I’m with Time’s Joe Klein in his discomfort with Caroline Kennedy’s nervy grasping for the Senate seat left open by Hillary Clinton’s job change, as if New York Gov. David Paterson had no exemplary candidates to consider. Declaring the “era of big strange political families” to be over, Klein writes: “Kennedy’s play seems very much of a moment recently passed – the dynasty years of American politics, when Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes (and other, less obtrusive dynasties – Udalls, Cuomos) cluttered our public life. There is nothing new about this. We’ve had our Adamses and Roosevelts in epochs past. But the combination of dynasty and celebrity in a too-hot media age has proved a diversion from good governance.”
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73 Comments
Its a win-win for democrats in New York. And besides, other than the Bush dynasty, our dynasties produced good results.
It is New York, they can do as they wish. They don’t really care about no stinkin’ qualifications anyway.
Other than being alive, I’m not real sure what the qualifications for being a U.S. Senator are.
Wait, scratch the ‘alive’ part, that Senator from Missouri was elected post mortem.
Hmmm… So thirty years old, a citizen of the U.S. for the last nine years appear to be the qualifications.
Camelot and the Kennedy legacy, along with blessings from Uncle Ted (a dieing man’s last wish) may be met.
People under forty may be going ‘what’s up with that’ with all the Kennedy ritual worship.
I don’t think she would make good Saturday Night Live material. Perhaps this should be a consideration as well?
It appears on the surface that the Kennedy aristocracy may win out over all other considerations.
Chunky or smooth? This is also a question that has plagued consumers for a long time as well.
Other than the qualifications listed above, what are the qualifications to be a US Senator? While dynasties do make me a little nervous, I really don’t see any reason why Kennedy shouldn’t be considered for the position. She’s smart and she cares. I think that makes for a pretty good foundation to be a senator. Can’t be any worse than Ventura or Arnold.
XXX says- “She’s smart and she cares”.
That’s so sweet X.
#
Heckler
Posted December 17, 2008 at 7:02 am | Permalink
XXX says- “She’s smart and she cares”.
That’s so sweet X.
_________________________________________________
Geez Heck, you bring so much to this discussion.
“I’m with Time’s Joe Klein in his discomfort with Caroline Kennedy’s nervy grasping for the Senate seat”
Well, of course you are Rhonda.
You’re a con. You’d like a con in that Senate seat.
Not gonna happen.
XXX
“Geez Heck, you bring so much to this discussion.”
I try.
Lets try this. She’s kinda hot, I say yes.
Plus, I think she’s been on Oprah.
#
Heckler
Posted December 17, 2008 at 7:57 am | Permalink
XXX
“Geez Heck, you bring so much to this discussion.”
I try.
Lets try this. She’s kinda hot, I say yes.
______________________________________________
I would agree. Not too shabby for a 51 year old woman.
I have mixed feelings about her being a senator. She’s done a lot of good things; charity and such, but I don’t think she’s ever had a full time job. But maybe that’s not unusual for the rich and famous.
The guv should decide which of the 12 or so candidates gets it on merit, period. If Ms. Kennedy’s political skills and experience don’t look like a good fit for the job, next case.
But I had to laugh to at this one:
“Kennedy’s play seems very much of a moment recently passed – the dynasty years of American politics, when Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes (and other, less obtrusive dynasties – Udalls, Cuomos) cluttered our public life.”
Tell that one to the next Secretary of State, the newly-elected Senators from Colorado and New Mexico, and the New York attorney general (also a candidate for Hillary’s job).
Klein wrote an amusing political book, but he’s always had problems confusing fiction with reality.
For starters I don’t see the Clinton’s as a dynasty. They are of the same generation. Doesn’t make alot of sense to me.
But on the topic at hand…what are Caroline’s qualifications? If her name was Jones does she even get taken seriously?
Shows how shallow our country as become.
Pay no attention to experience or qualifications or anything but ‘celebrity status’ and name recognition.
Some think the ‘apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’, but I can tell you for sure it can roll pretty far.
