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02.12.2008
This Is Getting Ridiculous, Part 2

Ben Smith notes that "the name currently swirling to the fore [to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate] among my New York sources is Caroline Kennedy."

Ugh, seriously? I don't at all mind Caroline Kennedy. My colleague Michelle compared her favorably to other, less poised members of the clan, calling her "the Great Custodian--an eternally gracious, dignified, selfless link to a purer, more buoyant political age." But do we really need to keep filling New England's Senate seats with selections from this dynasty? After being diagnosed with a malignant glioma, Ted Kennedy telegraphed his desire to see his wife take over the Massachusetts Senate seat he's held for 46 years if, God forbid, he dies. Can't we give some non-Kennedy families a chance at these seats?

--Eve Fairbanks

Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 11:41 AM with 10 comment(s)

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Androscoggin said:

New York is not part of New England.

December 2, 2008 1:10 PM

a_long said:

New York is so not New England. But I agree wholeheartedly with your point.

December 2, 2008 1:13 PM

JRGBruno said:

New York is not part of New England.

December 2, 2008 1:33 PM

janus said:

I was going to write a defense of my belief, long ingrained since the beginnings of a misbegotten childhood spent in DC, that pretty much everything north and east of Maryland, including Pennsylvania, is New England.

But what do I find, but that on August 11, 1688, the conquered provinces of New York and New Jersey, seized from the Dutch, were added to The Dominion of New England by King James II!

So =P

December 2, 2008 1:47 PM

Wandreycer1 said:

I'm a sentimentalist.  Your points are immaculate Eve (et all) and I'm sure you're right, but - I afraid I think she'd be divine. She won't want it I'd bet -  Hillary actually likes statistics on dairy herds and can sit in Albany and talk water insurance with lobbyists for hours, bless her.  I'll go out on a llimb here and say that I don't think Caroline does.

Just to make you fully sick today, I also want Maria to run for Govenor of California too - she's approaching Obama level rock star status in CA these days. Her husband has lost heart and she just gains more and more every day. She's a star - highly competent first and foremost BTW.

Anyone else? Oh yes, I'd love to find a place for the mercurial BK Jr. too, Interior?

(This only applies to families I like. I'll be happy tp trot out the anti-dynasty shtick if Jeb even thinks about it).

December 2, 2008 1:59 PM

dalerenee said:

I may have to eat my words, but I wouldn't worry too much about Vicky Kennedy replacing Ted when the time comes.  We "Massachutans" may both love the Kennedys and be sentimental, but there are a lot of seasoned pols up here who are chomping at the bit for that seat.  

December 2, 2008 3:11 PM

rozenson said:

Eve, check with Mike on this. The Kennedys ARE Boston. It's inescapable.

December 2, 2008 4:05 PM

Andrew Davis said:

How about a nice Davis, eh?

December 2, 2008 4:33 PM

butchie b said:

Gee, Wandrey, get the schtick ready.  Martinez is leaving and the Jebster is still pretty popular hereabouts!

December 3, 2008 3:36 PM

amidut said:

Caroline Kennedy is a nice lady, but shouldn't we ask for more in our elected officials? We used to be a republican country! Now we have a hereditary aristocracy and nobody gives it a second thought.

December 3, 2008 8:16 PM