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So um, is Caroline's bid for the...you know, Senate seat, like, toast?

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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 02:51 PM
Original message
So um, is Caroline's bid for the...you know, Senate seat, like, toast?
With the economy plunging, an Illinois political scandal brewing, and the Middle East igniting (again), this seems a rather ridiculous time for the media to be putting so much time, energy and precious column inches into analyzing Caroline Kennedy’s speech patterns. But hey — like, you know…this is supposed to be a slow news week, you know?

You know, it’s that time of year traditionally reserved for “best and worst moments of 2008″ fluff stuff and election retrospectives, you know, and we just think that…well, you know, maybe this year the media should be like, paying more attention to what’s going on in the world, you know. Because it’s not like any other year, you know, when We The Media can take a nice long nap between December 23 and January 2, because, you know, there’s like nothing going on, anyway…

No, this year, you know, we’re like, facing the greatest domestic economic crisis since the Great Depression, you know. While we were sleeping, the robber barons of Wall St. made out like bandits and left the American people holding the…you know….the bag, or whatever. Israel and Palestine are teetering on the brink of all-out war; and so are…like, India and Pakistan, you know. While our incoming President-elect is preparing to take the oath of in 21 days, our outgoing lame duck is passing out pardons like party hats in Times Square, and you know, somebody ought to be like, keeping an eye on him.

But you know, the press in this country really can’t be, you know, bothered with those uh, political things, because they’re too….like…you know, uh, political or something.

Besides, it’s a lot more fun to make fun of the way Caroline Kennedy um, talks…you know?

(END EXCERPT)



Full story with video continues at:
http://rfkjrforpresident.com/2008/12/31/soumlike-you-know-happy-new-year-you-know/

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Captain Hilts Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
1. She'll always be smarter than RFK, jr. nt
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deaniac21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #1
8. Faint praise, you know?
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TEmperorHasNoClothes Donating Member (356 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 02:56 PM
Response to Original message
2. I like her and that's mean
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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #2
24. The article is dripping with sarcasm
We're not being mean to Caroline. Hell, we love her!

The article merely utilizes sarcasm as a way of calling attention to the fact that the media might have bigger fish to fry right now, given the current state of crisis, than picking on Caroline for the way she talks.

Please read the entire piece instead of just the lede/excerpt provided above, and you will see that we vigorously defend her, albeit in our usual smart-assy sort of way.

For years we have piped up in Bobby's defense when he is attacked because of his vocal disability (spasmodic dysphonia). We have always taken the position that it's not *how he sounds* that matters...it's *what he's saying*. We ask people to try and get past the sound of his speaking voice and instead listen to what the man's got to say.

Same goes for Caroline. We don't care how she talks - we're listening for what she says. That's what interests us.

Oh, and um....like, Happy New Year, you know?:)
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WI_DEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 02:59 PM
Response to Original message
3. Not necessarily. She's still more articulate than most republicans and quite a few democrats.
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elocs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 02:59 PM
Response to Original message
4. I have nothing against Caroline Kennedy and if New York wants her as their senator,
then that's their business, but is she really the most qualified Democrat in the entire state to serve as a senator? We laughed and ridiculed Palin so much, but just exactly what is Caroline Kennedy's huge resume that qualifies her to be the best selection for a senator from one of our largest states? Or are we so caught up with the legacy of Camelot and the Kennedy name that those are the only qualifications she needs? I have to admit that the "like" and "you know" verbal tics do make someone sound like an airhead valley girl. I would hope that the next senator from NY would at least be more articulate than Bush.
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saracat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 02:59 PM
Response to Original message
5. Actually, I watched Caroline at the Kennedy Center Awards last night and she is the worst speaker
and completely lacking in charisma.She reads a teleprompter in a complete monotone and if she can't evidence any passion or enthusiasm for the Kennedy Center Awards, particularly for Streisand, what could she get excited about?

