Caroline for Senate? Chill Already

So the conservative — and even much of the liberal — world is up at arms at the prospect that Caroline Kennedy will be appointed to fill Hillary Clinton’s seat.

What do I think? Eh! No biggie.

Who do conservatives think is going to get the spot: Rush Limbaugh? This seat is going to an over-the-top liberal in any event. At least Ms. Kennedy seems fairly sensible and is plugged into the business community, and has some credentials in the area of education reform.

She lacks experience? And her predecessor was the dean of the delegation? As a speechwriter, I’ve worked directly for three outstanding Senators and met a number of others. The job does not involve any life-or-death decisions, and any reasonably intelligent grad student could manage it easily if he or she has energy (in the case of some of the octagenarians holding down seats, maybe not even that) and is smart enough to bring along some good staff. Ms. Kennedy will have her pick of the family Mafia, some of whom I know, and I can assure you that whatever their political perspectives, they truly are the best and the brightest. The state of New York will be more than adequately represented.

It’s undemocratic to elect someone who has never run for office? Look, the “democratic” system is highly overrated. It gave us Jimmy Carter and is about to hand us Al Franken as Senator from Minnesota. I rest my case.

The woman comes from a strong family tradition of public service, the kind of family background which frequently offers up dedicated and capable professional leaders. She knows her way around. Ms. Kennedy has made her own contribution as the guardian of her father’s legacy and as a fund-and awareness-raiser for the reform efforts of New York City schools Chancellor Joel Klein. Moreover, the Heiress of Camelot has proven herself to be a kingmaker in her own right, delivering a critical and timely endorsement that elevated the seriousness of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign to a new level.

And if grudge-holders at either end of the political spectrum are unhappy with the choice or Ms. Kennedy’s performance in office, they will have not one but two shots at the junior Senator in the next four years. She will have to run in what will undoubtedly be two of the highest profile Senate elections in history in 2010 and 2012. If she is as vulnerable on the issues and experience as Republicans think, we should be drooling at the prospect.

Caroline Kennedy for Senate? The state and the nation could do a lot worse. And, in fact, is about to.

UPDATE: Allahpundit at Hot Air seems a lot more exercised about Caroline’s qualifications (not to mention the Caroline-Sarah double standard) than I am.

Tags: Caroline Kennedy, New York, Senate

Thursday, December 25th, 2008 Politics

85 Comments to Caroline for Senate? Chill Already

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