I have nothing against Caroline, but we know nothing about her except she is Kennedy’s daughter, who was but a baby when he died.
Not much of a resume for being a Senator, but maybe that’s all New Yorkers think is important.
Well I bet most New Yorkers know more about her than us here in Kansas. Not really our call anyway.
She has as much right to run as anyone else in this country…what’s so “nervy” about her wanting the position? How is she different than anyone else who aspires to hold political office and why is it a bad thing that she may make a run for it? She’s probably a lot more qualified than as lot of those in public office we’ve endured the last 8 years.
Maybe I’m crazy but I would think that possibly holding a political office at some point in someone’s life may make them a better candidate for Senate.
If she wants to run and gets elected to a seat with zero experience, that’s the will of the people. But I’d expect an appointee to have a more significant political resume other than family name.
Well I bet most New Yorkers know more about her than us here in Kansas. Not really our call anyway.
Agreed.
Boxlock20
Posted December 17, 2008 at 8:57 am | Permalink
Shows how shallow our country as become.
Pay no attention to experience or qualifications or anything but ‘celebrity status’ and name recognition.
_________________________________________________
Box,
Kennedy meets the qualifications. Experience? Anymore, that seems to mean bought and paid for by big business, unions, or whatever special interest you care to insert.
“Besides being a member of America’s most famous political family, 50-year-old Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and a member of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Committee.
She is also a director of the Commission on Presidential Debates; a director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; honorary chairwoman of the American Ballet Theatre; and vice chairwoman of New York City’s Fund for Public Schools.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a law degree from Columbia University.”
———–
I think she has education and experience, coupled with knowledge of ‘movers and shakers’ that would serve New Yorkers well! She seems well rounded in her experiences, has access to exemplary mentors, wants to be of service to her community. All traits of merit in my book!
Mary and XXX,
A lot of people would like to be a brain surgeon, many an aerospace engineer, or an airline pilot, lawyer or even policeman or fireman, but ya know we expect them to have some training and meet qualifications before we entrust them with our welfare.
She has none.
Sure she has as much ‘right’ to seek the office, but what kind of irresponsibility is it to give it to her with that lack of preparation for office.
I guess we don’t expect much of our leaders anymore, huh? Speaks badly for all involved.
I’ll say this for Sweet Caroline, she has her life together it seems more than a number of the Kennedy’s of her generation.
Please—-No more Kennedys!!! If any of you are old enough to remember the 1960s, you will remember that the news media were obsessed with them. You would turn on the 6 o’clock news and the first thing you would hear was–some Kennedy somewhere was seen doing something. It didn’t matter which Kennedy. Any Kennedy made news.You had to listen to this before you could get to the real news.
I remember turning on the news one evening and the first thing the announcer said was
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. No Kennedy, anywhere, did anything today. And now for the news”. It was hilarious.
‘Dynasty’ in the sense of “I deserve it because of my name” should not be done. I don’t know if that is the case here. Much of the ‘dynasty’ situation is a result of people simply following in their family’s careers – cops tend to often beget cops, doctors beget doctors etc. That is not necessarily a bad thing.
Delilah, over the past 20-or-so years we’ve had, in addition to the iconic Ted, two members of Congress and one Lt. Gov. come from the Kennedy clan (oh, and one governor, if you count Arnold). There’s probably more I don’t know about.
Life went on. Yawn. . .
Did she ever star in a top box office movie? No, then how can she even be considered for a political office?
She needs to first make a movie “Terminatoress”, then we can talk about high office qualifications.
All this thread shows me is the irrational and visceral hatred CONs have for all things Democratic and, especially, all things Kennedy.
It’s another state’s Senator, and another party’s business. All you CONs have is another target to vent your spleens at.
Ms. Kennedy is an intelligent and articulate person who has a public record of supporting generally left-of-center causes and concepts.
A perfect storm of coincidences converge — a Senate vacancy in her home state, her uncle coming to the ends of a long career in public service, her family is raised, a man who reminds many as a JFK-like personage is elected to the presidency — and Kennedy is by no means a shoe-in for the interim appointment.
Further, it’s not like getting appointed to the Senate means you poor whining CONs would be saddled with Caroline in the Senate for the rest of your lives. Appointed interim Senators’ incumbency doesn’t always serve them well when they face the electorate. Just ask Senator Frahm.
This thread is just a piece of red meat for the CONs to gnaw on, spew bile on the dreaded Democrats, and again reveal the shallowness of intellect in which the CONservative movement thrives.
It’s New York. The Governor is a Democrat. A Democrat is leaving the seat. Of course a Democrat is going to get it.
It’s just a debate on the qualifications of Mrs. Schlossberg.
Interest though about her maiden name and family. The Kennedy’s (sans the D) seem to represent what so many liberals despise.
Monkey please tell us what you really think today. Don’t hold back – just spit it out.
No need, “okobserve” –
The CONs seem to be doing plenty enough spitting on their own.
“I have mixed feelings about her being a senator. She’s done a lot of good things; charity and such, but I don’t think she’s ever had a full time job. But maybe that’s not unusual for the rich and famous.” (XXX)
I guess some of us might still labor under an impression that being a senator or a congressman is still a full time job.
“A lot of people would like to be a brain surgeon, many an aerospace engineer, or an airline pilot, lawyer or even policeman or fireman, but ya know we expect them to have some training and meet qualifications before we entrust them with our welfare.
She (HE) has none.
Sure she (HE) has as much ‘right’ to seek the office, but what kind of irresponsibility is it to give it to her (HIM) with that lack of preparation for office.
I guess we don’t expect much of our leaders anymore, huh? Speaks badly for all involved.”
Boxlock, not that I disagree with you at all, but just wanted to point out that your post sounds so much like stuff I heard before the November election. Must be some kind of cosmic political echo. Perhaps Caroline has a better concept of how women should be treated than her uncle and cousins did.
Monkeyhawk
Posted December 17, 2008 at 10:12 am | Permalink
All this thread shows me is the irrational and visceral hatred CONs have for all things Democratic…
————-
You have to admit that “irrational and visceral hatred” is something Monkey knows a thing or two about.
My take on the whole Kennedy thing is:… Al Franken
Ooooh, poor, poor, “outlander” –
Has dat mean ol’ monkeyhawk gone an hurt your wittle feewings?
Maybe his mama will come and kiss his… widdle boo-boo.
Don’t cwy. Don’t whine, widdle “outwander.” He’s a big boy, now.
Joe Kline argued that we should invade Iraq:
MR. KLEIN: … This is a really tough decision. War may well be the right decision at this point. In fact, I think it–it’s–it–it probably is.
RUSSERT: Now that’s twice you’ve said that: ‘It’s the right war.’ You believe it’s the wrong time. Why do you think it’s the right war?
Mr. KLEIN: Because sooner or later, this guy has to be taken out. Saddam has–Saddam Hussein has to be taken out.”
*****
Joe Kline not only argued FOR an invasion of Iraq, he said the military to design snazzy new uniforms like “the green berets” to attracted well-educated kids who otherwise might not be interested in joining the military.
“At a similar moment, in the early 1960s, when the front lines of the cold war had spread from Germany to the Congo and Vietnam, John F. Kennedy announced his support for an augmented counterinsurgency force — and gave those soldiers real panache by allowing them to wear headgear frowned upon by the traditional military: green berets.”
*****
He also had these words of wisdumb:
“Listening to the leftists, though, it’s easy to assume that they are rooting for an American failure.” One wonders which is stupider–that Americans really want us to fail OR that “rooting for something” can make it happen or not happen.
Gee, if only I had rooted harder for The Chiefs, they wouldn’t have dropped that fumble . . . or something.
*****
As Matt Trippi wrote in The Rolling Stone, Joe Klein is the embodiment of everything idiotic about these professional pontificators–”the living incarnation of American ‘conventional wisdom’ — a spineless, slavish watcher of polls who has no problem whatsoever denying today what he said yesterday.”
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT JOE KLEIN HAS BEEN WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE PAST . . . pay no attention to the man behind the curtain . . . I am OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL . . .
Speaking of Franken, saw that the election overseers were going to take into consideration ‘voters intent’, had to be a bad day for coleman.
Speaking of off-topic, thar posts the crapn…
The Joe Kleins . . . the Charles Krauthammers . . . the William Kristols . . . the Bob Novaks . . . the David Broders . . .
These folks are like the CEOs of Merrill Lynch–they get it all wrong over and over and then–guess what–it’s Christmas bonus time!
“I am a Queen in the Kennedy empire! Coronate me!”
Do you actually expect me to earn the congressional seat in an election? “Let them eat cake!”
Sorry you’re so easily confused, ReguLIAR.
My post simply asks why we should believe Joe Klein now, since he’s been so very wrong so many times in the past.
Kinda like why should we believe anything YOU post, now that I think about it.
HEY, RHONDA?
How about a thread on Dick Cheney admitting that even if they had known that Iraq had NO WMD’s, they would have invaded anyway?
How about a thread on Dick Cheney admitting that he authorized torture (waterboarding)?
If she is appointed she’ll have to win her post in an election in 2010, and if what the Right is saying about her is true why are they having a kitten? They’ll gain a seat in 2010. I’m more concerned by the potential loss of Senate seats overall, Biden, Obama, Clinton, Salizar. Are there more?
And Rhonda, why would you describe Ms. Kennedy’s desire to fill Clinton’s vacant Senate seat as “nervy grasping”? She’s shown nothing but class. You could learn some grace from her.
Mega dittos, Berber.
How much experience did Libby Dole have before she ran for the Senate in her “home state?” of North Carolina or wherever it was?
Talk about “nervy grasping.”
Umm.. Capn. Really poor choice of comparisons there. Google Elizabeth Dole. Go ahead.
Quite an experience accomplished lady before becoming a Senator. Also via election not appointment.
from wiki -
Elizabeth Dole:
A graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School, Dole served as Secretary of Transportation under Ronald Reagan and Secretary of Labor under George H.W. Bush before becoming head of the American Red Cross. She is a member of the Republican Party and former chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Evidently the Crapn doesn’t think all of that is experience.
Fran Drescher, now that’s nervy grasping.
“All this thread shows me is the irrational and visceral hatred CONs have for all things Democratic…
This thread is just a piece of red meat for the CONs to gnaw on,..”
-Monkeyhawk
Monkeyhawk cries a lame Wolf! by claiming that “visceral hatred” has been shown by anybody on this thread. Perhaps he should copy and paste what he means by “visceral hatred”. Rhonda and Klein spewing out “visceral hatred”???
Or perhaps he just needs a dreamed up reason to whine that the CONS are whining.
Anywho, With all the “visceral hatred” being shown by the CONS on threads such as this, it is any wonder that Monkeyhawk can sleep at night.
Monkeyhawk,
There is an evil CON hiding underneath your chair. You might want to check it out…
BOOO!
HaHa! Monkeyhawk just wet his primate feathers.
It appears that MH truly does not get the obvious and delicious irony of his refering to anyone expressing “irrational and visceral hatred.”
Pot, meet kettle.
Facts are curious things, huh, MH?
Does she drink like a fish also?
“Stinky” to the rescue, rubbing “GMC70’s” nose in his recent “deposit.”
Yeah, I’d categorize “Stinky’s” comment as irrational and visceral hatred.
If she does Stinky, she does it with grace.
What was Dole’s experience at the time of her first appointment, if you want to keep things on an even keel?
CapnAmerica
Posted December 17, 2008 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
Mega dittos, Berber.
How much experience did Libby Dole have before she ran for the Senate in her “home state?” of North Carolina or wherever it was?
Talk about “nervy grasping.”
————————————————–
The difference in this case being of course that she RAN.
Phantom
Posted December 17, 2008 at 3:04 pm | Permalink
What was Dole’s experience at the time of her first appointment, if you want to keep things on an even keel?
—————————————————-
She wasn’t appointed. She ran for what was a vacant seat (if you can call it vacant, the incumbent retired) and was elected.
