[Rhodes22-list] Political- Caroline To Seek NY Senatorial Seat

[Brad Haslett]

Ben,

" The elder Kennedy (D-Mass.), who's battling brain cancer, has sent
word to Gov. Paterson's office that Caroline Kennedy, 51, has contacts
and family connections that would mean legislation affecting New York
would receive prompt attention, family sources said."

I read that statement to mean she can get money for New Yorkers.
Unfortunately, with our current earmark policy that is precisely how
voters look at their leaders. I don't see the NY senate seat situation
much differently than having someone "hold" a seat in Delaware until
Biden's son comes home, ie, political dynasties ignoring the voters
best interest in favor of their own.

Brad

On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 7:20 PM, Ben Cittadino <bcittadino at dcs-law.com> wrote:
>
> December 16, 2008    New York Times
> Caroline Kennedy to Seek Clinton's Senate Seat
> By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
> Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided
> to pursue the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary
> Rodham Clinton of New York.The decision came after a series of deeply
> personal and political conversations, in which Ms. Kennedy, whom friends
> describe as unflashy but determined, wrestled with whether to give up what
> has been a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight.
>
> Kennedy made calls on Monday morning to alert political figures to her
> interest.
>
> Gov. David A. Paterson of New York confirmed that she was interested in
> being appointed.
>
> "She told me she was interested in the position," Mr. Paterson said at a
> news conference. "She realized it wasnot a campaign, but she was talking to
> other people because shethought that a number of people, she felt, should
> know that she'sinterested in the position. She'd like at some point to sit
> down andtell me what she thinks her qualifications are."
>
> Senator Charles Schumer said that he had also spoken to Ms. Kennedy and that
> said she was "clearly interested." "Bottom line isthat the Governor and I
> talk regularly on this," he said in a television interview, "but we have
> decided to keepeach other's counsel, so that is all I am going to say right
> now."
>
> If appointed, Ms. Kennedy would fill the seat once held by her uncle, Robert
> F. Kennedy.
>
> Ms. Kennedy's decision is likely to have a major impact on the governor's
> considerations as he mulls who should succeed Mrs. Clinton. Already, some
> other Democrats have pointedly questioned her credentials for the job.
> United States Representative Gary Ackerman, a Queens Democrat, said last
> week that he did not know what Ms. Kennedy's qualifications were, "except
> that she has name recognition — but so does J. Lo."
>
> Others, including Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg have praised her abilities.
>
> Ms. Kennedy first telephoned the governor on Dec. 3 to inquire about the
> job, but Mr. Paterson described that conversation as "informational" and
> said it was clear that Ms. Kennedy had not decided whether she wanted to
> pursue the position.
>
> But since then, she has begun reaching out to key political figures in New
> York, including Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the State Assembly, and
> Thomas P. DiNapoli, the state comptroller. She has also hired Knickerbocker
> SKD, a prominent political consulting firm headed by Josh Isay, a former
> chief of staff to Senator Charles E. Schumer, to advise her.
>
> Ms. Kennedy's family members, especially her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,
> have urged her to seek the post.
>
> Mrs. Clinton has said that she would not vacate the Senate seat until she
> was confirmed as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state, which is
> expected to occur in January or February, and the governor has said that he
> would wait until then to make the appointment. But he has also said that he
> might make his selection known before then, to allow whomever is chosen to
> prepare for the new role.
>
> Ms. Kennedy, 51, a resident of Manhattan's Upper East Side, took an
> unusually public role in Mr. Obama's campaign, and the two became friends.
> Mr. Obama appointed Ms. Kennedy to the panel that vetted potential
> vice-presidential candidates for him.
>
> Before that, Ms. Kennedy had devoted much of her time to charitable works
> and institutions linked to her family, like the John F. Kennedy Library
> Foundation, of which she is president.
>
> Others likely to be considered for the Senate seat are members of Congress
> including Kirsten Gillibrand, a rising star in the Democratic party who
> represents an upstate district; Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County chief
> executive and a former candidate for governor; and the New York State
> attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo.
>
>
> I think this is just an outstanding idea. Brad? Others?
>
> Ben C.
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Political--Caroline-To-Seek-NY-Senatorial-Seat-tp21025542p21025542.html
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
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