Those may not be bona fide "qualifications" for the Senate and she is a bright, well educated and otherwise qualified persons but added to her lack of political "effort or interest" and her refusal to disclose her financials, I certainly wouldn't hope that Paterson would appoint her over any of the other many worthy contenders who have earned party consideration for this post!
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greguganus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:01 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Grovelbot would make a better Senator. Does he live in NY? n/t
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Horselover Fat Donating Member (78 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #5
16. this coming from someone who thinks that Hillary is a charismatic speaker?
sorry, your judgment in this area is lacking.
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saracat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:21 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. Nope. Never said Hill was a charismatic speaker. She got better but never was charismatic Bill is
great speaker in the family.And I teach speech and acting . My judgement is fine thank you.
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customerserviceguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:25 PM
Response to Reply #16
20. Hillary's not my favorite public speaker
but she has rallied millions to her cause. I'm afraid that Caroline lacks the eloquence we usually associate with a Kennedyesque sort of leadership. Yes, eloquence is not everything, but when trying to get things done in a representative form of government, where one has to at least convince one's collegues of the rightness of one's position, it sure does come in handy.
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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:41 PM
Response to Reply #20
25. Well, you know, um, Caroline's got some mighty big shoes to fill, you know?
Edited on Wed Dec-31-08 03:42 PM by RFKin2008
Being the only heir to the legacy of the most eloquent president of the 20th century must be more than a tad you know, intimidating when you, um...step up to the podium and like, everybody breathlessly awaits your words.

Talk about expectations!

How is ANYBODY supposed to follow JFK on the eloquence front? Obama's the closest we've come to that level of oratory in 45 years!

And Caroline has always been the um, ah, shy one of the family, you know...
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customerserviceguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 04:53 PM
Response to Reply #25
34. Yes, JFK is a tough act to follow
Let's say there's a continuum, JFK is a 10, Obama is a 9, and Chimpy is a 1.

Where's Caroline? No higher than a two right now, in my opinion. If you don't have political experience, then you'd better be nearer the top end of that scale. President-Elect Obama would never have been nominated or elected if he lacked the intellectuality demonstrated by his eloquence.
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MADem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:01 PM
Response to Original message
6. Well, you know, it's like...you know...that crook governor in Illinois has, like, you know,
nominated a guy who like, you know is an elder statesman, an attorney general, you know, with like, you know, NO SCANDAL associated with him...you know? The guy's only, you know, crime is that Bloggo, you know, is the guy who nominated him to like, you know, finish out Obama's term.

And like, you know....the SENATE is saying they won't seat that guy, but, like, you know, they had no problem with Caroline Kennedy for all intents and purposes, you know, buying a, you know, senate SEAT with her Christmas Card list of ... you know, wealthy liberals who could be persuaded to be, you know, max amount potential party donors...you know!

It's all kind of, you know....crook-ish. Quid pro quo-ish, to quote, you know, Poppy Bush. And you know, she does talk like, you know, a Valley Girl Village Idiot...you know?

And you know? I think this whole, you know, effort to stick her in that seat, you know, sucks!

You want, you know, a Kennedy in that seat? Give it to, you know, RFK JUNIOR, who, you know, has actually done a little something for, you know, the people of New York.

But, you know, it's not my call. I have, you know, no say in the matter. I'm just, you know, an amused and slightly horrified bystander....you know.
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greguganus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #6
10. ARRGHHH!!!! Gag me with a spoon, you know? n/t
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MADem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:04 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Heh heh.
:rofl:

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derby378 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:02 PM
Response to Original message
9. I have no problem with how Caroline Kennedy speaks...
...but I do have a problem with her refusing to disclose her financial records before she is appointed Senator.

This isn't about bad credit or a few bounced checks. This is simply a matter of making sure that the presumptive junior Senator from New York isn't going to be in anyone's pocket. Standard operating procedure.

Or am I missing something here?
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BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:04 PM
Response to Original message
11. No, but it is mystifying, and it's also another death blow to "inevitability" politics
The mystery is why she hitched her wagon to a Republican star (Bloomberg) in an attempt to blow away a Democratic field. That ship has failed. We'll see if she has it in her to fight for it now. She has been hurt and there are few things New Yorkers enjoy more than shooting the wounded.
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MADem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:09 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. Bloomberg isn't a Republican, though.
He was a lifelong Democrat. He switched to the GOP solely so he could run unopposed for Mayor of NYC without having to clear out a huge Democratic primary field.

He switched to INDEPENDENT, when, last year or something?

His relationship with the GOP was a marriage of convenience.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/06/mike_bloomberg_registered_inde.html

...Bloomberg was never a Republican in any true sense of the word. When he first ran for office in 2001, he decided to do so as a Republican because the Democratic primary was already crowded with well-known candidates. The Republican nomination was his for the taking, and he took it. Then, in the general election he used his vast personal wealth and his pitch to bring a businessman's sensibility to the job to overcome the city's strong Democratic leanings. Now that he has been elected to two terms, Bloomberg has no need to remain in a party that he disagrees with on any number of issues.
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BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #13
21. True, but he is at war with powerful Democratic hacks like Sheldon Silver
who have a way of mobilizing the clubhouse for or against whatever the issue may be. And Bloomberg's change-the-bylaws quest for a third term doesn't sit well with the Democratic rank-and-file, to put it mildly. While Bloomberg's chief of staff was pushing her candidacy really hard, she was out there saying she would support the Democratic nominee for mayor. At this point, when it comes to the parlor game of NY politics at least, Bloomberg is as Republican as Rudy Giuliani to many NY Dems, and Caroline's credibility with the party has taken a major hit, to the point where Bloomberg's top aide has moved to the sidelines and she is now on her own.
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MADem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #21
26. I don't argue with your larger point at all.
All I'm suggesting is, if the shit hits the fan and the GOP has an opportunity to weigh in, they're not gonna go to the ramparts on behalf of Bloomberg, certainly. He'll have to buy whatever good graces he can muster up, probably at a full markup, too.

I realize a lot of people are charmed by the idea of Caroline Kennedy in that job, but I am amongst those who think she's a crappy candidate. Hell, Patterson would be better off appointing HIMSELF. Now, that would be interesting....!

Or, he could appoint CUOMO. No, not Dynasty Andrew, but DADDY MARIO, just to place-hold until they can get their shit together. I would LOVE to see Mario Cuomo in the Senate. I think he'd bring wisdom and gravitas to a body that's a bit shy of both.

Of course, let's be honest--who cares what I think? Not my state, not my business, either! But I do enjoy tossing my simple opinions like cowflaps with the rest!
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BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:58 PM
Response to Reply #26
29. Personally, I wish she hadn't gone there at all
or is it here? And I'm pretty sure David Paterson feels the same way. IMO, she combines the resume of an arriviste with a drab and uncompelling personality. I just don't see her as being able to rise above the fickle media here, or being able to handle the likes of Peter King and Rudy, who are more dangerous in a statewide election than most people here think. We did, after all, give the nation 18 years of Al D'Amato; few things are beneath us.

That said, she is being taken seriously for now because she's a Kennedy and, to a much lesser degree, because she has the perceived support of Obama. I think all Barack has to do is signal the obvious to Paterson; that NY won't take the slightest bit of a hit if he chooses someone other than Caroline and he'll gladly move on with someone else.

Mario would be great with me, as Andrew is indeed a stiff. Wouldn't be surprised if it is the latter, however, as it would remove him from the gubernatorial stage and make life easier for David. Politics...
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MADem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #29
30. Superb analysis. I agree with all of your points.
Al D'Amato!!!! Supposedly, he was the inspiration for the politician who liked "water sports" in one episode of Sex and the City!!!!

