It seems Caroline Kennedy has decided she’d rather have a US Senate seat than a pony for Christmas:
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided she will pursue the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a person told of her decision said Monday.
The decision came after a series of deeply personal and political conversations, in which Ms. Kennedy, who friends describe as unflashy but determined, wrestled with whether to give up what has been a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight.
Ms. Kennedy will ask that Gov. David A. Paterson consider her for the appointment. The governor was traveling to Utica today could not immediately be reached for comment.
If appointed, Ms. Kennedy would fill the seat once held by her uncle, the late Robert F. Kennedy.
Ms. Kennedy has been making calls this morning to alert political figures to her interest.
Really? She’s "making calls this morning to alert political figures to her interest?" I guess it was either that or get her nails done.
Ms. Kennedy first telephoned the governor Dec. 3 to inquire about the job, but Mr. Paterson described that conversation as "informational" and said it was clear Ms. Kennedy had not decided whether she wanted to pursue the position.
But since, then, she has begun reaching out to key political figures in New York, such as Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the state Assembly, and State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. She has also hired Knickerbocker SKD, a prominent political consulting firm headed by Josh Isay, a former chief of staff to Sen. Charles Schumer, to advise her.
How about the public, huh? How about them? You know, those little people whose ordinary lives she hopes to enrich by her presence? How about getting out and talking to them? Maybe she could overcome her legendary shyness and tell people what she stands for? Now there’s a thought. What exactly does she believe in? Why does she feel she’s qualified? What does she hope to accomplish in office?
It doesn’t seem to have occurred to her that letting people know where she stands on important issues of the day should matter, or that she should have to subject herself to public questioning. At best it seems like a political afterthought — because she hasn’t troubled herself to do so.
It appears Ms. Kennedy thinks that US Senate seats are something to lobbied for amongst political elites when one decides one wants them, and that the public should be happy to simply fall in line. The fact that one has a family political machine currently in the process of steamrolling David Paterson and a famous last name should be enough for the little people.
I thought at least she’d get out before the cameras and start making her case to the public before she announced her intentions, because simply lobbying your well-connected buddies just oozes an outrageous sense of entitlement and insufferable pomposity.
I guess she’ll take entitlement for a thousand, Alex.
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Jane, You nailed it. Our Senate is looking more and more like the old Roman variety in Caesar’s time, and we know how effective it was.
Et tu, Brutus?
This is why I love you, Jane. Thanks for reminding us that we are (small “d”) democrats, as well as Democrats. Ms. Kennedy cannot even be bothered to put out an outline of her positions before she starts lobbying party elites for one of the highest offices in the land.
This is really insulting to the voters of New York, and it only invites a politically savvy Republican candidate to come in and pick up this seat next election.
Mrs Schlossberg’s contribution to the recent public discourse seems to be having vetted and recommended the blindingly obvious Joe Biden to Barack Obama as Veep. Putting her in the US Senate seems to put the seat at risk in 2010. Additionally, Mrs Schlossberg’s entitlement is in perfect contrast to Hillary Clinton’s well-received listening tour in every New York county in 2000.
Maybe Neil diamond could write another song for her?
Just let me get you a bowl of milk.
God, how many politicals are corrupt beyond the pale before running for the rarefied air of genteel corruption, as practiced in the Senate. At least Caroline has enough of the green, she might actually try to do the job of the Nation unlike Schumer.
Brutus was actually a pretty effective Senator.
I doubt very much that her friends would come forward with this public expression of interest unless Patterson were ready to appoint her.
Go Caroline!
CK is a whole lot more qualified to be appointed and then run for election in two years, than the Clintons were to be annointed and then run for election in New York. CK has accompished a helluva lot more in private/public life than HRC did before she was annointed by the Rangel control folks.
“Running” against Lazio and Spencer was a joke.
Bravo CK, us plebians in New York welcome you and are grateful. And everytime I walk through Grand Central Station and remember your mother’s efforts in saving that building, I am grateful. You have every benefit of the doubt from this voter.
For fun, read any of Gore Vidal’s books about American history; his description of the United States Senate perfectly mirrors Jane’s presentation.
“Really? She’s “making calls this morning to alert political figures to her interest?” I guess it was either that or get her nails done.”
Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Oh, I see what’s coming.
Heat up the popcorn maker.
But she doesn’t have the experience at being a gutless, do-nothing schmuck that everyone here spend hours bemoaning everyday!
i don’t have a problem with her. just bc she is a woman from a powerful family doesn’t disqualify her, imo. never met her. mebe she knows stuff? can’t be any worse than clinton.
There’s been a good bit of “why are you complaining about C. Kennedy — after all, she lives in the state – when you did not complain about Hillary “carpetbagger” Clinton? As a lifetime Upstate resident and a student of history, here are the reasons why you can’t even mention these two people in the same sentence.
First: Ms. Kennedy-Schlossberg is a new-comer to the rough and tumble of politics; she’s been living a very quiet life ‘at a certain level’ in New York City. If there is anyone who understood what she was getting into and what the stakes were for herself and the entire state of New York, it was Hillary Clinton, who had been a target of the GOP since her days as a lawyer working on Watergate. When the GOP starts going after Caroline Kennedy, what will she do – call up her Uncle Teddy?
Second: It would seem, from the timing of this announcement(vs. the ‘trial balloon’ that has been debated over the past couple of weeks)that Ms. Kennedy has basically been talking to people who will say what she wants to hear – her friends and political allies who are all from downstate, New York City, the Island or Massachusetts. The amount of “this is a really, really bad idea” stuff that has come out is obviously not being heeded by Ms. Kennedy. For her to announce NOW basically sends a message to the rest of the state that “Well, you guys upstate do not matter; I can win the state seat on my own as long as I take downstate, the Island and New York City. Tough on that.” She obviously has not done any of her homework on the “Upstate vs. Downstate” issue, which is politically huge.
