Biden replacement creates blowback

[JDwho]

Source: Politico

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner’s (D) decision to appoint Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s longtime aide Ted Kaufman to the Senate has upset local Democrats who believe the move was a ham-handed attempt to engineer the election of Biden’s son, Beau, to the Senate in 2010.

By selecting Kaufman, who has said he would serve only two years before a special election is held in 2010, Minner bypassed other interested Delaware pols and ensured that Beau Biden will have a clearer opportunity to succeed his father in the Senate.

Beau Biden, the state’s attorney general, is currently serving in Iraq as part of the Delaware National Guard.

“There is definitely going to be some blowback,” said Delaware State political science professor Sam Hoff.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15959.html

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Local Democrats are upset about Biden's replacement in the senate? Beau Biden (whom I assume is a Democrat), who is now serving in Iraq; is already being accused of his father's seat being gifted to him.
The more Democrats, the better, IMHO. Why on earth is our party upset about this?

[bitchkitty]

1. Who were the hopefuls for that seat?

I imagine whoever they were, they had their admirers.

I wouldn't have a problem with a fresh Democratic face in the Senate!

[JDwho]

6. Beau Biden is the only one I know of, and he was offered the absentee senator's seat.

Not only did he turn that down, but as the son of the VP, he was offered to serve in Deleware, instead of Iraq. He turned that down, as well.

[cyclezealot]

20. So what's so wrong about a caretake senator..

Biden's aide is surely knowledgeable in the business of the Senate and current issues. It keeps the seat Democratic.. And offer those Democratic rivals an equal footing in the next Delaware senatorial primary. Why would Gov. Miner give anyone but Beau an equal chance next time out. The arrangement makes sense as long as the caretaker senator is qualified...
ps.. What is happening to the Delaware attorney's general office functions.. And , from reports Beau is a fresh face and quite popular.. Why would Beau not be a fresh face , should he be Delaware's next senator.

[bitchkitty]

37. You misread my intent -

I was talking about Beau being a fresh face.

[eilen]

2. Beau Biden plans to run a campaign-- he is not asking to be appointed.

I expect that another Democrat could challenge him in a primary or run against him, could they not?

[JDwho]

4. That was my first thought. So why are we "raising a stink" about it?

He, like any other candidate, would need to be elected to the seat.

[fjc]

3. Tough. They'll have to earn it.

[fasttense]

5. Beau Biden still has to be elected to the Delaware Senate seat.

There is no guarantee he will win or come home alive. The repukes could always nominate their own Iraq war soldier.

Wait, do Republicons actually serve in the military? I thought they all were exempt, you know, like Dick and the bush never fought in Vietnam.

[LeftHander]

7. Hamfisting would be to appoint Beau to the senate...

This story doesn't make sense...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Psst

It's Politico.

:think:

[JDwho]

9. Agreed. So what are the "local" Dems. problem?

I would think they would be encouraged. Am I missing something?

[Donnachaidh]

10. why? perhaps it has something to do with the 'L' word?

LEGACY. Or perhaps it's the appearance of Biden's aide 'keeping the seat warm' for Beau Biden?

The country hasn't done so well lately with legacy candidates. No one should seem to have a foot up, compared to other potential candidates. And yes, he'll have to run for the office, but his presence will have immediate recognition, especially with the shadow of the Vice President making sure all the right hands are shook, all the right fundraisers are attended, etc. He certainly DOES have the advantage over poor Joe Schmuck who wants to run because he sees too much being done in Washington, but doesn't have the political connections.

:shrug:

[Orangepeel]

14. The alternative was to give one other candidate a foot up.

I don't know who else in Delaware is interested in the seat, but I have to assume there is more than one person other than Beau Biden. So the governor should have picked one of them so that Biden wouldn't be the only one with name recognition? Then every other potential candidate would be screaming even louder.

At least this way, every candidate comes in to the 2010 election with what they've got going for them already, rather than the governor bestowing an advantage on one particular candidate.

[murbley40]

11. This Delaware democrat ...

is just fine with the appointment of Kaufman. Some supported Carney (Minner's lt. governor) for the appointment. In my opinion, he is too close to Carper.

[JDwho]

13. I'm not familiar with Carney...

I can see the "Legacy" problem someone stated before; but realistically isn't it who you know? Not that it should be that way, just that I think that may be the way it is.
I, too, like the appointment of Kaufman, but, as I said...don't know much about Carney.

[LynneSin]

16. Another Delawarean that's glad it's not Carney

Don't get me wrong - John Carney is a good guy but he's another Tom Carper. And Tom Carper is strong DLC, I think he has like a Vice-Chair position in the organization. Don't get me wrong - Carper is no Lieberman but he still makes me cringe from time to time. Carney would have been a huge bonus for the DLC. Appointing Kaufman, whether permament or to fill in for Beau, means that the DLC has not picked off another seat.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Local Democrats? Says a Delaware State political science professor

I seriously wouldn't put too much stock in what a political science professor says.

[Gman]

15. It's called "politics"

[LynneSin]

17. I'm gonna tell you who the big losers are with this appointment - the DLC

First, I'm from Delaware. I'm no expert but I can give you some info about what is going on.

We have another sort of 'legacy' going on in the state that started with Tom Carper, our other senator in DE. Carper was governor for 8 years. When his term limits came up, his Lt. Gov Ruth-Ann Minner ran and John Carney became Lt. Gov. Ruth-ann's term limits are up and it was assumed that John Carney would be the next Governor of the state. But the state treasure, Jack Markell ran and pulled a surprise upset. Some assumed that Carney would be given Biden's seat as a show of appreciation for his work at Lt. Gov.

