Something rotten in the state of Massachusetts

I'm sure we all understand that politics is sometimes about passing laws that are the best for your party. I mean, between gerrymandering, fund-raising laws and the like, it certainly isn't like we've not seen it all before. But this story coming out of Massachusetts takes the cake for me!

Basically in 2004 the Massachusetts state government rushed through a law that took away the right of the Governor to appoint someone to fill an empty Senate seat in order to stop Republican Governor Mitt Romney from appointing a Republican Senator should John Kerry (then Democratic nominee) win the Presidency.

Ok, a pretty obvious partisan move. But hey, something like 97% of Massachusetts office holders are Democrat, so the Republicans just have to lump it. However, it is EXTREMELY dodgy for the state government to be getting ready to change the law back so that the now Democratic Governor can appoint someone to fill the Senate seat formerly held (until his death) by Ted Kennedy. Especially since the people who might be expecting to get their shoulder tapped by the Governor may have the last name of Kennedy...