Is Max Baucus' stall in the Senate a macabre strategy to prevent Ted Kennedy from

[JDPriestly]

voting on health care? Let's give Baucus the benefit of the doubt and assume it isn't, will that actually be its effect?

Did anyone else notice in the video at this link that Tweety says that Ted Kennedy may not be able to vote on the health care bill?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x356607

Quit stalling. Get a bill with a public option ready for a vote on the first day that Congress convenes. Give Ted Kennedy the chance to vote on the health care bill he has worked so hard, so long to get. And make sure it has a public option. Medicare for all. Every Democrat should be behind this.

[stuball111]

1. What happens if Ted does pass away?

Won't there be a Democrat appointed? Or will there have to be a by-election? I DO wish that Ted Kennedy gets well and carries on,He's a great man. Seems that might be a "strategy" albeit a pretty damn sick one! I hope it's not true.

[CountAllVotes]

2. Ted's wife will step in

and take his place should this happen.

:dem:

[JDPriestly]

7. 17th Amend. to U.S. Const.

Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote. Ratified 4/8/1913. History

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am17

Remember the Blagojevich case? That was about Blagojevich's authority to appoint a new senator to replace Obama.

However, only five states (Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Oregon, Alaska and Oklahomna) require special elections to fill vacant Senate seats. The other 45 states allow their governors to appoint Senators when seats become vacant. The contentious appointment of Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois to fill the vacancy left by President Obama has brought the constitutional issue to the forefront.

http://www.examiner.com/x-6489-Madison-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m8d10-Should-governors-be-allowed-to-appoint-US-senators-to-fill-vacancies

Apparently Senator Feingold introduced a bill to require special elections in all states. There would be an election in Massachusetts. Here we go again.

[stuball111]

9. Thanks... good info..

[sharp_stick]

3. Now why would he do that?

In all honesty I can't think of a single reason Baucus would do something like that.

It's also kind of hard to write a bill during the August recess when nobody is in town to actually write the thing.

[JDPriestly]

6. Why would he do that? To have more leverage.

And the bill should have been written before the August recess. The whole teabagger drama is due to the fact that Democrats can't really go out and sell a bill because Max Baucus has held up the process. Thanks to Max Baucus we have no bill.

[DCKit]

4. "Strategy". You're crediting Max Baucus with intelligence. For shame.

Seriously though, if anything, the death of T.K. before health care is "fixed" would provide one hell of an impetus to get it done RIGHT.

[andym]

5. No, but might be Republican strategy

Kennedy's replacement needs to be elected I believe.

[JDPriestly]

8. You are correct. In Mass. a new senator must be elected when

a Senate seat becomes vacant. Hopefully, Chris Matthews is wrong about Ted Kennedy's health, but it would be typical of the health insurance industry to figure the odds and act accordingly.