Dispensing with messy democracy

Chicago Tribune - Steve Chapman - February 5, 2009

"Experience keeps a dear school," wrote Benjamin Franklin, "but fools will learn in no other." Right now, Americans are getting a crash course in the folly of our general approach to filling vacancies in the United States Senate. But so far, there is little evidence that we are learning the obvious lesson. This week, President Barack Obama appointed Sen. Judd Gregg, a Republican, to head the Commerce Department. When the idea was floated, cynics suspected a sinister motive. New Hampshire has a Democratic governor, John Lynch, and the iron tradition is that a governor, faced with a vacancy, fills it with someone from his own party—even if it differs from that of the departing senator. As it happens, Democrats were already on the verge of gaining their 59th seat, assuming Al Franken's apparent victory in Minnesota stands. Gregg's resignation would give them the chance to reach 60, the magic number for the dominant party to do anything it wants. (Continues..)