The INDsider -> Nathan Stubbs THU, AUG 27 10:57AM by Nathan Stubbs

Victoria Reggie touted as possible Kennedy successor

Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts left a giant’s shoes to fill in the U.S. Congress. Having been diagnosed and undergone surgery for brain cancer last year, speculation has already been well under way as to who would replace the “lion of the Senate” when the time came. One of the names frequently mentioned is Crowley native Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Ted Kennedy’s wife of the past 16 years. Reggie is the daughter of former judge and state politico Edmund Reggie. (Edmund Reggie directed John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in Louisiana in 1960 and went on to become a close confidant of Edwin Edwards.) Victoria Reggie, an attorney, has widely been credited as the resolute woman behind Sen. Kennedy’s renewed vigor and work focus of the past 15 years, helping him cement his reputation as an esteemed statesman.

In the new book Ted Kennedy: The Dream that Never Died, recently excerpted in Vanity Fair, Reggie is painted as one of three rival heirs apparent, along with Ted’s nephew Joe Kennedy and niece Caroline Kennedy. The Boston Globe is reporting today that Victoria Reggie has been lobbying Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to honor one of Ted Kennedy's last wishes: that the state allow the governor to appoint his successor in the event of his death so as not to lose a crucial vote on pending health care reform legislation. The Globe has also recently reported, through its own insider source, that Victoria Reggie has said she is not interested in replacing Ted in the Senate.



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written by Oh Boy , August 27, 2009 - 05:44 pm
Great hypocrisy from the "liberal lion" of the Senate...known not only for his liberal politics but as someone who treated women as merely toys for his pleasure.

Ted Kennedy "last dying wish" is for Mass. to undo a statute HE spearheaded when John Kerry was running for President and Republican Mitt Romney was Gov. Kennedy did not want Romney to be able to appoint a Republican replacement should Kerry have won the Presidency. So state law was changed to require an election.

But suddenly...Kennedy wanted to change the law back to fit his preference. Even as he was dying, Kennedy was acting like the spoiled, elitist who believed everyone should bow to his orders.
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written by Freddy Kennedy , August 27, 2009 - 06:44 pm
Check the Massachusetts Constitution. This is the Royal Kennedy seat only for a Kennedy.
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written by Phil , August 27, 2009 - 06:53 pm
Victoria Reggie went to Tulane on a Legislative Scholarship. Apparently, all the Reggie children didn't have to pay a dime in some 29 years of free tuition to Tulane. While the Reggie family got their free belly up to the trough, some poor slobs had to work and budget to get their children through. Have an election. If the Massachusetts people want her as Senator, let them vote her in.
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written by kate jilson , August 27, 2009 - 09:58 pm
Why such nasty tones on the death of a man? Like all public figures - admired by some, loathed by others. You may agree with his politics or other actions, but, this is not a time for snarkiness.
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written by Sydney Ray , August 28, 2009 - 12:13 am
People are such fools. Admiring the scum of Ted Kennedy, who was a true clone of his despicable father. May they all meet in hell for the ruin they have caused and will continue to cause. There are some cases when grave-stomping is called for.
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written by Jean Charron , August 28, 2009 - 03:59 pm
I was taught as a child that if you don't have anything good to say about a person, say nothing at all. Name calling usually reflects that the person who does the name calling has a problem within himself/herself and expresses it by falsely condemning others.
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written by Phil , August 28, 2009 - 04:17 pm
I don't recall saying anything good or bad about Ted Kennedy. I do detest people nominating politicians for sainthood, when they probably wouldn't get past the pearly gates.
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written by Karen , August 29, 2009 - 05:32 am
Be sure to tell me when you die, Sydney Ray. I will not only stomp but dance on your grave, you disgusting pig!
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written by Elaine Gibbs , August 29, 2009 - 03:37 pm
Will the Kennedys never just go away? Joe Kennedy was kicked out of prep schools for his temper and bullying. The fact he could only get into UMass with his family connections is witness to his early track records. His jeep accident that injuredrt his brother David who became addicted to painkillers as a result and ultimately died in a drug over dose, and the paralysis in the same accident of David's girlfriend speaks volumes. His huge salary as CEO of Citizens Energy a "non-profit" where he collaborates with Hugo Chavez is an abomination. His willingness to have his first marriage of 12 years and 2 children annulled is the height of Kennedy hypocrasy. I would have him as a friend. Yet we would consider him as a Senator. And Vicki- what exactly has she ever done but to marry him less then 6 months after they met to clean up his image that was at its lowest point. And carolyne, who with all her education can not complete a sentence and sounds like a valley girl at 50 years of age. I am insensed at the continued manipulation by the Kennedys.
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written by Eli Bensky , August 29, 2009 - 03:58 pm
There are 535 members of Congress but there was only one statesman

If Senator Kennedy had wiped out the budget deficit, ended all wars and got health care reform passed (at no cost). people would still vilify him.

