Anyone still think Caroline Kennedy was a bad idea after the Gillibrand pick?

[dkf]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232009/news/politics/dave_picks_gillibrand_as_liberal_dems_ho_151502.htm

The inclusion of several prominent Republicans among the invitees was an early sign to insiders that Paterson planned to pick an upstate Democrat.

Gillibrand has won two successive elections in one of the heaviest GOP districts in the state, first upsetting incumbent Rep. John Sweeney and, in November, defeating former state GOP chairman and multimillionaire Alexander Treadwell, in one of the most expensive races in the nation.

Liberal Democrats have been wary of her because she ran for re-election with the backing of the National Rifle Association, opposed the federal TARP program to rescue banks, and has been less than enthusiastic about gay marriage.

==Ugh. If someone challenges her, I'm seriously considering throwing some $ their way.

[xchrom]

1. someone here will think she is a great choice.

me? -- not so much.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Yes, I don't believe in either a ruling political class nor do I favor GOP-lite Blue Dogs.

:shrug:

[dkf]

4. Well if you had to have one or the other, isn't Caroline a much better pick?

I do think that Paterson is an idiot though. If he loses to Cuomo I won't be sad.

[Occam Bandage]

29. Not at all, no.

I'm in favor of 2nd-amendment rights, and TARP has been a disaster. I dislike Gillibrand's stance on immigration, but I'd rather trade one issue for actual competence in the other issues. Caroline was, you know, the second coming of Sarah Palin, you know?

[Subdivisions]

3. Would you like my caveman answer? n/t

[dkf]

6. haha. Caveman answer?

Sounds like some hottie comment?

[Subdivisions]

7. She is approaching hottie status. Otherwise, I don't know alot

about her. But I'm going to study up on her.

[calico1]

5. I'm thinking Paterson picked her not so much

because he thinks she would do the best job but to help his own chances when he runs for the office. He probably figures that by picking someone from Upstate it will help him there.

Carolyn McCarthy has already expressed interest in challenging Gillebrand.

I just don't see this woman winning the seat on her own with her Conservative views. You can't really win a statewide election in NY without winning NYC. And NYC isn't exactly a haven for Conservative ideals or NRA supporters.

So unless she changes the way she votes to be more inline with NYC voters I see her as being a 2 year Senator.

I imagine people in NYC will like Carolyn McCarthy better, or Cuomo should he decide to jump in.

[hlthe2b]

8. To an outsider, it seems that Paterson botched this process

every way possible... I can not imagine that he has much support against someone like Cuomo in his reelection bid. If you are right about KB, you'll probably lose her Congressional seat to a Repug as well, from what others are telling me. Doesn't seem smart to me....:shrug:

[theboss]

19. That's an issue with the primary though

If she gets through the primary, she would be an unbeatable state-wide candidate.

And having a primary fight might be good for the party.

[cali]

9. yes. I think Caroline was a lousy pick and I think Gillibrand is a lousy pick.

[Cetacea]

13. Will you still say that when she votes with Repugs and Lieberman?

Admit it . She is a worse pick. Might as well have a republican in there.

[theboss]

16. Out of curiosity, do you know how often Lieberman votes with Repubs?

Or are you just making stuff up?

Anyway, I think this is a pick that has more to do with in-state New York politics than anything else. And in that regard, it might be inspired.

Hillary made serious inroads in upstate New York as a Senator. This pick should build on that momentum. And if upstate becomes even "purple," New York will be dead to Republicans for a generation.

[dkf]

18. What happens if Gillibrand is defeated in the Dem primary?

Or are we assuming Schumer will keep everyone out?

[theboss]

20. If she is defeated in a primary, we support who beat her

I don't see why having two voices in a primary is bad.

[dkf]

24. I'm talking about Paterson's move being brilliant or whatever...

If Gillibrand gets defeated wouldn't that make the pick look like a bad idea and would that backfire somehow?

[theboss]

25. I don't think it is a brilliant move; it's an interesting one

I'm curious to see how the Upsate/NYC dynamic plays out. Personally, I don't think it is bad to have prominent upstate Democrats. But if New York City rejects her, she isn't going to win a primary.

[cali]

21. I think Caroline would have lost the seat to the repukes in 2010

she was utterly hapless in the spotlight. And Gillibrand is not someone I'd pick, but her voting record indicates that she'll largely vote with the dems- which Lieberman, as a matter of fact, also does. The problem is, that Lieberman votes with repugs on military issues and Iraq. Doesn't seem to be true of Gillibrand. I still don't like her, but I doubt very much she'll be voting with the thugs on much of anything.

[theboss]

26. I can't see a Dem in 2008 siding with the Repubs on much of anything

That seems like odd territory for a New York politician to stake out during Obama's first two years.

(Hell, I don't see the Repubs siding with the Repubs on much of anything for the time being).

[CreekDog]

10. If California can elect Boxer by blowout margins

then NY can have a Senator of the same caliber.

Gillibrand would have been a good pick for a place like Florida, where holding the seat would be a real issue for someone very liberal. In New York, while she is not a bad pick, we could really have had better.

That said, perhaps she will vote more liberally as a Senator, since she'll be representing a more liberal constituency than her House district.

[stray cat]

11. Caroline withdrew - she wasn't an option at her own choice

[dkf]

12. Speculation is she was pushed to "decline" because she wasn't getting it anyway.

After the tax, nanny and marriage smears I don't know what to think.

[Cetacea]

14. Perfect example of "Be careful what you wish for."

Instead of a liberal we got a another Lieberman. Brilliant.

[GardeningGal]

15. I think CK should run against Gillibrand in 2010. n/t

[theboss]

17. It seems like a pick based on New York state politics more than national politics

The fact that she is an upstate Democratic who may have coat tails is going to be good for the Democratic Party in New York.

And, frankly, I have no problem with the Democratic Party having a conservative wing. Someone needs to adopt all the lost Rockefellfer Republicans. The GOP doesn't want them anymore and seems perfectly happy to be a regional party.

[bottomtheweaver]

22. More proof that RW propaganda works.

We're browbeaten into believing that Caroline, whose uncle coincidentally has consistently objected to the Iraq war, is a can't-win tax cheat with a speech impediment, and the day after she finally gives up Paterson appoints a pro-gun, pro-war Clinton acolyte. Hmmm.

[DS1]

23. It's time the Kennedys left, too

[Occam Bandage]

27. Yes. CK was a terrible pick. Gillibrand is a bad pick, but not a terrible one.

I don't like her immigration stance, but I think her gun-control stance is fine, her opposition to TARP isn't a bad thing at all, and many Dems are "less than enthusiastic about gay marriage." Realistically, we're going to get civil unions first. One battle at a time.

[lonestarnot]

28. We are being taken over from the inside! Stop them!

[NoPasaran]

30. I'd take her over Kay Bailey Hairspray or Dicknose Cornyn in a New York minute