What qualifies one to serve in the House or Senate?

[grannylib]

If you are an American citizen, of the appropriate age, reasonably intelligent, ready and willing to serve your constituents, you are QUALIFIED to be a representative. This is supposed to be government OF, BY and FOR THE PEOPLE.
Not to mention, Caroline Kennedy DOES have a law degree (not like that's required) and IS a Constitutional scholar...
Patty Murray ran, and WON, as "just a Mom in tennis shoes." Should we talk about Sonny Bono? Or his widow, who succeeded him? How about Fred Grandy? Does having played "Gofer" on The Love Boat make him more or less qualified than Caroline Kennedy?

What a stupid statement, by ANYONE, to say that she's unqualified. Rubbish.
Caroline is no less qualified than many who run for office, and probably more qualified than most.

[Captain Hilts]

1. I agree. She is not "unqualifed." nt

[Mugweed]

2. She's more qualified than I am

But I'm not in NY, so my opinion isn't relevant according to certain people from NY.

[Captain Hilts]

3. And the Senate is a club for millionaires. nt

[Flash Bazbo]

4. In addition to the codified qualifications...

there are the intangibles that people evaluate prior to casting their votes. Technically I am qualified for the House or Senate, but I will personally hunt down and beat down anyone stupid enough to vote for me. The intangible in this case is Caroline the best choice for the seat or getting a legacy appointment based on the Kennedy name, with the resultant incumbent's advantage in 2010. Personally, I'd prefer to see an acknowledged caretaker fill the Senate seat until 2010, at which point all the celebrities can compete on even ground in the election.

[firedupdem]

5. I think she's more than qualified....she's inspired and motivated to

serve when she could just stay away from it all. I'm not a New Yorker but I hope the Gov. considers her for the seat. If not, I hope she will run in 2010. She's a lot brighter than some of the people currently serving and she's not looking for a back door deal either. She's interested because she wants to be of service to New Yorkers...and thats a good thing. IMO

[GarbagemanLB]

7. If she wants to run, then good. She can explain just what it is in her past that makes her the best

choice.

[GarbagemanLB]

6. There are MORE qualified people who could be appointed to that seat. If she wants it, she can run fo

r it in 2010 or whenever and let the people decide.

This and the Beau Biden situation are deplorable and I think it is pathetic that we can't move beyond a few families in this country.

[emilyg]

8. Agree,

[Muttocracy]

11. Beau wasn't appointed - Biden's chief of staff was.

If Beau wants the seat, he'll have to run in 2010.

And Beau has been elected to statewide office before.

Beau's situation would be analogous to Andrew Cuomo running for the NY seat, not Caroline Kennedy being appointed to it.

[GarbagemanLB]

16. All right. It was wrong to equate the two situations. I still don't like 'placeholders', though.

[Lyric]

9. You meet Constitutional standards and lawfully get the most votes in your state.

For appointed positions, I guess it's up to whatever the governor decides is "qualified." That's part of what he/she is elected to do, after all--make decisions precisely like that.

As for me, I have no position on Caroline Kennedy, other than to be happy that she seems to be far better than Obama on progressive issues like marriage equality. I'm not a New Yorker anymore, though, so I have no dog in this fight.

[davidpdx]

10. I'd forgotten about Gofer being a congressman

That is pretty funny. How about Jerry Springer, Mayor? Jesse Ventura, Governor? Arnold S, Governor?

[Muttocracy]

12. in fairness, Ventura was elected mayor of a Mpls suburb first. nt

[davidpdx]

13. Yeah I knew that...from what I've heard though he was a terrible governor

I actually liked him at one point.

[Muttocracy]

15. mixed bag I guess

I lived there for part of his term and I think he was a mix. I was happy to have Ventura rather than Coleman anyway.

[davidpdx]

17. True, Coleman would have been worse

Let's hope Franken ends up beating him for the Senate seat.

[ecstatic]

14. She's missing the "egomaniac" trait... That's for sure

There are a lot of people out there who would love to run for an office but they don't have the stomach for all the media & opposition machines.

[Kalyke]

18. Judging from the past few years?

Not brains.

Not compassion.

Looks, yes.

Money, yes.

That's about it.