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.

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?

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

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.

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.