Thanks for the link I am reading it right now while listening to David Sirota on local progressive talk radio. This is incredibly interesting.

maureenodonnell: Good Irish name, you usually really freak me out but that was really funny.

I guess I am not sure what qualifications are to be appointed to a political position. There are in fact no written requirements. I don't think that it is a fair comparison though to the circumstances NY State finds itself in to the first election of Sen. Clinton to the NY Senate. The fact is both Sen. soon to be SoS Clinton and Caroline Kennedy have are very similar, except that if appointed Caroline will have to run in 2010 and in 2012. So the 2 year appointment isn't much of a deal, except that New York would be represented by a women who is a constitutional attorney, an accomplished writer, an advocate for public education and a advocate and supporter of the arts. Those seem to be excellent qualifications for becoming a Senator. Someone is going to be appointed for the next two years before the special election to finish the current Senators term, no matter who is selected, they will not have been elected to serve in that position since only Clinton was elected to serve that position. The office of the Senate unlike other legislative offices are elected statewide, not by district. Even if you choose a local state legislator or promote someone from the house, they have still been selected and have not won a statewide elected office. I suppose the Gov could appoint himself, that might meet the qualification, except he himself moved up because the former governor consorted with a prostitute. OK, so maybe the NY Secretary of State meets that requirement or some other official. However, that is unlikely isn't it. I think this renders your argument somewhat invalid. Why not just come out and say not Caroline, for whatever your real reason is for not supporting her. Because she certainly has qualifications to be a Senator, most people do, since there are no qualifications other than she must be at least 30 years old.

Oh, that is uncalled for....

Franken, not a good comic??? What?? Well maybe not anymore, but geez lets give him some credit! He and his partner Tom Davis were perhaps some of the funniest men on and writing for late night TV when late night TV was at it's best!

:)

It isn't a custom, it is a part of the NY State constitution. There will be a special election in 2010 to fill the seat and another election for that position in 2012 for the next 6 year term. Nothing royal about that. Changing a constitution takes a state wide election, that too will take legislation, a ballot and time.

Stewart Smalley??? Nope, I am talking the original SNL, he and his partner were head writers for a while. Back in 1975. Maybe your not old enough to remember! I didn't like the Smalley stuff in fact most of SNL from the 80's was really horrible.

The first time that guy would have said to me, you not like Patty, would have been his last words for a while, until after they removed the wires from his jaw.

Get over it, you two supported the Bush Administration and their efforts to codify torture. As a nation we will never live it down, just like the Germans can't live down Hitler and Nazism. You two did nothing good for your country. You could have stood up and stood against techniques used in the Spanish Inquisitions, you did not. You two should keep your mouths shut, you had your chance and you blew it, and you took a nation down with you. I for one will not forgive you. You are complicit in Bush's greatest mistakes. Hopefully, you can live with yourselves, the problem is you probably can, but me, I can't. You let us down.

Frankly Joan this is becoming embarrassing. The Senate has to get on with this, Blagojovich pulled on over on them, he is an egomanical jerk, but in turn the Dem's look small and ridiculous. Harry Reid seems not all that smart to me, why all the press and publicity. Sure Burris took advantage of a situation he should not have taken advantage of. It certainly doesn't make him some sort of beacon of morality, but he was appointed by the Governor who has not been impeached and nor did Fitzgerald indict him yet, so them's the rules, and the rules must be followed. Reid made this a bigger story than it had to be. I beginning not to like Reid. He has some ego problems of his own.

The best part of this is that the GOP relies on dim bulbs like this guy to push their propaganda. How excellent, they don't seem to know that this is exactly what the general public began to hate about the GOP and Faux News. I hope they find more like him, I know there are more unlicensed plumbers out there to rely on as journalists!

The weird thing is, they don't seem to notice as a party they are become laughing stocks.

Everyone wants something they don't have. My advice, don't get married. Inevitably it will become less exciting, you know comfortable. But if you always expect someone else to make you happy, well it just won't happen. Happiness isn't about your partner nor is it about their profession. Happiness is about you and your willingness to be happy with yourself, only then can you be happy with someone else you know for who they are not for who you want them to be.