Harry's Just Wild About Caroline
By scarce Wednesday Dec 17, 2008 3:30pm
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Sen. Harry Reid is lobbying for Caroline Kennedy to join the Senate and take the seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Hillary Clinton in New York. He's even gone so far as to call Governor David Paterson about it, apparently on his own. Here's what he said to Jon Ralston on Las Vegas 1 about her:
HR: “She's 52 years old. I've spoken to her. She was part of a vetting process for vice presidential choices for Obama. She's lived in government and politics her whole life. I think it would be a tremendous thing. ... We have a lot of stars from New York. Bobby Kennedy. Hillary Clinton. I think Caroline Kennedy would be perfect. “
JR: “So, are you going to call the governor of New York and say, ’She's fine in my book?’”
HR: “I already have.”
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in the crowd at the Oscar De La Joya fight. this guy gets around.
In Nevada, anyway. You know, the Senator from Nevada and whatnot.
Also, iirc, Reid was an amateur practitioner of the sweet science himself. And, iirc, Reid worked- fruitlessly- with McCain to straighten out the sport a few years back:get rid of the alphabet soup of organizations that grant titles, make sure that boxers are looked after medically....
since he is a mormon I assumed he was from Utah, my bad.
Kinda rules him out from holding a statewide office in Utah, no? ;^D
still, as I said farther down the thread, I think they should stop using seniority to promote within the party. Too much like a union, seniority should factor in, but not be the only thing.
The selection isn't based on seniority. So you're wrong on this one, too.
Not to rub it in.Who am I kiddin'? Of course I'm rubbin' it in- but in a friendly way. :DOh no, we have almost as many Mormon's here as Utah has. Lots of young bicycling dynamic duo wielding LDS bibles. Nothing like wearing a Dilbert shirt, tie, and golden name tag while going for a bike ride in 120 heat. They love to spread the spore eating 'saw me an Angel' (or should I say Angle) gold plate message of Joe Shroom Smith.
in my humble o.
On Edit: Creepy in an 'Eddie Haskell' kind of way.
She is not bought and sold.
Fuck FDL, which opposes her.
FDL is just a traditional democratic site.
Screw FDL.
Support Caroline Kennedy.
FDL is a traditional democratic site? PLUEEZE.
Harry Reid is what? A Progressive?
Support Caroline Kennedy--why? She can write herself big checks? Not enough for me, sorry. She's worked for 20 months raising money for public schools for the Bloomberg administration? How about a fair tax code, so that public schools don't have to beg for money? She's "written" 2 books? So what. She's a nice person?
I have not seen one qualification she has that the other contenders lack, except for her last name and deep pockets.
I think that Kennedy is as equally qualified as all the others and will do a fine job. Sorry you have such a problem with her name and political legacy which you seem to equate to an entitlement mentality or aristocracy. Not at all. Spare us your bias and recognize that she is a qualified candidate that happens to be named Kennedy. The reality is that there is nothing she can do to convince you she is qualified.
With Congress having an approval rating under 10.
Pretty sad, huh? You would think that would be a wake up call to these people to actually listen to the public but perhaps not.
Approval rating: 10%
Incumbency rate >90%.
Conclusion: Americans are powerless.
http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/reelect...
n/t
...just too chicken to try anything different. I'm hoping that will change now that we've elected an "anti-president" (in the sense of not being a white middle aged cowboy who wraps himself in the american flag, holds a gun in one hand and a bible in the other, and shits perfectly triangular slices of apple pie.) people won't be so ridiculously scared of diversity and change.
I think that Kennedy is as equally qualified as all the others and will do a fine job
Explain how.
Support Caroline Kennedy--why?
A general weak comment as "She is equally qualified" doesn't cut it.
Sorry you have such a problem with her name and political legacy
Sorry you don't have a problem with someone who uses her name to get a jump ahead out of others who have worked harder in politics than she has.
Actually the money she raised was not for the public schools, but exactly the opposite, it was for charter schools. She's an enabler for Bloomburg who wrested control from the local school boards who would not fund them because they realized that charter schools destroy the public school system (in several ways, ask me how if you want).