Third: Hillary Clinton won the senate seat by fighting for it. She campaigned the old fashioned, hand shaking, hot dog/spiedi/Buffalo wings State Fair, visit the factories way. No one ‘gave’ it to her. As a matter of fact, I can tell you as an Upstate resident that in her first run, she was supremely disliked. There are a lot of conservative GOP areas in Upstate New York. If she had not won and then gone on to do all the work necessary to make Upstaters give her a chance at a second run, she’d have been out. She did the work – she sent the message to Upstaters that every one of their votes counted. Period. I can’t see Ms. Kennedy doing the work.
Fourth: It frankly has been Hillary Clinton’s success that has paved the way for more Democrats to be elected in Upstate areas — I’ll be blunt – having Clinton’s coattails was a godsend to Upstate Democrats. Kennedy has no coattails for Upstate because except for her name, she is not known – and I doubt that she is going to do the work necessary to make herself someone Upstaters will feel good about voting for. She will be seen as “Schumer in a skirt”.
Fifth: This really appears to be sort of a ‘lark’ for Ms. Kennedy – something to occupy her because her children are now out of the house and she might be looking to do another version of “good works”. New York State needs someone who is a senator of the entire state – that means getting your hands dirty all the time, frankly. I just don’t think she’s got the spine to accomplish anything more than occupying that seat for two years and then getting her butt whipped by someone like Rudy Giuliani or Peter King from Long Island. Fundraising is not everything and as a matter of fact, it will not get her elected.
The GOP is going to throw everything they’ve got at her in two years; we need someone who knows how to campaign, how to fundraise, and how to represent the entire state’s interests…RIGHT NOW. She does not have time to learn.
Snideness is not particularly persuasive. It’s simply annoying to read.
The Family wants the seat as Ted will be departing. It is more about them than her…tatto aside after all sge is genX.
we need someone who knows how to campaign, how to fundraise, and how to represent the entire state’s interests…RIGHT NOW. She does not have time to learn
Learn to be a gutless do-nothing? Sheeeeet,
OT. The shoe target is back. Wish he would give the money to the big 2 1/2 the shoo.
so don’t read it
Well, I guess I’d better get off my keister and start making calls. Otherwise, the Senate seat will be gone before I even get a chance to tell Governor Paterson that I’m interested in it.
What’s that? You want to know my qualifications for the office? Lessee… I’ve read the Constitution, and understand most of it, including the 1st, 4th and 5th Amendments. Is that good enough? No? Crap – oh well, I hear Illinois has an opening. Let me get my checkbook…
Well, she’s already HAD a pony…
entitlement without a doubt, but I sense it may indeed be the appropriate time for her to consider being in the Senate. Legacy deals always cut two ways: the legacy that is inferior and the legacy that is great and maybe even hampered by said legacy.
Should Carolyn be invited to serve, I hope her legacy is the latter. Personally I was impressed by her editorial support for President elect Obama. I think either she or Robert Kennedy Jr. would be fine Senators and a welcome addition to the club.
Okay. I’ll make sure that I only read things that I agree with. god knows, it’s not acceptable to disagree with Jane around here.
You have got to be kidding by your contention that no one gave the Clintons the Democratic nomination for Senate. It was engineered by Rangel, maybe he will finally be gone soon, and the Clintons then “ran” against Rick Lazio. CK’s “appoinment” is much more deserved than the “anointment” of the Clintons by Rangel. If CK cannot win election in two years so be it but I welcome her (if only for two years) in place of the worthless exercise of the Clintons in that Senate seat.
I was disagreeing with her as well!
Does she have a law degree?
This really annoys me.
I didn’t have any strong feelings one way or another on whether Caroline should get the Senate, but putting this word out and talking to the political elites about her wanting the Senate seat when no one knows what on earth she stands for is pretty much like her trying to putting out the word that she wants to collect her inheritance.
Even if she does stand for liberal values, she will be the latest addition to the insider beltway nepotistic dealings that just breed a sense of entitlement and eat away from democracy. What’s next? Vickie Kennedy will take over Ted Kennedy’s seat? That can’t happen, right?
Wow, Jane, I expected you to recoil in horror even sooner!
Whatever it is Caroline has done to fail you, Jane, get over it. This demonizing of a woman who has lived and served admirably is so small.
Go Caroline!
WaPo chat right now, with Ben Pershing, on Caroline’s news
if I’m reading Jane’s post correctly, she aint the problem – She is a symptom of the problem – insiders and entitlement – you know, the very shit that has kept the Senate Dems all but worthless to us in the last 8 years. This is part and parcel of the crap that lets a Lieberman keep his Chair.
A rather dramatic example of the Aristocracy that is the US Senate and the Intrigues that get you there
I don’t think this makes the argument you want it to.
Not true.
She received her B.A. from Radcliffe and her J.D. from Columbia Law School, after attending the Brearley School, and Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan, and Concord Academy in Massachusetts.
come on. just say what ya think. jane and me can take it.
REally? Hate “the Clintons” much? Is this something new or do you have history with Bill? My point has nothing to do with whoever engineered her getting the nomination to run or anythning else. My point is that she ran and ran hard for it. And Rudy dropped out because he was being treated for cancer, leaving the field to Lazio, who got a tremendous amount of $$ support from the GOP..and still lost.
As a former Plattsburgh NY resident I could not agree more. Hillary Clinton proved herself to the real “upstate NY”
and she served them well.
No one seems to be discussing Kennedy’s qualifications for the job. Perhaps she could start there instead of calling in favors.
ya got sometin agin catholics?
Volunteer public service by CK has been exemplary, so what I mentioned JK and GCT.
That reminds me – I wrote to Boxer when they were going to decide if HoJo could keep his committee chairs. The other day I received a nice letter from her saying that she was one of the 13 who voted not to let him keep the chairs. I am proud of her.
And now for something completely different:
http://narcosphere.narconews.c…..a-was-cool
i don’t think anyone will argue that clinton doesn’t have balls. not the point, imo.
Jane want hereto vet herself to the state and the organization in it. It is a huge job representing the in crowd of New York…it is a dirty job but bomebody has too. Could we request she stump? Get in the politcal arena and go a couple of rounds with the opposition as a warm up. Throw some positions on issues out their…woman up a little?
What was that you said about snideness? Pot meet Kettle?
