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Lady Kennedy to inherit uncle's peerage
The news that Lady Kennedy will be taking her uncle's seat in the US
House of Lords will be greeted with pleasure by feminists everywhere.
Unlike the UK which insists on the principle of male primogeniture, the
US has for many years espoused the principle of equality amongst its aristocracy.
Lady Kennedy will be raised to the peerage by Governor Paterson of New York, who was himself appointed to the position after his predecessor was criticized for over paying a prostitute.
Lady Kennedy will be raised to the peerage by Governor Paterson of New York, who was himself appointed to the position after his predecessor was criticized for over paying a prostitute.
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Hahahahahahaha!
I was watching this on CNN and thinking something similar (but sadly it wasn't that funny in my head).
December 16, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I feel similarly that the lineage and not merit is what elevates Caroline to the Senate, and I'd much rather see her run for the office as opposed to having it bestowed upon her.
In fairness, however, it's highly likely she will be a very good Senator despite the undesirable route that is likely to get her to Washington. that is, if you like having a very liberal voice in Washington that will not be or become beholden to corporate interests as many of our Democratic members of the House and Senate are.
Of all those who could be considered aristrocrats in this country, there is no other such family that has done so much for or on behalf of the common people of this nation, the poor, minorities and other despised and dispossesed persons. We could do far worse than to have another Kennedy in the United States Senate.
December 16, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're right. If she had run, and been elected, people would whine it was just because "she's a Kennedy", but at least it would be an election.
If Caroline is appointed, it just feels wrong. The Kennedy's are American "royalty", for sure, but in the American model of Royalty. Although she might be a fine Senator, appointing Caroline just seems to much like the European model.
December 16, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am curious why everybody is so worked up about this. Is it the Kennedy name? Is it the fact some think she has no experience?
Reality if she gets it and only those living in NY should care she will have to start running for the 2010 special election to retain it and then again in 2012 to be re-elected. (NYTimes)
December 16, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't get all the agitation about this either. The fact is that we have an abundance of dufus senators now, so one more or less will hardly make a difference. I certainly would rather have Carolyn that any number of the current elected senators.
December 16, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. It is interesting to note that when male Kennedys get into public office on their last name, nobody balks. But if Caroline were to do it, the claws come out. Calling her "Lady Caroline," and Jane Hamsher suggesting she has spent her life getting manicures and nothing else (which is complete horseshit), demonstrates that sexism knows no bounds in our politics. I wonder, have any of these haters ever read any of her books, such as Right to Privacy? I doubt it.
And as for a special election--great! Polls show she will take the seat with ease in a special election. I somehow doubt that will silence the critics.
So what is really going on here? Bitterness over her Obama endorsement and fear of her staying power. Bitter Clintonites like Jane Hamsher (who just wrote her third obnoxious, jump-the-shark hate piece of Caroline Kennedy this morning) wanted a weak bench warmer who Clinton could come back and un-seat when she is done as SOS. They know Caroline Kennedy is not a bench warmer. So they fear her, but they also hate her because of her principled support of Obama over the chosen one, Lady Clinton. The legacy. The one who was supposed to be annointed. That annoys them. So they project this bullshit back onto Caroline.
December 16, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I think that Ted Kennedy's plans to bequeath his Massachusetts seat to his wife is equally outrageous. The discussion there was whether it should go to his wife or a male member of the family. The idea that one of the House members such as Markey might have a stronger claim was not worth a mention.
I do not see a comparison to the Clintons here, they started at the bottom and worked up. Hilary was never a non-combatant in the political fray.
But in actual fact I am British and I am taking the opportunity here to point out that US society is rather more class ridden than UK society these days.
And in particular it is the role of the establishment press in perpetuating these aristocratic principles that is objectionable.
December 16, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
We might be looking at the problem from the wrong angle. What I can't figure out is why huge states like NY and CA can't come up with a handful of young political talent. California has Arnold and a bunch of old fossils. NY has carpetbagger Clinton and a billionaire mayor who'd buy the Presidency if he could figure out how to pull it off. The question I have is why there are so few Obamas and so many old hacks and celebrities filling the offices that should contain young talent.
December 16, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink