There is no mourning period when it comes to ensuring adequate representation for Massachusetts residents in the US Senate. Important votes on health care and climate change draw near. Surely the governor can find a temporary replacement whose views are consistent with those of Kennedy and the Massachusetts voters who kept faith with him since 1962. Michael Dukakis, an elder statesman of Massachusetts politics, would be one good choice to uphold the Kennedy legacy for the few critical months before a special election. The former governor’s career speaks of a politician whose explicit promise not to seek the office could be trusted, even if no law can be cited to enforce the pledge.