Caroline didn't have what it takes.

[cali]

By that I don't mean that she wouldn't have made a good or competent Senator, but that she wouldn't have made a good candidate. The past few weeks have showcased her weaknesses with both the electorate and the media. Was the media unfair to her? I don't think they were particularly hard on her, but I think Caroline after having spent a lifetime building a safe and largely private life, was singularly unprepared for dealing with the media. The more people in NY were exposed to her, the more enthusiasm for her dwindled- and that had to be of concern to Paterson and others, as whoever is appointed will almost immediately have to concurrently serve in the Senate and actively campaign for the seat.

I think Caroline would be wonderfully suited to heading up something like the National Endowment for the Arts or an Ambassadorship to France or England or any number of positions with the Administration, but she simply wasn't prepared or suited for the rigors of electoral politics.

[alwysdrunk]

1. She's never really had to fight

Politics are scrappy and she's never really had any need to be srappy. You are right, I don't think she could hack it, it was becoming more and more clear.

[GeorgeGist]

100. You think losing your family is easy?

[Lasher]

2. I guess you're right.

Makes me think of Shirley Temple Black.

[madaboutharry]

3. Let's face it:

She has led an extremely priviledged life and although she has endured personal tragedy and loss, there is an absence of what is called "hard knocks". She has walked a paved and even road in life and I don't think she was prepared for the reality of a public political life.

[cali]

5. I think it's more that she had spent a lifetime

arduously pushing the public spotlight away, and just didn't know how to egage with it effectively.

[madaboutharry]

8. That is a good point.

Also, her experience with the media in the past was very different from what a political candidate experiences.

[Fran Kubelik]

25. agreed.

This seemed to be the biggest issue. She wasn't prepared to deal with what she had been so strenuously avoiding.

[dipsydoodle]

4. I believe that would be a first

if she was to become Ambassador down at Grosvenor Square given that her Grandfather also held that post 1938 - 1940.

By an amazing coincidence Joseph was the 44th US Ambassador to the UK.

[CTyankee]

17. I would love to see her ambassador to France!

Her mother was so adored by the French. I'm sure it is just a little fantasy on my part but it would be nice if Caroline represented us in Europe.

[cali]

18. I think she'd be well suited for such a position

and I don't see why it's so far fetched- if she's interested.

[davidpdx]

6. I agree, she wasn't as outgoing and hard hitting or forward

as she needed to be to be successful in such a job. Personally I would have supported her either way. My hope is people don't use this as a opportunity to dump on her (I'm not saying you are, but others on the forum have) given her withdrawal from consideration. It is better that she did this now then later. Patterson will appoint the right person and we will have our 58 Senators (59 with Franken soon I hope).

[cali]

7. I think Caroline is an admirable person

who misjudged the rough and tumble of the arena. I thought from early on that she wasn't suited to electoral politics, but I do think she could make valuable contributions in the Obama administration.

[NashVegas]

9. No One Else *Had* to Be a Candidate

Cuomo never acknowledged he was going for it and so never had to get put under a microscope the way she was.

Maloney couldn't get big press if she tried.

The NY Post was ridiculing her every chance they got. In the end, you might say she got the same treatment as Clinton did in the primaries.

[cali]

10. She didn't *have* to be either

It was her decision to be public about it. And the NYP goes after ALL dems.

[NashVegas]

11. She Had No Choice

It was leaked to the press and she was forced to go public. Just as this was leaked to force her out.

I reckon Paterson will pay dearly for this colossal screw-up.

[cali]

12. I refer you back to the OP

she simply is unsuited to the rigors of electoral politics- as anyone can see by the last few weeks. Furthermore, so what if it was leaked? She could have played it much differently and far better. And I doubt that Paterson will pay for this at all.

[NashVegas]

16. I Know Perfectly Well

What you're saying. The point is, no one else was forced to act like a candidate and that's largely because of Paterson's weakness and choosing to pull a Blago.

PRESS OFFICER 1: OK, we’ve drafted this statement in which the governor thanks Caroline for her time and effort, and wishes her family the very best in a difficult time. Can we send it out?

PRESS OFFICER 2: Not until Caroline puts out something first.

1: But if we wait too much longer it’ll look like we’re letting her twist in the wind.

2: She’s apparently letting herself twist in the wind right now.

1: All she has to do is put out out two simple sentences that say either “I don’t know what you people are talking about; I’m totally psyched to be the next senator from New York,” or “Due to family concerns, I have decided to withdraw from consideration. I thank the governor and the people of New York for their encouragement in recent weeks.” It only takes 30 seconds to type!

2: It does. But we have to wait for her to put either one out.

1: But isn’t that self-destructive on her part? Aren’t we, like, enabling her by not making her withdrawal official?

2: We need to act as if Caroline is on the list until Caroline says she’s not on the list — no matter if every reporter from here to Malone puts out a story saying she’s dropping out.

1: But sooner or later the governor is going to have to acknowledge that he’s moving on in his search for a junior senator — I mean, ultimately this isn’t just about Caroline Kennedy’s feelings, right?

2: Have you considered Harry Reid’s feelings, or perhaps Barack Obama’s feelings?

1: I see. So … we wait.

2: We wait … and listen to the phone ring … and read the blogs.

(A foghorn sounds in the distance.)

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/

[windbreeze]

59. I can't help but wonder....

what else might have helped force her out...personally, I had a fear for her safety, and I have a problem taking some things at face value...(pretty hard to forget/bury what happened to several of her male relatives)...yet, I was hoping that IF she really wanted the position, and could accept the risk, that she'd go for it...She's been so private, that I questioned it...and I certainly don't hold it against her that she backed out...I think on the whole, the Kennedy's have done quite enough sacrificing for the US...(funny thing is...I thought Ted's illness would be exactly why she WOULD go for it)wb

[cherish44]

13. So is Fran Drescher back in contention now? nt

[MBS]

14. I was just thinking the same thing

that while she had what it takes to be a good senator, I couldn't see her in the hurly-burly of nasty NY politics.. . but that I CAN see her with a wonderful place in the Obama administration. . perhaps in some of the ways you mentioned. She's smart, knowledgeable, and has grace, dignity, and class; the Obama administration could really benefit from her contributions.

[From The Left]

15. She Can Run in 2012 Like Everyone Else

But she won't. Caroline is used to things falling in her lap.

[nichomachus]

82. Such as?

What exactly has "fallen in her lap?" Other than having her father and uncle gunned down by fascist black-ops squads in the '80s.

[BeyondGeography]

19. She has good intentions and so does Paterson

She was being opportunistic, sure, but she stuck her neck out and took more than a few hits as a result. Like you, I saw her as not-ready-for-primetime. But it's a relief not to be rooting against her anymore, as she is a good, civic-minded Democrat who will remain helpful to our side.

As for Paterson, his goals were clear, find someone above all who can help him win in 2010. That's normal, and he had every right to look elsewhere if he felt uncomfortable with Caroline. I agree with his apparent decision to do just that and I also believe that Caroline, in addition to saving some face by dropping out, also sought to spare our Governor some pressure.

These are two good people.

[cali]

20. Completely agree.

I'm glad she recognized that she's not cut out for this, but I value her contributions.

[ClarkUSA]

21. What a gratuitous and mean-spirited OP title -- she had it in the bag until Uncle Teddy collapsed...

And she decided to choose family over ambition: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/nyregion/22caroline.html?_r=1&hp
That is hugely admirable and I hope she runs in 2010 as she has said before.

[jberryhill]

22. So, you believe Biden chose ambition over family?

Is that it?

Some consider public service to be public service. Personal sacrifice goes with the territory.

[ClarkUSA]

24. If his sons had little time left to live, I doubt he would have continued to be a Senator.

Knowing Joe, he would have wanted to spend every awake minute with them rather than be away in the Capitol.
If Ted Kennedy were on the mend from a car accident, I doubt Caroline would be withdrawing from contention.

[jberryhill]

27. Ummm... Biden's children had no mother, and Ted is IN the Senate

Ted has a wife, many other family members, and the best medical care available. Aside from which HE is serving in the Senate. I can't understand the logic of "She turned it down due to Ted's condition" when Ted's condition isn't keeping HIM out of the Senate. Is she sicker than he is?

This announcement has nothing to do with Ted's illness. If it does, then she was never qualified. The United States Senate has to address the issue of thousands of families who have lost, and have yet to lose, their fathers, sons, daughters and uncles in two wars, and the office is greater than "I have a lot going on in my family right now."

Like it or not, Senator Kennedy is manifesting the mortality common to us all, and common to many families.

Aside from which, it wasn't a matter of Biden "continuing" to serve in the Senate. He was not a Senator at the time of the accident. It was after the election and prior to his taking office.

[cali]

30. Excellent point.

She might actually be with him more if she was serving in the Senate with Ted. And as you say, it's not keeping him out of the Senate.

[ClarkUSA]

32. Your ignoring my salient point re: Biden's sons' prognosis vs. Ted's completely.

Having lost a parent to cancer already, I can understand why she is doing what she is doing.

[cali]

35. I didn't stop working when my dad was dying a slow and painful death

I saw him as often as possible, but I didn't stop working. And Teddy is still in the Senate.

[ClarkUSA]

40. So what? That's you. I took the spring semester off school when my parent died of cancer.

I cared for and supported my parent at their bedside despite the presence of a nurse and my other parent.
Different strokes for different folks.

Teddy may still be a Senator but when's the last time he was there for a vote or a hearing? What's that got to
do with anything?

[Barack_America]

41. You're assuming that her concern would be about not seeing Teddy enough...

And forgetting that Teddy is the rock of a very large and close-knit family. Caroline may have very well decided that she would not have the time and energy to care for the extended Kennedy clan should Teddy go while she was in the Senate. And I believe that it is perfectly reasonable that Teddy's collapse the other day (while Caroline was also in Washington) brought this realization upon her.

[TheWraith]

73. He's also the closest thing she's had to a father for 45 years.

God forbid she might want to spend time with him while she can.

[jberryhill]

75. That's fine

...but to create that much hullabaloo over a Senate seat, and then to claim this as the reason not to want it any more, raises a question about commitment to public service.

From the comments here, one would assume that President Obama didn't really care about his grandmother, who was every bit a mother to him for nearly as long, and every bit as terminal during his campaign for the Presidency.

These are not offices of personal convenience.

Again, I don't begrudge anyone wanting to spend time with anyone else. One chooses one's priorities. Many who serve this country, of course, do not have such choices, and those charged with responsibility for them must recognize that.

But, again, I don't see Ms. Kennedy stating this as a reason. But supporters offering it as a hypothesis seem to be doing her a disservice in that regard.

[karynnj]

29. I think two things

1) Biden's extended family and Biden himself worked incredibly hard to make it possible for the boys to be as surrounded by family and secure, while he did the job he was elected to do. It sounds like for years, the only two things in his life were the kids and his job - because they were 2 overwhelming priorities.

2) I think the Teddy excuse is an excuse. There was nothing new in his medical condition. The very hard facts of his condition were in every paper in the world last December. (We heard it in Sri Lanka!) I would assume that Caroline has spent a large amount of time with him since then.

The OP is not being mean spirited - just stating an opinion that really may say more of our politics than of Caroline Kennedy. There is something wrong with the level of nastiness that exists and I wonder if we lose many genuinely good people because they would not want their families to endure what will inevitably happen if they are successful.

[jberryhill]

31. It's a lame excuse put forth by folks other than Caroline Kennedy

Quite obviously, because Ted is not excusing himself from office over his condition. The notion that she has withdrawn due to the condition that isn't keeping him from stepping down, is absurd.

[karynnj]

47. I assume that it is to save face

I don't know if Kennedy has given a reason.

[ClarkUSA]

55. She said it was "personal"; she and Gov, Patterson will make a further public statement today

Why would it be to save face, considering recent reports (the latest in today's NYT) had her appointment as a done deal?

[karynnj]

57. I am assuming that it was not a done deal - though that is based

on absolutely nothing.

[ClarkUSA]

50. Yeah, RFK, Jr. was lying when he said today that Caroline was "extremely shaken by Ted's seizures"

Everyone is lying. Only you know the truth about Caroline's reasons for withdrawing. :eyes:

[jberryhill]

54. I'm sure she was shaken. That's not the point.

No I do not know her reasons for "withdrawing", as if one "campaigns" for an appointment.