No. separate and apart from any of this "dynasty" thing (which also ticks me off) she is a DINO and we've got enough of them thank you very much. Reid's endorsement is just another mark against her.
n/t
1. Charter schools drain monies from the rest of the system. They are typically funded per student greater than the non-charter (read "public") schools in the system. Note that this is recognized as such a problem in NYC that Bloomburg set up an unaccountable non-profit to raise part of the funds. They also skim the best students, leaving the students who need the most attention with the least funds.
2. Once established, charter schools are far less accountable to the elected School Boards. (In NYC these are (or were) known as "disticts, and while not totally autonomous, have a great deal of control.) This is a lack of accountability particular problem in NYC to the point that most of the districts refused to fund them. That was a major factor in Bloomburg disolving the discticts in 2002.
3. An ideal educational situation is a partnership between elected school boards, teachers, and parents. Typical charters not only minimize the influence of the elected boards and parents, but completely ignore input from the very education professionals they employ on the front lines. In NYC this is Bloomburg's attempt to break the United Federation of Teachers. Unlike what you may think, their primary conflict has not been merit pay, the conservative's straw horse, rather that Bloomburg want's them to "teach to the test". You can side with him if you think that and NCLB has been a success.
I may have chunked a few ideas in with each other, but thoise are the facts. If we hadn't had public education for 250 years and "liberals" proposed it now, the "conservative" attitude would be we don't need it and even if we do it's not government's job.
Whatevah. Not crazy about legacies myself, but compared to Bush she's a meritocratic Mandarin.
Also likely to hold the seat for a long time, and in a way help keep liberalism alive in an intergenerational way.
Who I'm not wild about is Harry Reid.
He seems better suited to being Head Librarian than Senate Majority Leader.
If and when--and sadly I think it's when--Caroline Kennedy is given this goody, she will lose to Peter King in 2010. Hate to say it. King is a reactionary loon. But mark my words.
Harry's Just Wild About Caroline
Who cares?
Exactly, who cares about what Harry Reid thinks?
Just look at this bozo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6q0slMhDw8
LMAO! Yes Harry is an idiot, but then so is Pelosi
let her try for the senate seat. i still believe people underestimate and unfairly disrespectful to reid
that has impressed you?
this reid guy is the "next in line" kind of senator that we need to not promote that way anymore.
The people of Nevada keep sending him back.
I'd suggest you contact one of your Senators- if at least one of them is a Democrat, anyway- and try to get them to explain why the caucus chose Reid as the Majority Leader. My guess is that you'll be told that he's a bridge-builder between the different factions in the caucus.
they might say that about anyone that is in there, but it seems like a union, seniority is everything.
Robert Byrd would be the Majority Leader, and Ted Kennedy would be in line to succeed Byrd.
LBJ became Senate Majority Leader at the very beginning of his second term. He knew how to get shit done. He probably twisted some arms- and blackmailed a fellow Senator or two- to get the position, but he got a lot accomplished while in the position.
"LBJ ... got a lot accomplished while in the position."
That there was a lot more bipartisanship in the Federal government back then. Dems controlled both houses of Congress while LBJ was the Majority Leader, and Eisenhower wasn't the type of POTUS to use the veto too often. Compare and contrast to Bushco, and a Senate minority more than willing to use the cloture vote in order to filibuster.
..look giggly and youthful by comparison.
n/t
Now who can we call to get Harry out of the senate?
Does anyone else have a problem with the Honorable Senator from Nevada actively lobbying for someone to take the yet to be vacant seat from New York of Senator Clinton?
The only people who should be lobbying the esteemed Governor New York are those who want the seat and those who are from the state. Everyone else should sit in the bleachers and keep their freaking mouths shut.
If Harry Reid had a spine, he'd be dangerous.
I'm sure that Caroline Kennedy is an absolutely lovely and gracious person, and it must be delightful to just let it be known that you'd like to be a senator to have it happen.
