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No, No, No to Caroline Kennedy!
The woman's never shown any interest in politics and she's done diddley squat for the Democratic Party. She's never held a real job in her entire life nor has she ever kicked in substantial money to the cause.
Give the job to someone who earned it and let Kennedy stick to something she does know how to do - raising money for education.
These are trying times and New Yorkers deserve the best. The Senate is no place right now for a middle-aged dilettante with some time on her hands.
Sorry, sweetpea, but I think your mother would have agreed with me.
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Although if we have to have a Kennedy in that seat, I suggest Robert Kennedy Jr.. He is extremely environmentally motivated and has no problem holding feet to the fire on war crimes.
December 9, 2008 12:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
RFK Jr. would be better, but there are no flies on Caroline, in my opinion. She's done a lot of good things, including help vett Biden.
December 9, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here we go again. Caroline may be a terrific person. But it's lazy to just pick somebody because their name helps them raise money. Can we have some information on what she got her degree in? What are her qualifications for representing the complicated state of New York? Hilary was a lawyer who had actually practiced law. She saw how a state functions as wife to a governor. And by that I mean she saw the inner workings of state politics which aren't always pretty.
Can we get some details? I wish they would consider Jonathan Tasini. He ran against Hillary in the primary. He's a real liberal and a labor advocate. And he's tough. We need some muscle in the Senate.
December 9, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
While Caroline Kennedy thoroughly sucks as a choice for NY's junior senator, there's no need to condescendingly call her "sweetpea." Very little evidence that she's sweet or smart or even benign, let alone deserving of a pat on the head. She'll destroy the Democratic majority in NY in a short two years, and will lose against a Republican challenger (Giuliani?) in 2010. I hope Paterson will counter with a more deserving work horse. He needs someone on his side, not someone on her family legacy's side.
December 9, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
By all means, let's be sure we get some "credible," "experienced" politician who has shown that they can get in there and withstand the rough and tumble and win elections ..... someone like, say, George W. Bush or Andrew Cuomo or Rod Blagojevich. Surely duly-elected Govs and AG of populous states would be eminently qualified, right? Thanks, but no thanks.
You know, for all the people who were screaming sexism at comments made re: HRC and Palin, I'm rather surprised that there is no objection on behalf of someone who chose to devote the years when she could have been 'earning her spurs' to raising her children in peace and privacy (a thoroughly challenging job when they are JFK's only grandchildren!). (And it's not only a woman who would make such choices. Michelle Obama once said that if her husband didn't win this election, he would not be running again at least during the next few cycles because they wouldn't go through it while their children were teenagers. A decision I very much admire.)
Does this mean we can never benefit from the leadership of people who would make *that* life decision? --- All this criticism because she hasn't taken public positions, gotten involved ... when she knew, and if you're honest you have to admit, the minute she did any of that, she - and her family - would be eaten alive by the press and the public. I respect her greatly both for keeping that OUT of her children's lives and for being willing to face it now when she can achieve something in public without making them pay for it. ..... And I would imagine Caroline Kennedy knows quite a bit about the price that children of high profile politicians have to pay.......... Think about it. For all the wealth, power and prestige, would you trade your childhood for hers?
At any rate, she has my admiration for protecting her children from that, and my welcome if she now wants to become more involved in the public area. I think we could do with a few less 'seasoned politicians' and perhaps a few more people of independent judgment and integrity in the halls of Congress.
December 9, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can we recommend comments? Great thoughts.
December 9, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
And here's another reason
December 9, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
very intelligent and thoroughly researched post. Not!
December 9, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great - Elizabeth2 thinks Caroline Kennedy should get the NY senate seat because she kept her children's names out of the paper. Read this article and see how she kept their names out of the paper.
You call George W. Bush and Andrew Cuomo "seasoned" politicians but you don't attribute nepotism as the reason why they were even running.
How Elizabeth2 knows Caroline Kennedy has independent judgment and integrity is beyond me.
I suspect it doesn't matter much what any of us here think about Caroline Kennedy as the senate seat was probably part of a deal to get the Kennedys to endorse Obama.
December 9, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow! Did you turn your ankle making a leap like that?
Caroline Kennedy was quid pro quo for an Obama endorsement, eh? So Senator Kennedy didn't actually believe Barack Obama was the best candidate for the job, but he endorsed him anyway because he was certain Obama would win the primary, win the general election, and select Hillary Clinton, his most bitter rival from the primary, for a plum cabinet position. He also knew that Hillary would accept, and he knew that the Governor of New York would appoint Caroline to serve out Hillary's term. He probably even knew you would post this blog, but he didn't care because he knew that the liberal, Kennedy-run media would never do anything promote it or advance your brilliant ideas.
I just have a few questions: Is a tin foil hat cold in the winter time? Is it hot in the summer? Do you wear it in the shower? If so, above or below your shower cap? Do you have to use special conditioner to keep it from ruining your hair? If you stand on your head, does it fill up with the shit you're full of?
