Did any of those who are so worked up over Caroline Kennedy's "lack of experience" raise similar

[EffieBlack]

concerns about Al Franken?

If not, why not?

[sandnsea]

1. People are free to elect who they want

What the hell is it about democracy that so many people on this board just refuse to grasp.

[Bravehammer]

7. She's not running for election.

Apparently she's not all that big on elections anyway.

[KittyWampus]

2. I'm not involved in this whole debate BUT Al Franken went through an actual election

and is in the process of proving he can win one (an election).

edit- Caroline Kennedy (like Hillary Clinton) is qualified for the position but not the MOST qualified.

And it's open to debate that she'd be able to win re-election should she be seated in interim.

[GarbagemanLB]

3. If today's results stand, then Franken was ELECTED by the people of Minnesota. Same with Obama.

Kennedy would be appointed.

There are many more qualified candidates, I am sure, who want that NY seat.

[EffieBlack]

10. There are probably plenty of candidates more qualified than Franken - on paper

But the voters decided that, despite his sparse political background, they want him to represent them in the Senate. Obviously "qualifications" go beyond traditional political experience.

I don't think it matters whether someone is elected or appointed. The bottom line is that SOMEONE is going to be APPOINTED to this position. No one is going to be elected to it before 2010.

I just don't understand all of Caroline-hating. If she's appointed and doesn't do a good job, the voters can elect someone else to the seat in 2010.

[robcon]

4. The appointment, rather than an election, of a Senator is patently undemocratic.

It hearkens back to the time when Senators were appointed by state legislatures.

But that is the law in NY. Paterson should not put Kennedy on top of the list, since she has no experience. She can run for Senator is she likes, and then the test is whether voters will vote for her. But she shouldn't be given the post because of her name.

[demwing]

5. But the brouhaha has been over Kennedy

not the process.

[cali]

6. because Al Franken put himself up in front of the voters.

that's the frickin' point. Caroline is lobbying one person for the job using her name as leverage.

[wyldwolf]

9. yes, cali, but...

In New York, there is not an election. If Kennedy is appointed, she'll have to run for that seat in 2012.

Not that it really matters to me. I'm more concerned with getting the nutcases out of Georgia than the NY senate race.

[LynneSin]

11. She'll also have to run for the seat in 2009/2010 - whenever NY has the next statewide elecion

Because Hillary's seat doesn't expire until 2012 the person appointed will have to run a special election AND then run again in 2012. So that's a minimum of 2 races, possibly 4 if there is primary competition in 4 years or less in a state that's gonna cost about $30mil an election.

[wyldwolf]

8. silly! Franken layed in bed with Arriana!

[bottomtheweaver]

12. Caroline spent four summers interning in the US Senate for her uncle.

If that isn't Senate experience, what is? I think this is just a bullshit argument pushed by the corporate press, which is always, always going to be anti-Kennedy, the same way it was anti-Kerry. I hope to heck Paterson doesn't crack.