I laughed my ass off when THAT rumor made the rounds! And he DID date Candace Bushnell... http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/politics/newyork/features/1944/

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BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 04:38 PM
Response to Reply #30
33. Great article, even if it is appalling...Pushy, plucky, power-hungry Al
That shit will always sell here.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #29
38. and 12 of Pataki. I'd love Mario Cuomo to get it. If he was younger, I'd say Supreme Court
but I kind of want younger people in those positions in case the U.S. loses its mind again in terms of presidential elections.
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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #11
19. your point is righteous, but the choice of words stings a bit...
Enjoying "shooting the wounded" might not be the best turn of phrase when referring to the daughter of an assassinated president whose assassinated brother once occupied the senate seat Caroline now seeks.
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BeyondGeography Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:34 PM
Response to Reply #19
23. Point taken
and no offense intended.
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Riley18 Donating Member (883 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:12 PM
Response to Original message
14. What is the big deal whether or not Caroline is given the senate seat?
It boggles my mind that so many people are against giving her a chance, but I haven't read one word against Jeb Bush being handed the senate seat in Florida. I would much rather have a Kennedy in the Senate than another Bush.
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Horselover Fat Donating Member (78 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. some Clintonites are afraid she will challenge Hillary in 2016
so they are bound and determined to thwart her.

they will fail.
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customerserviceguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #14
22. It's a big deal when you get to represent nearly 20 million people
and there are a LOT of people with bonafide political credentials among that 20 million that also deserve "a chance" as you put it.

I'm not aware of Jeb Bush being appointed to anything, if he wants Mel Martinez's seat, he will have to run for it, and the voters of Florida get to make that decision.
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bottomtheweaver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 05:08 PM
Response to Reply #14
36. She might throw a monkey wrench into the great war on terra
or show some interest in getting to the bottom of the Bush crime operation. Can't have that, wouldn't be prudent, sp send in the clowns.
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Horselover Fat Donating Member (78 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
15. She'll be the Senator from New York whether they appoint her now or she is elected later
But thanks for your concern.
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Freddie Stubbs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:45 PM
Response to Reply #15
27. She has said that she will not run in 2010 if Paterson appoints someone else
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Horselover Fat Donating Member (78 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 06:58 PM
Response to Reply #27
37. actually, I've seen a quote saying different. Care to provide any evidence to back your claim?
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #37
39. saw a reversal of that in her last Buffalo News interview:
Edited on Wed Dec-31-08 07:32 PM by JoeIsOneOfUs
http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/534240.html

...

In her interview with The News, Kennedy said that if Paterson does not select her for the seat, she would not challenge a fellow Democrat for the job in 2010 — when the question of who will hold the post will go before voters in a special election.

“Because I’m a Democrat and he’ll pick a Democrat, I’ll want to work hard for that ticket,” she explained.

...
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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 03:52 PM
Response to Original message
28. I think it's just...you know...interesting...
Edited on Wed Dec-31-08 04:20 PM by RFKin2008
how the media chose to leave in her numerous "you knows" this time, whereas traditionally they would do any other candidate the courtesy of editing the "speech tics" out. Not only did they choose to leave `em in, they COUNTED `em up!

46 “you knows” in 5 minutes, they say. (Or was it 138 “you knows”? Or 143 "you knows"? Who knows? And who really cares?)

You know, like, this is really um, scientific because people actually sit around counting them, you know. And they’re very like, um, accurate and stuff, you know...

Oh, and speaking of counting, I just noticed my post count now stands at exactly 666. Obviously, I'm kind of um, you know, freaked out by all this heavy numerology and stuff, so think I'll just like, amuse myself with another coda of "99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall".... anybody care to join me?

(sound of bottles clinking)

We're having a New Year's Eve/"Goodbye Mr. Chimps" party tonight @ my place in Austin, TX! Ya'll come!!!!!:)
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:33 PM
Response to Reply #28
42. if they edited out her "You knows" there would be nothing left in some of the audio clips. nt
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exboyfil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 04:12 PM
Response to Original message
31. Anyone tired of dynastic politics?
As far as I can tell, Caroline's only qualifications is that she is a Kennedy. At least Andrew Cuomo (while still being part of a dynasty) has been an AG and HUD Secretary, both positions which make him qualified for the Senate).
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peace13 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #31
32. Yes, I agree * and Hill should be the last of it! n/t
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bottomtheweaver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
35. Can you imagine what they would have done to RFK Jr?
Caroline is practically a saint and they're turning her into a floozy. I just hope Paterson holds out and pays no attention to the shit brigade, but it won't be easy.

