two money quotes:

“Paterson and New York, thus, would not just be getting a Senator. They would get, with Caroline, the driver with the keys to the most finely tuned and influential progressive national political network in American politics, reaching (in many cases invisibly) into levers of power in all branches of government and in many states far from Massachusetts, including among the networks planted by the Southern Civil Rights movement and among Hispanic-American political leaders and organizations from Texas to California for whom “Tio Ted” has been mentor and unflinching ally. (The Kennedys have long been central to the push for multi-racial movements in US politics, one that just became realized with Obama’s election as never before: that will also serve Attorney Kennedy and so many of her constituents well in New York.)”

“Anybody who underestimates Attorney Caroline Kennedy, who wants to view her as somehow lightweight or just a celebrity name inside a business suit, does so at the risk to his and her sense of reality. Her skill sets are not merely adequate, but, rather exceptional and extraordinary. She was “no drama” before “no drama” was cool. And her appointment, if it comes, will be a gift that keeps on giving before and after Ted Kennedy moves on to the great battleground beyond.”

Homonyms got me this morning.

I’m not one of those types who automatically think “Is nothing sacred?” when I hear aspersions being cast at Kennedys, and I thought RFK, Jr., who I like a lot, would have been a terrible replacement. But Caroline is a-OK with me on this one, and I really don’t see how people get to the “Fuck her” point. Sounds like a personal problem to me.

Do you read your own stuff?

Why should the Presidency (Commander in Chief, CEO, possessor of the nuclear football, et. al.) be different?

She’ll be a shoe in for many of the reasons already mentioned above.

Caroline Kennedy is a woman much like Barack Obama; not a lot of technical experience, but someone we know has a personal belief structure that supports our belief system. Someone who has a lifetime of experience living our beliefs. If you doubt this check out her history. Who was one of the first people who supported Obama?

(This country was lucky that, of the first five Presidents we had, only one had a legitimate biological son. At that, we wound up with the nephew-and-heir of the first president as a Supreme Court Justice, and the firstborn son of the second as President. The tendency to make power hereditary is a disease not easily cured, and prone to cases of relapse.)

I wasn’t saying she would be unsuitable, merely that she hasn’t really engaged in competitive action to gain public office, thought she has done good work, gained a good education and comes from a great American family. That is why to avoid the possible tinge of nepotism or Bush style “buddie” family favors, she would be perhaps better off to utilize the advantages she already has (wealth, connections, name recognition, education and experience to most likely win elective office on her own merits, not by appointment. Then the appointment could be used to elevate another “deserving” candidate into a brief period of incumbency – one equally qualified as you think Caroline is, yet less likely to achieve victory without an intitial appointment.

As to your other comment:

In two months, I hope that Canada and USA are arm in arm and down the road on all progressive issues. EH?!?!? *G

Not likely, unless the co-alition representing the two thirds of Canadians who voted for anybody but Harper prevails. As long as Harper is the regressive, neo-con minority or majority Prime Minister of Canada, Canada will replace the US (post Bu$hCo) as the biggest foot dragging obstacle to progressive goals in every area. Currently Harper’s Karl Rove style PR campaign of attack, lie, smear and foster fear has Canadians willing to give him a majority – a sad comment on the pliability of the electorate by an inrresponsible and complicit media.

In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights In Action

The Right to Privacy

But dang it, someone has to get dirty, bloody and slug it out in the trenches. I like Caroline for some of that. I think she’s ready for it, too. It’s just time for people to stand up and call shit for what it is.

Obama has. *G*

May many, many more, do so, also. *G*

And Reid, Pelosi and others have failed to do so.

I’ll take ANY person, appointed or not, to shoot for the moon.

And I’ll support them till they show me they are NOT what I want.

Let the horses run . . . free. It’s time for some free range change. *G*