Kennedy Family "Furious" with Paterson

[dkf]

"An 'apoplectic' Kennedy family is seething over the rough treatment that heiress apparent Caroline got from Gov. Paterson's office and is spoiling for revenge," the New York Post reports.

Said one "well-placed" Democrat: "The governor's going to pay for this. Ted is furious. The family is furious. The Kennedys are now against the governor."

The New York Daily News quotes another source close to the Kennedy family: "Maybe was caught off guard by her decision, but to disparage her the way they have is beyond understanding."

New York magazine on Paterson: "His style of governance, a dizzy mix of ingratiation and trickeration, has turned what could have been a moment of triumph -- a powerful new ally in the Senate, a relationship with President Obama -- into a slapstick fiasco, a fitting sequel to the way Paterson got the job in the first place."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/01/25/kennedy_family_furious_with_paterson.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. Apparently he's been running her down to the press. Stay classy, Paterson.

[galaxy21]

2. I think he saved her from embarressment by letting her get out of the race with dignity

[dkf]

5. His people are trashing her.

He saved her zero embarrassment.

[galaxy21]

10. He could have just announced he was picking Gillibrand a week ago

And then Caroline would have been labelled a reject, at least he gave her a chance to drop out and she comes out of looking somewhat okay.

[dkf]

13. Yes. He turned it into a circus.

Another drama king...that is just great.

[galaxy21]

16. I think he dragged it out to give Caroline the chance to drop out

Caroline was going to look bad either way. Whether he announced it last week or not.

[dkf]

24. All he had to do was not trash her and control his big mouthed idiot aides.

That is what the Kennedys are mad about. That is what I'm mad about.

[galaxy21]

28. Even if some of it is unfair. Caroline is a big girl

She doesn't need uncle Ted coming into rescue her from the 'big, bad press'. You know how badly Hillary's been treated by the press? Did she go crying to Bill? Of course not. She fought back.

And to think some people were calling Caroline a potential presidential candidate.

[dkf]

36. I hope Caroline fights back by running for the Senate.

Especially against Blue Dog Gillibrand. That would make me jump for joy.

Seeing Paterson and Gillibrand primaried out would make my day!

I didn't used to be hot on Cuomo, but he is beginning to look much better.

[marshall]

63. That would certainly win her some vindication

And it would be done moreso on her own merits--although it's hard to separate Kennedy. I guess she could go the Hillary route and just run under her fisrt name.

[SuperTrouper]

90. The Kennedys will send RFK to torpedo Gilli and they will rally around Cuomo

to sink the imbecile Governor Paterson.

[sohndrsmith]

126. Same here! I was respectful of Paterson until I read that

Gillebrand's biggest donor (and former law firm/employer) donated $50,000 to Paterson's campaign on December 23rd, 2008... in $25,000 batches - both in the same day. Still, it looks ugly whether completely legit or not.

Gillebrand represents Hudson NY (I'm familiar with Hudson and have been there many times spanning several decades), and that is supposed to make her inordinately more qualified than Kennedy? It's not a knock on Hudson - it's a knock on Gillebrand, because there is less daylight in her prep school/Ivy League experience and Kennedy's than people care to believe. She's confused on most issues, (or flat out wrong) and I don't get the slam that (now) seems somewhat deliberate... towards Kennedy...

Gillebrand seems like she's being groomed by those with more power and influence that want to keep it that way. I don't know whether it's better or worse if she realizes it - or not.

Just my point of view... time will tell, of course...

[MarjorieG]

66. Remember how media informs your view. Gave Caroline time to be trashed.

[Phx_Dem]

11. Dignity? His aids have been badmouthing her nonstop.

[AtomicKitten]

58. we've seen that gratuitously negative campaign against Caroline played out here at DU as well n/t

[Cha]

73. Gratuitously is the key word here with

a twist of savage. Caroline will be fine, though, and we'll see down the road how next she's going to help out.

[AtomicKitten]

85. NY politics is brutal. Apparently you have to wear a cup.

No worries. Caroline has weathered tragedy that would rip out the hearts of most. She has been inspired to serve and I have no doubt she will do just that.

:hi:

[Cha]

118. Thanks, that about sums it up.

:fistbump:Caroline Kennedy

[Grateful for Hope]

105. Exaxtly. n/t

[MarjorieG]

65. Not wanting, her, letting her be savaged, getting what he wanted, is not saving her.

That said, Paterson was in a no win when considering his own interests, Schumer wanting to be top dog (w.o. Caroline), and all the other candidates planting stuff in papers.

Hubby will vote for Paterson, because we can't stand thug and dumb Cuomo, who is not his father and relied upon the machine to push through the AG job he currently has. Schumer will get further control by arranging the gov-ship for Cuomo, calling him our royalty (as he did recently).

[wyldwolf]

3. ah, well.

You can also take this event as being something the Kennedy's couldn't buy or pull enough strings to make happen.

[galaxy21]

7. There's some truth to that

The Kennedy's may be on our side ideologically, but they're still a dynasty. And one or two of them have the ego that comes with being part of a dynasty and getting to do whatever the hell you want.

[Phx_Dem]

8. You must know someting the rest of us don't. When, exactly, did they

try to buy off that idiot Governor? Way to slander someone with zero facts.

[wyldwolf]

15. awwww... are you offended the Kennedy's got called?

Hey - there are more ways to buy something than just money - and only a fool would believe Caroline Kennedy would be appointed as a Senator without Patterson being offered something in return.

[Paladin]

22. Tell Us One More Time What A Good Democrat You Are.... (n/t)

[wyldwolf]

34. So unless you were for Caroline Kennedy you're not a good Democrat? LOL

[Paladin]

70. You're Trashing The Entire Kennedy Family, Not Just Caroline.

Don't expect any hugs and kisses in a Democratic forum for such trashy talk. Phone it in to Limbaugh......

[SuperTrouper]

92. Well said!

[wyldwolf]

98. I'm trashing what they apparently tried to pull in NY

Don't expect any hugs and kisses in a Democratic forum for such trashy talk. Phone it in to Limbaugh......

Ha ha. Such comedy. Mr. Snurdly, is that you?

[Paladin]

142. If You've Got Proof That The Kennedys Pulled Something, Let's Hear It.

If you can't back it up, it's just groundless right-wing spewing, nothing more. This infatuation you've got with Gillibrand is really taking you into some sad areas......

[Divine Discontent]

114. I was signed off and was reading the comments - needless to say THAT one is on my ignore list

amazingly right-wing slander against the Kennedys, good on you for calling his nasssssssssssty assed comment out - yeah, that's how Kennedy got anything done in his life just like all the Kennedys - he paid people off...

seriously... alert his comment and ask mods to do something about it. Ted Kennedy is one of the top 10 most respected progressive Democrats of the past 50 years.

[acmavm]

54. Since you are the resident genius, what was offered and where's the proof?

[dionysus]

78. he has no proof. just spewing his anti-liberal idiocy again.

[acmavm]

81. Yeah, I know. You just have to make the point obvious sometimes.

[jhrobbins]

88. Hear, hear!

[dionysus]

80. called on what? your imaginary bribery charges?

oh wait, she endorsed obama over queen dlc. that's enough reason to piss you off...


:rofl:

[Cha]

120. Oh that's right..I knew something was

involved that didn't include worshipping at the altar of the Clintons.

Go Caroline!

[Phx_Dem]

110. No, I'm offended that you're just making shit up with no regard for facts.

But I guess that's just you.

[hoboken123]

121. When you go about bashing people...

...it looks better when random apostrophes aren't used...

[Grateful for Hope]

106. He's good at that . n/t

[dionysus]

79. what is it specifically that makes you hate liberals? you never answer that question. why not?