However, it is absurd on its face, and IMHO insulting to Ms. Kennedy, to suggest that she is to aflutter from Ted's health to serve in a capacity in which Ted is still serving.

Why she would be more "shaken" over it than him, is a mystery, no?

[ClarkUSA]

58. It is exactly the point if you see the timeline of her decision...

So what if Ted is still in the Senate? What has that got to do with anything? I expect he'll die as a sitting Senator.

[jberryhill]

60. Leaving a vacancy in Massachusetts

...for which she would be a better candidate than NY.

IMHO it is demeaning to propose "family emergency" as a reason for withdrawing from consideration. As I said, the Senate has to deal with the collective emergencies of millions of families. To aspire to that level of public service, and to use this as a reason for changing one's mind, is self-indulgent. Proposing it here is IMHO insulting to Ms. Kennedy.

As you may recall, a recently elected president pressed on through the terminal stages of the woman who raised him.

That is the fiber that is expected and required of national service.

[ClarkUSA]

62. Your opinion has been duly noted. I happen to disagree.

:shrug:

[jberryhill]

78. Okay, well, she doesn't agree with you either /nt

[cali]

23. you'd take umbrage if I wrote, "good morning",

And no, she gave an excuse. She's known for months that her uncle has a terminal illness with a short survival time, and he made it clear that he wanted her in the Senate.

And sorry, she won't be running in 2010. Furthermore, there was nothing mean spirted about my thread title. It's simply an observation, and my post makes that quite clear.

Good Morning.

[ClarkUSA]

26. You're wrong as I have never entered your OPs until now. I stand by what I said.

Your opinions matter little as it is obvious why she withdrew. The New York Times story made it quite clear and they
have access to sources whereas you're plucking things out of thin air in order to support your mean-spirited OP:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/nyregion/22caroline.html?_r=1&hp

[cali]

28. yes, yes. everyone who says they're withdrawing for family reasons

or personal reasons, is being completely candid.

And it's clear she was not a good candidate as anyone with a modicum of intelligence, two eyes and two ears, can tell. And as her falling support in NY demonstrates.

[ClarkUSA]

34. In her case, she said it was "personal" and her decision came the day after Ted Kennedy collapsed.

It's clear she is putting family above ambition because Ted's prognosis' timeline has worsened.
For anyone to suggest otherwise is venal and mean-spirited.

[cali]

36. Really? So why, genius, is Teddy still staying on in the Senate?

You're frantically ducking that salient point. Of course.

[ClarkUSA]

42. What's that got to do with anything? When's the last time he voted or was there for a hearing?

I expect he'll die a sitting Senator.

[cali]

45. I believe he was there recently

And unless Caroline is planning to move to MA, she'll be not much further from Teddy then she is now. Are you suggesting, for instance, that Teddy's son Patrick, won't be able to dedicate enough time to his Dad because he's in the House? Caroline clearly decided that this wasn't for her. YOU are in big time denial.

[ClarkUSA]

48. I doubt it. Specifically, when did he last vote or was there for a hearing?

You're reaching at straws in order to indict Caroline. She clearly reached the decision in an immediate fashion
the day after her beloved Uncle Teddy collapsed, after being gung ho about her impending appointment only
days before, according to named sources in today's New York Times. Her devotion to family is unparalleled.

I am not the one in denial. You are.

[NashVegas]

37. The NYT Is Handing You Polite Fiction

In the attempt to allow her to save face.

[ClarkUSA]

43. You know that for a fact because you're the newsroom editor of the NYT, right?

:eyes:

[NashVegas]

46. I Know That Because I've Been Watching This Thing Unfold

PRESS OFFICER 1: OK, we’ve drafted this statement in which the governor thanks Caroline for her time and effort, and wishes her family the very best in a difficult time. Can we send it out?

PRESS OFFICER 2: Not until Caroline puts out something first.

1: But if we wait too much longer it’ll look like we’re letting her twist in the wind.

2: She’s apparently letting herself twist in the wind right now.

