Other excellent names are also being bandied about, including former governor Michael Dukakis, former Massachusetts attorney general Scott Harshbarger, former state Democratic Party chair Phil Johnston, former state senator Lois Pines, and Democratic activist and former Tufts Health Plan CEO James Roosevelt Jr. All are deserving of the honor, as are many others.
But we think Kirk makes the most sense to serve out the next few months in Kennedy’s honor. The state legislature should move quickly to give Patrick the power to make it happen.
Related:
After Ted, Giant shadow, Brown-nosing and flip-flopping, More 
- After Ted
The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy early Wednesday morning brings to a close the life and legendary career of one of Massachusetts's greatest political figures.
- Giant shadow
One striking aspect of the Kennedy tributes was the focus on the help he and his office provided for ordinary individuals in Massachusetts — all those things that fall under the category of "constituent services."
- Brown-nosing and flip-flopping
Two months ago, when Senator Scott Brown crossed party lines to help pass a jobs bill, the Phoenix noted the political convenience of that supposed show of independence — since other Republican senators were also voting with Democrats, Brown’s vote was unnecessary.
- Chaos Theory
In less than two weeks, when Massachusetts voters elect Martha Coakley to the US Senate — let's not pretend that Republican state senator Scott Brown has any chance of pulling off the monumental upset — they will trigger a massive domino effect that has the state's political class buzzing with anticipation.
- Where is the hate?
Once upon a time, no one whipped up conservative rage like Ted Kennedy.
- Rhode Island’s own stab at health reform
Health care reform, if it survives the election of Republican Scott Brown to Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat, will make insurance accessible and provide a slew of new consumer protections for millions of Americans.
- Tea-bagger Brown triumphs
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley may be a good person and a dedicated public servant, but thanks to her gut-wrenching loss to tea-bagging Republican Scott Brown in the race for the US Senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy, Coakley is now — quite rightly — a figure of local scorn and national derision.
- Improv Asylum presents Scott Brown: The Musical
Should US Senator Scott Brown ever find any downtime between crucial votes on the future of this nation and hand-modeling gigs, he may want to flex his melodrama muscles.
- The X factor
Martha Coakley should be plenty thankful for the holiday weekend. The polls suggest that, if nothing significant changes between now and the December 8 primary, she should handily claim the Democratic nomination for US Senate.
- Poor reception
The right loves to rant against the "liberal-media elite," but there's one key media sector where the conservative id reigns supreme: talk radio.
- Wink!
The GOP pulled a Coup D'e Tea Bag on the Massachusetts Senate Seat.
- Less
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