Blue Mass Group

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Caroline W. Kennedy

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Is Caroline Kennedy the Democratic George W. Bush?

Both are children of presidents.

Both went off to college at their famous father’s alma mater.

Both held a series of jobs in which their prime qualification was their famous father.

Both never held public office before seeking a top office in a very large state.

Now we find reports that Caroline’s biggest backer, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-Medford) and his chancellor, Joel Klein, are greatly inflating her part-time role in the New York City schools.  Newsday is also reporting that Caroline has a sorry, spotty record when it comes to casting a ballot on election day.

With all that talent in New York State, why would the best candidate be someone with a famous name, a demonstrated disinterest in the basic elements of electoral politics, and no track record on the issues of the day?

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  1. Seriously, those comparisons are just too worthless.

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    p>The other stuff you mention, data pertaining to her own actions, is always worth looking into for candidates.

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    p>Has anyone else come forward and announced an interest in the position, or just Kennedy?  There is nothing from keeping interested parties from “campaigning”, or “lobbying” the public to be the popular pick.  In fact, I had heard that Kennedy was going to do just that around the state in the weeks before the appointment can be made.  Anyone know if she or anyone else has started that?  

    • She has been working to shore up support to convince Democratic Gov. David Paterson that she is best qualified to be appointed to the job. This week, she visited officials in three cities in upstate New York and had lunch in Harlem with civil rights activist Al Sharpton.

      Any other senator wannabees taken to the icy NY highways in search of glory?  Or are they all just huddled up whining as if htey were bloggers about how awful it is that the gov appoints the fill-in senator? đŸ˜‰

    • Until there is far more evidence of substance and achievement on the part of Caroline Kennedy, I think you are going to see more and more writers who are highly critical of the prospects of Senator Caroline.

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      p>It will intensify every time there is a news cycle like this one.

      Caroline Kennedy’s claim on Hillary Clinton’s soon to be vacant Senate seat took a couple of hits on Friday. The Associated Press revealed that Kennedy hasn’t voted in at least six major elections in the last 20 years, including the 1994 election for the seat she wants to claim. And on “Hardball” this afternoon, Kerry Kennedy told Chris Matthews she didn’t know whether or not her cousin is pro-choice; she said they’d never talked about it.

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      p>Kerry Kennedy also told Chris Matthews that it would be wonderful for such a good mother to be in the senate.  If gender and motherhood are qualifications, let’s think back to every local political campaign we have ever worked on.  The most passionate, hard working, smartest folks in local politics around my neighborhood tend to be women.  There are women ringing doorbells, making phone calls, running for school committee, selectman, the state house.  There are plenty of women who live and breathe the passion of politics and public policy, who have worked to earn a seat at the table.  And we are going to bypass this whole population of hard-working, smart, dedicated women in favor of someone who doesn’t even bother to vote half the time?

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      p>A patrician parachuting into the senate, with no record of political involvement, is offensive.  It is offensive when Kerry Kennedy gets on television and talks about all the women who have worked for 59 cents on a dollar and denied opportunities to have a leadership role.  Those hard-working passionate political women will again be denied a seat at the table, denied the top job, because a wealthy woman with family ties wants the seat.  Humbug.

      • The most passionate, hard working, smartest folks in local politics around my neighborhood * tend to be women.  There are women ringing doorbells, making phone calls, running for school committee, selectman, the state house.  There are plenty of women who live and breathe the passion of politics and public policy, who have worked to earn a seat at the table.

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        p>Think big! the smartest hardworking folk in your state country and planet tend to be women.

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        p>And all to often, when we spot an opportunity to jump in to an open seat, we, all too often, are told by, oh so kind male professional pols, to wait a bit. Our hard earned organizing, fund raising,political skills aren’t good enough. Stick to running phone banks my dear.

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        p>Politically active “volunteer” mothers juggling child care know how to play Ginger Rodgers dancing backward in high hills with Fred Whatshisname when they have to.

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        p>Caroline is ready to take the lead I think. There is no doubt she has charismatic leadership abilities, a commitment to social economic and racial justice,will be able to attract a top notch staff, find strong allies in upper New York, make solid connections in the United State Senate, and raise the dough to run a hell of a campaign in 2010.

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        p>A perfect appointment I think.

        • Judy wrote:

          And all to often, when we spot an opportunity to jump in to an open seat, we, all too often, are told by, oh so kind male professional pols, to wait a bit. Our hard earned organizing, fund raising,political skills aren’t good enough. Stick to running phone banks my dear.

          Except that Caroline Kennedy wasn’t one of those hard-working women at the phone banks. Half the time she didn’t even bother to vote!