I think there’s some good commenting that disagrees with jane – hayduke@22, leftdcin72@9…
So far I’m more convinced by the commenters agreeing with Jane. Maybe you’d care to make an argument regarding CK’s qualifications beyond her family legacy? Her wikipedia page caused some speculation she might do a Cheney and go for VP on Obama’s ticket… at the time commenters here felt it could possibly work (and I personally found Biden’s drug warrior bonafides to be distressing).
So how do you address the issue of CK not having done legwork in upstate?
Hell yes, JFK got our ass into Vietnam supporting Diem and all the rest of those frickin Vietnamese Catholics, and that’s just the start for me.
Her voluntary public service is exactly what we should expect from someone with her family background and educational attainment, along with her lack of a need to work for a living. It in no way qualifies her to be a US Senator.
She also interned with her Uncle Ted
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy
ya know, i’m not so sure that i believe that.
By not caring?
Is it getting a little schrill in here?
As someone said last week, might as well rename the senate the House of Lords while we are at it.
“Fifth: This really appears to be sort of a ‘lark’ for Ms. Kennedy – something to occupy her because her children are now out of the house…”
Reminds me of what our current Speaker of the House said or one of her children said about her… not a pleasant memory…
Yes, and has written a few books.
I get it, Jane. You’re throwing your weight behind Chelsea Clinton.
The Clintons did not even bother to read the NIE before voting for the Iraq War. Then HRC said if I did not like her vote, I should go find another candidate. I don’t know what you claim the Clintons did for upstate New York. But I know Columbia County pretty well and there it was nada. The Clintons have held this country back with their pandering and nonsense and I am not yet over it.
1,857 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
YOU GO WOMAN!! The appointment of Caroline without some even a pro forma attempt to address a public contituency is not only an affront to the people of New York but it’s TERRIBLE politics for the Democratic Party on so many levels that it could even threaten to crack the solid gains Democrats have made in the state since Mrs. Clinton worked so successfully to build a Democratic presense in upstate. Even if Bobby Jr. were to put himself forward it wouldn’t be as bad as Caroline playing “decider” without makin’ an effort to run it by some regular folks. This also REALLY complicates things for Patterson…I hope he shows some chops and finds either an acceptable caretaker (former Gov. Cuomo?)or jest appoints the best Democrat he ken find.
Jesus Citizen Hamsher, I sure am glad you are on OUR side…
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, LET’S STOP SNATCHIN DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY!!
Jane,
I truly hope you have opportunity to speak of this to a larger audience, and suspect you will as “foul mouth femblogger bashes CK” will prove too tempting for the media lemmings
that adorable new 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue host seems a friendly enough sort . . .
i can address that. some people do not wish to engage in politics. they only see the DUTY when there are extraordinary circumstances.
Thats the cover story did Uncle Ted ever filibuster the Senate to stop CIA trained Nun killers in South America?
Commies scare the crap out of rich folks.
Unfortunately this is an appointment and the only plebs who are even going to be considered have some sort of celebrity status. It’s doubtful that some college prof or union / community organizer or lawyer would get the nod.
If the choice had to be limited to those who have run and served, Nadler is a better choice and CK could run against him or for HIS seat when he leaves in a special election.
I think she is as qualified as anyone in the state aside from some legislators like Nadler. She’s getting the nod and even thinks about the selection because she is in the political class of elites. Jeez she spoke at the dem convention so she must be important to “someone” with “pull”.
Very interesting
That’s it bro, disagree and we’re not on OUR side. Come on now.
I got my eye on you.
If I NEVER hear another word about any Kennedy again I will be so happy. Camelot is a fairy tail best told to children before bed.
rotsta ruck
I gotta say I’m with “Sigh” on this one.
Also, please spare me the “If you don’t like it, don’t read it” treatment you gave him. That line of attack suggests all criticism is inappropriate, which is dumb.
Hurling schoolyard insults is cringeworthy reading, whether you are right or not. (”Hey Caroline: Why don’t you run and cry to your RICH MOMMY!!!!!”)
I, as much as anyone, lament the entitled aristocracy that permeates the halls of Congress. I, as much as anyone, worries about the insulated state the elites find themselves in these days.
However, trite (and for God’s sake uncreative!) insults interspersed in a blog post are, as “Sigh” expressed, boring and unpersuasive.
I’ll take Jane over starstruck bimbos like Ruth Marcus any day of the week, but I’m commenting here because whether I like it or not, you represent liberal bloggery, and I think you’re better than this.
She never added Schlossberg to her name or changed to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy
Given everything she’s done (her accomplishments are impressive) and said in her life, I’m willing to bet she’d be one of the more Liberal members of the Senate (we can never be sure how anyone will vote on every vote…Donna Edwards anyone?), and with the future President’s support along many other Senators, the chances are good IMO that she could get a lot done, and things most of us around here would be happy with. Plus, Bloomberg apparently supports CK which will help tremendously in a 2010 election.
During the primaries, I remember an analysis at one of the big blogs (Kos perhaps?) that had a run-down of Senate accomplishments in terms of legislation sponsored or co-sponorsed that was actually enacted, and Clinton’s 6 year record was embarrassing compared to Obama’s 2 year record. Sure, I’d rather a proven fire-breathing Liberal in there, but Kennedy would almost certainly be an extreme improvement over Clinton.
She wants to be a Senator? Let her move to DC and she can be our Shadow Senator. She might even be able to convince congress to give us another Senator so she could live out her dynastic dream. It would be worth it if we could get DC voting rights.
In Illinois we ask what is in it for them when a politician wants something like a Senate seat and no its not just Blago.
Now then what can Caroline do for the governor of New York? What can she do for us?
What is her stand on the issues? Can she win? Will she be another Holy Joe?
We have questions, the governor of New York has questions but thanks to Blago the Governor of New York would be a fool to ask his questions.
If we put the pressure on we might get our questions answered truthfully.
We might not.
Do we have a better candidate in mind? If we don’t then were wasting time.
Just one?
rich DEAD mommy
In an earlier thread, someone pointed out that Caroline Kennedy should be judged as an individual. I replied that this is precisely what is not happening. If she were being judged on an individual basis and not as a Kennedy, her name would not even have rated a mention.
