On Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:57:12 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:

On Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:58:22 -0500, Jim wrote:

The world is tuned into this special election.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new..._and_americas/
article6991787.ece


They have it wrong. Paul Kirk ceases to be the Junior Senator as of the
time the polls close - regardless of the state of the election. So they
don't have a "vote" anyway.

Them's the rules.

So say the GOP's lawyers, surprise, surprise. The rules, in fact, are
not so clear. First, the Federal rules trump the state rules, and you
will note, recent history (think the 238 days the Republicans blocked the
seating of Al Franken), requires certification. At best, that can't be
done for at least 10 days, and perhaps, much longer.

Secondly, the Senate has already passed health care. If the House
decides to pass the Senate bill, health care passes without another
Senate vote, making the Massachusetts election moot vis a vis health care.