NYCity Boy

hi guys. I live in NY and I am trying to get a grip on some of the politics here but I am only getting thoughts from new yorkers, thought id mix it up with you guys.

what does everyone think about this? do we have another sarah palin on our hands?
I don't really know of her qualifications but it concerns me since i live here. She isnt really a politician, is she? What is her record? Will her celebrity status be a good thing?

Could some others shed some light on her and how she would make a good senate rep? Give me your opinions?

thanks

sunnykerr

I don't think you can really compare Caroline Kennedy with Sarah Palin. Their record in public service alone is incredibly different. Palin was a mayor for six years and a governor for two. Even without taking into account the various problems she left behind, that's not very much.

Naturally, one could argue that Kennedy hasn't held a position of responsibility as yet. But she might become a senator. Not vice-president. So the expectations with regards to experience can be different.

So, does Kennedy's experience suit her as a senator? Well, I can't speak for the people of New York. Ultimately, the voters will be judges of that. I do know she's a bar-certified lawyer, and many politicians were once attorneys. And there is no doubt that she has been a great activist for education as well as a voice in politics for many years, not to mention her role in fostering and defending her family's legacy, from representing her family at state funerals to advising on a program in her father's honour at Harvard.

I personally have little doubt of her suitability for the job. She's got experience in public policy, she seems to have the smarts...

Beyond that, it's up to the people of New York.

NYCity Boy

I see what you mean about not being able to compare her to palin, but there are still some concerns based on fact:

For instance she has never held an elected or appointed office seat. Many attorneys that were elected senate did,

there are many other candidates with experience in public office who are being considered but overlooked

she might not have the backbone or agressiveness to fill Hillarys senate seat

she will not have been given the position through a vote

thanks for your thoughts sunnykerr.

4N6 DNA

Hi Orlando.

Thank you for starting this discussion, I was hoping for a topic on this!

I think that Caroline Kennedy would be an amazing addition to the US Senate. Its not a secret that I am a big fan of the Kennedys, but I do not say this simply because I admire her father. I do not say this just because I believe that her two uncles served and serve their seat well. I say it with confidence in her ability to make a difference in the Senate. In fact, its about time she stepped into the limelight.

You bring up some legitimate concerns and I'd like to take a moment to address them.

To be official on this, the only requirements for filling the Senate seat as per the US Constitution is the following:

"No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of 30 years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen"

Caroline resembles all these. She is in her 50's, is a US citizen and lived most her life in NY. Everything else about her qualifications is purely subjective.

Caroline Kennedy has the constitutional requirement to be Senator. And that is enough of a record to be considered for the position. That being said, she is not without her own personal accomplishments. Writing acclaimed books dealing with the Bill of Rights, serving as a board member of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, founder of the profiles in courage award, adviser to the Harvard institutes of politics, board member of the Commission on Presidential Debates, seat on Obama's Vice Presidential selection, philanthropic dealings in health care, education, civil rights being just a few to start. Many people don't consider that being a great politician isn't just about whether you've done it before, but what you can bring to the table. Especially in a Jr Senate seat. Previous experience is not a requirement. Caroline is a philanthropic powerhouse who spent countless years fighting for the public good and not trying to crawl up the political ladder.

If that is not enough to her character, she has an extensive background in constitutional law.

The senate and House are no stranger to dynasties and celebrities. The Adams, Browns, Bushes, Clintons, Clarks, Arnold, Al frankin being a few examples. I don't mean to say that simply having a famous name will make you a good political leader, but it certainly should not be a reason to think otherwise.

For arguments sake, lets look at her uncle Senator Ted Kennedy. He pursued the seat with no prior experience and with just the Kennedy pedigree, like Caroline is doing right now. Look how well that turned out. He is going to be remembered as one of the greatest public servants of our time. Because he is a kennedy? No, that is just a mere coincidence.

But as for the Kennedy name? The name that spent generations fighting for and died fighting for civil liberties and equal rights? If she is anything like her father or uncles with regards to politics, NY would be so lucky to have her. If nothing else can be said about the Kennedys, they were the voice for the common man, the epitome of humanitarian. A legacy that I'd gladly have continue on in the Senate.

This was the first thing I was afraid of when I heard the whisperings of Caroline as Senator. Its only natural, and I understand how people would jump to this conclusion.

Just a couple things about this. Caroline is well educated in the law and politics. She attended private schools in New York and Mass, attended both Colombia Law School and Harvard. Sarah Palin attended a couple of different universities and a community college and majored in communications/Journalism. They are already at opposite polls of the spectrum with regards to Educational background. Some would call it privileged, but that doesn't mean she isn't a graduate.