Unbridled hate is wrong
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written by Marissa , August 29, 2009 - 11:10 pm
Look, I can apprecaite that many do not, will not, or can not appreciate the work that was done by Ted Kennedy. Either way, the man just died a few days ago, and I am of the good mind to keep my bad comments about those who are blogging to myself. However, as normal its usually the illiterate's who are trying to tout their horms over something that will happen and has happened whether you or your's like it or not. If you have nothing good to say, then please just keep your rude comments to yourself. Politicians are nominated based on how the general public feels about them. It has happened for hundreds of years, and will continue to happen for many years to come. Ted Kennedy did alot for many, many people in this country, and whether you liked him or not, allow him some decency, allow his family to get through this very difficult time remembering a man who has done so much for others. Why write such nasty things about a man who is dead now? Rudness is so unkind especially about a man who was loved by so many who did not feel the same way as you who appeared along the streets in Boston to show how much they loved, cared for and would and can appreciate this man.
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written by Phil , August 30, 2009 - 03:51 am
If Ted had not been a Kennedy he would have been drummed out of office after the facts became known about what happened to Mary Jo Kopechne. He left the scene of the accident, passed homes with their lights on as he made his way back to his hotel, did not immediately report the accident, and two fishermen reported the submerged car at 8:20 the next morning. A diver was brought in, and Kopechne’s body was discovered around 8:45 AM.

The diver, John Farrar, later testified at the inquest that Kopechne’s body was pressed up in the car in the spot where an air bubble would have formed. He interpreted this to mean that Kopechne had survived for a while after the initial accident in the air bubble, and concluded:

Had I received a call within five to ten minutes of the accident occurring, and was able, as I was the following morning, to be at the victim’s side within twenty-five minutes of receiving the call, in such event there is a strong possibility that she would have been alive on removal from the submerged car.

Farrar believed that Kopechne “lived for at least two hours down there.” If you want to pass a healthcare bill, call it “Kopechne Care” as a reminder of how politicians abuse power and use their political clout and connections to impoverish this nation and jeopardize our freedoms.

http://www.americanvision.org/the-american-vision-blog/call-it-kopechne-care/?awt_l=75j2B&awt_m=1h5VtEMO9ar5qC
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written by Karen , August 30, 2009 - 04:38 am
Sydney Ray - I guess that means you or no one in your family is on or ever will be on Medicare, never worked a minimum wage job, never had to take time off of work to care for a sick family member, or never had to take a college loan (of course - that wouldn't surprise me!). Stomp on another grave - leave the Kennedys alone. You are the fool.
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written by Mike , August 30, 2009 - 01:41 pm
Roough translation:"Let those among you who have not sinned, cast the first stone" I remember good and bad about Ted Kennedy - an anti-hero
kind of guy. I think the good outweighed the bad, and he'll make it -
he may have to do some time in purgatory, but my prayers are with him.
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written by George , August 30, 2009 - 09:34 pm
If you have paid attention to what has been said and written, during the past week,you would have to be a real "wing nut" not to admire Senator Kennedy, both as a legislator and a human being.
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written by Tommy , September 01, 2009 - 11:30 pm
He who has not sinned ----how hypocritical to condemn a man when I'm sure that not one of you have lived a saintly life---
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written by Myrick6 , September 03, 2009 - 01:08 pm
Don't forget the "trouble" Judge Reggie got in some years back. Something about screwing a lot of people out of their bucks when he was involved in some bank. I don't remember the details, but I'm sure someone does. Soooo, legislative scholarship huh? While a judge huh? Everything on the public dollar. I hope beyond hope, some of that Kennedy money would go to scholarships, but when a family is used to political perks, its kind of unlikely. I sure never thought much of the Reggies, not after the criminal aspect of sitting on the bench came out. I never was impressed by the marriage, and since SHE hasn't accomplished a thing in her own name, I don't think I'll ever be impressed. Not that I didn't favor Sen. Kennedy, because I did. He did accomplish a lot for the little people. I think he genuinely liked people. Met him once, on the street in Boston, and he wsa absolutely charming and very personable. Some may not have held him in high regard, but my "people", my friends and family, benefitted by a lot of his legislation.
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