You know who doesn’t need to get appointed to the Senate? Caroline Kennedy, that’s who.
I don’t have any particular problem with her. I’m sure she’d be a fine Senator. However, I’m generally opposed to political dynasties, and that’s especially true in the case of an appointment. Kevin Drum puts it well: “Rich and famous people already have a huge leg up when it comes to winning political office, but at least they still have to run and win.”
Another thought, spurred by this and (more obviously) the ridiculousness of the Blagojevich wheeling and dealing: can we do away with this whole process of appointments? Hold a special election and let people actually vote on who is going in. Particularly when the advantages of incumbency are so strong, it just seems depressing to let one person have such a huge role in determining who has a strong chance of being a Senator for a decade or more.