One-party rule is bad pretty much everywhere–as you say, in Cook County, IL, and in the Federal Government from 2002-2006. I think the Dems are in a risky place taking all of the reigns at this point in American history. One party rule tends to be pretty short-lived, probably for the best. They’ll need to hit the ground running and show that they can clean up the mess before the mid-terms.

Actually, in watching the various supporters trying to make a case for her in the media, I notice that many of them do so by saying that the role of a Senator is not critical and does not require demonstrated expertise, experience in elective office. Some acknowledge that it requires only money and/or name recognition and a clear party affilliation – Democrat or Republican.

I’ve reflected on this because my own state is already short a Senator and determined that the American public doesn’t really benefit too much by the Senate.

1. Caroline Kennedy is a serious candidate, and we don’t even know if she ever held a full time job.

2. Al Franken looks like he may win a seat. Personally, I never thought he was a funny commedian, an insightful commentator. I don’t have high hopes for him as a leader.

3. Our Senior Senator told the public that all Barack Obama could gain from spending more time in the Senate was a thicker neck. Barack Obama agreed and really started campaigning for President the day he won the seat. There are stories about how he distributed his left-over Senate campaign signs in Wisconsin before he showed up to claim his seat in WA. Barack Obama had high absenteeism in the Illinois State Senate and the US Senate long before he ever announced his intention to run for President.

4. Current Senators are Larry Craig and Ted Stevens. Robert Bird, who should have left ages ago. Ted Kennedy of Chappaquidick and “au bar” fame. Are you satisfied with Chris Dodd’s performance in the Senate Banking committee? John Kerry is on vacation now. The auto bailout was not a priority. Joe Biden maneuvered to get a place holder in his seat so that his son could run when he comes back from Iraq.

I read an article that said that the Senate is evolving into the House of Lords. Seems that way.

I hope New Yorkers scream loudly that since Caroline Kennedy said she would run for the nomination in 2010, she should be given that opportunity. In the meantime, appoint someone who has actually held elected office and demonstrated their committment by showing up, voting, and developing expertise that might be useful in solving some problems for the American people. I think that our representatives fouled up the auto industry by requiring CAFE standards while at the same time giving tax breaks for those who drive Hummers. By requiring that autos be produced from non polluting factories while allowing imported vehicles produced from foreign factories with no environmental controls.

If New Yorkers don’t need a Senator with more demonstrated committment than Caroline Kennedy, than you can make a case that the US doesn’t need the Senate.

I generally support the democratic agenda, but I sure disrespect their leadership. We have never had a republican party in Chicago, Il and now that the whole state is democratic, well it has just gotton worse. Integrity, committment, work ethic, and the ability to see problems in non partisan ways and solve them is all I want in an elected official.

Clearly, the mockery of Palin by the left was mostly ideologically driven rather than inspired by an honest evaluation of her experience. No lefties ever made fun of Howard Dean in 2003-04 because he was a small state governor.

Who knows?

Tom: Let Caroline Kennedy change her name and then run for senate.

Won’t change her genetic line, and that’s the troublesome part. We were told that a woman who was married to a former President had no right to run for the office because it would be a “dynasty” but Americans seem to have no problem with real blood-line ones. Isn’t this part of why we fought the Revolutionary War?

Rad–one of the things the public learns when someone runs for office are their positions on the major issues–as you say, immigration, health care, labor rights, and feminism, etc. So it’s not the mere fact of having won the votes of actual voters in a state, it’s also the public vetting, testing, and having to have taken a stand on the issues other than “vote for Obama.”

And, Tom–good point. Blagojevich is the son-in-law of a Chicago alderman, and once perhaps had dreams of being the patriarch of his own surnamed dynasty. Kennedy can keep the Kennedy as far as I’m concerned–just get out and say what you would do with the job and win a campaign in which the voters (and not just Gov. Patterson) make the final call.