:rofl:

[Grateful for Hope]

84. Really?

:rofl:

[AndrewP]

132. Exactly

[KittyWampus]

4. Kennedy had no business putting herself in contention. Bad enough we had to put up with Hillary

the Carpetbagger using us to leapfrog into the Presidency.

Caroline's qualifications were meager compared to others interested in the seat.

[Evergreen Emerald]

35. and in comes the gratuitous attack on Clinton

oh brother.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. This Is As Good A Place As Any To Come In

HRC was certainly qualified to be a senator. Whether she was a carpetbagger is for another discussion.


However I have no animus toward Caroline Kennedy. I supported her bid for the Senate. Folks can do a search. Maybe I was misguided in my support for her out of some sense of nostalgia but she didn't deserve the shoddy treatment from Governor Patterson and the press. After all her dad took a cap in the head for his nation.

[Spider Jerusalem]

45. She was a carpetbagger by definition...

moving to a state where she'd never lived and with which she had no prior connection in order to run for the Senate because it was deemed a safe Democratic seat? There's no question there. And as to her qualifications...her law career? There was no shortage of well-qualified candidates with similar background AND active careers in NY politics who weren't, you know, carpetbaggers (and being First Lady is not really relevant experience for the Senate, unless you consider name recognition a qualification).

[Hieronymus]

97. Of course Hillary was a carpetbagger ... SNL did a great takeoff on it, too.

[Evergreen Emerald]

60. The price of eggs in China sucks.

[polmaven]

62. Took 4 whole responses...

Someone's slipping!

[jhrobbins]

89. And this never fails to amaze me-the level of rancor against the Clintons.

I really don't understand it - I get it why the Republicans hate them, but for us to do the same is just pathetic and wrong.

[KittyWampus]

99. Hillary as Carpetbagger is a FACT. That her only objective was to get a platform for POTUS

was and is obvious.

How anyone with a capacity for rational thought would argue with that is beyond me.

How about just accepting the truth of what Hillary and Bill did?

That includes the votes they bought in the Jewish and Hispanic community when Bill pardoned criminals in those communities on his way out of the White House.

[sohndrsmith]

135. really? huh. I can't say I see any of their qualifications as meager, n/t

[Phx_Dem]

6. Good. They should be.

The badmouthing of Caroline by the Gov's aids was completely uncalled for, disrespectful, and in very bad form. I hope Ted lets that jerk have it, one way or another.

If this is how Patterson handles a non-emergency situation that he's had nearly two years to figure out, how would he handle a major unexpected state-wide emergency? I have zero confidence in this buffoon.

[geiger]

9. ditto

[jhrobbins]

91. ditto, ditto

[KittyWampus]

12. you mean how DARE Paterson's office engage in some political pushback against a family

that thinks it can install one of its members with a snap of the finger?

Furthermore, please provide PROOF that Paterson's aides were the ones leaking info on Kennedy.

It's not like there weren't others in contention who had an interest in getting her slim portfolio covered by the media.

[dkf]

18. All the quotes say they are coming from Paterson's aides.

Are you assuming those quotes are flat out lies?

And if Paterson had an ounce of class, this wouldn't have turned out this way.

Obama wouldn't have mucked it up like this. He is a gentleman.

I guess I should have known when the first think I heard from this clown Paterson was his announcement he was cheating on his wife that he was an ass.

[galaxy21]

21. Yeah, cause none of the Kennedy men ever cheated on their wives

I agree Paterson could have handled it better, but honestly, this was an impossible situation for him. He couldn't pick Caroline without pissing off a lot of people, and he couldn't reject her without pissing off the Kennedy's.

As for all these 'rumours', they'll die down, eventually.

[Muttocracy]

48. there's an awful lot of "people close to" attribution on both sides

"people close to" Caroline or Paterson - I don't know what to think - sloppy rumormongering journalism that hurts the two principals.

[Phx_Dem]

111. It's not political pushback to bad mouth someone after they've

dropped out and who, by the way, never badmouthed Paterson. He can say whatever he wants, it just shows that he has no class.

