Caroline’s Out - Mark Hemingway - The Corner on National Review Online
Sources said the reason Paterson had decided not to tap the daughter of John F. Kennedy was her poor performances in media interviews and in in private sessions with various officials.
She must have been truly pathetic in order for Democrats inebriated by her family name to decide that even its in-the-tank mainstream media wouldn’t be able to cover for her lack of ability.
Submit to Stumbled Upon!
Uncle Ted (the Swimmer) won’t be around much longer. That makes it hard for him to pull the right chains.
Considering today’s lesson in street slang, this could have been an unfortunate turn of phrase.
It’s kind of a relief to know that even they feel like there’s some line they can’t cross.
Paterson’s been a machine politician his entire life. I doubt “not crossing a line” has anything to do with it. Probably has more to do with the waning Kennedy power and the ability to get more obligation by appointing someone else.
Agreed, SteveF. Paterson’s first lookout will be for himself. He has no statewide base, having been a cog in the NYC Dem machine his whole career. He’s got to put someone in that Senate seat who can help him get re-elected in the upcoming NY GOV Dem primary, and also beat anyone the GOP runs (particularly if that turns out to be Rudy G.)
What I think this means is that he’s got to pick someone who is not too prominent in their own right - someone who will owe him a debt for the hand up. That’s not Caroline Kennedy, with her celebrity name recognition. It’s also not Andrew Cuomo, with his own name recognition, popularity, and Clinton connections. He also doesn’t want to pick someone who is too much of a Schumer or Silver crony.
I expect that what this adds up to is that Paterson will pick someone who is neither a celebrity nor from NYC. Upstate or Long Island sounds about right for someone trying to create a statewide base for re-election. It wouldn’t surprise me if he defied the conventional analysts and picked Rep. Brian Higgins from Buffalo.
You kidding me? OK, so I voted against Brian Higgins last time, but I have to admit I did it purely because he’s a Democrat. Otherwise, I’d have to admit that despite his party affiliation, the man has demonstrated –gasp– competence.
Which means that, in the larger world of NY state politics, he doesn’t stand a chance.
(Especially since he comes from that insignificant region of NY north of Manhattan known as “upstate.”)