1: All she has to do is put out out two simple sentences that say either “I don’t know what you people are talking about; I’m totally psyched to be the next senator from New York,” or “Due to family concerns, I have decided to withdraw from consideration. I thank the governor and the people of New York for their encouragement in recent weeks.” It only takes 30 seconds to type!

2: It does. But we have to wait for her to put either one out.

1: But isn’t that self-destructive on her part? Aren’t we, like, enabling her by not making her withdrawal official?

2: We need to act as if Caroline is on the list until Caroline says she’s not on the list — no matter if every reporter from here to Malone puts out a story saying she’s dropping out.

1: But sooner or later the governor is going to have to acknowledge that he’s moving on in his search for a junior senator — I mean, ultimately this isn’t just about Caroline Kennedy’s feelings, right?

2: Have you considered Harry Reid’s feelings, or perhaps Barack Obama’s feelings?

1: I see. So … we wait.

2: We wait … and listen to the phone ring … and read the blogs.

(A foghorn sounds in the distance.)

[ClarkUSA]

49. LOL! Okay.

:eyes:

[cali]

52. Anyone with a smidgeon of critical thinking skill

can figure out that her excuse for dropping out, is merely a fig leaf. Of course it does take critical thinking skills.

[ClarkUSA]

61. You insult anyone who disagrees with you. What kind of thinking does that involve, I wonder?

:eyes:

[AtomicKitten]

69. that's not critical thinking, dear, that's just being snotty

[Forkboy]

72. well that rules you out.

[cali]

95. no it doesn't. and you know it doesn't.

I may be a bitch and snotty, but I don't lack for critical thinking skills- and sorry, but many around here do. You may not like me, but denying that my posts are grounded in logic and reality, is just silly.

[ddeclue]

33. If you believe this I've got a few bridges to sell you..

:eyes:

[Captain Hilts]

53. No, she did not "have it in the bag" unitl TK collapsed. Her numbers were fairly weak.nt

[ClarkUSA]

64. According to today's NYT story about her withdrawal, she did.

:shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

86. They don't know how to read polling data. It was competitive. nt

[ClarkUSA]

90. Gov. Patterson's vote was the only one that mattered & he tried to get her to change her mind.

She almost did. It's obvious she was The One prior to her withdrawal.

[Captain Hilts]

91. We'll have to wait and see. I'm not convinced he had made up his mind. nt

[Barack_America]

38. If she had wanted it, she could have done it.

I wonder if she actually really wanted it, or if she was being prodded into the seat by persons anxious to keep the Kennedy name in Democratic politics. I was shocked when she threw her name in. It just didn't seem like her.

[Evergreen Emerald]

39. "have" what it takes? What is she lacking...

That any other senator has? She has brains, strength, courage. She has a grasp of the issues and is on the correct side of them. And she has a list of donors longer than your arm.

She has what "it" takes.

[cali]

44. Either you didn't read the OP or your reading comprehension is sadly

lacking. My OP makes clear that she doesn't have what it takes to be successful in the rough and tumble of campaigning. And that's been clear for several weeks.

[Evergreen Emerald]

98. bs

on two fronts
1. Your op makes nothing clear.
2. she has what "it" takes.

[Nye Bevan]

51. I agree, and I'm amazed at how many defenders she has here on DU

A coddled, extremely wealthy socialite hoping to descend from on high into the Senate, without the inconvenience of an election, while she can't explain why she wants the job and is positively Palin-esque in her interviews? She would have been at best an ineffective senator, and at worst a continual embarrassment with faux pas after faux pas betraying the fact that she was totally out of her depth. And there would have been a very real risk that we would lose the seat in 2010.

[Cha]

63. Well, you can be amazed at me then..

I'm protective of her on DU just like I would be in real life if someone made a snarky, untrue, ignorant comment about her.

[MarjorieG]

56. Candidates also require media operations to fight many competing candidates and media.

Too much media was just as eager to take her down, used by alliances with her competition, making her appear fatally less agile. New York media is tough.

[Skwmom]

65. You're right.

She's not a corrupt political hack who would be owned by wealthy supporters. What a scary thought - to have someone like that serve as a New York Senator. We need someone ready from day one to play the corrupt political game.

[cali]

67. what unimpeachable logic. NOT.