I should say too that this is consolidating a meme I had not seen much or expected to see. We criticize Bush for making a political career out of his name and his connections, but if you are a Kennedy it’s OK. IOW, IOKIYAD or more specifically IOKIYAK.
The only choice I have been comfortable with is Andrew Cuomo, who doesn’t appear to want the job and probably wouldn’t get it from Gov Paterson. None of the others seem to have the name to win statewide except CK. And none seem to have the stones to stand up for what is right for NY and the US except Cuomo. Cheesy Chuck Schumer would have the rest of the bunch in his pocket in 5 minutes.
better than what? there is nothin snide goin on here. people just don’t like her and that takes form in all kinds of expression. what is your opinion?
The solution is invite her to the lake..but send a list of questipns that limit the discussion on stay on topic. Be your polite and respectful selves. Since I think manners are used to manipulate issues I will respectfully demur. Name the the post “The Progressive Tatto acid teat”…or “What we want to know about your position on 5 key issues…women’s right, economic policy, climate change as it related to energy policy and internet equality.
Citizen Raven:
Touche…I will respond by sayin’ that I admire Sister Jane’s “stones” to go after an icon through a reasoned argument that has at least some connection to a concept of “democracy” and a hint of distrust of aristocracy. Whether we agree with her or not, Citizen Jane IS on OUR side… she doesn’t shill and she uses her voice to stimulate thought BEFORE action.
In her position of power, she sometimes steps over the line but I think she has the honesty to admit it…and in this case she’s NOT stepped over the line, she’s raisin’ legitimate arguments that should be addressed.
Look Brother Raven, I’ve been on the receivin end of Hamsher’s blade…I know how painful it is but she’s still on OUR side.
sure, why not. get her here.
I like and respect CK a lot but that does not mean that she would be a great Senator. It’s not my state and not my call. Have to wait and see.
I doubt she would have to stoop to making this public declaration is Patterson was already in the bag to appoint her.Nope, this is her pressuring patterson
I have written this stuff before but Caroline Kennedy was essentially a legacy entrant into Harvard. Her name had to be a primary reason why she got into Columbia Law as well. She did pass the NY and DC bars so that is something. But essentially all of her career to date has been in Kennedy sponsored or Kennedy connected organizations. In the few where this was not the case, again it seems the Kennedy name was the primary entry card for her.
We decry those who were born on third base and think they hit a triple when they are Republicans. What is the rationale for not doing this with Democrats?
i don’t know about her either but I don’t like to trash people i don’t know. that’s all.
I think we’re conflating two things here … the first point, should the Gov. be able to just appoint a replacement is reasonable but Caroline did not make this rule up.
Like many here, I wanted another strong, smart New Yorker to be Senator but Looseheadprop refused … *g*
Hiya LHP, see my comment @ 80 … it’s all your fault ! *g*
How is this lobbying going over with New Yorkers? Do they see it as arrogant or are they wowed by another Kennedy?
How do you know that all the schools were legacy? Do you have inside info? Maybe she’s really smart. Should she be denied Harvard and Columbia BECAUSE her name is Kennedy. Sounds like reverse discrimination to me.
Did she get Gentlemen’s C’s
After having Bush as President that is a very legit question to ask.
do you have a point?
Mr Cuomo needs to explain $59 billion from HUD while he headed that little piggybank.
That should be $59 billion MISSING from HUD….
Do you realize how silly that sounds? Just substitute Bush, Yale, and Harvard. Would it be reverse discrimination then?
Because her professional and personal histories show that she’s often tried to use her name to help others, rather than simply profit for herself. Considering she can’t help what family she’s born into, and that she has accomplished quite a bit in her life, she’s earned some respect from me.
Her father and uncle gave their lives “serving” their country. She herself was a survivor of an attempted car bomb attack. Yet, here she is trying to become a Senator. It would be so easy for her to simple “have her nails done” all day, everyday, and instead she’s hoping to serve state despite knowing all too well how ugly it can get. That’s cool.
Ok she should have gone to Boulder and then U of D law school.
After Bush any Legacy from the Ivy league is now suspect. I’m not saying she is as dumb as Bush but if she rode to Harvard on the same small school bus as Bush you have to wonder.
Yes. Would you like to answer my question? Is there a rationale for praising Democrats and criticizing Republicans when they both are doing the same thing?
Sometimes you’re going to disagree with a moral, logical or factual aspect of the argument. Sometimes you’re going to disagree with the way the issue is being argued. I am doing the latter.
The left is at an amazing moment right now. The American public is on our side. We have an enormous opportunity to set a tone of inclusiveness, to not be dismissive of the views of the center right. Or we can take our cues from the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, of (gasp!) Olbermann and (at times) Maddow.
The right will always have the advantage of not being restrained by morality, of having the will to do what the other guy won’t. The Left will always have the advantage of being on the right side. But being right is not enough.
My problem with Jane’s post is that it is overly hostile*, and lazily written. Seriously, “getting a pony for Christmas” and “getting your nails done”? Is it possible to resort to a lower level of tired cliche-dom?
* And we’re all against entitlement of the upper class. We don’t have to sacrifice Ms. Kennedy upon that alter though. I don’t expect her to outline her positions before she officially declares her candidacy (or whatever a candidacy is called in this case). It seems she deserves a little more of the benefit of the doubt. In my mind that means criticism and skepticism, yes, but I don’t think she has earned such petty name-calling thus far.
Look did she have the scores to get in or is she a legacy? I have nothing against rich people who study.
Its rich people who buy something I earned the hard way thinking that they are as good as me that bugs me.
After Bush we should get rid of legacies colleges should not have to rely on passing rich morons to get funding.
Yes, it would. Nobody should be denied college BECAUSE of their name. Bush is dumb and stupid and probably didn’t earn his way into any college but you don’t know about her. One thing is not like another. You can’t just say stuff about people when you don’t know if it’s true. I am not pushing her for Senator. Frankly, it is the least of my worries right now.
granted, the shrub has changed everyone’s opinion about education. i don’t mind the questioning but not all people are like that. please keep an open mind.
nope. that was yer point?
