Doing Anything To Stop Sixty

In Massachusetts, the good news is Gov. Deval Patrick can appoint an interim Senator...but he'll have to declare a state emergency to do so, and Republicans are eagerly awaiting making legal challenges to Patrick doing so to keep the appointment from happening.

The Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday granted Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint a temporary replacement for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, but with one catch: when the appointment can be made.

Lawmakers declined to allow the law to go into effect immediately, meaning Patrick (D) will either have to declare an emergency situation or wait 90 days to name Kennedy’s (D) successor.

The governor said after press time last night that he would declare an emergency so he can make the pick right away. He has scheduled an 11 a.m. announcement for Thursday.

Republicans have toyed with the idea of challenging Patrick’s legal authority to declare such an emergency, and legal challenges could also come from citizens.

“This is not an emergency," state Rep. Paul Frost (R) told The Associated Press, noting that it would be difficult for Patrick to declare an emergency after the State Legislature declined to do so.

The Massachusetts Republican Party responded early Thursday with a letter to the secretary of state requesting that he reject Patrick's emergency declaration and citing detailed legal precedent.

The party of No rolls on, bound and determined to stop the Democrats from doing anything. Every issue is an existential assault on liberty, every battle a decisive defense of the American way of life, every Democrat is The Enemy.

Truly, our Long War will go on for some time now.