Caroline Kennedy: The Accidental Senator Who Wasn’t
Ann Tyler, in her novel The Accidental Tourist, brought us the tale of Macon Leary. He was an author of travel literature who never risked engagement in the world he directed others to explore until acts of cruel chance thrust him into the game. Mr. Leary might have served as a suitable model in our consideration of former Senate contender Caroline Kennedy.
It is perhaps fitting that Ms. Kennedy was nearly hoisted aloft by David Paterson, a man surely as surprised as any at his own ascendance, and a product of the confluence of scandal and fate. While it would have been in defiance of all logic and expectations — most certainly my own — the Accidental Governor very nearly passed over a host of qualified and occasionally promising candidates to give us the Accidental Senator. The political voyeur in me would have enjoyed the spectacle, but that dream came crashing down on Wednesday evening when the Kennedy heiress removed herself from contention.
The process leading up to this surprising announcement was clearly a typical page out of the Hudson Valley, old money playbook. Upon hearing the news, I contacted a friend who works with Hillary Clinton’s Senate offices upstate. She opined that Governor Paterson was preparing to announce a choice other than Kennedy and this move was simply an escape hatch which would allow Caroline to save face.
It has the ring of truth, but stands in stark contrast to public statements from both Kennedy and the governor’s Albany office. Paterson was said to be “surprised” by her choice to demure, and friends of Ms. Kennedy told NBC News that she had been “going back and forth” on the decision for several days. Assuming we were to take them at their word, what does this say of Kennedy herself and of Paterson’s wisdom in deeming her a suitable contender for the seat? Was she so casually flippant about laying claim to a United States Senate seat that she could be laying the groundwork for her life’s legacy one day and then simply losing interest in it the next? What if Paterson had actually appointed her and she subsequently found it not to her liking after a few weeks in office?
I think she realized that the sense of entitlement that is attached to the Kennedy name has run it’s course.
Nah, it was simple finances! New York’s Paterson (friend and neighbor of Charlie Rangel) is every bit as crooked as Illinois’ Blago.
Kennedy is out because she would not pay the bribe that Paterson demanded, largely because she didn’t believe she should have to pay for something that was hers by birth right. They negotiated, talked some more and couldn’t reach a deal. She also didn’t like the part about the job that might require her to have any contact with those not of royal blood.
A very interesting article. I’m inclined to agree that Paterson may have caved to media and political pressure from uptate NY to appoint someone who can represent the State of NY and not just NYC.
As for Camelot, well, there’s a whole new Camelot inside the beltway. Instead of a New England pedigree, this one was blown in from the windy city. Did you not get the memo?
Read the tea leaves! She KNOWS that Uncle Teddy will drop out soon, either die or retire because of illness. She KNOWS that there will be no quibbling about getting the family Senate seat from the governor of Mass. She won’t have to pay a cent and the folks all over Massachusetts won’t care if shes ever talks to them or even ever comes to the state so long as they are represented by a sainted Kennedy. Residence? No problemo! Just put down, “The Compound, Hyannis.”
this clears the path for Patterson to give an all expenses paid trip out of town to Andrew Cuomo, who was a potential candidate to replace him as Governor of New York.
“What if Paterson had actually appointed her and she subsequently found it not to her liking after a few weeks in office?”
There is no “if” about it. Princess Caroline would NOT have found the work, such as it is, in the Senate to her liking. I believe that she thinks she is above any kind of work at all and to sit with other Senators and have to deal with issues and problems that affect the “little people” is certainly beneath her dignity. Probably better for both the Princess and the country for her to keep her quiet little privileged life to herself.
TexEd is correct. Camelot Caroline couldn’t bear the thought of soiling herself by direct contact with common working-class people. Indeed, how utterly distasteful that might have been? And….my word, what would have been spoken of her in the country clubs, art galleries, philanthropic events and of course, the opera and symphony. How common of her, has she utterly forgotten her breeding…her place in society?
“Ms. Kennedy told NBC News that she had been “going back and forth” on the decision for several days.”
Waffling? She must’ve contacted John Kerry.
Caroline Kennedy is just not very bright. I think she got it from her mother. She wants to be a Senator from Massachusetts, but Uncle Teddy just won’t die.
“As for Camelot, well, there’s a whole new Camelot inside the beltway.”