I just don't know if we need any more overprivilged legacies in Congress right now. Caroline Kennedy has led an extremely sheltered and protected life and she just doesn't have the faintest idea how the little people (us, for instance) live. I think the next Senator from New York should be at least a little grounded in the real world.
as a life long new yorker except for a brief decade in Boston, i am not into it. for all the reasons you state. there are plenty of other new yorkers out there that have spent considerably more time looking at the issues impacting New York.
We just had one senator that was basically made a senator because she wanted to be, I dont care for another.
... Hillary's Yankees hat.
Well said, HM
If it might be noted however, reality (in the most human of terms) seems to have a regular habit of lobbing hardballs at the Kennedy family, so perhaps those experiences could be all the grounding that anyone like she could need to hold a political office, representing other, less fortunate people as her.
you "don't know" if we need any more overprivileged legacies? come on, obviously the last thing we need is overprivileged legacies. as far as i'm concerned, her family name is a political impediment that she should have to overcome, not a fast track to power-ville.
thank you!
Gotta love'em. Apparently people keep voting them in.
let's get Taft's relatives in there, and maybe even some more Adams.
I much prefer Addams thank you:
http://storms.typepad.com/photos/uncategorize...
I knew even before clicking on the link that it was gona be something to add to my collection. Thanks, ysb-- and merry whatever-you-celebrate this time of year :)
Alban Arthann.
The Garfields and the Arthurs!
then maybe he should give up his seat so she can have it.
Don't get me wrong. I love Caroline Kennedy. I just hate Harry Reid.
From what I have gathered, Caroline Kennedy seems like an extremely well-mannered woman who has a few choice causes. That is completely fine in my book. However, I also see a person who wouldn't be where she is today without her last name. Unless being a good politician is something that is ingrained in genes, I don't see anything that shows me why she should be a senator. A last name should not guarantee a place of power.
Reid is somewhat "Creepy McCreeperson" with the adulation.
The Democratic leadership in both the House and the Senate remains abysmal. It should be Obama's chief concern.
Both Reed and Pelosi fiddle while the Republicans gear up to give the Dems an opposition party from hell.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?article...
I assume you meant Harry Reid of Nevada - not Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
*
I believe these arguments lose all urgency and some validity when applied to the Senate where there are 100 seats. The White House is a different matter - but in the Senate - I don't see a concern.
I have followed the little peeks we've been allowed of Ms. Kennedy over the years and I have every belief in her honesty and integrity. I'm not sure I find any other quality quite so compelling. It's a given that she's highly intelligent and also that she will have an excellent understanding of how Washington works. I believe she'll be able to open doors that might be difficult for others to open.
Re-Thugs are terrified of her - that's almost reason enough to put her in there on its own.
But I especially like the idea of complimenting Hillary by putting another strong, capable and intelligent woman into the seat that she is giving up.
Caroline Kennedy is an excellent choice. This appointment would be a dream come true.
*
For Reid she's a DILF?
No wonder I prefer John and Britt Reid.
Another rich person in congress. Whoopie. Then we wonder why they give all the money to rich people. When will we ever learn? Never. I don't care if Caroline is a walking talking Christ. It's the MONEY stupid. The rich are not about to give the middle class a break.
And Harry can kiss my fat arse.
"Tepid Tea" Reid has devoted this much energy publicly to get Caroline past all of the hurdles far more qualified (but ordinary) folks have been spending their political lives jumping, but he couldn't be bothered to publicly come out against the many atrocious bills the Repubs passed all of these years?
I didn't want to give any favoritism to Caroline before. Now I'm disgusted by the whole show.
John Reid:
http://www.serialsquadron.com/western/loneran...
His great-grand nephew Britt Reid:
http://www.geocities.com/lrghfans/GreenHornet...
or so the legend goes
Actually Doc Savage paved the way for Superman. His name was Clark, he was the Man of Bronze (not Steel), and he had a Fortress of Solitude long before the big blue boy scout.