It’s not that I refused, it’s that I don’t think David Patterson had me on his list for evena nano second.
Thanks for the compliment.
Sorry if I seem harsh I do like vetting people good and bad. Right now I don’t feel I know enough.
yes, sir. you are quite correct.
me too. thanks.
The left side of the blogosphere is supposed to be the fact based one. Yet here we have someone whose public life is being played up even though supposedly it was played up that in fact she had no public life and wished to stay away from public life. We say it is bad and anti-democratic that someone like Bush can make a career out of his family name and his connections but these criticisms don’t apparently apply if one has Kennedy in one’s name.
Bush was a legacy into Yale but Kennedy is not to be considered a legacy into Harvard. Bush waltzed into the Presidency and that is a bad thing but Caroline Kennedy waltzing into a Senatorship is a good thing. And on and on. There is nothing logical, fact-based, democratic, or fair in any of this. It is just some aristocrats you like and others you don’t.
I don’t know. I think very highy of Ms. Kennedy. I think she is a class act. Or at least I thought so until this week. Last week when she was floating the trial balloon, there was a ton of blowback. I expected she would, therfore, take the high road and quietly drop out or let the psecualtion fade away.
Instead she is now raising the stakes to pressure Patterson. I’m surprised by that, and not in a good way–though it shows a bare knuckles kinda moxie I was not prepared for.
The thing is, Kennedy has done bupkus for the NYS Dem party or for local dems. Now, a group of people that has been working it’s ass off tryng to make this state solidly blue and exporting cmapaign contributions, election lawyers, and policy wonks, is just supposed to STFU because “she ahs an interest”?
I’m sorry, but at least the other names on the short list are all people who have toiled in the vineyards of NYS politics. Help[ed other candiate besides themselves and earned their stripes.
Hillary spent a year doing her leitenign otur to earn her chops.
Yes, let us not know what a politician stands on anything because that’s just not post-political. Silly me that I thought that it was actually important for a would be politician to actually let us know, but you are right we should trust Caroline because trusting Bush has worked out so well.
That is not what anyone said. I don’t know whether or not CK would be a good Senator but your remarks are pointed and personal. You seem to think that she couldn’t possibly have gotten into those colleges unless her name was Kennedy and I don’t think you can prove that.
these people should just propose non-elective hereditary senate seats…. like Senator for Life Pinochet. It’s really not a big leap
okay. i will agree that it is a little late for her to express an interest. bad girl.
Got the same letter on Friday last.
Despite her ‘heroic’ stand on this issue of HOJO, she’s caved on all the other issues with the dems.
Babs Boxer is not a progressive anymore . . . no more than Nana Pelosi or Di Sci Fi.
They all gotta go along with Reid, sooner than later, if we want to turn back the clock on the past 8 years worth of damage done to rights, constitution and humans dead due to our interventionist catastrophe’s.
I fail to see the point in time at which she is supposed to have declared her views. BEFORE she has publicly expressed interest? Please read what I say. I’m all for skepticism. Just not for unfounded animosity and petty name-calling.
Here we have a political system that is rotten to the core. It is completely owned by Big Money. It is run by a small number of “political” families who are wealthy and remain insulated from the needs and concerns of ordinary Americans. But suddenly when it’s a Kennedy, all bets are off. Suddenly all of the things that we hated about Bush and his being a product of that system are to be thrown aside. Suddenly a Kennedy at Harvard is no longer as obvious a legacy as a Bush at Yale. All I am asking of you is to be consistent. Either apply the same standards to them both or do away with them for both. I don’t see how you can have it both ways, bad for Bush but good for Kennedy.
I dont know what Jane has against Caroline Kennedy, but if she has any values of her mother and father I am all for her. She certainly can’t be any worse than Schumer(who gave us Mukasey), Lieberman, Dodd, Reid. Need I go on, I am sure she would like to keep her Father’s and uncles legacy going.
Wouldn’t the New York legislature be wise to pass a law calling for a special election, considering the current governor was not elected to the position?
With a culture and corporate media addicted to celebrity over substance then it makes sense that the member of a politicaly elite family be appointed. Who cares what her positions are? As long as she’s a celebrity that’s good enough for the corporate media.
Doode, we have seen ample evidence of Boosh’s curricular record and lack of achievement, along with his failures in business, military service, etc. That’s a pretty damned good indicator of what his family entitlement gave him.
I’ve not seen any evidence of that sorts, or at that level, published about Caroline Kennedy.
As such, yer tooting a shrill horn, as are many.
Where is there name calling? I’m asking for evidence. It is what we do around here. Kennedy expressed her interest a week or two ago. She did so again today, despite this not being her call. It is the Governor’s of New York. She has already intruded into the process in a very public way. Why is it not time for her to express her views on the issues? If this were Republicans acting in this fashion we would be all over them and rightly so. But because it is a Kennedy all of a sudden different rules apply. I don’t buy it.
Look at it this way and staying corporate, the Kennedy brand has not damaged like the Bush brand.
If we have one rule for Democrats and another for Republicans, then we are no better than they are.
After more than a few posts of repeating your same position, you continue to fail to demonstrate the standards that CK has failed. We HAVE the skinny on the Boosh. Where’s the info on CK? You just can’t continue to rail AGAINST CK, on your basis of STANDARDS, when you have failed to prove CK has FAILED those standards.
It’s just not good form, chap. If yer gonna call for rules to judge, then show us the evidence for your position.
Sure are a lot of disgruntled progressives in here . . . and Obama ain’t even been sworn in . . .
I’d think the GOP, the MIC, corp oligarchy’s and our elected officials who have PROVEN THEMSELVES (Reid/Pelosi et al) to be a part of the elites FOR the elites would be a more reasonable target.
Harumph.
One Question In New York isn’t Cuomo also a legacy name.
I’m a friend of the family’s and knew Caroline and John growing up. She’s hardworking, smart, pleasant, compassionate. Aside from the benefits of wealth, which it seems all politicians inherit or marry anyway, her motivations strike me as somewhere between benign and benificent. And you failed to lobby for an alternative candidate. Is Fran Drescher to be preferred?
That she has not spent her life inside the might have been considered a virtue, had you woken up on the other side of the bed.
Additionally, Ms.Kennedy has a right to have her nails done. Just think of the scandal were she not to.
Finally, her name is not Schlossberg.
How about you wait until she stakes out positions you find inhospitable before you rip her a third one. At this point she’s interested in a Senate where she’ll not need many introductions. I can think of greater sins among 95 or so of the co-workers she’ll likely put to shame.
It’s just not good form, chap. If yer gonna call for rules to judge, then show us the evidence for your position.
No, no, and no. It is not for me to prove anything about Caroline Kennedy. It is Caroline Kennedy’s to prove to us and she flat out hasn’t. What I am saying is that if the Governor of New York was a Republican and her name was Caroline Bush not Caroline Kennedy pretty much everyone who is lining up behind her now would be doing the opposite. Everyone who is all for not asking questions would be demanding answers. Everyone who is putting the best face on how she got into Harvard and Columbia would be mentioning legacy, nepotism, and favoritism all over the place. It is always jarring to me to see us in the progressive blogosphere to criticize for years what we have seen Republicans do and then when Democrats do the very same thing, suddenly it becomes OK. We are either reason and fact based or we are just partisans like at Red State.
just partisans, nooooooo, not here! give me a break
I think Caroline cut Jane off in traffic. Or failed to hold an elevator for her.
Apparently career politicians are way cool now.
She’s 51 years old for goodness sake. Isn’t it a little late not to have positions on the issues? Shouldn’t someone who wants to be a Senator already have told us what his/her positions are?
This is what is so bizarre about this whole situation. All the usual questions and concerns no longer apply. Suddenly it is for us to prove that CK is unworthy, not for her to show that she is.
Ding! That’s why I think this whole thing is such bullshit, like the rest of those fucking clowns in congress did something special to get there/
all the usual questions by all the non-partisan geniuses.
There fixed it for you.
Shouldn’t that be “There, fixed it for you.”?
That’s right. So if we want more like them, then we should continue doing things as we have and select, not on the basis of qualification or stands on the issues, but whether or not we like the political family.
I agree with the premise that Caroline is not experienced with the heavy hitters. I would prefer her to the other senator in NY that is too experienced with the heavy hitters and has far too much related baggage. Caroline doesn’t come off at first glance as someone that owes anyone any favors. That represents power to her constituents instead of handlers. How refreshing. Naive, perhaps. But things are changing rather fast.
What is going to be important in these next few years? The folks that know all the big players? Not likely. We need people that just may have the guts to stand up for us. I have never noted anything but failed opportunities to shine from the recent senators NY. They have offered a lot of useless talk, and very little action. We need to stop considering third best acceptable. It would be nice to have representatives that aren’t involved with criminal activity, even if it is argued that it is the “political” type of arm twisting, the quid, the pro, the quo, and Chicago.
I don’t want any more business as usual. Does anyone?
who’s “we”?
Yeah, maybe Jane could persuade Robert Byrd to carpetbag up to NY and throw his hat in the ring.
W certainly was not admitted to the Univ of TX Law School. That makes his passing a bar exam very dubious. Caroline obviously met that test. No reason to think she could not have gotten into good schools on her own; education was very important to her mother who was pretty disciplined with her kids. She was very concerned b/c John Jr. apparently had learning problems. I see no reason to think Caroline’s academic achievements are suspect, including books she has written.
Yeah, Bush is not a lawyer. But don’t forget, Abu Gonzales is a Harvard Law grad and presumably passed the Texas bar exam.
Couric covering the story…
If Ms. Hamsher’s critique of Ms. Kennedy’s apparent sense of entitlement sounds a little meowwy, perhaps it’s from standing post on the walls of the Democrats’ Alamo for so long, and getting nothing in return except slams from the Party and the MSM about “some”, “lefty” “bloggers”. I’d like to see Mr. Isikoff, for one, or Mr. Brooks, start and run his own business, or lead where others fear to tread.
Ms. Kennedy owes her would be constituents a full hearing on why she thinks she would be qualified and capable of being New York state’s senator. Among those who run for that job, wealth, renown and degrees from Harvard and Columbia are a dime a dozen.
The state overall has a reputation for being corrupt (Albany) as well as progressive (downstate). Where does Ms. Kennedy stand on those two scales? Is she as pro environment as her cousin Robert Jr? Is she as pro universal health care as her uncle Teddy? Does her Columbia law degree tell her why Mukasey has enshrined Gonzales and Rove’s corruption of the DOJ, and why Holder is less of a pick than the job requires?
Does she know why the swells in Rochester might tell her to take a hike as readily as why her chums on the upper East Side would come to her assistance? Will she fight for Joe Sixpack or Joe Lieberman?
Ms. Kennedy appears photogenic, charming and caring. She appears more responsible than some of her cousins and their hangers on. She may well have a good story to tell about why her life has prepared her to carry on in the political tradition of her father and uncles. But she can’t have it because daddy left it to her as if it were the family compound in Hyannis Port. She owes it to her fellow New York staters to tell it, or quit the field.
More to the point that W could not get into Law School…Gonzalez may have had some smarts…I don’t know. He’s clearly lacking in character.
Here’s a start on CK’s bio and accomplishments:
http://www.foxnews.com/politic…..e-kennedy/
Choice bits:
…
– Attended Radcliffe College (now part of Harvard) for her undergraduate work.
– Interned for the New York Daily News and worked in the summers as a political intern for her uncle Ted Kennedy.
– In 1979, earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
…
- Began serving as the president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
…
– Graduated from Columbia Law School in 1988.
– In 1989, the young lawyer stayed busy by establishing the Profile in Courage Awards, which honors elected officials who have shown political courage, and beginning research on her first book.
– In 1991, Kennedy co-wrote “In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action” with fellow law graduate Ellen Alderman.
– In 1994, Caroline’s mother passed away after a long battle with lymphatic cancer. As a tribute to her mother’s work in the arts, Caroline took on Jacqueline’s role as the honorary chairperson at the American Ballet Theatre.
– Kennedy co-wrote another book entitled The Right to Privacy in 1995.
…
– In 2000, she agreed to become a speaker at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
– In 2001 in honor of her late mother, Kennedy helped create “The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.” She has served as editor for two other anthologies: “Profiles in Courage for Our Time” (2002) and “A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems and “Speeches Every American Should Know” (2003).
– From 2002-2004, Kennedy served as chief executive for the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Department of Education where she helped raise more than $65 million in private support for the New York City public schools
…
– Kennedy currently serves as a member of the national board of directors for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the vice-chair for the Fund for Public Schools in New York City, chief executive for the New York City Department of Education Office of Strategic Partnerships and still serves as an honorary chairman of the American Ballet Theatre.
In my humble effort to connect the dots, I’d say CK knows how to identify and deal with “heavy hitters” as well as the middle and blue-collar people her service has benefited. I don’t know how she reacts to being heckled during a speech, but I’m sure she’s met a few boors in her time.
Is there a document somewhere that explains what someone “owes” New Yorkers? And after you find it tell Hillary filled it out.
A New York Times op-ed on the subject “Why I Want To Be Your Senator” is clearly called for. She needs to make her views known on a whole host of issues, some of them controversial, before anyone decides she should be a Senator.
Calling around to a bunch of political bosses to express one’s desire for the job is not the way to start. Appealing to one’s would-be constituents, with reasoned arguments for one’s candidacy, is a better way.
Who flunked the Arkansas bar exam because she was not disciplined enough to study for an easy bar exam?
I think Earl of Huntington has something there…
I believe you have mentioned this in the past but seriously, WHY do you hate BOTH of the Clintons with so much passion that you can believe that all the evil of the world resides within them? What did they do to you for you to hate them so passionately?
We are all owed good and fair representation by those we elect. We seldom get it. We will not get it by continuing to foster the current system of favoritism and connections. I have never much liked Clinton but she did at least work to become Senator and won an election. Caroline Kennedy wants it given to her, not for her record in public life because she doesn’t by her own admission have one, not based on her stands on the issues because she hasn’t announced any. She wants it and feels she deserves it for no discernible reason other than that she is Caroline Kennedy.
Baloney, Hillary’s a skunk.
Kennedy will have to prove herself like anyone else wanting the seat. Getting her nails done? Where the hell does the that comment come from? The still bitter Clinton 08 loser closet?
WTF gives here?
Every senate and congressional candidate owes it to their would be constituents to tell them what their priorities are, to reveal their full record, and to be judged on the gaps between what they say and do. We castigate Bush daily on this site for doing none of those things. Ms. Clinton, by comparison, actually ran an exhausting campaign for the senate and won votes in the most anti-Clinton parts of the state. Ms. Kennedy made a few phone calls.
Ms. Kennedy is certainly well connected among global monied families, including “society” in New York. That’s not the issue. The issue is whose interests would she pursue and how hard, should the governor or the voters of New York send her to Washington.
I agree that Ms. Kennedy is doing what every would be candidate does when wooing his or her governor, who has a congressional seat to fill by fiat. I think Jane unfairly singles her out for doing that. If she gets the appointment, it proves how well-connected she is. It illustrates a flaw in American democracy, not a virtue, if she gets it without telling her story. It would also suggest her lack of political expertise, since telling her story now would seem essential to winning her election in the next cycle.
Making those calls and pulling the strings she has available to her is precisely how to get the governor to appoint her. The question is why does she want it, what would she do with it, and would she help or hinder the causes many on this site espouse, which include a more robust and open government, not a more closed one ruled by dynasties of the left or right.
Agreed that this seems like entitlement from a member of a political dynasty. I wrote a similar piece on it at the CA NOW blog last week.
Bonkers has a good link here it is well worth the read!
Newshour is going to have a piece on the senate seats in NY & MN…
i have a lot of respect for al, but that has got to be the worst post of his i’ve ever read:
no. it’s not about which dynasty.
So it seems Kennedy is tough and knows how to play the political games after all? Good to know…
Few seem to recognize that the NY Senate seat is just as much as pay-to-play as the IL one (where the real problem wasn’t the pay-to-play element, it was that Blago had the crazed balls to not just roll over and appoint who Rahm ordered him to).
The huge, upfront payoff in NY was Uncle Ted’s crucial endorsement of Obama in the heat of the primary.
(A secondary payment came in the form of Caroline’s personal support.)
It’s unlikely that the MSM will note this essential similarity, however. Far more probable they’ll take the opportunity to polarize and use the demonizing of Blagojevich in Illinois to further deify the incoming Administration and their preferred candidate.
sigh…
What did the Clintons do for you that you like them so much?
Nice answer to my question but since you ask, they didn’t do that much for me but they also didn’t do anything too me to make me hate them with the passion that you exhibit.
I ask again, why do you hate both Clintons with such a white hot passion? Why do you feel that they are the root of all the evils of the universe?
It appears that you’re missing the context. Al would certainly prefer a radical leftist, but he was merely discussing current possible candidates within the political dynamics of today, at least that’s how I read this and most of Al’s writings.
Funny, as I can’t explain it, but I think this is one of the most unpleasant threads we have produced. I’ve known for a long time the Clintons do that to folks…but this seems new. So?
So, she has made it known that she wants the seat. Others that want it have surely passed the word as well. The question is; would she be a good Senator? We know she is smart, well educated and accomplished. But, is she a good adovcate for New Yorkers?
ah, i was assuming the context was the topic of jane’s post.
Be honest, Jane – if Caroline had endorsed HRC in the primary, would you be writing this?
For those who are concerned abot CK’s views I’d suggest a perusal of her books on the Bill of Rights and the Right to Privacy.
That might be informative. After all, this would be a test we’d likely advance to a Conservative (or a progressive) we like.
Here are a couple of reviews to In Our Defense:Thge Bill of Rights In Action
Cases discussed in “In Our Defense”
Amazon has a slew of reviews on it, as it is frequently assigned in College pre-law and government classes.
Yer swerving in my lane now hoss, veering one way or another.