I know you're being ironic but I hope you agree that getting Caroline into office is the best way to get RFK Jr. in somewhere too, for this very reason. If he doesn't get appointed he'd get shredded by the RW media before he ever got to the hustings.
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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #35
40. dupe. n/t
Edited on Wed Dec-31-08 07:30 PM by ColbertWatcher


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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #35
41. No kidding.
At least what she says is coherent.

Unlike some people ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NGXlsqPL2A

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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:34 PM
Response to Reply #41
43. some of her clips are not very coherent
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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 09:16 PM
Response to Reply #43
45. Which part is not coherent?
Could you please post an excerpt of the part where she isn't coherent?

I'm honestly not seeing it.

Thank you.

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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #45
46. Maybe it's me but I find it very difficult to follow her thinking in the clips or transcripts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/nyregion/28kennedytranscript.html?fta=y&pagewanted=all

e.g., on her supposed strong suit, education, all this meandering to say she's not sure.

"NC: What about an issue that’s very important in public schools, and you’ve been involved in: teacher tenure. Are you familiar with Michelle Rhee’s proposal to trade tenure for more money, essentially. Do you think that New York City should have a system, for instance, where, or even nationally, we should have a system where teachers should have the chance to give up tenure in exchange for a lot more money? Is that a policy you would support?

CK: I think that the whole issue of teacher training, teacher support, teacher compensation, attracting and recruiting — I mean, there are so many people that are looking to become teachers, and for the very best reasons. But I think that what we see is that it’s a really tough job, and that we don’t support teachers, we don’t support the good ones, in a way that so many leave before five years are up. So I think that we need to do an across-the-board work on the teaching profession.

NC: Is that a good idea, though, that one idea?

CK: Well I think it’s important to raise these issues. I don’t — that’s a really controversial idea, and I don’t think standing alone, you know — Washington, D.C., is a separate thing. I mean, New York City has a million — 1.1 million kids, 90,000 teachers; Washington, D.C., is a really, really small system. So I don’t think it is a one-size-fits-all. But I think it’s a national priority to support teachers and do a better job of training and certifying —

NC: But really, this is a single important issue, I mean, it would be good to hear your stance on it. Do you think that can work? Do you think that —

CK: I think it has to be done, you know, collaboratively with the teachers and with the union. I think here the school-wide bonuses that we gave, here, that we’ve done with the union and the city — I mean, that is, I think, a good model. There’ve been — Arne Duncan, the new Secretary of Education, incoming, has worked with the union and I think that the reform efforts that they’ve made over time will yield benefits in terms of student achievements. So if you just pick out the most controversial one as a stand-alone thing, you know, I don’t think that’s really the way to go about this. I think if people can vote it’ll be really interesting to see what happens. I think there’s a lot of experimentation going on around the country that we should pay attention to. But here, I think these bonuses that are shared schoolwide give everyone in the leadership team incentive in the school to work together to raise the kids’, you know, achievement, and I think that’s going to be an interesting thing to see how that works. And the schools, you know, have almost all signed up for it.

NC: So you’re not going to answer about teacher tenure?

CK: About that specific proposal?

NC: Yeah. That’s a big one. That could become a national issue, that could become —

CK: Yeah, it could be, so I want to watch — I haven’t talked to her about it, and I know what the concept is, and I think it’s really interesting. As I said, I think my initial approach would be to work with, talk to everybody involved with that and see how that is going down. And I think there’s a lot going on in Washington, D.C., that’s going to play into that."
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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-01-09 12:34 AM
Response to Reply #46
47. Hmm.
She did wander around a bit, but was able to stay in the topic of education.

So, it's no where nearly as bad as Palin, who couldn't stay on a related topic (obviously a sign that she was being coached too intensely).

Maybe this is a sign that Kennedy isn't being coached?

Still, not so bad, but maybe that's because I'm reading it?

