The Case For Caroline Kennedy (Like, As If)

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a.....wait, wait, hold on I had my fairy tales mixed up with my science fiction. Well, I guess they really are one in the same; and in American politics we are continuing our decent off the tree of "Representative Government". Sure, we have our elections and local leaders, sure there is some power in the people's hands (proven in 2008), but in the end there are some things that just fall through the cracks of Democracy. And the celebrity nature of political positions, and the power they wield, often conflicts with the "needs and wants" of the people they represent. And in the case of a vacant Senate seat, in the absence of a pending election, where the Governor selects a Senate appointment, this where the potential for a breakdown occurs. This is where the real "Politics" begin, and representation is literally tossed out the window. Obviously, we have the "Party" partisan (regardless of the party that holds the senate and/or governor seats), which will always play into the selection, so let's negate that as a discussion point. The real issue is that the selection, in no part, involves the "People" that originally voted for the previous senate appointment. Other than a new election process, we would have to change the laws that govern this process; and as a defender of such laws, the original founders understood the mayhem that would occur. Then again, that was back when "Horses" ruled, not the "Internet". When representation was needed, since the difficulty of riding to Washington; well, is quite obvious. But, the law is the law, and regardless of the "Time Warp", we have to adhere to the practice of "One Guy's Selection". So now with a secondary issue negated, the last bastion of hope is that a new selection would surely represent the state they are serving. I would hope that any leader representing my town, my city, or my state, would not only have the qualifications needed, but also have an affinity for the place they live. Is it that wrong to ask for this; or have I missed something?

As the recent news about Caroline Kennedy as a potential senate replacement started to became "Must See TV", I could not help but become intrigued. Not because I actually have any faith in my state senators to actually represent me, but because I knew this is where "Politico Mafioso" would reveal its ugly head. I spent years under the "Hilary" regime; to which I really did not see any real benefit to New York. Let's be honest, moving into a state for a short period of time, then running for Senate in a state that carries a large "Electoral" count, is smart politics. She had one goal: Become the next president. But, I must be fair, that is not unlike any other political behavior out there. But what surprised me, is that Caroline Kennedy (whether with intent or not), has embraced New york, lived New York, and has committed herself to addressing the needs of the people (active in public service). I do not agree with a lot of her political positions; but, doesn't she at least deserve real consideration - and would be a better representative than a "I'll Wash Your Back, If You Wash Mine" appointment. Of course there is the stigma of sounding like a "N.Y.-Valley Girl" (You Know, Like, You Know), the not-so poignant interviews (though not as bad as McCain), and the notorious "Kennedy-Connection" family ties (whether you err on the side of "fun loving bunch" or "crooks"). Critics will argue correctly, that she may not have the true executive experience to become a senator. Some critics will argue that the state of New York does not just include the "Big Apple", so where is true representation of the state - though after Governor George Pataki (who reached out to "upstate" and "downstate"), those days are gone. Especially with a Democrat in the office that will cater to the large voter base of the city. So forget the people, forget the pros and cons of Caroline, forget her credentials or not, what this really comes down to is "Who Will Play Politico". And I thought Sarah Palin was trashed more.

So the days of monarchy rule were suppose to be over: after sending the British home in defeat, America defined itself apart from its home land and designed the greatest living document of representative government. A land "For The People, Of the People". But in this case, the speculation was not whether Caroline was truly qualified (convenient enough), but appointing someone who would play the game, would trade favors, and fall in line to the typical corrupt political nature that has "The Apple", "Chi-Town", And "D.C." in the proverbial "Hall of Shame". Some people feel that Paterson would not appoint Caroline because he knew she would not play the same political game, that she would not give into the connections of bribery that are common practices in the state legislature. And if that is the case, maybe she is different than a majority of Kennedy legacy that has surrounded itself in controversy (hhmmm). The "Democrat-only" in-fighting seems a little too coincidental, and maybe there is someone else in line that has a "Larger Than Life" bag of I.O.U.s that they are looking for restitution. I do not know who is the right choice, given the list of potential names, but given the process we were handed, it looks "As If" democracy will, once again, suffer.