Caroline Kennedy Paterson's Choice: Officials

The AP reports that officials are saying Caroline Kennedy will be New York's next senator:

Officials say the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy will be the governor's choice to fill the New York Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Two people close to Gov. David Paterson tell The Associated Press they believe Caroline Kennedy will be his choice, but the governor cautions he's still looking.

"The AP story is incorrect," Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield said in response. "There is no front-runner, and the governor is not on the verge of any decision."

On Thursday, the governor disputed reports that he would hire a "caretaker" to keep the seat warm until the 2010 election.

Speaking to reporters at the Executive Mansion Thursday, Paterson said he intends to select someone with long-term interest in the job, not someone who would simply hold the seat until a special election next year.

Picking a caretaker, he said "would cause New York to lose seniority. And in the United States Senate, the most effective senators are the ones who have seniority. So I'm hoping the person I select wins the primary."

Read more about Caroline Kennedy here.

Comments

[mieoux]

I want Andrew Cuomo for Senator. Picking Kennedy would be a wast of a senate seat. In these times the Kennedy name doesn't mean anything to most people, especially people under age 40 - the name just doesn't do anything for us. Carolyne should focus on throwing dinner parties and stop stressing us out with the threat of Upper East Side Kennedy being appointed Senator. Carolyne is no Hillary! Even Sarah Palin would be better.

[dr-steve-pesyk]

Caroline for Senator or Ambassador? I endorse her. I admit both my jealousy and
stolid admiration for Caroline. I speak with the authority of being there.

In the Hills of New England, the Kennedy's were our gracious neighbors - along with Doris
Duke, John DeLorean, Elizabeth Taylor, The King of Morocco, and Malcolm Forbes.
("Uncle Mel" started my first bank account).

Caroline's mom, Jackie, set the example for her children in our town on Ravine Lake.
Caroline was an equestrian at the local track grounds - and an avid tennis player too.
Those bucolic halcyon days of yore were the early foundation.

Now Caroline is a true champion of human rights. Obama says, " ... rights are not subject to
review by any court... ". One should read Caroline's books, "In Our Defense : The Bill of Rights
in Action" (1999); and, "The Right to Privacy" (2008).

My family are descendants of both Myles Standish and author William Blake. Our family has two Senators in Washington. I know "success". I personally funded the earliest drives for the
Obama movement of "change" when I attended Northwestern University. I also originated
and designed the "Intel Inside" logo - known throughout the world - so I verily speak with
authority on the subject of success...

Caroline will bring both change and a rare renaissance of understanding to her new position
in office - whether it is as Senator or Ambassador ...
Caroline is a true living patriot among us, from the Hills of

[AN2009]

Haha!

[meko]

So 36% of Americans prefer someone other than Caroline Kennedy appointed to the senate seat. They feel that way, even though most have never heard the names of the congressional reps being floated as alternatives. This preference is pretty striking. I don't think it's so terrible that people in Iowa and Nebraska haven't heard of NY Congressional Reps, to be honest, I don't think many outside of their states, or even their districts know the names of their reps. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013618626

The numbers are even worse for the people who are supposed to be represented by the NY senate seat: http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/01/06/caroline-kennedy-losing-favor-with-new-york-voters-in-bid-to-fill-senate-seat-of-hillary-clinton.html

Nevertheless, this unattributed article sits at the top of the page. Another bit of brinkmanship from the Kennedy PR machine.

[americanalien]

The Kennedys and Clintons are adored by average New Yorkers, only extremists dislike them. We want Caroline to be our senator.

[1Marie23]

Yes, we must accept that New York has exceptional taste, you know.....!

[swiss-ski]

What a surprise. Patterson did what he was told to do.

[meko]

This Kennedy adoration really isn't borne out by the latest polls.

She's weaker against King than Cuomo: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NY_106.pdf

She's been getting more negative ratings from New Yorkers: http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/01/06/caroline-kennedy-losing-favor-with-new-york-voters-in-bid-to-fill-senate-seat-of-hillary-clinton.html

It's easy to like someone in the abstract, but then be very bothered if they appear to be getting a job that they're not qualified for. I have friends whom I love dearly, but I wouldn't necessarily hire them. I certainly wouldn't hire them when others have more relevant experience and a record of achievements.

