#rsrh QotD, Oh, BOY! Edition.

Jazz Shaw, on the upcoming NY-09 election:

Out here in the Empire State, there are a few things which you can always count on. The sun will rise in the east, your taxes are going to go up again, and if we are forced to have a special election for Congress, we’ll find a way to turn it into an absolute debacle.

I admit to a certain morbid curiosity, myself.  I know!  Let’s have the NY GOP pick somebody’s who’s actually dead!

…That’s a joke.  Joke!

Moe Lane

PS: Admittedly, it does sort of have its appeal.

Special election in WV?

The report is that West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin (D) will be pushing for having a 2010 special election for the late Senator Robert Byrd’s seat.  In this he’s joined by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R), who shares with Manchin a desire for the job.  Which is fine: neither politician is making a secret of it and they’d be the most likely candidates for 2012 anyway.

There does seem to be a general consensus that while a special election is not required, it would be desirable:

Secretary of State Natalie Tenant has already called on state lawmakers to revise the law to allow for a special election.

“For me, there is a distinct line between how I personally feel and what I can legally do,” Tennant said on her website late last week. “I personally believe that the voters of the state should be allowed to elect a successor to Senator Byrd sooner than November of 2012.”

Continue reading Special election in WV?

Why is Gov. Paterson (D, NY) flirting with impeachment?

Article I, Section 2, US Constitution:

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

WHAM.com:

Henrietta, NY — Multiple Democratic sources now confirm that party chairs decided Monday night that Matthew Zeller is their candidate should a special election to replace Rep. Eric Massa take place.

As Jim Geraghty notes, there should be no ‘should’ here; the US Constitution is not ambiguous about the subject.  There is a vacancy in NY-2329 [OOPS!]: its citizenry have the Constitutional right to representation with all due speed; complaints may be directed to the former office holder. Subject closed.

I assumed that this report was simply an April Fool’s joke, but surely the governor is not seriously considering ignoring his mandated duty under the law?

Even if he is a Democrat?

Moe Lane

PS: Tom Reed is the GOP candidate for this district.

Crossposted to RedState.