(CNN) – Soon to be Massachusetts Sen. Paul Kirk arrived on Capitol Hill Friday to cheers from staffers and friends of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
As he entered Kennedy's office, an emotional Kirk told CNN it was "exciting and sobering" to take the place of his longtime friend in the Senate.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick appointed Kirk to the post Thursday. He will serve in the Senate until a special election is held in January to fill the seat.
Kirk is will be sworn in later Friday.
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Criminals are running the country.
I am thrilled that the people of Massachusetts have a representative in Congress. If he votes like Kennedy would have were he there during this interim period, I think this will have been a perfect resolution. There are too many huge items that are likely to come before the U.S. Senate in the next four months for anyone to go without representative, although I must admit I am not sure how anyone in my state could look at Eric Cantor as their representative. He certainly isn't mine.
I guess the old saying is true (if you're a Kennedy): it's good to be king. Whatever the royal family wants, it gets.
To all the idiots talking about Mass. denying democracy. Most states allow for the appointment of a Senator when someone dies. If Mass. had a republican senator who appointed a republican to a democratic seat, all you nay-sayers wold be saying good job.
At least pretend to live by your principals.
See that many comments are about "shove health care and all the obama lies down our throats." How pathetic that the GOPers continue their campaign of hate, lies, fear and division. Your vile politics were rejected by the American people in '08.
The vast majority of Americans want healthcare and healthcare reform! The GOP is controlled by Big Pharma and the Health Insurance companies.
45,000 Americans die each year from lack of healthcare, but this is no problem for the GOP. Tough it out they say!
However, IF ........45,000 Americans were being killed by the terrorists each year, the GOP would be demanding that we nuke the Middle-East and stop the killing!
But....... when 45, 000 Americans die because of the lack of healthcare, the GOP is............ silent!
@ Ron........ Massachusetts WILL VOTE for a senator in January 2010!
Kirk has been appointed to finish Sen. Kennedy's term in office.
WHY is it that you GOPers don't know about the laws and rules of our Nation?
Come on republicans, us Democrats are finally using the tactics that you have been resorting to since 2000 !!!! But, really, this is to be expected, whether your right or left, that our elections no longer represent the PEOPLE. Our elected officials only represent the big money special interests and "we the people" only get more rhetoric and lies that only deepen the divide between us. We, YOU AND I, are not enemies !!!!!! We can work out our political differences, but it does take time and thought. THE ENEMY IS THE CORRUPT INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY!
Great New!! Oh no now the republican will have to check in with Rush, Beck and Fox News to see what to do next.
The gop cant win running far right wingers,when 2012 gets here its going to be 24yrs since the gop got more then 300 electoral votes,the reason for that is simple the minority vote.the gop is going to have a tough time beating obama in 2012,the minority vote is going to be 29% which means the gop have to get 65% of the white vote to win,and i dont see any gop nominee getting that because the gop is to far to the right on issues these days,obama is going to win and a landslide once again,the gop have to realize the demographics have shifted tremendously in favor of the democrats,i just dont know how the gop is going to win in the future,the numbers for the gop is just not there,obama can have approval ratings in the 30s in still win in 2012,because the gop just dont have the numbers anymore its that simple.
Massachusetts deserves to be fully represented in the Senate, the same as everybody else. Perhaps they will remember that the next time the Governor is a GOPer!
This guy must a strong swimmer for his age if he ever rode in a car with Teddy driving...
So what?Just another liberal.
Emergency!
Emergency!
Code Red Alert!
Republican have been detected in the area of health care reform!
Emergency representation now en route to the Capital!
Your Orders: Stay away from temporarily overrepresented republicans offering soylent green health bars to the general public. These health bars contain the remains of the expelled democrats of Texas and have not been properly taxed.
Stand by for further notice!
Amazing how the dems changed the law to get a dem in the seat before the reform bill vote.The old law was that the people had 90 days to vote a new senator in. This is getting ugly fast.
God Bless All
So the number one kennedy rump swab got himself appointed to try and fulfil the hero of chappaquittics' dying wish..too bad its going to be a waste of time..in case some haven't realized it..obumblers health care plan is DOA..and funny thing that nobody bothered mentioning the fact that captain kirk made almost 250 grand from the hartford insurance company last year..yes indeed.."Dope and No Change"
i think think senator kirk will make a great choice. he will be a great asset for the democati party to get the health care reform bill initiated into law.he has some big shoes to fill in the likes of the late sen. kennedy. but our thoughts and prayers are with him. God bless you sen. paul kirk.
Democratic CROOKS in Congress.
Congratulations Massachusetts. You have clawed your way up the political integrity ladder to join the ranks of such dictatorial banana republics as Venezuela, Cuba, and Burma (yeah, I said Burma).