... then he won't do the appointment on the basis of nepotism. Caroline Kennedy has been suggested as Hillary's replacement, but if her name weren't Kennedy, no one would consider an attorney and author who has never held elective office as a credible candidate for the US Senate.

By your reasoning nobody is qualified for elected office who hasn't already been elected to office. Which means we would run out of politicians in the span of one generation. Which is why I approve of your reasoning 100%.

By your reasoning nobody is qualified for elected office who hasn't already been elected to office.

No, what he was saying -- I think -- was that no one's worth considering for US Senate who hasn't held some elective office. So one could run for, say, dogcatcher someplace where they elect dogcatchers and if you won, they would meet that part of Joe Buck's requirements for a Senate seat.

I don't agree with that, but it's not the contradictory requirement that you're thinking it is.

For it to be nepotism, properly, then Caroline Kennedy would have to be related to Governor Paterson.

P.S. (for Bearpaw): Lots of people have had their first elected office be a big one. Senator Wellstone had never served in any capacity until he became a Senator (he was a prof at Minnesota Univ.). Woodrow Wilson's first elected office was Governor of New Jersey. And lot's of deceased Senators and congressmen have been replaced by their wives(!).

Oh, shit, that last one is inexperience AND nepotism (light). ;D

Which means we would run out of politicians in the span of one generation. Which is why I approve of your reasoning 100%.

I tend to agree, but I find myself wishing for a faster way to get there. Maybe we should round them all up and throw them in prison. We'd probably be at least 95% right.

Between defusing complaints about infidelity by addressing them head-on, and having an actual character and sense of humor that he displays in public, this Governor has no future in politics. Obfuscate, attack, conceal, pander: these are the high-denomination banknotes in the currency of politics. Alas.

Lots of people have had their first elected office be a big one.

Oh, I know. And -- unlike Joe Buck -- I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. But I'd generally prefer that someone going into high office has some experience that's at least similar to holding public office. (Say, for instance, a significant role in community organizing. [grin])

It may be that Caroline Kennedy's family background would be sufficient preparation for the Senate. (Or not. I don't know.) But the whole thing about political dynasties makes me itch, whether it's Bush, Kennedy, Clinton, Daley, whoever. The US is too much of an oligarchy even without that.

He could appoint her. She'd be better as a SCOTUS pick.

Obviously he is in secret sway to ZOG.

I wish he would pick Bill Clinton, but Bubba already said he didn't want it. Too bad. THAT would be fun.

I'm not 100% sure, but...it seems to me that the current occupant of that particular Senate seat had never held elective office before, and she's done a good job.

Had Hillary ever been elected to anything before she ran for Senate?

What a refreshing story....... some of those jokes made me laugh out loud. He must be a good guy and pretty secure in his skin. s/