We have plenty of qualified individuals here in NY. She is not one of them. She "wants to be appointed" and is "sentimental about her uncle's seat". BFD. If she was so d@amn interested in becoming a Senator from NY, she should have done something about it before now. Ya know, like run for public office and serve like Maloney, Velasquez, Lowry, Gillibrand, Cuomo, and the list goes on.

What does she know about job creation in NY? Food Safety? Agriculture issues? National/State security? Health Care reform?

Now these same people who decried Hillary's campaign/candidacy"entitlement" are all ready to give Mrs. SCHLOSSBERG the keys to the office once held by her uncle.

If she wants to run, let her run.  But don't give her a seat, I would be willing to bet, that there are far more deserving and/or experienced people should have more of a chance to get.

 Joe Kennedy was essentially given JFK's old House seat. His hope to run for Massachusetts' governor was dashed by his marital problems.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend lost her bid for the governorship of Maryland. One of the Shrivers lost his contest for a seat in the Maryland legislature.

The vaunted Kennedy family machine barely hung onto Teddy's seat in MA, and it required campaigning by both Clintons to keep him in the Senate.

We have had Colin Powell's son at the FCC.  Cheney's daughter at State. Julie Meyers at Homeland Security.  Those are Republican appointments.

In the media, we have Chris Wallace, Tucker Carlson, Bill Kristol, even Tim Russert's son.

In DC, every other big lobbyist is a spouse or other family member of a powerful politician.  The largest law firms are dotted with partners who everyone knows are there because of powerful family connections.

Democrats should stop buying into this.  Ridiculous symbols like Joe the Plumber have resonance with working people -- and many other voters -- because of this kind of bullsh**.

Jane Hamsher has said it well.  Caroline Kennedy has been too shy to express her opinions in the past and she has not in the past made any effort to make a case to New York voters.  And, yes, she has a distinguished resume as (very) private citizen, but let's not insult each other's intelligence:  if she gets this appointment, it is because her last name is Kennedy.  

By most accounts Hillary did not "use her name" once she got in the senate--but rather rolled up her sleeves and did the necessary work.  Is there any indication Caroline wouldn't do the same?

But that's a lot, when running for school board, say.  So she could start there, where a lot of good pols did to gain experience to then run for city council . . . and then state legislature . . . and then the House . . . and then the Senate.

However, it would look suspicious...the one that endorsed the Senator from Illinois when her Senator ran for President.  Way to look out for New York there Caroline!

Though it would be nice to have a senator who appears to have a semblance of respect for privacy and rights, and she's as qualified as any of the other clowns in congress, I'd much prefer someone not so accustomed to how the gears are greased in the halls of power.

So, we know she has a JD (not sure she was admitted to a bar); she co-authored at least two books; she has been a stay at home mom; has stayed out of the limelight; she has been active in the Kennedy Library and Profiles in Courage awards; then suddenly she appears in commercials for Obama and stumps for him, telling all that Obama reminds her of her father.  

Next, Sen. Caroline Kennedy? Technically, of course, she is qualified.

I just wish I knew more about her.  

Come on, there are hard working dedicated legislators in NY who happen to be women who have earned that appointment.

Yup, and one of them is Carolyn Maloney, who happens to be a supporter of HR 676 (Medicare for All), and was actually elected to her position.

The same people who routinely lambasted Sarah Palin for her supposed lack of qualifications are now falling all over themselves to justify this appointment.

she used to speak with a prep school accent that I found terrbily irritating. You know what I mean, like her teeth were somehow stuck together while she spoke.

If this administration wants to leave behind the antagonism of the primary, then they need to leave it behind. Appointing Kennedy, who so rudely and needlessly insulted Clinton, would exacerbate the division.

My pick would be Nydia Velazquez, despite the fact that she has no Upstate creds. Kennedy's NY experience is in NYC as well, though, so that's a non-factor in this comparison. I have concerns about how this would look like an appointment based on name recognition, but on the other hand, I think she's very intelligent, and despite not being elected to a public office, still has enough credentials for the seat. To me, a US Senator shouldn't necessarily require being previously elected--good Senators and bad Senators alike have gone that route, and I don't know that it plays in a whole lot as to the quality of the Senator.

Patty Murray.  Maria Cantwell.