[galaxy21]

14. Paterson was in a difficult postion

Maybe he wanted to give Caroline the seat first, but then she did all those interviews where she came off as vague and slightly ill informed, her polling numbers were bad, and he couldn't risk the seat going red next time...what else could he have done but say 'you're not getting picked, but I'm giving you the chance to drop out of your own accord.'

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. It's one thing to give the position to someone else

It is quite another to allow aides to trash a person who bowed out. Bad form. Don't blame the Kennedys for being mad.

[galaxy21]

19. What exactly are the Kennedy's going to do Paterson anyway?

[Divine Discontent]

116. the KENNEDYS

(no apostrophe)

My guess is they will donate to anyone who will run against him, and go speak for them at rallies - that's pretty persuasive - that's if this is even true.

[my3boyz]

20. I hope Barack finds some sort of job for Caroline where she can

redeem herself. They are really out to destroy her. I truly did not care who ended up with Hillary's seat but I do feel bad for the way they ripped Caroline apart. That is politics for ya though.....

[galaxy21]

26. No one is out to destroy Caroline

As for Caroline 'getting ripped apart,' people were suspcious of her because they thought she was getting the seat because of family connections, if she'd been like Hillary and showed up ready and known everything, they would have given her a chance. But she came off badly in interviews as well.

She was treated harshly, but that was more her own fault.

[dkf]

77. Have you heard the rumor mongers? There was no call for that.

They ARE trying to destroy her politically.

[liskddksil]

23. i hope Kennedy runs in 2010 anyway just to piss them off

[Ewellian]

27. me too.

I'm already looking forward to that Democratic primary debate.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

75. me too

[depakid]

38. She'll need a good public speaking coach

Maybe she and Gibbs can get together with one and split the costs....

[greguganus]

109. Uh...lol...uh... n/t

[Occam Bandage]

40. That would likely only vindicate his decision. nt

[Ewellian]

42. I agree. nt

[marshall]

25. Did he have that much of a chance of re-election anyway?

Now it's impossibly uphill for him, but after Caroline tossed her pill-box hat in the ring what else could he really do but follow it through to the inevitable conclusion? He had to treat her with deference because of who she is, but when all the problems started coming out he couldn't ignore them. He was basically screwed from the moment she decided to get involved.

[Muttocracy]

49. yeah, people would have been mad at him no matter what. nt

[no_hypocrisy]

29. By going after Paterson, the Kennedy Family may inadvertently put former in-law,

Andrew Cuomo, in the governor's chair. The divorce b/n Cuomo and Ethel's daughter was quite acrimonious.

[x-g.o.p.er]

30. Maybe they should be furious with Caroline

and her inability to complete a sentence without saying "uh", "you know", and/or "like".

She looks utterly unprepared, based on her answers to policy questions, to assume the responsibilities of a US senator.

[galaxy21]

31. They were probably the ones that encouraged her

Caroline never seemed that keen on the senate seat, even Paterson was never convinced she wanted it that strongly. I think Ted told her he wanted her for the seat, and she was desperate to make him happy.

[x-g.o.p.er]

86. That seems plausible

Maybe she did want it initially, but didn't realize the scrutiny that comes with the job?

Either way, I'm glad she isn't going to be a senator.

[terisan]

32. I think Paterson handled things well-refused to be stampeded by Kennedy supporters + gets upstate

votes for his own campaign + let the Chicago gang know New Yorkers will be no pushovers. Obama can appoint Kennedy to something for her support to him over the NY Senator in the primaries.

Schumer seems happy.

[xchrom]

33. 'trickeration' is right. nt

[hlthe2b]

39. Good... I hope there is payback for Paterson....

I'm agnostic on his announced choice, though concerned about some of her stances. I'll give her a chance. Caroline didn't do herself any favors. She bears her own share of blame....

But, the bungled way in which Paterson handled this and the substantial reports coming out now that HE directly was leaking lies and innuendo about CKS to try to deflect criticism away from himself.... HOrrendous. Cuomo should nail the governorship in the next election.... Bye bye Paterson, whose own "success" was merely opportunism" it appears.