And actually there was a James Gordon long before the commissioner in Batman. He was an adventurer/detective in the mold of The Shadow, The Spider, the Phantom Detective, Secret Agent X, Operator 5 and was called The Whisperer, not to be confused with The Whistler.
does she have the stomach for a reelection bid
she will probably be up against rudy...and he can fight dirty
i think reid believes that he can control her...i think he is wrong
and damnit...she is hot
Rudy who?
Always the best reason for a person to be in the Senate.
Take another look next time she's got a close up on the news...
A fifty yarder at best.
But that's irrelevant really...
I was being facetious/ sarcastic. I was just commenting on the last remark of the original poster.
Sarcasm never translates well across the internet.
Its not just that Caroline didn't support Senator Clinton for president. Its because Clinton doesn't want another liberal woman with who can challenge her as the great female hope.
Hills is the great female hope? I'd like to talk to that person because she decidedly is not.
*Unless you're thinking that Hillary thinks that which I'm sure is the case.
I don't think Hillary has made any comment regarding the coming appointment to her seat. Someone tried making a claim that SHE SUPPORTED CK's appointment yesterday. Funnily enough, upon request for a direct source for it, he disappeared.
Harry has committed so much corruptiion with the Bush Administratiion he's using Caroline for back up when the charges against Harry come to light. Makes friends and use them later is Harry's motto. To bad Caroline knows better and Harry will be on his own.
I am amazed the reaction to CKS is that she's seems like a nice person but. Well she is a lawyer and probably well versed in politics and humanitarian causes, and seems incredibly intelligent, to say she's too lovely or nice for politics, whatya want an an untrained ignorant crackpot from Wassila? My only problem is the Kennedy curse-she's been well away from that up to now.
It's the whole appointment thing that sticks in my craw.
Feels undemocratic, and more like something that goes on in a monarchy or dictatorship...am I overreacting? Maybe...wouldn't be the first time.
Do any of y'all's know how I can get copies of the Torchy Blaine movie series?
OK, like so many, I'm sure Caroline is a perfectly lovely human being. But a human being with absolutely no hands-on political dirt-digging. How much of New York State does she know other than NYC?
Hillary did us no favors up here in Upstate. She has left us with less than nothing--unemployment and poverty through the roof, dying cities with nothing but her empty promises to remember (Utica, Buffalo and Binghamton, to name a few). I'm a Democrat and voted for her because the alternative candidates were even worse. She didn't know this state. And now, I'm feeling a strong case of Deja Vu coming on...
Our Dear Caroline was in Syracuse today, and her handlers practically body-blocked her from answering even one single question posed to her by local journalists. Great. Just what we need here.
Andrew Cuomo, our bulldog Attorney General, would make such a terrific Senator, and would fight for ALL New Yorkers--not just the NYC/LongIsland/Westchester County residents. It will not happen. Wanna know why? His first wife was Robert Kennedy's daughter, Kerry. They divorced. The Kennedy's are not terribly fond of Andrew, and have made their case to Governor Patterson. Kennedy acrimony runs deep.
All we want--- all we really, really want--- in Upstate NY is for someone to have our backs. Caroline's got a whole lot to prove to us.
It's refreshing to see someone who's got some skin in this who makes an actual argument against Kennedy (not that I'm against her, or for her), AND presents a legitimate alternative.
Cuomo is the one going after these Wall Street companies, and particularly the bonuses of the guys who caused the fiasco, when Washington not only refused to do so but has been rewarding them. He would make a superb senator.
But no, we have to have Star Power. Brand name recognition.
ugly little left over scandal from his years in the Clinton administration. He's tried to sweep that under the rug and his tough guy - beat up the criminals persona does seem tailor made to sidetrack anyone talking about his less than stellar past.
I was focusing on his present performance, but fair enough.
He's also a "fortunate son". But for every Cuomo, there are many in civil service who served well and honorably throughout their career.
People with proven talent and integrity, who are kept from becoming a senator when someone with the proper connections and "brand name" decides they want the job and bypasses them.