December 9, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they wanted to endorse for a Senate seat, they would have backed Hillary. That's the only way to guarantee Hillary's seat would be vacant. How were they to know Obama would win, offer Hillary a position in his Administration, and that she would accept?
That said, until Caroline Kennedy starts being vocal about what her policies are why in the world are we even discussing her as a candidate other than that she's a Kennedy?! Is she a centrist like Barack? Is she more progressive like her uncle? Senator is not a position that is handed to people just hoping they'll turn out okay in NY. Sorry. I value intelligence and independent judgement, but I want INFORMED independent judgment. Your constituents should know who you are going to be in office before electing you.
This whole governing by trust thing and hope and belief in the integrity of people you put in office rather than their records and proven ability to govern effectively disturbs me to no end.
December 9, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen. Wanna fight over who it disturbs more? :-)
Looks like we all got lucky as Obama so far seems to be turning out pretty much like he sold himself. But that doesn't make the whole process of "vote for the image" safe. It's not--history is full of nightmares created that way.
December 9, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thankfully, the Caroline Kennedy idea seems to have lost some steam.
December 9, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, I admit the notion that Ted Kennedy made a deal for Hillary's seat when he endorsed Obama is pretty dumb. But Ted might have helped convince Obama to give Hillary the SoS job.
The fact that Mayor Bloomberg is pushing Caroline Kennedy should give Dems pause. Mikey is a Republican and, therefore, has no interest in seeing a strong Democratic senate candidate in 2010.
I'd like to hear what Caroline Kennedy thinks about the No Child Left Behind Act. Ted Kennedy has inflicted more damage on the children of this generation than anyone else I can think of besides G W Bush.
Caroline Kennedy has an estate on Martha's Vineyard which she can use to establish Massachusetts residency. Let Ted retire now and give her his seat if he thinks she would make such a great senator.
December 9, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Caroline has an interest since Uncle Teddy can't live forever; and he's probably urging her pretty strongly anyways....she'll run on things like 'I have the Wisdom of Uncle Teddy, the Experience of my dad, Jack, and now, the Audacity of Obama's Hope'.
December 9, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
cHECK THIS OUT ON REAL CLEAR POLITICS POLLING DATA: A PPP poll released today shows that 44% of New York Democrats favor Caroline Kennedy to be appointed to Hillary Clinton's (and formerly her uncle's) Senate seat. Kennedy's closest competition is Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo (23%), followed by Reps. Kirsten Gillibrand (6%), Brian Higgins (5%) and Nydia Velazquez (4%).
Choosing Clinton's replacement is Gov. David Paterson, who incidentally filled in for a resigned office holder earlier this year. Any talk that Paterson would appoint someone to the Senate to avoid a challenge from that person (Cuomo) for his re-election to the governorship is likely muted now: A PPP poll out today shows Paterson's approval rating among Democrats at 68%, with only 9% disapproving.
December 9, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Between Paterson, Cuomo, Schumer, Shelly Silver, and what's-his-name who just caved as the leader of the state senate, do you think it would hurt to have just one major statewide office-holder to come from somewhere north of Van Cortlandt Park?
December 9, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are a few a good articles over at HuffPo in favor of Caroline Kennedy. They talk about what she's done for most of her life and who she is personally. Has anyone bothered to read them or is all this just a kneew-jerk reaction because she is a Kennedy?
December 9, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
What "cause" are you referring to, and exactly how much need be donated to it for it to be "substantial"? A simple search at Open Secrets returns the following for Edwin Schlossberg, and Caroline Kennedy:
SCHLOSSBERG, EDWIN
KENNEDY, CAROLINE
Additionally, in the wikipedia article about Caroline Kennedy are found many references to her fund raising for and board memberships on many private/public entities, which many at TPM Cafe would consider to be part of the "cause". The list of past and present associations includes:
Again, what is your definition of "substantial"?
This has nothing to do with who becomes the NY Senator replacing Clinton. That is an issue that has no personal value to me. I know and care little about Caroline Kennedy, but it is not proper to make unsubstantiated claims.
December 9, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
When it comes to Hillary, the "dynasty" meme often comes up. But Caroline Kennedy is spared the rant, despite that her whole family and their moms have been in office.
December 9, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love Caroline Kennedy, truly an intelligent and thoughtful woman but this dynasty shit is tiresome. Bush was elected because of this.
December 9, 2008 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
No one here including me knows all that much about Caroline Kennedy and in particular, her finances.
Her mother's fortune was closely entertwined with Maurice Tempelsman's. Tempelsman, a diamond dealer operating mainly in Africa, is a far right militant supporter of Israel.
Mayor Bloomberg, Kennedy's most public supporter, just bought a third term from the City Council. His pal, Ronald Lauder, paid $4 million in the '90s to put mayoral term limits in place because he didn't like Rudy Giuliani.
December 10, 2008 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink