It's Not My Party So I'll Laugh If I Want To

Caroline Kennedy in the US Senate?  Why not?  She has name recognition, presumed fundraising prowess, is cozy with The One and will be an unusually influential freshman Senator with Uncle Ted easing her path.  Besides, Uncle Bobby once held the seat!

Her actual public service resume, which amounts to a few board seats awarded on the strength of her name, could be matched by hundreds of socialite wives, but none of them are named Kennedy, so let's get over it.

This from the Times is especially droll:

But friends and associates say that Ms. Kennedy, 51, is no dilettante, and that her career is replete with examples of the kind of hands-on policy work and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that could serve her well.

Last spring, she joined the search committee for a new director of the Harvard University Institute of Politics, where she and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, her uncle, are members of an advisory panel. The university wanted a big-name politician. But Ms. Kennedy argued for someone who would view the post as a career maker, not a career ender, others involved said.

Her choice was Bill Purcell, a two-term Nashville mayor. Her uncle, whose voice carried the greatest weight on the board, had fallen ill with brain cancer, and might have gone in a different direction, one insider said. But over six weeks, she patiently made her case and eventually won over members of the institute’s board and Harvard officials.

“She’s not shy about pushing people in a direction, and very good at doing it in a way that people don’t even realize they’re being pushed,” said Heather Campion, one board member.

Well good for her!  As you may have suspected but the Times omitted, the Harvard University Institute of Politics is part of the John F. Kennedy School of Government.  Its mission statement opens with the reminder that it was founded as "A memorial to President Kennedy".  And Caroline Kennedy is able to exert influence from her board seat there - who'd a thunk?

Well, the US Senate is almost a Kennedy memorial site as well, at least on the Democratic side, so she ought to feel right at home. 

Comments

[vinman]

Icono-fantastic!

[Jane]

I'm telling you, we need a Constitutional Amendment that requires at least 10 Kennedy's in the legislative branch at all times. It's only fair, what with all those kids, and grandkids.

[Vinman]

Only the Kennedy's can understand the issues relevant to America's middle class.

And, she looks A LOT like John Kerry for some reason.

[bgates]

Jane, you old fuddy-duddy, you can spend years making an Amendment and all that changes are the words in the Constitution. A quick show of hands from Justice Kennedy and 4 of his friends changes what those words mean. We could have government of the Kennedys by the Kennedys by Thursday; except it's already for the Kennedys, so why bother?

[syn]

What's the definition of Plutocracy?

[Jane]

Ahhhhh Bgates - why didn't I think of that?

Don't forget: "of the Kennedys by the Kennedys" and FOR the Kennedys.

[michaelt]

"Ask not what what Kennedys can do you for you; ask how many Kennedys you want to do it."

[michaelt]

"Ask not what *the* Kennedys can do for you, ask how many Kennedys you want to do it."

[bad]

Politico:

Caroline Kennedy's attorney registration was listed as "delinquent" as late as last week, when she renewed her license to practice law as part of her apparent preparations for a Senate bid. The biennial registration involves a $350 fee, and the New York State court system can suspend practicing lawyers for failing to register. Delinquency is viewed in legal circles as a mild embarassment, not a major transgression, but New York politicians have intermittently been dinged for lapsed registrations -- which can also indicate that a lawyer intends never to practice.

It's unclear if Kennedy has practiced law since graduating from Columbia and being admitted to the New York Bar in 1990. Lawyers are required to keep their registration current, even if not currently practicing, if they ever intend to practice again.

However, her status as an attorney is often cited as one of her qualifications for the Senate, and the last-minute fix of her lapsed registration marks an attempt to bolster her record and solidify her image as she steps for the first time fully onto the public stage.

This was posted on another thread late last night. It seems fun...

LUN

[Danube of Thought]

Take a look at some of the close-up photos of Caroline. Why wasn't a slice of the Kennedy fortune invested in those teeth?

[matt]

lawyers are also required to attend professional advancement courses in order to retain their membership in the Bar in most states. I doubt she's done that either.

I cannot believe that she is being touted by the media, but then again, it's New York. More carpetbagger senators than any other state, I think.

There is no real representation for the working people of the state; only Wall Street and the Upper East Side. Everything else is just a show.

[JM Hanes]

Well, if Caroline is going to take New York, then I think Chelsea should get Massachusetts.

[Paul Zrimsek]

Quit fretting. Nowadays you have to be elected governor of someplace to be considered unqualified.

[sbw]

What's the definition of Plutocracy?

... A country that's gone to the dogs. [Rimshot. [Groan.]]

[bad]

More Ben Smith at Politico:

Hillary Clinton has told her supporters not to impede Caroline Kennedy's path to the U.S. Senate on her behalf, a person familiar with replacement discussions said.

That Hillary...

LUN

[bad]

LOL all of you comedians

[PeterUK]

"What's the definition of Plutocracy?"

Somewhere the dog says "Here,Mickey".

[PeterUK]

"Well, if Caroline is going to take New York, then I think Chelsea should get Massachusetts."

They both have Massivechewsets.

[clarice]

The Kennedys are really pushing it.
Let's start a Save Nita Lowry Fund.

[MayBee]

I'm torn....Jane Hamsher really does not want Caroline Kennedy in that seat. That's a big positive in my book.

[MayBee]

How hilarious is it, though, that Obama tried that "the Senate seat belongs to the people of Illinois" line. Surely others are going to catch on to the fact that he really doesn't mean that.
He wanted Valerie Jarrett in IL.
He wants Caroline Kennedy in NY.

Clearly their qualifications are their support of him.
By his actions, he obviously feels the Senate seats belong to a person from Illinois. How many other new Senators will he get to appoint once he's done with his cabinet?

[clarice]

There's only one good thing to come out of this. Jeb may feel free to run for Florida's Senator and HE should--He was a wonderful governor and although there's no equivalence at all between Caroline and Jeb you know that those who thing she's a good idea would be screaming at a Jeb run.

They will anyway, of course.

[bad]

Clearly their qualifications are their support of him.

We can't have newly oppointed senators with better qualifications than PEBO.

[Captain Hate]

We can't have newly oppointed senators with better qualifications than PEBO.

People with real birth certificates who know who their father is?

[matt]

I'm feeling like our country has in the past 20 years become more and more like the Russian oligarchy. A core of political players at the top who never change; insider trading and self dealing; no consequences for the dirtbags responsible for the mess we're in; and a media that has serious reality issues.....very disheartening.

[PD]

We can't have newly oppointed senators with better qualifications than PEBO.

Wait. You mean there is someone whose qualifications are actually worse?

[bgates]

Hope! Change! Clinton/Biden/Kennedy!

[eaglewingz08]

Gov Blago appoints Oprah to US Senate to preserve "black" Senate seat. (This will cause pyroxisms in the Senate as Reid has vowed not to seat anyone named by Blago and Oprah's turning it down could cause major rifts in Illinois). That would be a major popcorn event.Any celebrity New York could do, Illinois could do better, Ill could do anything better than New York.

[roger rainey]

Why does the Times refer to her as "Ms. Kennedy"? It doesn't refer to Hillary as "Ms. Rodham".

[sophy]

I will thank for my friends bringing me in this world. I am not regret to buy Hellgate Palladium .