By the way, for those saying this could be temporary, that someone else could be voted to take Caroline's place next term, I have one thing to say:
Incumbent senators are pretty much permanent, unless they are voted out by the opposition party.
Our Dear Caroline was in Syracuse today, and her handlers practically body-blocked her from answering even one single question posed to her by local journalists. Great. Just what we need here.
*shakes head*
I was hoping she would prove me wrong, but I guess not.
I would rather have an honest, trustworthy intelligent layman, even if inexperienced, than a professional politician. I still say we give anyone seeking any government position a lie detector test just to know who and what they really are!
Stop with the name recognition BS. My God, we just elected a president who was practically unknown 5 years ago because he has what it takes to be a leader. I don't know this lady except that her last name is Kennedy. What has she done? Who the hell is she? Stop the BS, people. This is called cronyism and we had enough of it in the last 8 years.
who have ever served were appointed. It's not exactly an unusual way for someone who has emphasized family over career to get started.
There's also some very strong Patterson-Dinkins-Kennedy connections as a back story.
I think Reid and several others have Teddy on their minds and in their hearts on this one. They don't see any other candidates who they believe out-shine Caroline, so they have decided to please the Lion of the Senate in his twilight years.
I don't approve of those appointments either.
This nepotism and aristocracy BS makes me mad.
It's one thing for a relative of a politician to run for the same office, if they win great. They played by the rules, such as they are.
But these damned appointments just don't sit right with me...
If Ms. Kennedy wanted to enter politics she could have run and had her choice of many, many offices. But she chose not to.
Now, she wants a Senate seat, not only as her first government job, but as her first paying job - ever (no, attending charity balls does not count even if you call your friends and have them bring their checkbooks).
Moreover, she appears to want this job "no questions asked." Literally. She pulled a Sarah Palin in Syracuse today refusing to answer any questions and pretending she was too busy and too much in a hurry. What could she possibly have had to do? She was asked: "Where are you going?" Her response: "To the car." That was her concern for the public.
But, for her, answering questions is irrelevant - especially answering to the "little people." She's got the family wealth and power.
Louise Slaughter is a congresswoman from NY-28 who chairs the Rules Committee. She was just elected to her twelfth term. She is very experienced and very progressive.
Unfortunately, she is a Kentucky coal miner's daughter, and her family doesn't have the Kennedy wealth, power, or mythology. She also hasn't published 5 poetry books or 2 People Magazine-style books on civil rights. She has a graduate degree which, unlike Ms. Kennedy, she has actually used in the real world.
Comparing Caroline Kennedy's "qualifications" to Rep. Slaughter's is beyond laughable. Without her last name, Ms. Kennedy would barely qualify to work on Rep. Slaughter's senior staff. Yet recently Louise Slaughter kissed the Kennedy ring and pretended she liked it. Worse than sad.
What are your qualifications Ms. Kennedy? What have you been doing over the past decade as this country has unraveled? Are you enjoying those Bush tax cuts?
If she gets this appointment, Gov. Paterson should join Gov. Blago in a federal penitentiary, because there is no way she could be appointed on any other basis than Kennedy favors/Kennedy threats.
HEAR HEAR!
I have nothing against Caroline, but she should run for the office, and be ELECTED to get the seat, not appointed to it! I was under the impression that's how senators get to office in this country...guess I was wrong.
Just my two cents.
but being a surviving family member of a legend should count for something.
I think Reid is right, Caroline would be a splendid addition to the exclusive Capitol Hill Brunch Club and Benevolent Association.
I must have done woked up in Bizarro World.
I like caroline and support her candidacy in spite of harry's endorsement. Remember, caroline, you have good lineage and you're too experienced (that's age) to fall in line with the good old boys. Do and vote what's right, not what's expedient or politically correct.
Reids endosement is definitely a black mark for Kennedy in my book!
Not too peachy keen with that either...she might be fully qualified for that office...but it seems that everyone involved is just fawning over her, because she's a Kennedy.
Let her run for that office, not be appointed to it...
Am I alone here?
I mean seriously...has all pretense of being a democracy just vanished?
Or am I missing something?
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