Joe Kennedy says he won’t run for senate

[shawmut]

Source: Boston Hearld

Joseph P. Kennedy II said today he will not make a bid for the senate seat held by his late uncle Edward M. Kennedy, in a bombshell announcement expected to draw candidates-in-waiting out from the wings.

“Given all that my uncle accomplished, it was only natural to consider getting back involved in public office, and I appreciate all the calls of support and friendship that have poured in,” Kennedy said in a statement posted on the web site of Citizens Energy, of which he is the founder.

“My father called politics an honorable profession, and I have profound respect for those who choose to advance the causes of social and economic justice in elective office,” Kennedy said. “After much consideration, I have decided that the best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corporation.”

Kennedy’s announcement dramatically lessens the possibility that the so-called “Kennedy seat” will remain in the family, with the late senator’s wife Victoria Reggie Kennedy the only other member of the storied clan seen as a possible successor.

Read more: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20090907joe_kennedy_says_he_wont_run/srvc=home&position=0

[BlueDemKev]

1. Damn.....

I know Joe is doing well as a private citizen, but we really could have used a man with a heart of gold like his in the Senate.

[gateley]

3. And I think that Kennedy passion, as well. Unlike the majority of elected

officials, they don't NEED the job, so they're more free to act and do what's right. IMO, of course.

[robo50]

2. My bet: Martha Coakley as the next junior Senator

from Mass.

She would be hard for anyone else to beat.

A great A G, originally from Western Mass, (North Adams?) and prominent in the Greater Boston area for the last 10 years.

Stephen Lynch is hardly any competition, and any Republican doesn't stand a chance. Few other Dems with Martha's prominent record.

I suggest former Governor Michael Dukakis, (now 75) to be named INTERIM Senator until the election.

I could be all wrong about this, but that's my bet at the moment.

[virgogal]

6. She's the one for me,as I mentioned before on DU.

[Imalittleteapot]

13. Coakley impressed me.

Saw someone on MSNBC interview her. She's tough.

[robo50]

23. But now I am hearing that Marty Meehan and Michael Capuano

might want to run, allies of Ted Kennedy and the family for all these years, Capuano is a member of the House, and Meehan used to be, but is now head of one of the U Mass campuses, (Lowell). Meehan has millions in a campaign chest left over from his House campaign days.

These guys are fine people, remains to be seen if one of them can split the vote enough for Coakley NOT to win.

[fascisthunter]

27. no way for Michael Capuano...

Marty Meehan, I can definitely live with.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I grieve for this decision...

We can speculate on the amount of corruption that sinister forces have inflicted on our government, but we will
never know the extent of the damage. However, the Kennedys sure know.

I think they tried to change things, and I think Teddy did a great job. He realized that they only way to affect any
change, was to be an incredibly gracious person--as well as an informed, consummate politician.

I won't pretend to understand fully what is in the mind of Joe Kennedy, but it is obvious to me that the family no longer
holds elective office in the same regard as they once did. Their father urged them all to run for office. Most of the
up-and-coming Kennedys seem to avoid the option. Look at what happeend to Caroline.

I wonder if the Kennedys have been warned about running. I wonder if they realize that there really is no hope.

I just know that this is a sad decision, because I believe that if Joseph felt that he could make a positive
impact, he would have run.

[zippy890]

16. I don't, and I've lived in MA for 50 years

I'm glad he's not running. For many reasons. But he made the right decision for his family, himself and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and it doesn't surprise me.

Martha Coakley would be a fine senator, she's tough, liberal and won't back down on the important issues.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. If only John-John were still alive. What might have been....

[virgogal]

7. Whaaaat? He showed no interest in politics.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Not then, but people change. Who knows what 8 years of ** might have prompted him to do.

[CountAllVotes]

10. JJ was the reich wing's greatest fear

... :nuke: :mad:

:kick:

[virgogal]

21. A New Yorker for the MA senate seat?

[rox63]

8. Let the free-for-all begin

This means that Markey, Lynch and and Capuano will definitely jump in, possibly Delahunt and Meehan as well. Should be an interesting fight.

[Vidar]

11. Too bad.

[Old Studentka]

12. Alas, poor Camelot,

we knew thee well! :-(

[Cleita]

14. Maybe he's right. We shouldn't have legacy seats in the Senate.

It's too much like the House of Lords once was in the British Parliament where the seat was passed from father to son. There's gotta be some other good Irish politicians or non-Irish politicians out of Massachusetts, who still want to advance the causes of social and economic justice.

[FarCenter]

15. That's a relief -- tens of millions died to eliminate the power of nobility and hereditary monarchs

[BlueDemKev]

17. That's So Good to Know....

Since that means Jeb Bush should never become president. I think our nation has had enough of the Bushes....3 generations and running.

[question everything]

18. Probably for the better

There really is no need to always have a Kennedy in the Senate, just because he is a Kennedy. And I kinda remember his messy divorce... I think it was him that John Kennedy Jr. commented as being the "poster boy for bad behavior."

[SharonAnn]

24. No, that was one of John Kennedy Jr.'s cousins. Maybe the one accused of murder?

[dflprincess]

25. No he was referring to Joe and Joe's brother Michael

the one who died in the skiing accident and who had had the affair with the baby sitter.

John made the comment in an editorial in "George"

[Robber M]

19. Unfortunate

But if he had run, you know Glennfuck would be shouting "Chavez! Chavez! Chavez!" till the cows came home!

[orleans]

20. shit! i don't care what anyone says--i wanted a kennedy in there

damn!

[maglatinavi]

22. orleans

So did I... couldn't we transport caroline to Massachusets??? The party needs a kennedy in Teddy's seat ... they are the few that are for "we the people" this is sad indeed...:cry:

[Tracer]

26. I'm relieved that Joe isn't running.

The GOP would have dug up every last little negative thing about him (the messy divorce, his brother etc). Who needs that.

For those who don't know, Rep. Lynch is a Republican with a "D" after his name. And stupid to boot.

I'd like to see Delahunt, but don't know if he's running.