People have voiced opinions that Caroline Kennedy is not getting the same scrutiny that Sarah Palin did. I think most importantly, as Sunny also touched on, Sarah Palin was running for Vice President of the United States with the oldest man to ever run, while Caroline, just the senate. She would be over 250 heartbeats away from presidency. Not to denounce the importance of the Senate, but just to put in retrospect the impact that these seats make and the responsibility are not the same.

Edited to include your new post comments

Under Senate rules, when a current standing senator leaves office before the end of term, the governor of the state appoints the successor. She is not getting any special treatment and this process is certainly not implemented just for her. She would not be just handed it on a silver platter. We are just asking that she just be given a chance to prove herself. She deserves to let her record speak for her when she runs in 2010.

Not all Senators have.

On the same plane, lets remember Hillary Clinton's resume when she replaced Senator Moynihan and became NY Senator. She was but the wife of a politician with just a few thoughts on health care and education. She had never been an elected office-holder. She never pushed an agenda but the road to the senate spot was graciously opened to her. In an other recent example, president George W Bush also did not hold a single elected political office before he became governor.

Personally, I don't think that someone who is not aggressive is any less successful a senator than someone who is. But I think that her endorsement of Obama during the primaries against her home state candidate should say something about her unwavering loyalties. And if anything, the Kennedys are known for being competitive.

Caroline is no stranger to politics. She comes from one of the most schooled in politics families. She inherited a political legacy and she is well versed in its practices.

There are members of the house and senate who were teachers, business owners and doctors. It is fair to say that there are those in consideration more qualified then her, but it is unfair to say that Caroline Kennedy is not qualified because she has not held public office. Lets remember, she is not running because of her name, she is running because she is certain she will do a good job.

I just think someone so honest and dedicated to the people should not have her accomplishments discredited by her famous name. Caroline Kennedy is intellectual, well versed in the constitution and a person of the people. Most convincingly, she grew up with a family tradition of public service. I do not live in New York, but I certainly wish that I could have someone like her to represent me.

[/rant]

ceilirose

I think you could do worse for a Senator and it's really up to the Governor of New York to make the decision. Anyone who is going to fill that position will be appointed so the argument about her not being elected is moot.

On paper she's qualified but having said that I do have some hesitation in how Kennedy just shot up to the top list of candidates based on her name. There were and are just as qualified candidates in New York who have more of a political history than she does. I grew up in Massachusetts and I know how the Kennedy machine works. It's not necessarily a bad thing - just one of those "it is what it is" things.

If she is appointed then she can be judged on her record and in two years the people of New York can re-elect her or vote her out. Kennedys aren't invincible. Joseph Kennedy wanted the Governor's office in MA about 10 years or so ago but he couldn't even make the primary. If she is appointed then let's she how she does in the office.

Also I think if Katie Couric asked her what newspapers she read she'd be able to answer the question pretty quickly.

vc318

I don't know much about her political background to really say if she would be qualified to take Hillary's seat but I think she has alot of work to do to convince the people of New York.

sunnykerr

At the end of the day, for me, she's plenty qualified. She may not be the only qualified candidate, that's for sure, but she's plenty qualified.

Bronson

My question is why would she want to run to for the Senate? If anything, I thought she was going to be UN Ambassador, or US Ambassador to the UK which her grandfather was once was, or even Attorney General of the US.

I am not from NY but she does come from good stock. She has managed to keep out of the tabloids unlike her cousins but she is private which will end if she does run.

Her uncles and father served in the senate and Ted Kennedy will go down as one of the geatest US Senators in US history.

As for Palin, the coparison is laughable. Palin is bigoted, ridiculous, idiot and she has proven it with her not going away. Caroline is many steps above her.

sunnykerr

Well, I'm certainly not part of Caroline Kennedy's thought processes, but maybe the fact that her children are probably still in school might have something to do with her going after a post that's a bit more local...

vc318

Is she in the race or not? Still no clear answer.

sunnykerr

I thought I heard/read that she took herself out of the race... Mind you, that was on a crawl on some TV show or other, so I can't really vouch for my sources on that.

It's a shame, really. I think she would have done a great job.

Jerry D

My understanding is that Caroline Kennedy took herself out of the race:

Caroline Kennedy withdraws Senate bid - Yahoo! News

I think that's a shame. Your post said everything I could say about this issue, Jessie, only better.

It should be noted that Ted Kennedy had no political experience when he ran for the Senate at age 30 in a special election to fill his brother's seat, and he turned out to be one of the greatest Senators this country has ever seen.

ericfan1

I heard tonight on ET that the rumor is that she removed herself from the Senate position because of the rumors of her having an affair, and the publicity it would bring.

ceilirose

I hope that isn't true. My opinion was that she might not have been the best candidate for the job but she certainly wasn't the worst. It really wasn't handled very well by both sides -Kennedy and the NY Governor's office IMO.

sunnykerr

Over rumors of an affair? Oh, I hate this world. What the heck is wrong that this would even come up?