[galaxy21]

41. "opportunism"? he didn't ask for Spitzer to get caught with that hooker

[hlthe2b]

43. Opportunism= being in right place at right time...

and thus able to capitalize on opportunities that present.

[mtnsnake]

44. That's too bad if it's true, but the Kennedy family will have to go through Obama

first, to get to Paterson, if they're really planning on going after Governor Paterson, and that's one obstacle that they're going to find nearly impossible to overcome.

Paterson was in a tough spot because of all the crazed media hype over this. It's just too bad if everyone can't be happy over the outcome. It was Paterson's call to make.

[nsd]

50. Why would Obama care about Paterson?

The Kennedys were important Obama supporters during the presidential primaries. Paterson wasn't. If Paterson gets a primary challenge, what's that to Obama?

[mtnsnake]

56. Because Obama has scruples and Paterson isn't the one acting like a spoiled brat

and Obama gave Paterson's choice of Gillibrand very high praise, as someone posted earlier this week on DU.

[nsd]

59. Obama isn't the referee for the whole Democratic Party.

It isn't Obama's job to police everyone's actions. Paterson's a big boy -- he can take care of himself.

While Paterson hasn't been a brat, he has mishandled this whole process. He should have made a decision weeks ago, instead of dragging things out and creating a situation where everyone looks bad. And he should have reined in his aides. It's hard not to think that Paterson deserves a primary challenge and that Cuomo might be a better governor.

And I wouldn't read too much into Obama's praise of Gillibrand. Of course, he's going to praise her. What else is he supposed to say?

[Hippo_Tron]

83. I have a feeling that if Patterson were worried about Cuomo he would've given him the seat

Cuomo will probably stay right where he is for another term.

[SuperTrouper]

93. Paterson supported Hillary and not Obama.

[Lilith Velkor]

113. Obama doesn't give a fuck

He's the President, why should he?

[Bonobo]

46. I love the Kennedy's but what a bunch of out of control egos!

Regular people are shamed and humiliated in their lives at various stages. Sometimes they get turned down for jobs, can't get a loan, have to eat macaroni and cheese, apologize when they don't want to, kiss ass, etc. etc.

It is lovely that the Kennedy clan is so above all that rat race crap, but for the rest of us it is irksome to see them behave like children who didn't get the Christmas present they wanted.

Caroline never deserved to even be considered for the job. Duh. The only argument to be made in favor of her was that she was a Kennedy-and last time I checked, America wasn't a nation ruled by inherited monarchs.

Boo fucking hoo.

[Justitia]

72. If someone publicly dragged my family mbr thru the mud - for no good reason, I'd be pissed too. -nt

[avaistheone1]

47. I think the Patterson aides made a real mess of things.

I think they look very stupid and not very gracious.

[democracy1st]

51. Gov. Paterson is a freakin idiot

[mtnsnake]

57. That's it?

He's "a freakin idiot" and you don't explain why, not even with a single reason? :shrug:

[AwakeAtLast]

61. Ooh! Ooh! I'll go!

I actually won't go so far as to call him a total idiot, but he should have had his decision made long ago. If he did not realize that Senator Clinton would possibly be in the Cabinet, well, idiot would be one word that would cross my mind. She was almost the Democratic nominee, so surely he would have needed to come up with a back up plan!


How did I do? :shrug:


I also realize others will not agree with me, but that's how I see it.

[mtnsnake]

82. Much better reasoning than the other poster

:thumbsup:

[SuperTrouper]

94. I can explain" Gov. Paterson is not an idiot, he is an imbecile! Happy?

[mtnsnake]

103. Clever!

Yes, now I'm even happier than before!

[AtomicKitten]

52. Paterson made a mess of this process and it will bite him in the ass in 2010. n/t

[peace frog]

112. Damn straight

and I'll congratulate the fangs that sink into his weenie ass.