Of course that's not remotely what I said, dear, but more importantly by your pathetic "logic" all good campaigners are corrupt and owned by wealthy supporters. Why gee, that would make my Senators, who are both excellent politicians, corrupt and owned by wealthy supporters. ONly problem with that line of "thought", is that my Senators are Bernie and Pat. Do you really want to stick to your silly opinion here?

[Skwmom]

71. I'm talking about New York.

You know the state with two Senators who never tire fighting for the working class, who are not beholden to any wealthy contributors, and who are from the state with such a clean above board financial system one just has to wonder how we got in this mess.

Caroline Kennedy had her nerve. Actually thinking she could go to Washington and work on behalf of the American Public just b/c her last name is Kennedy.

There are some who work hard on behalf of the American People. But I think we all know that is the exception and not the norm. According to your logic I couldn't call Bush an idiot b/c you can name former Presidents who were "smart." Thanks for the chuckle.

[Occam Bandage]

66. I strongly agree. I thought she didn't have the political chops when she started lobbying,

and I still do. She has a good heart, I suppose, in much the way any sheltered person never exposed to want or ambition would. But she never demonstrated any ability to campaign, and without that I think appointing her would be unnecessarily risking a seat.

[AtomicKitten]

68. That's your snotty opinion that earns you a spot among the Heathers.

[cali]

70. actually, dear, that's my reasoned opinion based on

the evidence and observation. Now would you care to explain why support in NY for her kept dropping? Oh, I know, it was all the MSM, just like with Sarah Palin.

[AtomicKitten]

81. Meow.

[cali]

87. yes, you are a catty little thing.

[AtomicKitten]

89. awesome projection, Heather n/t

[Beacool]

74. Not many around NYC believe the Teddy excuse.

The NYT is just blowing smoke out of its rear end. The grapevine is saying that Teddy's latest collapse (it's not the first time he's had seizures in the last few months) is just an excuse to allow her to bow out gracefully and save face. The truth is that most local politicos, except for Bloomberg, didn't want her. She also didn't interview well nor wow the politicians who she met with her knowledge of state issues. Contrast that with Hillary who has never shown up to anything without being 110% prepared and was able to impress even the upstate local politicos with her knowledge of the area when she ran in 2000.

Caroline is not ready to be a US senator, nor do I think that her personality is a good fit for the job of NY senator in particular. Around the tri-state area we like our politicians to be tough and feisty. The NY press gives everybody a good hazing. Caroline was actually treated with kid gloves by comparison to what they have done to other candidates.

She would be far better suited to head the NEA or an ambassadorship as suggested by the OP. Then again, if she really has her heart set on being a senator she can work hard, come up with a platform, raise funds and run in 2010 like everybody else who wants that seat.

:shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

88. Actually, I don't believe it either. nt

[mtnsnake]

76. Nobody knows if Caroline had what it takes, not you, not anyone else either.

The only way anyone would have known whether or not she had what it takes is if she actually got the job or if she ran for office.

[cali]

79. why not read the OP before commenting?

it couldn't be clearer that you read nothing but the title. duh.

[mtnsnake]

83. I read the entire OP, even the part where you said she wouldn't make a good candidate. Get real

You don't know whether or not she'd make a good candidate just like you don't know whether or not she "has what it takes". You don't know it, I don't know it, nobody knows it. Until she gets appointed for some future job or until actually she runs for office, nobody knows if she has what it takes or if she has what it takes to be a good candidate. duh

[cali]

85. Of course we know. she's been out there for weeks now

and she's not been impressive. It could hardly be more obvious that she's exceedingly awkward under the spotlight. Not saying that to diminish her, either.

[OneBlueSky]

77. Carolyn Kennedy at NEA? . . . sounds good to me . . . n/t

.

[BlueMTexpat]

80. I believe that you, and some others here, are being too harsh

in prejudging her.

I was quite surprised that she would even want the job, and perhaps her first ventures into the public eye in this context haven't been of the most sterling quality. But as for having "what it takes," none of us really knows whether we ourselves have "what it takes" until we put ourselves out there and try it ... whatever "it" may be.

