Brown getting Kennedy's seat, but not his desk

[Kadie]

Brown getting Kennedy's seat, but not his desk
By GLEN JOHNSON, AP Political Writer

Wednesday, February 3, 2010


(02-03) 18:51 PST BOSTON, (AP) --

Republican Scott Brown may be taking over Democrat Edward Kennedy's Senate seat, but not his desk.

An aide says Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is claiming the mahogany desk on the Senate floor used by Kennedy for nearly 47 years. Until now, Kerry has been seated at the desk once used by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, the late senator's assassinated brother.

Kennedy was partial to his own desk No. 83 because it had once been used by President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy even left it in the back row of the chamber — when his seniority would have allowed him to move it down front — because that was where his brother sat.

Following Senate tradition since about 1900, all senators inscribe their name on their desk's drawer.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/03/national/a185100S62.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0eX71XtDm

[Danger Mouse]

1. Aww...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Brown isn't worthy

I still feel sick to think that creature Brown will lurk in the senate.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. That seems appropriate.

I'm happy to hear that Kerry will take EMK's desk.

:D

[gateley]

6. I bet it will be an emotional moment when Kerry carves his name in the desk drawer.

Brings a tear to my eye just thinking of it.

[karynnj]

8. I think so too - and from the various tribute speeches for Teddy,

Kerry was clearly one of those who clearly had to struggle to keep his composure. They really did have a tight friendship in those last years.

[wisteria]

20. Me too. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

32. technically- isn't that destruction of federal property...?

just sayin'. :evilgrin:

[gateley]

4. Fitting. nt

[DJ13]

5. Brown's new desk arrived today

[tomm2thumbs]

13. +1

although he won't know what to do with the books and will likely think they are something to throw at other cavemen

[AwakeAtLast]

26. Yeah, 'cause there's no steering wheel.

He drives a truck.


:D

[Chiyo-chichi]

38. Don't be silly. Of course he'll know what to do with the book.

[gateley]

17. Bwah! nt

[Carnage251]

19. LOL

:rofl:

[wisteria]

21. LOL n/t

[Kadie]

35. LOL

:thumbsup:

[karynnj]

7. Much more deserving Senator and one who clearly would have loved continuing to be a Junior Senator

It is really cool that Kennedy kept the seat where JFK had it. It is nice that the seat will go to someone who knew both Kennedys.

Brown doesn't get Kennedy's office either - I think.

[CK_John]

9. Brown may be there longer than Kerry, n/t

[Canuckistanian]

10. Oh? Why do you say that?

Just curious.

Rabid conservatives tend to bolt when the going gets rough - looking for "greener patures" as it were.

I don't see Brown sticking around in this stodgy old Senate for long - it's not in his career plan.

[CK_John]

12. I get the feeling Kerry will resign soon. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

14. Oh

I thought you meant something about the duration of Kerry's tenure.

[karynnj]

16. Why is that?

SoS did not say that she was quitting now, just that she would not do this for 8 years.

Kerry was in 3 places in MA this last weekend that got media attention. (A meeting with hospital and other health care people, a condolence call to the MA family that lost a daughter in Haiti, and a townhall in Lowell on jobs. He spoke there of intending to be out in the coming weeks giving attention to what the stimulus did do for MA.) Earlier in January, he was with Patrick meeting with Boston Haitians about 9 days after hip replacement surgery- even having the sense to speak to them in French, as that is the primary language of many. Doesn't sound like someone intending to resign.

He also has had a tremendous agenda as Chair of the SFRC, where he has done a very good job and has worked very well with Lugar.

[politicasista]

27. **crickets** n/t

[wisteria]

25. No, I don't see that happening. n/t

[wisteria]

24. Yeah, Brown thinks he is presidential material.n/t

[Canuckistanian]

11. dupe

[karynnj]

15. Brown's term is up in 2012

Kerry's in 2014 and he has filed for re-election. Kerry won with 66% of the vote in 2008. Brown, against a very poor campaigner in a special election got 52%. Brown can not vote to please the tea partiers if he wants to be re-elected.

I know that there are millions of stories that say he still wants SoS and that HRC won't stay for 8 years. I would guess that that job is less attractive as time goes on - because there is less time he could serve. Not to mention, he likely would have taken a stronger role in Copenhagen.

He also is powerful in the Senate and he might be able to do more as Chair of SFRC, if we keep the Senate. Not to mention, if Obama is re-elected and Brown loses, Kerry would be leaving MA with a brand new Senator and a special election. Unless Obama convinced him that he was uniquely capable as SoS, it seems unlikely.

[wisteria]

23. He isn't up for reelection until 2014, Brown hopefully will be out in 2012. n/t

[wisteria]

18. Yeah! Brown should get some old nasty Repubs desk to sit in.

And he should do his business in the basement. Brown strikes me as a two bit con artist with little real passion for getting the people's business done. He has very little upstairs but looks good posing for pictures of all kinds.

[dem629]

22. That'll show him!

[politicasista]

28. Let him get an raggedy one

And keep his porn away from President Obama!

[KingFlorez]

29. Take that, you lowdown sucker

In your face.

[timeforpeace]

30. I can't believe he demanded Kennedy's desk!

[tammywammy]

31. The article didn't say he demanded it, just that Kerry took it n/t

[Kaleva]

34. Article says Kerry claimed Kennedy's desk.

[zbdent]

33. maybe the desk should be moved to the Smithsonian ...

I mean, it was JFK's desk, as well as the "Lion"'s desk ...

[karynnj]

37. These are the desks on the Senate floor

Are there more than 100 of them?

Not to mention, that given that it was the desk of JFK and RFK, it would not go to just anyone. John Kerry is a worthy person to get the desk - and I would bet that Teddy Kennedy would have approved.

[earth mom]

36. Who gets RFK's desk? nt