“Spamalot” is more appropriate for the Jack and Jackie wannabe’s.
The entire spectacle was starting to look like a “pay-to-play” scheme. The country is not in the mood for this.
We do not need yet another senator who will later tell us that they didn’t “understand” what derivatives were or how they were putting the country at risk.
Enough already. We need competency.
Ditto on Jim’s remark. The waffling is because she’s going to hold out and go for Ted’s seat when he croaks.
The idea that she’d even be considered is so indicative of the corrupt and amateurish Dem. Would Pubs have considered a Reagan offspring in such manner? Even if they had, the MSM would have howled, “Privilege!”
Wait… actually, that’s how Bush II got elected, right? I take it back. We both suck!
No one under the age of sixty cares anything at all about the degenerate Kennedys. I first figured this out a few years ago when that other non-entity, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, got rejected in Maryland.
I know a few of them are still hanging around, like the drug addict in Rhode Island and the other drug addict who runs the “little Eichmans” over at Riverkeeper.
But they’re history. When Teddy is gone, that will be it.
Allah be praised.
The story goes that her new nickname is ‘Zoe’. Seems she has the same issue with her hired help. That issue won’t matter in Massachusetts, since even murder never kept Teddy out of office.
What’s her main qualification? She inherited money and has never worked a day in her life!! Why not just pick a dane out of the phone book? You would probably get a more qualified candidate.
Sweet Caroline, no problemo. You just go back to writing those insipid books with a 5th grade-like writing style. Printed by the only publisher who would print them. Your Mommy’s. Buh-bye.
Teddy will never die. He’ll be in a sealed chamber, created by Jack Daniels, beside Ted Williams’ chamber and be ‘resurrected’ if you will, when the ‘country needs his ‘patriotism’ most.’ Ted was specific in not wanting to be in a water-type chamber. He has a real fear of water. I don’t recall why..
Don’t cry for Caroline. Her buddy Obama will probably make her ambassador to England. If it worked for her grandfather (who got the job from 1938 to 1940), maybe it will do something for her? The job doesn’t take much talent, requires that you attend a lot of social functions, and is usually given to no-talent rich people who have sucked up to the president. It would be perfect for Caroline! And what’s the worst that could happen? After all, we haven’t been at war with Britain since 1812, so how much damage could she do? On second thought, I think we need England as an ally, so Caroline should stick to what she knows best, like attending charity functions and eating on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She does those things very well.
It is being said that sweet Caroline has been having an affair with he-who- thinks-he-is-God, otherwise known as Mr Sulzberger,the publisher of the sammy-going-south New York Times. How about DEM apples??!! Seriously. (Please don’t tell their spouses).
Teddy will never die. He’ll be in a sealed chamber, created by Jack Daniels, beside Ted Williams’ chamber and be ‘resurrected’ if you will, when the ‘country needs his ‘patriotism’ most.’
And be placed in the Ariel Sharon clinic of eternal life.
Caroline and Pinch? They’ve got an affair going? Maybe Caroline takes after her daddy more than we might have guessed. By the way…who did her nose job? Looks like the same guy who worked on Michael Jackson.
Wow! You people sound like a bunch of Huffington Posters. I have never been enamored of the Kennedys either, but jeez . . . As for Mr. Malone’s comment re Bush II, first Dubya was no Caroline. He “earned” his place in national politics by being twice elected to the Texas governership. Secondly, many non-Republicans voted for him a second time because of that other Massachusetts wonderkind JFK. Disappointed as I was in Dubya’s domestic policies, if I coulda, I’da voted for him a third time for the same reason I voted for John McCain.
Paterson had absolutely no intentions of appointing Kennedy. Don’t believe everything you read in the newspapers. Speculation that he had decided on her was just that, speculation. He’s a smart guy and he knows she was not ready. I can’t believe how she handled this whole thing. She came off as some stupid teenager. She pulled out because she knew she wasn’t going to be chosen. She’s been around long enough to know how politics works. It would have been foolish of the Gov to go with her. I knew all along that she wouldn’t make it. There were just too many overly qualified people to fill the spot. She’s hidden from the public for 30 years and now all of a sudden we’re suppose to take her seriously as a NY senator, please. She acts like a little girl, we don’t need that, especially to fill the shoes of one the most powerful, talented, intelligent, accomplished women in the country.