HOWEVER, Carper, Minner & Carney are all DLC stalwarts. If Carney was to get the senate seat it would be a pick-up for the DLC and because he's a product of that 'legacy' he would probably fit in quite well with one of the top dogs in the DLC, Tom Carper (the other senator from DE). (mind you, Markell is also DLC but for some reason DLC governors aren't as bad as DLC senators and representatives).

I think Joe Biden had major influence over who was going to get that seat and with governors switching in DE, he would give the decision of who to replace him to the governor willing to pick the person Joe wanted as his replacement. Biden is not nor has he ever been DLC (although DUers claim he is - he's not). So getting Kaufman is getting someone who is not DLC and pretty much knows the mindset of how Joe would do things as senator.

As for the other issue - holding the seat for Joe's son Beau. Well, unless Mike Castle, our lone US Rep, decides to make a run for senate there isn't one strong republican in the state that could really take on Biden Jr. or Kaufman. (Provided that there isn't some major Democrat backlash like we saw in 1994 with the 'Contract on America'). It's funny that people bitch about Beau being a 'legacy' but these are the same people that had no problem voting for George W. Bush. At least Beau is a class act who served our country during an unpopular war even when he had the connections to get out of it. And Beau has no skeletons in his closet either.

So it'll all be interesting to see what happens. I'll be happy to vote for whomever the DE candidate is in 2010. And I'm glad it's not John Carney. I loved having Joe Biden as my senator (mind you I came from PA where for 8 years Rick Santorum was my senator) and with Kaufman I feel like I'm getting the same kind of Biden representation that I've come to appreciate.

[JDwho]

23. Thanks, Lynne, for the info...

I'd be more than happy to not have another seat occupied by someone with the DLC. You explained the situation well, and I appreciate it. I hope Beau Biden does occupy the seat, despite the appearance of nepotism. People will just have to get over it, if that happens.Thanks again.
JD

[AllentownJake]

18. This is what they should do with Obama's seat IMO

Pick someone who will serve two years and than let there be a real primary where no one has the advantage of incumbency to decide who takes the seat.

If Beau Biden runs in a primary against the other people interested. What is the problem?

[treestar]

19. If he does a good job, and changes his mind

I'm voting for him.

I voted for a Republican only once in my life, the guy who ran against Beau for Attorney General - he had more experience as a prosecutor.

[damntexdem]

21. If someone else intended to run in 2010, that would be preferable.

Not only would it give a MD senator a bit more seniority if reelected in 2010, it would make it more likely that a Dem would win the 2010 election, being an incumbent.

And Beau already had his chance to be appointed now.

[yurbud]

22. nepotism--though on a Machiavellian level, Biden is an established brand that would be harder

for GOP to knock out of office.

[woodsprite]

24. I was talking to relatives of Carney and they said that they were

having a hard time *Finding* someone to take the seat until the election. Apparently if your 'appointed' you have a more difficult time running for the actual position, and most of the time, the temporary sitters don't win the spot in the election.

[Jennicut]

25. Politico always has an agenda, I can't stand them, why did they ever get big to begin with

Roger Simon is such a a blowhard. Anyways, I think having a fair election in 2010 is a good idea. Plus, people taking seats for family members has been done for years...Mary Bono took over for her husband Sonny and no one had a problem with it, why the big freaking deal now?

[JDwho]

26. I don't think there is a big freaking deal, they just...

have no dirt on Obama, no dirt on Biden, no dirt on the upcoming administration. My guess is, it's slow news, so they spoke with a few locals and spun it.

I find it interesting that it's more difficult to win the seat if you take it in an absentee situation, then run for it, later. Hmmm.

[Jennicut]

28. Yup, no real news.

[chimpymustgo]

30. Nepotism. We'd be screaming if the rethugs did it.

[wyldwolf]

27. NO DYNASTIES IN DELAWARE!

:)

[Why Syzygy]

29. It makes more sense to appoint someone who will vacate in two years

and allow the electorate a chance rather than "ham fist" a lifer in there at this moment.
Crying foul when they really want one for themselves.

[merh]

31. you know some dems

if you don't ask them if it's okay to do something they will condemn the action, you have to ask permission and add "pretty please with a cherry on top" to satisfy some.

:sarcasm:

;)

It would seem to if me that since Biden is AG and has served in Iraq, in 2 years Beau Biden would have the better shot at the win than any other dem, even if his father isn't the VP.

[JDwho]

32. You know, I was wondering what all the complaining was about...

it does seem that his experience as AG, and the serving in this war would be enough for consideration.
The sarcasm is warranted, merh. We haven't been asked "pretty please?" in a very long time. Here we are with good people wanting to serve the country, either in a govt. position or military. Perhaps, both. What's up???
I really liked the explanation given earlier, regarding Carney. Maybe people see this as just another give-away? However, he'd have to run like everyone else, and if they don't like it, they can just vote for the "other guy". Whomever that may be.

[merh]

34. it would seem to me that giving the post to the person who will

hold it for only 2 years seems the fairest way to handle the "which dem will be the better dem in two years".

Add to that the very simple fact that Biden's aid knows more about Biden's unfinished business and the office than anyone else, the appointment is a no-brainer, imho.

BTW, welcome to DU.

[JDwho]

35. thank you, merh : )

[jillan]

33. Beau has already said he doesn't want his father's senate seat to be given to him.

If he decides to run for the Senate, he'll do it the same way that everyone else does.

jeez.

[JDwho]

36. Sounds like a guy with integrity. Haven't seen much of that in a while.