Rep. Joe Kennedy To Launch Primary Challenge Against Sen. Markey

discobot · September 18, 2019, 10:01pm

Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) is reportedly set to announce a Senate bid to challenge Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA).

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1249443

26degreesrising · September 18, 2019, 10:18pm

I’m sorry to see this. Markey’s a good senator.

maximus · September 18, 2019, 10:26pm

I knew John Kennedy, sir.

And you’re no Joe Kennedy…

lastroth · September 18, 2019, 10:27pm

Why?

morrigan_2575 · September 18, 2019, 10:30pm

I don’t know how I feel about this. I like Joe Kennedy but, I don’t know that this is a good move

castor_troy · September 18, 2019, 10:31pm

Why not? Unless Warren wanders off to be president or VP next year, there’s not likely to be a free seat for another six years.

Nothing says you have to wait your turn, Markey’s 73, why can’t he go enjoy a nice retirement?

van_hammersly · September 18, 2019, 10:32pm

Ed Markey is a good senator and Joe Kennedy III is an antivax loon riding the dynasty train. Sorry pal, not gonna happen.

harry_truman · September 18, 2019, 10:33pm

Hasn’t every candidate the Kennedys endorsed in contested statewide primaries in Massachusetts won only to be thumped by a Republican? Aren’t the Kennedy’s the reason a Republican preceded Warren in the Senate and MA now has a Republican governor?

John Kennedy was great because he knew some adversity in war, was well traveled by the age of 21, and had some (just enough) humility, not to mention a sense of humor. The rest of the bunch (except JFK’s kids, who have/had his sense of humility) aren’t fit to run a taproom. Can any of them laugh at themselves?

‘

castor_troy · September 18, 2019, 10:33pm

Unmmm… You’re thinking of Robert Kennedy.

bodie1 · September 18, 2019, 10:34pm

Stay in your lane, grasshopper. This is not your time.

castor_troy · September 18, 2019, 10:35pm

Yup. Just like AOC should have sat in the corner and waited until her predecessor was good and ready to retire.

C’mon, if the Founding Fathers wanted lifetime appointments, they wouldn’t have made elections happen so often.

van_hammersly · September 18, 2019, 10:36pm

Agreed, and I’d add Bobby Kennedy to the list of two Kennedy’s I deeply admire. And honorable mention to Teddy Kennedy’s mostly good work in his later part of life despite the cluster-f of his actions. Some added sympathy and grading on a curve for the hellish emotional turmoil they all went through. But also demerits for wealthy dynasty nepotistic tainting things practically and optically.

benthere · September 18, 2019, 10:36pm

Regrettably this echoes the accusation of ‘ruthlessness.’ Joe Kennedy would have a bright future but this is not the way to proceed IMHO.

irasdad · September 18, 2019, 10:36pm

Wrong Kennedy.

van_hammersly · September 18, 2019, 10:36pm

Dude, AOC and Markey cosponsored the GND. Joe Kennedy is a whackobird.

castor_troy · September 18, 2019, 10:37pm

Based on what, exactly? I’m not at all familiar with him, so open to being educated. But just googled your antivax reference, and that ain’t him. So what else?

van_hammersly · September 18, 2019, 10:37pm

Oh boy, is my face red

My mistake. Thanks. Leaving my comments for humiliating posterity.

irasdad · September 18, 2019, 10:38pm

These things happen.

castor_troy · September 18, 2019, 10:39pm

Especially with a dynasty like the Kennedy’s. Impossible to tell who’s alive, who’s dead, who faked their deaths and are living in luxury in disguise on yachts in Monaco…

ETA: JFK Jr., looking at you here…

jmundstuk · September 18, 2019, 10:48pm

You asshole. I’m sorry, but this move weakens the party in the 2020 cycle, opens the possibility of a moderate Republican win against JKIII, esp in the event of a nasty primary. The entitlement here is staggering.