[liberalpragmatist]

53. I don't think Caroline should have been picked, but Paterson's handling was still atrocious

He should have just announced a pick early on. Instead, he dragged the process out and turned it into a public spectacle.

Caroline did herself no favors, but it's pretty obscene for the governor's aides to be trashing her behind her back.

[BeyondGeography]

55. Caroline made an ass of herself and now her family is following suit

and they obviously don't care if they hand the NYS governorship to the Republicans in the process.

Fools.

[emilyg]

69. Amen.

[MarjorieG]

64. NY Post not to be trusted in tone, or substance.

[bottomtheweaver]

67. True, but Paterson's pay-to-play game was at least as blatant as Blago's.

If he hadn't handed the Post ammunition aplenty they wouldn't have a story.

[KittyWampus]

100. pay-to-play? Have any links to Paterson demanding bribes for that Senate seat?

[bottomtheweaver]

104. .

[paulk]

123. what's your point?

wouldn't it be kind of, well, normal - for the two sitting Senators and the Governor to have breakfast with the new appointee?


Or am I missing my tin hat today?

[Life Long Dem]

68. So the Kennedy's are threatening Paterson?

:wow: Maybe this anonymous source can explain some more but in more detail? Interesting.

[EFerrari]

71. Paterson has pissed off every political family in New York.

He better hope he does well on the lecture circuit. :)

[wyldwolf]

102. except for one family

Patterson wins in '10.

[Cha]

74. If you believe the shit in the New York

Post.

[Clio the Leo]

76. Where's Sam Giancana when you need him. NT

[MadHound]

87. Poor widdle Kennedys,

Sorry, but I find the hubris of these dynastical political families rather disgusting, no matter which side of the aisle they're on. Sorry, but Caroline doesn't deserve a Senate seat simply because of her last name.

[wyldwolf]

101. and I'll add...

... it's rather disgusting to read the morans on DU claiming those who don't support the Kennedys (at least on this) aren't good Democrats.

[Divine Discontent]

115. "Poor widdle KENNEDYS" - seriously, on a progressive website you're spewing that shit?

Kennedy was one of the best presidents we had, Ted Kennedy has fought for progressive values for 50 years and done more in one day then you have in your whole life for the collective good of society and RFK is a great man - these people are awesome - and your slanderous name against all of them as "widdle Kennedys" shows your inner nasty self quite clearly.

[paulk]

124. and absolutely none of that qualified Caroline Kennedy

for the job.

[MadHound]

127. And this qualifies Caroline for the spot how, exactly?

Isn't that the same sort of logic that 'Pugs used about Bush2 and Jebby?

Oh, and if you're going to get into how wonderful the Kennedy family is, and how her family's political involvement automatically qualifies her to be a Senator, perhaps you should do some research on her dear old gramppa Joe, his support of Nazi ideology, and his bootlegging work. Fine familial credentials indeed.

Sorry, but being the member of an elite family shouldn't be an automatic pass into getting into government.

[liskddksil]

140. Thank you

The way a good Democrats name has been tarnshished because of these guys is disgusting.

[Cha]

117. You're missing the point and showing

your ignorance. Good job.

[AtomicKitten]

129. +1

[MasonJar]

95. The way he handled the entire scenario was pure tomfoolery, especially

for a politician, and one planning to run again in 2010. Why make powerful elements of your own party angry by needless innuendo? What his people said after the Kennedy withdrawal was just plain unnecessary and stupid. He's going down would be my prediction and he deserves to.

[Danger Mouse]

96. This seems fishy. I don't buy it at face value.

[Waiting For Everyman]

107. My bet's on the Kennedys.

Patterson is toast, and deserves to be. There was no point in doing this.

[olegramps]

108. What were her qualifications? I had heard that she is a very private person.

[bottomtheweaver]

119. Corporate lawyer whose father is closely tied to D'Amato, Bruno, and Pataki.

100% NRA rating, big on Bush tax cuts, border fence, and harsh immigration laws.