[Lane4411]

Well, "you know", she is quiet apealing. "You know", not sure of her depth and understanding of the relevent issues, "you know".

Well, "you know", that she may not "know".

Not sure i know, "you know"

[swiss-ski]

you know, I agree, you know.

[DubiousAtBest]

She had the same qualifications as Hillary did ....."You know"?

[meko]

Interesting that this since-contradicted and still unsubstantiated AP piece remains at the top of the page, but that after 3 hours there is nothing on HuffingtonPO about how Caroline Kennedy's poll numbers have plummeted since her PR campaign began.

[ejhickey]

The best case for Kennedy a NY Senator can be found at

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/12/senora-kennedy-is-make-very-good-senator.html

[TIMLHOWE]

plummeted !

shes down 2 to 1 against Cuomo.

44% have a lower opinion of her now than they did b4.

shes toast, of course the royalists dont wanna talk about this.

[Beachrunner]

'Or maybe Kennedy could call Michael Levine, a publicist who specializes in celebrity overexposure. Levine met Kennedy at a book-signing, and remembers that she had “a warmth that would make a Frigidaire proud.” '

[FedUp60]

What was wrong with Andrew Cuomo? I think Caroline needs to find out quickly that the Kennedy name isn't always going to get you your way. She has a very nonvibrant personality.

[zwanzig]

I believe, caroline Kennedy would be govenor patteson's best choice to become the next senator of new york. It's not a belief, but , it is a feeling, that, we as new yorkers, we as a nation, owe it to the kennedy family & too caroline kennedy in particular to be seated in that vacant seat.

[TIMLHOWE]

owe it to the kennedy family .....?

[meko]

This is why America needs an equivalent position to an Earl or a Baronet. We could give titles to people when their parents die in the service of the nation and then we wouldn't have to give them government jobs later because they'd have already received their rewards for their parents' service.

[ejhickey]

"It's not a belief, but , it is a feeling..." Certainly not a thought.

[swiss-ski]

Oh please get me a box of kleenex, how touching, but BS!

[troika]

I know this response is a little too late, nevertheless I would like to throw in my two cents. First of all zwanzig, I do not understand why we owe it to the Kennedy family as a nation to put in Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg as a senator. What has she done in particular that the whole nation has to come forward and support her? If she has done something for the local schools then she should be the superintendent of schools or any other local position. There is no birth right here because of her family's name. Secondly, this is a woman who had not voted in any elections for quite some time and as I understand did not even vote for Sen. Clinton when she ran for the same. This being true why is she wanting to become the senator? In my view citizens who have not voted in ELECTIONS have no right to run for any position. Thirdly, there are many other more qualified and more experienced candidates who can be seated as a senator. The reason that she would be able to raise millions of dollars in fundraisers is DEFINITELY NOT A QUALIFICATION to be chosen as a senator. If she wants that position that bad, then she should run for it in 2012 than expecting to be seated in by Gov. Patterson. The Governor should not look out for his own political career and be coerced to seat her as the senator from New York.

[TIMLHOWE]

Future magic unicorn senator Caroline Kennedy was the only New York City employee who got to avoid disclosing her assets when she worked for the schools. That's right: Kennedy was privileged.

Granted, that surprises basically no one, since Kennedy's last name and family privilege is the only reason she's looking for a job she's utterly unqualified to hold.

Kennedy was apparently the only person in the entire city government who got to aboid filing a 32-page personal financial disclosure form. Even Bloomberg, who like Kennedy earned only $1 per year in salary, had to disclose his assets. Kennedy's two top deputies had to disclose. Two other top officials with nominal salaries had to disclose. Kennedy got pass.

How? The city keeps changing its answer:

City officials have most often pointed to Ms. Kennedy’s decision to accept $1-a-year in salary. More recently, Joel I. Klein, chancellor of schools, explained that she was ultimately exempt from the requirement because the department did not deem her to be a “policymaker.”

The Times has been hammering Kennedy on this issue. It already mentioned her pass from the city in a story two weeks ago, in which Kennedy refused to make detailed financial disclosures to the Times itself.

The only trouble? No one is alleging that Kennedy has any ill-gotten riches. The problem is that Kennedy couldn't get financially crafty if she wanted to. The U.S. Senate will eat this woman alive.

