Man-oh-man-oh-man! All of this tedious crap on the pages of this blog about how I do not love/appreciate Caroline Kennedy enough!
You're kidding, right?
My father was a Democratic committeeman in our home town. He took me to St. Patrick's for Senator Kennedy's funeral in 1968 when I was ten years old. I was bred to be a Democrat! I am friends with many members of that family. I am a fervent supporter of some of their individual causes.
But there is a right way and a wrong way to go about this in the current political climate. I think it is ill-advised for New York Democrats to play the Good Dynasty/Bad Dynasty card. Especially now. The Bad Dynasty is not even out the door. The Illinois Governor is reminding Americans that abuse of power is a non-partisan disease. And New York Governor David Paterson will also face consequences for this decision.
This is more about protecting a Democratic Senate seat than romanticizing it.
Appoint an individual (fine...man or woman) who has been elected to something. Something! Then there is a race in 2010, if I understand New York's electoral mechanics properly. That is not that long from now. Then certain New Yorkers could run. And probably win. I would probably vote for her (er...them).
But this must be done with great care. Patience and care. You know, the way that we beat John McCain.
I, for one, could not support Caroline Kennedy if she's simply going to be the lap dog of the Mayor of New York City. We need someone who's going to give a sh*t about the rest of the state - in the counties that exist above Westchester.
In a democracy the principal should be in favor of election over appointment. Democracy can still descend to elect well kent faces ( Reagen, Franken?, Schwartz...) but the process is perfect. Lets have an election.
I don't know about you all, but this is depressing.
Demoralizing.
When are we going to really get our country back?
But perhaps all those people talking about the cost of reelection have a point. Perhaps only the very wealthy and people with relatives in government can win the senate seat in New York. Caroline Kennedy never raised money for anyone who wasn't a family member, and I doubt her friends would either.
The New York senate seat, may not be available to anyone but the wealthy. The best the common people can hope for is a relatively sympathetic plutocrat.
But I'm not giving them any of my time or money. If the senate is going to be bought by someone, they can buy it themselves.
My stakes in this are nil. Does that mean I'm qualified as a judge? I can always try, can't I?
After the Obama landslide victory, maybe romanticizing a senate seat is not even a bad idea. You could view it like this: if under these circumstances (first black president, first Clinton secretary of state, NYC being refurnished with non-bankers due to shrinking employment in the Monte Carlo sector, and all that, you know) the senate seat does not remain democrat, then what are you even talking about?
To be honest, I don't want to be a judge. I have no idea about the qualifications of the non-Kennedy contenders. It just seems to me that the whole worried discussion is a bit uptight.
Here it is:
Don't ask what your Kennedy can do for you, ask what you can do for your Kennedy!
Otherwise, quite droll.
With her resources and connections, she could be brain dead and hold that seat. While it might be the case that the talented candidate won the presidency on Nov. 4, you don't think it was BECAUSE he was most talented that he won, do you? It was because he had the best resources.
We elected W --TWICE -- and you don't think a Kennedy could hold the seat? When was the last time a Kennedy LOST a seat? What is the family's win-loss percentage? A few good speeches, 4 or 5 co-sponsorships on good bills, and in a year NO ONE could beat her. Don't psych ourself out, Alec. She can do it.
"This is more about protecting a Democratic Senate seat than romanticizing it."
Right, Alec (and boycott). And the best way to protect that seat would be with Caroline Kennedy. At least as far as I'm concerned. I don't live in New York, so all I care about is a (D) behind the name and the clout (i.e. money) to get the progressive agenda past right-wing obstructionists.
Tell me boycott, how does Kennedy lose in 2010?
Your question of why people care about someones elses butt is answerred in Dr. Bernes book "Games People Play" on page 112 the game is "blemish". The reason people play this game is that they feel inferior to the "victim" and because this womans butt is too big they now feel less inferior.
I think that urging Caroline into this seat is premature.
I like Caroline, I like the Kennedys, I want more dems in
office. I also want my money back, I want political officials
to stop being so corrupt, to stop taking bribes or "gifts"
ala Stevens, to do politics. I want my taxes cut. I want my
pay raise back. I want to see more women in office.
I want more competence in Congress. Of which there seems
to be none, ala Mary Bono etc. I think the people we elected
have no f/g clue what has gone down since the Reagan era
with our now invisible currency, our jobs which congress has magically
disappeared. This country's net worth is zero. Our idiot congress/senate
have methodically eradicated all that is strong in America.
I don't think Caroline is ready yet. Maybe next year, 6 months from now, but not now.
Well, if NY is going to pick someone, pick me. I have a few skeletons in my closet.
How can any intelligent person can still have faith in either of these two parties?
Giving a Senate seat to someone who has never been elected to anything renders the whole
process even more ridiculous than it already is.
Make her a star.
I am serious.
Otherwise, Caroline Kennedy is the obvious choice for someone to carry on the senate votes of Ted Kennedy.
The loss of a parent or brother is no more tragic because a person is famous. And as painful and as sad as her losses are, a senate seat is not a condolence card. This is not an aristocracy, and we don't give out political offices based on ancestors' service to the crown.
but I'm from Illinois and we just got our senator elected as president -- which was a long shot in electability....
on the other hand, you in New York have kind of been robbed and a lot of people would like to see the brand name replaced with a brand name.... even if she's not so electable.....