[question everything]

122. The Kennedy family, or the Corleones?

When this saga first started, I wondered when Patterson would find a bleeding head of a horse in his bed.

[AtomicKitten]

125. Your Godfather reference is way off considering Paterson hired a Bushie to trash Caroline Kennedy.

The Godfather is a classic movie and it is sacrilegious to misquote the plot in your demented quest to trash Caroline gratuitously.

Paterson + Karl Rove tactics = horse head in bed. You're welcome.

Monday, January 26th 2009, 2:48 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/26/2009-01-26_hired_pr_gun_doomed_caroline_insiders_sa.html

Gov. Paterson's decision to go nuclear on Caroline Kennedy was a hatchet job run by a pricey out-of-state consultant who specializes in political scandals, disgruntled administration sources said.

Judy Smith, a Washington-based PR guru and former Bush White House deputy press secretary, orchestrated the ill-conceived character attack on Kennedy, sources said Sunday.

[mbee]

128. I think the American people have had enough

of the elitism. I frankly think the Gov. of Illinois is probably out of his mind, but I do fail to see a big difference in what he did and the buying of Inaugural tickets by the elite. Everyday Americans are banned from these elite happenings! It should all be unlawful, not just pick and choose which people can break the law and which ones cannot. Another example is the new Treasury Secretary?

[Beacool]

130. Oh please, this whole thing sounds like Renaissance Italy!!!

We have stories of the Kennedys having a vendetta against Paterson and the Clintons having a vendetta against the Kennedys.

Please, the only thing missing is a Pope and poison.

PS: Who are the Medicis and Estes in this imbroglio?

:crazy:

[sohndrsmith]

131. just ask Paterson where the $50K donation came from on Dec 23, 2008..n/t

[Beacool]

133. Care to elucidate?

I don't know what you're talking about.....

:(

[sohndrsmith]

134. sure...

I should preface this by saying that it is more about Gillibrand, but I wouldn't blame Kennedy for being angry about it:

Excerpt: (link below) Gillibrand's ... "former law firm, Boies, Schiller & Flexner, has been the largest single donor to her House campaigns, and David Boies, the senior partner at the firm, contributed $25,000 to Paterson's campaign committee on December 23, 2008, while the governor was considering Gillibrand's candidacy. Boies' son Chris, also a partner in the firm, contributed another $25,000 on the same day."

(Days after Kennedy announced her interest in the seat, but Kennedy may have nothing to do with it. Still smells like pay to play to me... )
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/01/the_new_frontru.php

If you want state election documents, here they are:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=efs_sch_report+p_filer_id=A37719+p_e_year=2009+p_freport_id=J+p_transaction_code=A

Granted, this could all be legit. I think it's coincidental enough to inquire about, especially given the nonstop news over Blago for attempting to do the same thing...

It just seems like Paterson/Gillebrand would serve everyone well to be asked about this issue and provide adequate answers, that's all...

[Beacool]

136. Oh, I see your point.

Well, that's how business is conducted. Blago's mistake was actually point blank asking for money and being crass about it. All politicians trade favors, whether it be through monetary donations or their political support. That's how they pile up chits that they use when they need them.

:shrug:

[sohndrsmith]

138. yes, but the timing (and outcome) is way to close to quid pro quo for my

taste (and let's not forget, we're condemning Blago - and he didn't even succeed!) It's too cute by half, in my view... and seems hypocritical given I've heard about Blago's senate seat saga 3 times in the last half hour...

But Gillebrand was just sworn in, so I guess I'll not be hearing about this in the evening news. I would like to see Paterson speak on it, though... and provide a legitimate answer (that it was not intended as a quid pro quo... given the timing, I'd really like to hear what it was, then).

If we don't hold ourselves accountable (Dems, if you will), how can we hold others accountable? When we protest because they look the other way over something unethical (however marginally legal, or not)... how do we have credibility in that case?