Caroline at least did go on record as requesting consideration for the appointment, which was a big step for someone who has not sought public limelight as a general rule and someone who, as Jackie's daughter, completely expected the media frenzy and yes, nastiness that has ensued, even on DU ... sadly. If she had been appointed, I believe that she would have learned the ropes and political pitfalls very quickly and done as good a job as anyone else, perhaps even better than most. Hillary herself is exceptional, however, so Caroline had some impressive shoes to fill. Actually, I recall a lot of similar things said about Hill when she first presented her own candidacy ... some of the same rhetoric was used against her. And yes, I realize that Hill presented her candidacy in an elective capacity, not in an appointive one. But still.

I am not second-guessing Caroline's motives in withdrawing or attributing ulterior concerns to her (she was trying to save face if not chosen and some of the other BS that I've seen). But it is, after all, New Yorkers who would have had the final say in 2010 about whether she had "what it takes" ... not those of us who are not New Yorkers. And she would have had two years to learn about what it means to be a "candidate." That does take practice, even for some of the best.

[question everything]

84. I would also add that she would not be prepared to deal with opponents

In this case, all she had to deal with the media. How would she have campaigned? Debated? Faced an opponent?

And I agree with you that some role in the Obama administration would be a better fit.

[nichomachus]

92. Apparently what she did have were housekeeper and tax problems

Story just developing

[sohndrsmith]

93. This woman, Julie Menin (sp?) is really saying nutso things...

like (paraphrasing) "Why did Kennedy put us all through this for 2 months" (um she didn't - Paterson said he wasn't going to appoint until Clinton was confirmed, which was yesterday)

and then saying how "horrible" it was for Kennedy to use her uncle's illness as an "excuse" Good grief...

Kennedy was forced to do something, sounds like, because whether Paterson was going to choose her or not, coming forward on something like this - at this time - damages no one but her. I wouldn't be surprised that someone was doing opposition research and could have even informed Kennedy of more to come that would damage her or her family. It makes no sense that she would do this herself.

Call me imaginative, but this just doesn't pass muster as reported. Especially with all the confusion... ugh.

Assume Paterson was never going to consider Kennedy, as Menin also surmised, then why in the world would Kennedy do or say anything at all? She'd just not be the one announced on Saturday, and that would be it. There is no reason for her to withdraw if this were the case, and every reason for her to just let it play out.

Assuming she was Paterson's pick, it still doesn't make sense for her to choose to do this, for this reason, at this time (especially with Geitner being approved today - not that I condone not paying taxes that are due - not at all. But having worked for and being friends with a multi-multi millionaire myself, it takes a lot of work to manage a lot of money and it's not a one-person chore. Especially if there are many different entities and things that all have different specific requirements).

This could have been rectified - I can't believe there isn't more to this story that what we've heard.

The dots just do NOT connect....

[backscatter712]

94. I'd suggest she try again in 2010.

First, obviously, she needs to fix her tax issues. I personally don't consider them to be especially serious, assuming that she takes care of it and pays all her back taxes and penalties and such.

She wasn't prepared this time, but this was good experience for her - she had to go through vetting, and now she knows what she needs to do to get trhough that. She knows what kinds of things a candidate is likely to go through when running for public office. She needs a speech coach, she needs a more coherent agenda, she needs legal counsel to make sure things like taxes are taken care of.

It's a learning experience. Obama lost an election or two back in Illinois, and he used the experience to improve himself for the next time. I hope Caroline Kennedy does the same - she does have potential.

[sohndrsmith]

96. I'm still trying to figure out "what it takes", specifically, by those

saying she doesn't have it (I assume whatever it is she lacks concerns the duties of a Senator... right?).

What, exactly, proves to anyone that she could not be a "good or competent Senator" - I'm really curious...

Being unprepared for the media is a reason why someone couldn't be a competent Senator?
Having a safe and private life means someone couldn't be a competent Senator?

Kennedy is only prepared and suited to a more "elegant" position in the arts or with France (?) because she's part French and wealthy?

What rigors of serving in the Senate is she incapable of?

[mmonk]

97. How about Joe Lieberman? He has what it takes.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

99. Maryland had the same deal with Kathleen Kennedy Towson

I personally think Caroline would have been good for New York.