She’d also held cabinet positions and was President of a small not-for-profit agency, the American Red Cross.
I think the question was asking about experience before her first cabinet appointment.
i don’t think any cons have any room to talk with Vitter still on the floor and the rest of your bumbling fools that you have out there.
Police thy own and maybe someday we’ll lend you some credibility to mock our decisions right now. Till then, go play in traffic.
Caroline has name recognition, she’s been busy with many of the same behind the scenes stuff since she was a child. If anyone knows politics, it’s going to be Caroline just by how she grew up.
And remember Kennedy will always be an American hero, no matter what you say or do.
Correct Linda. What was her experience before Reagan gave her an appointment. Wife of Bob?
One name comes to mind, Mrs. Sonny Bono.
Caroline is as qualified, plus classier.
I’m surprised libs aren’t having a cow over Caroline Kennedy getting the job.
Afterall, they whined about Palin’s lack of experience and lack of qualifications.
Libs just want the rich and famous as leaders?
Let’s compare formal education ONLY;
Palin attended four or five colleges and took five or more years to accomplish an undergraduate degree in (was it?) journalism?
Kennedy has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a law degree from Columbia University.
Have you ever had a job?
Phantom
Posted December 17, 2008 at 11:25 am | Permalink
Speaking of Franken, saw that the election overseers were going to take into consideration ‘voters intent’, had to be a bad day for coleman.
—————–
Phantom the only thing surprising about this whole Minnesota election is that it has taken the states dems this long to declare Franken the winner. Coleman won by too big a margin to do it quickly. I’m waiting for the official ‘Franken Wins’ announcement.
Education is important because it gives you the tools you need to build on when pursuing a choosen vocation.
Palin used hers to good advantage. Starting as mayor and working up to gov. She is an accomplished speaker even if the dems don’t agree. She can motivate people as she proved in engerizing the ticket with stodgy McCain. Look at who drew the crowds.
I don’t have a problem with Kennedy. She is probably as qualified as many who are trying for the seat. She has no speaking abilities – reminds you of Harry Reid with her monotone voice.
I look to see Cuomo get it. He does have Kennedy connections also.
“Have you ever had a job?” — Mr._Kia
——–
Are you asking me if I’ve ever had a job? That answer is yes. Is it pertinent?
lindainks55
Posted December 18, 2008 at 9:55 am | Permalink
“Have you ever had a job?” — Mr._Kia
——–
Are you asking me if I’ve ever had a job? That answer is yes. Is it pertinent?
————————————————–
I’m sorry that did come off as harsh.
But Yes, wondering how your formal education prepared you for a real world career?
I didn’t have a career, I had a job. And, although I never make promises lightly (as I ALWAYS keep them!) I can promise I’ll never run for a political office or put myself in any position where my personal life is your business.
Fine.
However any comparisons to Governor Palin’s qualifications are moot as she was elected to any political position she has held.
Mr._Kia,
Take your objections up with American_Way. My post was in response to this post s/he made:
“#
American_Way
Posted December 18, 2008 at 9:39 am | Permalink
I’m surprised libs aren’t having a cow over Caroline Kennedy getting the job.
Afterall, they whined about Palin’s lack of experience and lack of qualifications.
Libs just want the rich and famous as leaders?”
Jesse Ventura was elected, so was Arnie, hell, look at how many times bush’s been elected; I don’t see winning a popularity contest as being a great qualifier for anything.
I’d rather look at academic achievement, intelligence, and personality traits.
If we’d of done that, bush would never have been able to screw the country up.
Actually Phantom of Kerry, Gore and Bush – Bush had the best grades in college and also the highest. Gores were the worst.
And be honest ‘who would you rather have a beer with, Kerry, Gore or Bush’?
So you could be off the mark a little here in making it a popularity contest.
I wouldn’t want to have a beer with any of them. Bush would hit me, Gore would bore me, and Kerry’s a goddamned freak.
“okobserver” –
I’d agree to having a beer with Shrub if for no other reason than to see for myself that his claim to have stopped drinking is a lie.
Among others…