First you attack CK for no creds, and accuse her of the same transgresses in her life as Booshie. Without showing her stats, or her record, to back up your claim she’s not worthy.
Now, yer claiming a position of general theory, and avoiding yer original precept of dissin CK for a LACK of cred, which you have not proven. Or discussed, or shown.
Now, it’s HER fault yer getting taken to task for YOUR points raised in here cuz SHE hasn’t revealed her creds in pursuit of the senate seat.
You haven’t even linked a wiki to show her creds are weak and she was cruising thru life like a Booshie, coked out and avoiding the military and destroying baseball teams and entire states in the process.
*TWEET* Yer busted, Hugh. *G* You can’t have it both ways.
Just admit it and we’ll all walk away saner and with a bit less hubris on all our parts.
The rest of you progressives, with yer hands on the quickie draw trigger of the politics of our days, please.
Chill the fuck out, Obama’s got this. CK’s got this.
Can we elect him, and appoint CK, and watch them in office before you folks jihad them to a hell of self martyred condemnation you conjure up like some kind of progressive rightousness that don’t fit your lefty like mold?
There’s room on the left for us all . . . . but yer tossing babies AND bathwater folks. And it ain’t even Saturday night.
Sigh. Who woulda thought the progressive and left leaning elites would help to fracture this stuff so bad. No WONDER our politicos dont get held feets to fire, we’re too busy hanging our own.
Harumph.
Doode, if the phrellin Governor of Nueva Yorka was a Repuglican and she was Caroline Boosh I’d be digging for the facts of her failures, the facts of the Gov’s failures, and publishing and bitching and kvetching and whining all ABOUT that stuff . . . . you, so far, not so much. Cry uncle, will ya, for cryin out loud.
Nice buttin heads with ya, I need to let it go . . . *G*
I just can’t seem to reach thru the elitism I’m up against on this and Obama and his picks. It’s as bad as what all you so called progressives complain about the beltway elitists. In fact, it’s downright hilarious to read as progressives take to task the elite they actually live in, come from and wallow within.
If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect all you critical elitists of being jealous and bitter yer NOT fully inside the beltway and schmozzing and profiting from all THEIR elites . . . cuz that’s how it reads. *G*
I’ll go back to the masses and the REAL DFH’s I know who actually throw down and argue like a good lefty would. *G*
And while I’m at it, FYFY one time for Steve Gilliard. *smilessweetly*
Ahhhh . . . another voice of sanity in the deluge of elitism that threatens to drown us all on the left. Thank you for your voice, Raven, too, and all others with a modicum of decency of understanding that maybe, just PHREALLIN MAYBE, we are seeing an end time to the horrid elitism that’s been foisted upon us.
A chance, that’s all I want. Obama, and the likes of a CK, they offer that chance.
A little change at a time is better than a lifetime of the Dulles Brothers, MIC, Corporate Deregulation, anti unionism, and the destruction of the middle class, our social services systems, our education systems, and so much more we’ve lost since Nixon and Reagan and the Booshies Cabal.
Just a little change, in a time of our DARKEST HOURS, which are upon us.
Just a little change. That’s all I ask. Is some hope for the future.
I don’t ask for our own progressive brothers and sisters to hack us up over shit before the change we’ve set in motion has a chance to even get sworn in and DO things.
Sigh. Bless ya RB, Raven, and you others, for your voices of sanity. *G*
So, now we should prevent our elected officials from becoming corrupt, by only electing the wealthy?
What? Jane’s “I guess it was either that or get her nails done” isn’t enough for you?
Caroline Kennedy is a lot like Nancy Pelosi really; scion of a famous political family, married to a wealthy man, a socialite.
Pelosi AT LEAST started by running for House of Representatives. There are only l00 Senators in the whole damn country. Obama started in the state legislature. There is NO reason for a wealthy celebrity who’s not been involved in politics even behind the scenes (as Pelosi was) to DENY this seat to heroic and hard-working politicians who deserve their chance.
OK. I’m in the throes of Obama happiness. I’ve just bought Ebony and Essence for the first time in my life so I could read the pieces on Michelle and Barack Obama, our new President and First Lady.
Caroline Kennedy gives me the same sense of hope and potential happiness as thinking about Obama as President. In fact, I can’t help thinking beyond Senator to perhaps the time that Kennedy decides to run for President.
Hillary Clinton did not win the Presidency. She got herself a kick ass job anyway–she’s going to be Sec of State. Don’t cry for her, she’s fine. Always was, always will be.
Caroline Kennedy has some of the qualities Obama has, one of them being she hasn’t spent decades in government–good for her.
Amen, Larue.
What a thread
I like Caroline Kennedy and think she would make a good, liberal senator. Just sayin’.
I’m late to the party, as usual, but I have to say that I don’t agree with you, Jane. This Senate seat will be filled by appointment. No matter who ends up filling it, that person will have gotten there via political influence. In that circumstance, I don’t think the country will do much better than Caroline Kennedy. Here’s what I wrote on this subject tonight.
Another late comer..(to the party/thread that is)
I love you Janie, but here’s my take on CK…
CK would be an excellent choice.
She will be a huge draw in NY.
She would destroy Giuliani.
She has Bloomberg’s support
The media loves the idea of another Kennedy.
This Kennedy we don’t have to worry about (I hope)
She’ll make tons of money for the party.
She loves BHO and he, her.
She’s a guaranteed vote for any BHO initiative.
And for those respected progressives like yourself who have doubts…
CK would have to run again in just 2 years…If she lacks the political skin, skills, voting record or credentials, at that time she could be challanged.
And lastly, it’s my understanding that she would have to run again in another 2 years after that for the full Senate term.
Sounds like a good enough progressive safety valve for me.
Go Caroline!
This is exactly the type of thing our founders worried about. Today,you have to be Rich,Famous or both to get into high office. I looked for CKS political positions and found none.hum…
At first I liked the idea,but after thinking about it awhile,I have more and more doubts. I hope I’m wrong.
Perhaps before one could be appointed to political ( giveaway ) office, it should be required that a person hold or had held at least ONE elected office first. At least then the PUBLIC would have a record to look at!