Reid Privately Pushing for Caroline Kennedy

[MadBadger]

Reid Privately Pushing For Caroline Kennedy
By Greg Sargent - December 16, 2008, 4:29PM
Caroline Kennedy is picking up support in her quest to grab Hillary's Senate seat from none other than the Dems' Senate leader, Harry Reid.

Reid privately told New York Governor David Paterson, who will pick Hillary's replacement, that he backed Kennedy.

"Senator Reid called Governor Patterson a week or so ago to voice support for her," a Senate leadership aide emails. "He thinks that she would make an outstanding senator."

It's unclear how or whether Reid's backing will impact Paterson's thinking.

Late Update: Reid himself explains his thinking in an interview set to air tonight:

"She's 52 years old. I've spoken to her. She was part of a vetting process for vice presidential choices for Obama. She's lived in government and politics her whole life. I think it would be a tremendous thing...We have a lot of stars from New York. Bobby Kennedy. Hillary Clinton. I think Caroline Kennedy would be perfect."

Not saying something should be done cuz Harry wants it...but just sayin'

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/reid_privately_pushing_for_car.php

[pnwmom]

1. This confirms what I suspected:

that Ms. Kennedy would have a respected and influential position in the Senate from day 1 -- unlike the typical freshman Senator.

Which would be of great benefit to the State of New York.

[cali]

3. she will have no more power in the Senate than any incoming

freshman. Hillary didn't and she won't either. This is a body that runs on seniority.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beacool]

5. Who, Bush?

Which Democrat wanted to call him for "a chat or for support"?

[cali]

6. true enough, but that isn't going to increase her seniority or change

the fact that she'll be a freshman senator who will have to prove herself.

[pnwmom]

8. You're being purposefully ignorant here, because I can't believe you

really have so little understanding of how people form alliances in Congress to get their bills passed.

Technically, she will be just another junior Senator. Realistically, she will have far more influence than the typical junior Senator.

[pnwmom]

10. I agree, her connection to Obama would be great for NY. And welcome to DU, Fennario!

[EFerrari]

12. Of course. n/t

[natrat]

2. slimeball reid always has some fucked up ulterior motive

[democrattotheend]

11. Like winning as many seats as possible?

He doesn't want to have to worry about retaining that seat or raising money for it in 2010 and then again in 2012...Caroline Kennedy has star power and a lot of fundraising experience and thus would be less likely to need any help from the DSCC. From Reid's perspective I can see why she's appealing.

[Muttocracy]

23. if we're worried about Senate seats in NY, our majority is doomed. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Pataki was elected three times

If Guiliani were to run, he would be a formidable candidate.

[paulk]

27. good point

In the last election Democrats gained control of the State Senate for the first time in 40 years...

NY is not a lock.

[Cha]

29. That was then and this is now as you well know.

pataki would never have been elected another time and whatever happened to that pres run he was mulling over?

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. The point is that NY is capable of electing a Republican under the right circumstances

The most Democratic part of the state, hasn't elected a Democratic Mayor in almost 20 years.

[Beacool]

7. Reid should stay neutral.

I know that's a difficult concept with some.

:eyes:

[pnwmom]

9. He probably thinks, as I do, that her appointment could benefit

the whole country, and in particular, the Democratic party. So why should he remain neutral?

[Beacool]

21. Because of his position.

Ditto for Pelosi, even though she almost cracked her face pretending to be neutral during the primaries.

:eyes:

[pnwmom]

22. There is no ethical or legal requirement for him to withhold endorsements

because of his position.

[depakid]

13. I was neutral on this until now

If Reid wants her- that's good enough reason to oppose her appointment.

[EFerrari]

14. Brilliant. Let's not build bridges between the president and the Senate.

Okay!

[depakid]

16. Reid is uttelry ineffective- and has the worst track record of any minority.majority leader

in modern history.

The man is utterly lacking in both political fortitude and parliamentary skill- indeed he bends over backwards to enable and legitimize- or even cross over and vote for far right policies (as he did with the bankruptcy bill).

This recent post on Five Thirty Eight sums up Reid's MO:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/is-60-votes-overrated.html

As a result of his failure to hold members of the Senate accountable, he lacks any credibility- no one really cares when he makes a "threat."

So the very last thing we need is another lackey who "owes" some allegiance to Reid. What we need is another Senator like Jeff Merkley, who would vote to replace him, if enough Dems has the courage to mount a challenge.

[EFerrari]

17. I have a hard time seeing Kennedy as a lackey to anyone.

But if Reid want to signal he will work with Obama, that is a good thing.

[depakid]

19. As the post on Five Thirty Eight notes

There are basically two mechanisms that a majority leader can employ to limit filibusters: firstly, he can threaten to block votes on certain of the opposition party's legislation (or alternatively, present carrots to them for allowing a vote to proceed), and secondly, he can publicly shame them. Reid managed to do neither, and the Senate Republicans did fairly well for themselves considering that they were in a minority and were burdened by a President with negative political capital.

I don't imagine the culture of the Senate changing in the new Congress so long as it's under Reid's direction, and Reid is highly unlikely to be replaced. There is some chance, however, that Obama rather than Reid will dictate the tone, particularly if Joe Biden is dispatched to Capitol Hill fairly often.

[pnwmom]

18. Caroline Kennedy won't be anyone's lackey.

And she was respected enough by Obama to be one of three people chosen to be on his VP search committee. That should tell you how much respect Obama has for her. And he knows her much better by now than Reid knows her.

[natrat]

24. i am so fucking sick of reid and anything having to do with him-HE IS A FRAUD

[bottomtheweaver]

28. Reid's problem is that he's weak. His ideas are fine.

If having Caroline around will give him a little courage, if he keeps his position anyway, all the better.

[ClarkUSA]

15. Intrade has her chances of getting the seat at 88%

Granted, Intrade is based in Ireland. But they have rarely been wrong. :)

[salguine]

20. Maybe she could be given Harry Reid's seat.

[Canuckistanian]

26. Keep your grubby paws off her, Reid

This one just MIGHT have some potential. Once you're through with her, she may vote that way YOU do.

Namely, AGAINST progressive causes.

[BlooInBloo]

30. I didn't care either way before, but that cinches it: NO CAROLINE KENNEDY.