Not to spend too much time on the Caroline Kennedy thing, but this defense of appointing her does nothing but convince of just how terrible an idea it would be. I normally like what Dana Goldstein has to say, but this conclusion has to be one of the least-persuasive imaginable: “the primary concern should be appointing the most effective and smartest senator right now. Caroline Kennedy just might be that person.”
The one thing that seems fairly obvious in all this is that she is almost definitively not the most effective and smartest Senate candidate. That she is famous might well bring some advantages (fundraising, a strong public persona which will get her airtime on issues), but those have nothing to do with her actual ability to legislate.
Goldstein floats a balloon for someone like Caroyln Maloney – who I admit to knowing nothing about – but shoots the idea down because “she isn’t known as a wonk or a quick study, and in a year when progressive policy opportunities abound, seriousness will be rewarded.” That may very well be true, but in what imaginable world is picking another Kennedy a sign of seriousness? If anything, it’s decidedly the opposite: a declaration that being famous is more important than experience or wonkishness.
While I’m on the subject of fame, let me take the opportunity to post another track from a band who helped define my whole musical existence back in the 90’s. I really love Super Deluxe.
Famous – Super Deluxe