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          p>A glass ceiling, by gender or aristocracy, is still a barrier to advancement for the passionate workers who actually advance a progressive agenda.

          • Caroline is ready to take the lead I think. There is no doubt she has charismatic leadership abilities, a commitment to social economic and racial justice,will be able to attract a top notch staff, find strong allies in upper New York, make solid connections in the United State Senate, and raise the dough to run a hell of a campaign in 2010.

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            p>So what if she’s never run a phone bank? And skipped some uncontested primaries? Or a couple of important final elections?

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            p>Frankly I think it’s a plus that she was born into a family with a long and shall we say, colorful history of public service?

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            p>If anybody can handle the inevitable Kennedy hater attacks  she can.

      • they are only about tearing down Kennedy for no better reason than to tear her down.  I have no problem with looking at any potential senator critically.  But unless you’re going to then stand behind an alternate who we know has an interest in the job, the exercise seems nasty to me.

  4. In those series of jobs, only one of them continually ran companies into the ground.  That would be Dubaya.

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    p>This is a piss poor post.  I am embarrassed for you.

  6. I am a proud and active Democrat…however this comparison is absurd based on a single fact:

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    p>In 1994 George W. Bush defeated incumbent Texas Governor Ann Richards, 53.5% to 45.9%.

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    p>George Bush defeated an INCUMBENT Governor of one of our largest states. He was not appointed to this seat, he brought his case to the voters and (unfortunately) they voted elected him.

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    p>The whole reason we are debating Caroline Kennedy is because of the prospect that she is could be “appointed” to a position in which her only qualification is her name. Were she to run for the Senate in an election before the voters, then I would defend her candidacy. However this is not the case…

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    p>George Bush entered Elective Politics by being elected.

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    p>….To continue with this, a comparison was made on RMG to Niki Tsongas, and Hillary Clinton – that their viability as candidates were based entirely on the actions of their male relatives.

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    p>It really bums me out when I see people making these comparisons because it undermines the achievements of these women.

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    p>- Niki Tsongas would not have been viable were it not for her name, but she went on to win the Democratic nomination in a 5 candidate primary – beating back 4 opponents who were all elected officials. Tsongas then went on to win against several other general election opponents. The only people who gave her this seat were the voters. I was a Finegold supporter at the time, but I hold no hard feelings because Tsongas gained the support of the voters.

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    p>- When HRC decided to run for Senate in 2000, she was criticized for “Shopping around” for a Senate seat. Yes her viability was exclusively because of her spouse, but she went to New York, ran an aggressive campaign, and won her position as a Senator from NY – not by convincing the Governor that she was a good candidate – but by convincing the voters.

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    p>I think Caroline Kennedy, if appointed would make a great Senator. I also understand the frustration that some may feel because she will be given the seat through an appointment. But PLEASE avoid comparisons to other “dynasty politicians” such as Bush, Tsongas, Clinton, Cuomo, and Biden. They benefited from their names, but it was at the discretion of the voters to determine how much they would benefit.

  7. I have no objectivity on this topic.  I want Caroline Kennedy to get this seat.  Many people who have my respect have made good arguments for other appointments, especially the (6?) female members of Congress from New York.  I rationalize my enthusiasm for Kennedy by thinking about one of the strongest assets she will bring to the people of New York:  the ear of the new President.

  8. If Caroline Kennedy’s experience as an “author” sit atop her list of qualifications for the US Senate, there’s someone even more qualified.  Ellen Alderman.

    Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg’s 1991 book, In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action, and her 1996 book, The Right to Privacy, were written with Ellen Alderman. She published a collection of some of the favorite poems of her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in 2001. In 2002, she published a collection of essays which echoed her father’s 1957 Profiles in Courage, and in 2003 a collection of patriotic poems, speeches, and songs.

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    p>In case you haven’t noticed, Ellen Alderman is the lead author on the books that aren’t mere “collections” of the works of others.

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    p>

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    p>With every look, a thin resumé looks even thinner.

  9. Is Caroline Kennedy the Democratic George W. Bush?

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    p>Ya know, I find it disgusting when putative allies of mine discuss Rick Warrens weight, using such derogatory handles as ‘tubby’, as though that has any bearing whatsoever on his politics.  I likewise experience disgust when, however, disagreeable they find the process of senatorial appointments, they rip into a putative ally like Caroline Kennedy.

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    p>Here’s a news flash: YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE.  Whomever it is that David Patterson picks (oh, and by the way, Patterson himself is a scion of NY politics…) you will be able to find something to disagree with.  So, while you can rail against paternity politics, let me rail against purity tests… mkay?

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