[speechlesstx]

Just the fact that these seats are appointed breeds corruption. If a senate seat is vacated, why would there not be a new election? It makes no sense.

New York is going to have a circus as well for Hilary's seat. So far the front runners are Andrew Cuomo, his ex-wife's cousin Carolyn Kennedy and Fran "The Nanny" Drescher!

At least Fran has the accent for it... and she still looks pretty hot. :)

[magprob]

At least Fran has the accent for it...and she still looks pretty hot. :)

Amen to that. All in favor of Franny the Nanny say I.

[tomder55]

The FBI claims that they have proof Obama was not involved. Do you think they are lying to protect him?

That is parsing . Just listening the Blogo's rants makes it clear that discussions between the Obama camp and Blogo happened at some level . Blogo did not like the deal ;thus the diatribe.

Now if it turns out that ,as David Schyster of MSNBC reported , that the Obama camp nixed the idea of a deal and that Rhambo informed the authorities... then that should be made public also . Why is Obama parsing his words so carefully in public if he doesn't have to ?

Today's column in the Washington Compost by Obama Supporter Eugene Robinson states my position well.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121102953.html

He delivers an expletive-laden tirade against Obama, according to the court papers, because he believes Obama wants him to give the job to a specific candidate "for nothing." This actually makes the president-elect and his team look good -- but also raises a host of questions that need to be answered.
Obama has denied speaking to Blagojevich about the Senate seat. But Obama's initial statement seemed crafted to avoid the question of whether his aides had been in touch with the governor's office. He said at a news conference yesterday that he was certain his people "had no involvement with any dealmaking," and he added that his staff was still "gathering facts" about possible contacts.
But all this seems awfully coy. It's obvious that the president-elect would have an interest in who was appointed to the Senate from his home state -- for good reason. For that matter, it would be unusual if the president-elect didn't have a preferred candidate. The normal thing would be for Obama's staff to talk to Blagojevich's staff -- and, unless prosecutors have asked him not to, I don't understand why Obama hasn't stated this simple fact.
Blagojevich thought, according to the affidavit, that Obama wanted the Senate seat to go to someone identified only as "Senate Candidate 1" -- believed to be Valerie Jarrett, a prominent Chicago businesswoman who is one of Obama's closest supporters. On the evening of Nov. 10, Democratic sources abruptly cut off speculation about Jarrett and the Senate seat by leaking word that she would become a White House adviser.
That happens to be the same day that the FBI overheard Blagojevich, in a two-hour conference call with his wife and advisers in Illinois and Washington, talking in detail about the various candidates and what he wanted in return from appointing any of them. That raises the question of what the Obama team knew about the investigation and when....


None of this is likely to hurt Obama in any material way or even dim the glow of his victory and upcoming inauguration. But maybe it can be a lesson. Real "change" would be throwing away the playbook and getting all the facts out now, rather than later.

Just the fact that these seats are appointed breeds corruption. If a senate seat is vacated, why would there not be a new election? It makes no sense.

New York is going to have a circus as well for Hilary's seat. So far the front runners are Andrew Cuomo, his ex-wife's cousin Carolyn Kennedy and Fran "The Nanny" Drescher!

Another case where the question begs answering ;what is Uncle Fat Teddy (the swimmer ) doing to advance his niece's case for the job ? After the Dems made such a big issue of Sarah Palin's qualifications it is comical to advance Carolyn Kennedy . Yes Fran Drescher is equally qualified as CK .

Since NY Senate Seats are often held by less than qualified people (apologies to Daniel Patrick Moynahan ) and carpetbaggers from Mass.and Arkansas ;I suppose it is a debatable point about what is proper qualifications for the job ?

[speechlesstx]

Yep, Obama is parsing his words very carefully. I don't believe anyone would think it unusual for him to have discussions about the seat so yes, why isn't he coming right out and saying so?

As for CK, Froma Harrop notes "her government service starts and ends at raising private money for the New York City schools." Add Uncle Ted's remarks that she's backed by "the Kennedy family's extensive fundraising network," and her qualifications appear to be money and fame - the latter of which is why feminists have backtracked on their support for Carolyn Maloney. "You're talking to someone who thinks Ted Kennedy is the most effective senator there," said Eleanor Smeal.

I suppose if Caroline wants the job it's hers according to the NY Times, "Some influential Democrats have privately suggested that given the buzz set off by Ms. Kennedy's emergence, the governor would have little choice but to appoint her if she decided she truly wanted the job."

Perhaps Blago's troubles will change that. Nah.

[tomder55]

Again... what is the quid pro quo ? David Patterson is the product of the corrupt Harlem machine (see Charles Rangel for illustration) .

And no ;I'm not saying that because of his roots he is necessarily corrupt himself .Harry Truman emerged from a similar political machine and became a reform crusader . Still ;Patterson walks on thin ice when he takes advice from the swimmer. If he were to ask me for advice I would tell him that no one in NY is better suited to the job than Congressman Peter King. But he won't ask me.

[inthebox]

After the Dems made such a big issue of Sarah Palin's qualifications it is comical to advance Carolyn Kennedy . Yes Fran Drescher is equally qualified as CK .

Kennedy is qualified because she is a Kennedy ;) as well as a lawyer.

The Nanny? If she gets the seat, maybe in 2 years she will have enough experience to run for POTUS in 2012 :D







g&p

[tomder55]

Update :

Princess Caroline bowed out under still reasons unclear.

However ; Governor Patterson stumbled onto perhaps the best candidate . He named Democrat moderate Congresswomen Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Evita.

Gillibrand is a Blue Dog democrat who has a 100% rating from the National Rifle Association. She supports hunter's rights, voted for extending funding for the war in Iraq, supported the Bush tax cuts and best of all... voted against the Wall Streat bailout!! She comes from a conservative Republican hunting family, and her father has strong ties to the New York GOP. My kind of DEM!

This could be good strategery on Patterson's part. There is an opening for Republicans like Pete King or Rudi to pick off this seat in 2 years. But they would be less inclined if a Conservative Dem holds it.

Of course the moonbats in NY are howling..

[jjwoodhull]

The early reports are that Caroline Kennedy paid a house keeper off the books. When are these "politicians" going to learn?

[tomder55]

The successions of the Obama and Evita seats ;along with the continuing melodrama in Minnesota is worthy of an Academy Award. This further illustrates the folly that the Connecticut Compromise has become. I think it was Princess Caroline's relationship with Pinch Sulzberger that did her in .lol