Today on the way home from work, I was listening to right winger Howie Carr of WRKO out of Boston on the radio. He stated that the New York Post was reporting the reason why Caroline Kennedy dropped out of her Senate bid was because of tax/nanny issues and because Kennedy’s marriage was on the rocks and that she was ‘linked’ to Arthur Sulzburger of the New York Times. My first thought was, “hmmmmm…that’s kind of interesting”, but then a few minutes later Howie said (paraphrasing), “You’re not going to believe this….but guess what paragraph is now missing from the New York Post article on this subject?” and then he chuckled and said, “You betcha! The one about Kennedy having relations with Sulzburger!”.
Honestly, I don’t care whether Caroline Kennedy is the next US Senator of New York or not or what her reasons are today as to why she dropped out of her Senate bid shortly after Hillary Clinton was confirmed as the Secretary of State. I like Caroline and I wish her well. But! I’m wondering why the New York Post put Sulzburger’s name in their article (linked above) in the first place, why Howie quickly reported it (he consistently refers to NYP articles on his show and links to them on his website and he reported this info in the first hour of his show which runs from 3-7pm EST), and then…..everything is gone in connection with it. Weird. It almost seemed like a set up to me. Not sure if that is what was going on, but the whole thing just seemed so strange. Also tonight, Chris Matthews of MSNBC had a quest on his 5pm EST show who talked about the ‘Caroline relationship’ and Matthews instantly said (paraphrasing), “I don’t want to hear what the blogs are saying….we don’t do that here”. Say wha? Matthews knew what she was referring too (I could tell just by the look on his face), but instantly made it seem as if it was the blogs who started the rumor and not a paper such as the New York Post! Unfreakingbelievable.
Is Caroline Kennedy having an affair or are the right wingers of America up to their old tricks again? Inquiring minds want to know.
Looks like Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has been invited to Governor Paterson’s office tomorrow. Is she in as Hillary’s replacement? Must be!
http://timesunion.com/AspStori.....yID=762658
Some think she might be too ‘right wing’ to be filling Hillary’s seat:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/.....rontru.php
And you know what? I was fine with Caroline Kennedy being Hillary’s replacement because Caroline is A LIBERAL TO THE CORE. The only thing I’ve ever disagreed with Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake on was when she was lambasting Caroline over every little detail. My defense was, “but she’s a progressive liberal! We need more of them in the Senate!”. But, I digress. We will be getting a Blue Dog Democrat in Gillibrand now, and I’m sure I will spend many moments cringing on how this woman votes. All I’m going to say is….I told ya so! when it happens.
The New York Post is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News and the Wall Street Journal….no friend of any Democrat! No surprise here…consider the source.
Good point, Grant. I hadn’t thought of that. I do know one thing….Howie Carr is connected to Matt Drudge through his site, as well as, the New York Post. It almost seemed to me today that it was a coordinated effort on the part of the NYP and Carr to get Sulzburger’s name out there connected to Kennedy and then scrub it fast so it makes an impression in the minds of people who read it or heard it. Unfreakingbelievable if this is the case.
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, age 42, has only served two years in the House. New York has many women with far longer experience in Washington. Louise Slaughter, 22 years in the House of Representatives, at age 79 might not be interested (other than a fill-in until 2010). Rep. Nita Lowery has 20 years but is age 71. Lowery who was upstaged by Clinton once was an ardent supporter of Hillary last year. Nydia Velázquez, 55, has 18 years in the House. Carolyn Maloney is most pro-woman and only age 60 (16 years in Congress). Carolyn McCarthy, 65, has 12 years experience. African-American, Yvette Clarke, age 44, has 2 years in Congress.
So if it is a woman that New York wants to replace Hillary, there are several more with longer resumes.
Very true, Grant. When I was listening to Howie Carr’s show today, a caller made the point that this whole thing may have been Clinton generated, meaning….Caroline Kennedy came out in support of Barack Obama (as did Ted Kennedy) and the Clintons were rightfully hurt. When Caroline Kennedy announced she was in the running for Hillary’s seat, Hillary (and/or Bill) contacted Paterson to make sure that never happens. Could be. Do we know if Paterson called Kennedy after Hillary (who hadn’t resigned her seat until she was confirmed which happened this week) was confirmed? Nope, but he could have. Maybe this is where all the rumors started (did the Clintons mention the rumors or make them up? Again, don’t know, but Hillary & Rupert Murdoch are “tight” aren’t they?) and this is why Kennedy backed out and it wasn’t really because of Ted and maybe her ‘personal issues’ are the taxes & the extramarital affair? Again, don’t know.
I never could quite envision Caroline in politics as she always seemed shy and being more like her mother. I didn’t feel she was the type to get down in the political gutters and fight, as that is often needed, sadly, to succeed in American politics. I also don’t believe that we should have royalty in America and feel we have already had too much of Bush, Clinton, and Kennedy dynasties. That doesn’t mean they cannot serve in other ways like RFK, Jr. is doing in the environmental movement. Spread the responsibility around.
No offense but why does it have to be a woman who takes over Hillary’s seat in the senate?
I agree with you Grant. I wish Robert Kennedy Jr were interested or actually wish JFK jr was alive today to continue his fathers legacy in politics.
I have a feeling it’s Hillary who wants a woman to replace her seat. Kind of the same thing as Barack Obama’s camp giving Blago suggestions as to who they would like to fill his vacant Senate seat.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be a fantastic replacement I think too!
I read mohawknationnews out of Canada. Gov. Patterson is being harsh to NY Natives. Seems like he would honor them if he truly was progressive. Guess the Clintonites got their way…Dem. in name only . Sad.
Kay:
I live in upstate NY, now and the feeling here is that the move by Patterson was:
a.) to not appoint a “downstater” and have the folks up in the great unwashed north perceive that he doesn’t give a shit about them.
b.) to place an aggressive, ELECTABLE, woman in the office.
I will withhold judgment on Ms. Gillibrand until I see how whether she bats lefty or righty in the senate. She is well liked by the NRA–AND she has a 100% rating with the ACLU (according to Albany NPR).
My state senator here is a pretty conservative dem, it’s the reason that he took a seat that had been in republican hands for about a century. And he’s the main reason that the NYS legislature is controlled by the dems for the first time in almost 50 years. Of course they have a dog’s mess to deal with, but that IS their problem.
Democommie, we have no choice but to give Gillibrand a chance now. She has 2 years to prove herself and if she’s not progressive enough for us (which I think Caroline Kennedy would have been!), then enter Carolyn McCarthy who is now saying she will run against Gillibrand’s seat next year.
President Obama needs Democrats in the Senate especially who are going to help him get the work that needs to be done…done. Let’s hope Gillibrand is one of these people and not another JOE LIEBERMAN who is about as useful as a neocon!