to pass a health-care plan.

Kirk called the appointment a "profound honor" that he accepted with "sincere humility." He said he would retain Kennedy's staff.

He plans to take the oath of office tomorrow.

Read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/09/paul-kirk-named-to-kennedys-seat.html

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Related LBN threads:

Massachusetts Senate passed bill re: filling Kennedy's seat

Paul Kirk Tapped For Kennedy Senate Seat

Effort to replace Kennedy hits snag

[wisteria]

1. It seems like this was a wise and practical choice.

The children of Senator Kennedy had suggested him for the position, Kirk is familiar with and has worked with Kennedy's staff, and Kirk was close enough to Kennedy to know what his wishes were.

[kenfrequed]

6. Kirk is interesting

His tenure in the DNC was opposed by a bunch of southern proto DLC sorts back in the 80's.

Is it possible that my worst fears about Rahm-bozo the clown exerting pressure to get another Blue Dog bastard put into his place may have been misplaced?

[droidamus2]

2. How long

How long is it going to take the Republicans, who always proclaim themselves to be 'states rightists', to come out and say Massachusetts doesn't have a right to do this or at least it was wrong for them to do this. Of course the conservatives are only for 'states rights' when it works to their benefit otherwise they are more than happy to have the federal government take care of while at the same time braying against 'big government'.

[wisteria]

3. The Repubs. already have. But, it was voted on in both state houses

and it is all legal. It was politics for sure, but it was also practical for Mass. to do this. They need the representation until January.

[kestrel91316]

4. One DINO or another to defect to the Reublican Party in 3....2....1.....

[grantcart]

5. good

[mzmolly]

7. Yippee!

:D

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. Could anyone tell me a little bit about him? I'm not familiar with him at all. nt

[janet118]

9. Info on Kirk . . .

I don't know much about Kirk except he has been a Kennedy aide for about 10 years, hosted the televised memorial service for Ted, and was the DNC chair from 1985-1989, but . . .

From Democratic Leadership Council website:

At first, Party Chairman Paul Kirk tried to stop the DLC from forming. Three times in the DLC's first 18 months, the liberal columnist Jack Germond predicted the DLC would not last for six months. There were demonstrations by the Reverend Jesse Jackson and other party activists at the DLC's 1991 Cleveland Conference, where Bill Clinton laid out the platform on which he won the presidency. Even after three national tickets in a row composed of DLCers, Howard Dean called the DLC "Republican lite" and called the Clinton years "damage control."

From Wikipedia:

Paul G. Kirk Jr. (born 1938) was chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 1985 to 1989. He currently co-chairs the Commission on Presidential Debates, is the chairman of the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, and as a member of the board of directors of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

10. Thank you, I like him already. nt

[mvd]

11. Sounds like a good choice

Dukakis also would have been good, but the wishes of the Kennedys should be respected.

[Raine]

20. Sounds like a good guy

I was hoping for Dukasis but if the Kennedy family wanted Kirk that's good enough for me. :-)

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I'm surprized this isn't a more highly rated thread

I gave it a K&R

[Lasher]

18. I guess that's because there's been a few developments leading up to this appointment.

As I hoped to pull together by posting related threads. No matter, we've got our symbolic 60 back for now. More on a personal level than one of headcount, I'm getting real worried about Bobby.

Lasher

Edit: Well OK now, it looks like he's doing the Energizer bunny thing again.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=mydu

[Botany]

13. Mass. Gov. to Name Paul Kirk to Replace Kennedy

Source: CBS

CBS News has learned that Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will name former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul Kirk to the Senate seat left vacant by Ted Kennedy's death last month.

A person briefed on the appointment told CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris that Patrick, a Democrat, will announce Kirk as his choice at 11 a.m. ET.

Kirk was a close friend of Ted Kennedy and was reportedly strongly pushed by the family to be picked.

Yesterday, the Massachusetts legislature passed a bill which allows for Patrick to make the appointment for the time between now and the election for a more permanent replacement on Jan. 19.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/24/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5334791.shtml

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[WI_DEM]

14. So be it. I was hoping for Dukakis, but if the family wanted Kirk for a few months

then I guess that is who the governor needs to select.

[Mass]

15. Agree on all points. Anyway, he is only there for 4 months.

As long as he stands strongly for what we need, that is all what matters.

[JI7]

17. this means Dukakis could run if he wants but i guess it's unlikely

[No Elephants]

16. Good move. He knows the staff and the issues and Senator Ted's heart. He will

not knowingly betray Senator Ted and therefore he will not knowingly betray us. And, he can hit the ground running. Plus, he said on camera that he will not run in January, so the appointment will cause no unfair incumbent advantage in January, not even a few months worth. Everything Senator Ted requested in his last public wish. Thinking of his country, his state and those who need his help until he could not think anymore.

Good summary of his legislation, btw: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/sen_edward_kennedys_career_tim.html

[karynnj]

19. Here's video of the announcement

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&tID=5&src=atom&atom=todays_events.xml&products_id=289127-1