First of all, Caroline Kennedy has been doing excellent work in the education arena. She is a practicing attorney and author. Does this qualify her for a run for the Senate. Probably not at this time. She would need a couple of years in office to have enough experience to run for the job.

Lucky us!!!!! This is an appointment and not a run. If Paterson were being asked to select the candidate to run this year, Kennedy probably would not be the one. The great thing about appointments is that you put a good potential candidate in a post and they get real time experience and run as an incumbent. It is perfect for Kennedy. Her name recognition alone gives her a leg up on someone like Peter King the Repub wanting this spot. He was on Chris Mathews tonight bad mouthing Kennedy as a choice. That is because he knows how hard it will be to run against her name and , for older americans, her remembered image with her father. The key components for appointment, high qualities, ability to raise the funds, attributes to help win re-election. Now name me the person that is in a better place than her for this appointment. There may be some who have toiled in the field and feel this is their turn. Sorry, it ain't a union gig.

Is that short for flatulent? Because that's what I get from reading your post. And to the rest of you here, why the seeming hatred and invective towards Caroline Kennedy? If New Yorkers want a Kennedy (yes, known names are helpful in the public sphere) why the objections? She has as much experience as Obama had. And don't forget, she'll have the few years remaining in Hillary's term, then she'll have to run for reelection. So don't fret, democracy is not being overturned. Favors and considerations are made everyday in politics, economics, public affairs, etc. It does not mean there is a "dynasty" forced on us. It's about brand recognition--a bastion of capitalist enterprise.

and I'm a boomer and I don't live in New York. Go pound mud.

Good gravy!

Being a boomer myself I am disgusted that you and your ilk seem to always take everything critical back to something about a baby boomer!

Why don't you just say "Hey, Caroline Kennedy sucks because she's too fucking old?" Oh yeah, I forgot. That wouldn't exactly be political polite, would it, left-of-left slacker jack-off?

People criticizing Hillary Clinton's previous qualifications are overlooking something. She ran for president and got almost half the primary vote. Then, despite a hard-fought campaign, president elect Obama has chosen her to be his Secretary of State. What did Obama choose Caroline Kennedy to do in his administration? Nothing.

Clearly, the people pushing Caroline for Clinton's senate seat do not want to compare her accomplishment for accomplishment to someone like Maloney or Cuomo. Since they cannot credibly do so, the prefer to create this Hillary smokescreen.

I trust most people are acquainted enough with rhetorical stategies not to be fooled by this transparent stage trick.

"...she is not even the most qualified New Yorker named Caroline. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who represents .... has hired someone to help her lobby for it (and has complained aloud about the other Caroline's lack of experience.)

These names are not the same. Caroline is not the same name as Carolyn.

Caroline Kennedy has just as much experience as Hillary. Hillary had NO experience in elected office until she ran for the U.S. Senate. It was the Clinton name that got her elected too. In fact I do not think Hillary is qualified to be the Secretary of State.

Caroline is more qualified than Hillary was in 2000.

...this coming from Alex Koppelman??...Salon's skirted cheerleader for the intellectually bankrupt Sarah Palin. Career politicians are hacks. Caroline Kennedy doesn't need career experience, she's got connections, huge ones. Get over it, she's a Kennedy; and they're a lot smarter than the Bushes.

The legacy thing is just a bit much. If she decided she wanted to get into politics, and put herself in front of the voters, they would decide. So obviously expecting it to come on the silver platter speaks ill of her.

Hello there, upstate New Yorker here, I'm from Rochester. While you all make reasonable arguments, I would submit that I just want someone who will do the damn job and take it seriously.

Here in upstate New York, we're hurting. We're losing jobs and population at an alarming rate. Our infrastructure is crumbling. Our politicians, democrat and republican, are only concerned with protecting their little fiefdoms and consolidating their own power, to the detriment of the people they are supposed to represent. (There are few standouts like the excellent Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and New York Assemblyman David Koon)

I don't care if Governor Paterson appoints Caroline Kennedy or a monkey, I just want someone who will care enough about New York to bring about real change....change that is desperately needed. Look, we have a lot of potential up here. Ever see an autumn in upstate New York? There is nothing like it. We touch two Great Lakes. We have a wide range of outstanding colleges and universities: University of Rochester, Syracuse University, Cornell, and the excellent SUNY system. And don't forget about the Finger Lakes which are magnificent.

A Senate seat is not a toy, it's not a game, it's not something to do when you're bored. Does Caroline have what it takes to get something done? I honestly don't know. Does she deserve a chance when so much is on the line?

A resume does not always a good senator make. I would prefer someone with a passion for the people and the constitution. Caroline Kennedy fits that bill just right

Ms Kennedy is a very accomplished woman but is known primarily because she is a Kennedy. Politically, she is a neophyte. The person that Gov. Paterson should appoint must have legislative experience. Our country is suffering of multiple crises; economic, international, environmental and a population deeply depressed not knowing what tomorrow will bring ; even with President-Elect Obama encouraging words.

We need a person who can not only fill Hillary's shoes, but will be able to have a running start from the get-go. New York is singularly lucky to have that woman, Carolyn Maloney, Member of Congress. Rep Maloney is experienced, respected and his her own person. She would be neither intimidated and be looked upon as no more than a celebrity. And, she is her own person and well respected in the House.

My message to Gov. Paterson: for the most qualified person to be our next Senator, look no further than Rep. Carolyn Maloney.