Welcome to Massachusetts...

...our political process is a joke.

If you didn't hear (because you're deaf) Senator Ted Kennedy died a few weeks ago. After his wake and funeral were treated with more ostentation than a Papal visit, a debate was sparked around who would temporarily fill the Senator's seat in Congress. In most other states, the Governor appoints an interim Senator, which is fine, we had that rule until there was a (gasp) Republican governor and the possibility of a Senate seat opening up due to Senator Kerry's presidential run. The state legislature scrambled to change the rule so the seat was filled through a special election instead of Gubernatorial appointment. Then, a Senate seat actually did open up, but (thankfully) there was a Democratic governor, so they changed the rule back.

...and this is why Massachusetts is backwards and why the government should never be involved in any decision ever. What we are dealing with is a cadre of power brokers determined to keep Mass. in a liberal backwoods. A state legislature that would strip the people of a power it granted to them because it was convenient for their ideological goals is both unbelievable and unsurprising at the same time. I think there is a saying that goes something like what is the difference between politicians and mobsters; mobsters do their business in private.

This situation is travesty on many levels. Not only did we elect people who would counter- intuitively take more of your money in a down economy (they raised the sales tax), but would grant and deny people voting rights at their political whim. If that isn't bad enough, the complete lack of shame at their blatantly obvious lack of respect for precedent, principals, or the will of the people is appalling. It would sicken me more if I weren't adrift on a sea of apathy with a strong Democratic current which we call Massachusetts.

But, nobody cares, I'm tired of screaming at people that they should be pissed at this. Hopefully one day I will wake up and people will realize the best politician is the one who doesn't want to be one. F'n Mass, New Hampshire looks better everyday.

-K

P.S. Ted Kennedy drove a car over a bridge with a female passenger in it (that he was probably trying to bang), he escaped, she didn't. He didn't tell the police about it until the next morning.

Billy Bulger's brother, Whitey, lead a life of crime that ultimately landed him on the FBI's 10 most wanted list (at one point higher than Bin Laden).

Both of these men were re-elected for decades in Massachusetts.

This is what I am dealing with. Both of these men had their demons, but tried to do a lot of good with their positions, which is laudable, but multi-decade appointments. WAKE UP MASS! Do you want to live in a country where an incumbent Senator has f'n die to be replaced.