08-29-2009, 10:04 AM
Quote:For me it smacks of a capricious abuse of the system to maintain power, and not just for Massachusetts, but for implementing a filibuster proof majority in the Federal Senate. Even though there are perhaps 15% of the citizens of the State registered as Republicans, even the remote chance of losing total power by democratic means motivates the tyrannical to seize the power from the whimsy of mere citizens.
As you say MA is overwhelmingly democrat. The desire to avoid an expensive and time consuming election so that a state doesn't lose representation seems reasonable. Even more so since it's pretty clear that the chosen senator will be the of the same party as the one who would win an election.