[zwanzig]

I've read, what you had said. However, I really didn't understand what you said &, or, was trying to say. Doubt-less-ly, because you weren't saying anything. Question: are you one of my fellow countrymen &, or, women, whom are simply anti-kenne­dy/kennedy family?

[TIMLHOWE]

This is a Democracy not a Monarchy.

[Buffalojo]

I think, you know, you've said too much.

[TIMLHOWE]

"You know, I think, you know, sort of, of, oh, I think, And, um, as I've said,and, um, so, and oh...

[swiss-ski]

What was commented on, not said is all true.

[troika]

Gov. Patterson should look beyond his own future political aspirations and seat in someone more qualified and more experienced than Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. Let her run for it in 2012 like so many others aspiring for that seat.

[TIMLHOWE]

On why she wants the job of U.S. senator:

Um, this is a fairly unique moment both in our, you know, in our country’s history, and, and in, in, you know, my own life, and um, you know, we are facing, you know, unbelievable challenges, our economy, you know.

[TIMLHOWE]

In a recent New York Post interview, Kennedy used "you know" more than 200 times in 40 minutes. In other interviews, virtually every other sentence she began started with "I think." In fact, some sentences combined so many of these communication fillers, non-words (uh) and qualifiers that it became incomprehensible to believe that she believed what she was saying, even if she absolutely did.

Consider this excerpt from a recent Kennedy interview: "You know, I think, you know, sort of, of, oh, sharing some of this experience. And, um, as I've said, he was a friend. (referring to another public figure) was a friend, a family member and, um, so, and oh, obviously, he's you know, he has also had an impressive career in public service." Further, when we consistently begin sentences with "I think," or worse "maybe," it communicates that again we are not sure. We might be, we could be, but then again, are we?

[JohnTalbutt]

The establishment media as exemplifed by the New York Times and the democratic party wing that supported the Iraq war don't want Caroline but just don't say who they do want.

.

[HolmesMusic]

remind me again how she is qualified?
Do we really want another priviledged child in a position of great responsibility?
really? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9bxJb--3c

[1Marie23]

Caroline Kennedy does not deserve the Senate seat, but it is possible she will get it. She makes Sarah Palin look like a rocket scientist. She is poorly spoken and does not seem to have the Kennedy charisma that her father had. This is not a criticism of her personally, but you have to admit we have barely seen her for 40 years. She does not even vote regularly. How ridiculous is this whole story? If appointed she will be an embarrassment to New York. However, they elected Hillary so this should come as no surprise.

[FourSordidRms]

"She makes Sarah Palin look like a rocket scientist." Really? I suspect Ms. Palin would be hard-pressed to name the 10 amendments to the Constitution, let alone author a book about them. And if you have "barely seen" Caroline Kennedy in the past 40 years, then you have been living under a rock.

[TIMLHOWE]

Consider this excerpt from a recent Kennedy interview: "You know, I think, you know, sort of, of, oh, sharing some of this experience. And, um, as I've said, he was a friend. (referring to another public figure) was a friend, a family member and, um, so, and oh, obviously, he's you know, he has also had an impressive career in public service."

[1Marie23]

Look, you are right, I don't see any coverage of Kennedy in the Chicago papers. You may see her in the news more often. I am going on what she is doing now. She is very poorly spoken, even with a speech. She does not seem confident as Sarah Palin did. I am sure Sarah knows her amendments, but don't want to argue that. I like Caroline and I respect her for what she has done- it just hasn't been in politics. I have read that she did not author her books alone. I am not a judge of that, but she may be book smart and just not charismatic. We seem to respect that- look at Obama. He is both. I dont' like his politics, but you can't deny the charisma. Caroline is lacking. Sorry, but this is my opinion.

[troika]

You are right in all respects but I disagree with your last line. Sen. Clinton worked hard for that post, criss crossing the entire state. She is smart, intelligent, illustrious, articulate and knows the issues very well. Furthermore she has worked for more than three decades as a public servant on core issues for the poor and women. In what conscience can you compare the two? You are out of your mind to even suggest that Sen. Clinton was an embarrassment to New York. Probably you are one of those that hate the Clintons.