That's what it comes down to - and that's more important than the individual players or whether or not one supports or likes them. It's about integrity, and if we can't walk the walk, we can't expect the opposition to play by the rules, either...

You know...? ; )

[Beacool]

139. Integrity in politics is a rare commodity.

Unfortunately, those who practice it rarely get elected. The idealists usually get their teeth kicked in.

Yes, it does sound like quid pro quo, I wonder if we'll ever find out what really went down with this appointment.

That's why I think that it's not democratic for a governor to appoint someone to an empty seat. It should be federally mandated that if there's a vacancy in Congress, a temporary appointment should be chosen by the governor for and a special election should be held to fill the vacancy within 6 months. This would avoid all the corruption B.S. (or at least most of it).

The 3 senate seat appointments are a joke. In DE the appointed guy is a Biden crony who is holding the seat until Biden's son returns from Iraq. In IL Blago is under indictment and still was able to appoint Burris to Obama's seat. In NY we had as a potential appointee a socialite whose main qualification was that her last name was Kennedy and that she endorsed Obama in the primaries. What we actually got is a former Rep. who is a gun advocate and served all of 2 years in the House.

Whatever.........

:puke:

[sohndrsmith]

141. Well, I repeated it until I became a pest, hoping somehow it would

grow and get to someone with a larger voice.

I think integrity in politics is one of the things Obama values highly, expects it of himself and those he works with. I agree, it is rare. That doesn't mean that lack of integrity should be acceptable just because it's so frequent. This is one of the things I respect most in Obama, and I think he's going to lead by example.

Nobody's perfect (damn, I know that better than just about everyone, I imagine). Including Obama. But his core sense of fairness and mutual respect is a HUGE step in the right direction. And behaviours are contagious. Why not hope for good examples that catch on rather than bad?

I still hope the story doesn't get buried. In part because I'm too bloody curious for my own good. But I think actions matter, and questioning things we don't understand or disagree with at face value, is legitimate. For eight years we've been given the message that we'll be punished or retaliated against (or ignored) if we question what concerns us.

That's not democracy, or a free society... in my book. It's flipping outrageous... or worse.

[Beacool]

143. Well, I don't know how much O really values it.

He surrounded himself with some dubious people over the years. Even his Treasury Secretary choice is not exactly a paragon of virtues for someone who will be running the IRS.

I do think though that his administration will be more transparent than Bush's and that is definitely a step forward.

;)

[sohndrsmith]

137. Okay. I offer an idea to all - before you put your pro-Kennedy or pro-Clinton hats on:

Take what we know at face value, and ask yourself what scenario really makes sense?

Given that Kennedy has (historically) been a private person, what would be her reason to come forward the way she did, almost as if she was as confused as the rest of us... making a statement - retracting it - then early Thursday morning, repeating it, officially?

What would provoke Kennedy to do this (something that no matter what would embarrass her and damage her credibility)

If she had word from Paterson that she was his pick and she threw a dramatic fit when he then changed his mind?

Can you really visualize that and convince yourself that it's a reasonable reaction, given what you know?

Okay, say she didn't know if she was the pick, or - even if she had been informed she wasn't....

Again, why would she act out publicly - something she's never done before - pre-empting being "embarrassed" by not being picked? The polls were not favoring her, so the most likely thing I would have expected her to do would have been to stay quiet and let Paterson appoint whomever he'd chosen...

Do people really think she threw a tantrum - to her own detriment - in either case? If she were a dramatic, histrionic figure, maybe I'd see it more easily. She isn't and I don't.

I'm sure many of you disagree with me, but if you take the Clinton/Kennedy squabble out of it (Kennedy's actions seem forced and confused... and so untypical of anything from her-ever, it seems illogical that this was planned or vindictive or deliberate when no matter what, it would cause her definite harm and embarrassment).


Even if you dislike Kennedy or don't support her, can you really say that this was not out of character? Markedly so?

[Endangered Specie]

144. hah, what are they going to do about it...

Gillibrand was a much better pick than Caroline...