On the Caroline Kennedy Thing

I tend not to involve myself in discussions of political infighting, particularly those in states other than my own. My general view is that the citizens of other states are welcome to have any damned fool senator they want. It’s none of my business.

I am a republican and, as you might have noticed in my many previous posts on the subject, I find political dynasties whether they’re at the city level or the national level disturbing. If I were a New Yorker I wouldn’t vote for Caroline Kennedy simply because she is a Kennedy. I think that politics as a family business uniquely disqualifies you for office rather than the other way around.

The situation in New York is a peculiar one, however. In New York we have the specter of senator who’s never been elected to anything being appointed by a governor that wasn’t elected to his office. However much it conforms with the standard procedures for doing such things in New York it certainly looks unseemly.

In the final analysis Gov. Patterson will do what he thinks is best for the state of New York and the New York Democratic Party. That may well be appointing Caroline Kennedy to the senate. I would prefer that for democracy’s sake he would appoint an elder statesman to the office who’s unlikely to seek the office for him or herself in 2010 when according to state law a special election will be held to elect a replacement senator (not to mention 2012 when whoever is elected will need to run again).

The entire process by which interim senators are appointed by governors is a throwback to the 19th century when state legislatures appointed U. S. senators. It may be time to amend the amendment and insert provisions for the popular election of interim senators. Or repeal the amendment and return the power to the state legislatures. The current procedure is neither fish nor fowl and doesn’t make a great deal of sense.

New York’s senator will certainly need to be somebody who relishes the process of electioneering. He or she will be doing enough of it.

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