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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-01-09 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #47
48. oh, no where near as bad as Palin! nt
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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-02-09 05:14 PM
Response to Reply #35
51. Oh yes, I can imagine...and it makes my stomach turn
...to think of what they could do to RFK Jr....and I HATE the way they're putting Caroline through the ringer.

On the other hand, tho' - we all have to accept that the politics of personal destruction is not going away (despite Obama's best efforts to run a campaign devoid of that crap), and that anyone running for public office is going to be scrutinized, attacked, and hung out to dry. Caroline knows this, Bobby knows this, any Kennedy seeking public office knows this...and they also know that anyone named Kennedy is going to get a much tougher "vetting" than a candidate named Smith or Jones.

Bottom line is this: if Caroline or Bobby want to play public roles in any elected capacity, they will have to grin and bear it.

Even if one or both of them were appointed, they would still have to run an actual campaign in the future and face the voters, the press, and their critics. So an appointment won't excuse them from the public scrutiny, it will only postpone the inevitable.
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Uzybone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-08 07:37 PM
Response to Original message
44. No its not
I still think she will be the one appointed. The media and Kennedy haters will move on.
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saltpoint Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-01-09 11:09 AM
Response to Original message
49. The media are not to be trusted generally because they
Edited on Thu Jan-01-09 11:11 AM by Old Crusoe
process information and ship it out as "news" 24/7 to sustain their ratings.

A lot of very conservative corporate folks own a lot of the media.

If voters in New York are interested in having progressive, forward-thinking, socially conscious, public servants represent them in the Senate, there are many excellent choices for that job, Caroline Kennedy certainly among them.

In politics, names do count. So does money. So do elections, of which 2 more for this seat will be held.

We have to fend off Peter King. I've never liked him much at all and like him less as his twisted pro-Bush specter looms over the seat in question. We need a strong demographic base in this one, someone who can hold the seat.

Paterson is a very capable soul and I think overwhelmingly, Democrats will honor his choice.

Some feel that special elections, and not appointments by governors, should be the sole mechanism, uniform for all 50 states, for filling vacant Senate seats. I agree, but that is not the plan currently in place. Once it is uniform I'll cheer it loudly. Right now Paterson gets to make the appointment.

And since it has to go to someone, at the very damn least I want a progressive. It would be a huge plus if that progressive were well-positioned to hold the seat for the consecutive elections forthcoming.

I forgive verbal tics, having several of my own, whether in famous folks or everday on-the-street folks. I don't forgive George W. Bush's inarticulate jabbering because it is an inevitable accessory of his Far Right cruelty and cluelessness.

Which brings us full circle back to the media, who cannot be trusted because they put a glaring emphasis on CK's verbal tic while excusing the blatant deceits of the last 8 years of Bush and his flunkies. It's a form of bullying -- picking on the smart girl in homeroom.
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RFKJrNews Donating Member (760 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-02-09 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #49
52. Couldn't agree more
Well said, OC!

"Which brings us full circle back to the media, who cannot be trusted because they put a glaring emphasis on CK's verbal tic while excusing the blatant deceits of the last 8 years of Bush and his flunkies. It's a form of bullying -- picking on the smart girl in homeroom."

Those with long memories will also remember that the smart girl who currently occupies that senate seat, Hillary Clinton, was also viciously picked on and picked apart when she ran for senate 8 years ago. Bullying? Sexism? Hillary could write the book on it!
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Steerpike_Denver Donating Member (114 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-01-09 11:56 AM
Response to Original message
50. How about someone, y'know, more qualified?
She and Cuomo aren't the only ones in the , um, running, 'n stuff, you know. Danny O'Donnell, who hactually been, like, elected to office, would be a far better choice. O'Donnell is a state assemblyman from the Upper East side, and has been a strong advocate for issues DU should absolutely care about more than continuing the kennedy dynasty. For one thing, he has been a strong supporter of gay marriage. As a gay man himself, I think his appointment would be a nice addition to the Senate, especially considering the glaring absence of any LGBT appointments in the Obama cabinet.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/interviewing-for-the-job-of-us-senator/
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