The Kennedy's are not American monarchs

With the passing of Ted Kennedy, I thought the era of Camelot and the stupid idea of an American political aristocracy had mercifully ended. But, here's republican senator Orrin Hatch dredging it back again by preposterously suggesting that Ted's widow Vicky succeed him in the Senate....

“I think Vicki ought to be considered,” Hatch said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “She’s a very brilliant lawyer. She’s a very solid individual. She certainly made a difference in Ted’s life, let me tell you. And I have nothing but great respect for her.”

If Orrin was such a great friend then he should remember that it was Teddy who got the Massachusetts law changed while republican Mitt Romney was governor, so that vacant senate seats would be filled by special election rather than gubernatorial appointment as in most states. Besides, this is America! Since when does one's surviving spouse have a right to his elected political job? If Vicky Kennedy wants to run for Teddy's vacated seat, let her slug it out with all the other contenders and the voters can decide....the way the current law says they should. There is no Kennedy birth-right to that senate seat. Orrin ought to know better and somebody should tell him to keep his yap shut.