Dan Janison of Newsday considers the losers in the Caroline Kennedy fiasco.
Begin with Kennedy herself, who despite a measure of public appeal, ran an ill-conceived campaign to try to start at the top of the political world after little prior involvement. She didn't work the political circuit until after the fact, coming to campaigning only last year. There were years she didn't vote. She wasn't ready for prime time.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Kevin Sheekey, his deputy for wheeling and dealing, climbed out on a limb. Sheekey warned that Gov. David Paterson would commit "malpractice" by choosing anyone else. Bloomberg and his schools chancellor were unconvincing in their efforts to sell her.
There were the folks at the consulting firm Knickerbocker SKD, already blamed in consultant-land for Kennedy's stumbling rollout.
There are the Kennedy fans who believe in the Camelot legacy.
I'd add the Governor. This mess didn't need to drag on anywhere near this long. Also, it was pretty obvious that in addition to not being "ready for prime time", Kennedy never really seemed to even want it all that much. Paterson should have politely taken a pass. He didn't and it has now blown up in his face. (Knickerbocker SKD should have as well, but at least they were billing.)
Bloomberg and crew come off as the star-humpers they actually are, an aristocrat and his court embracing another.
Oh, and us, the ones who actually need a senator. The folks in DC are about to carve up one of the biggest federal pies in generations and we are reduced to a single senator. It's not like we could really use some of that money or a junior senator with even the slightest seniority edge or anything.
Lost of losers here. Like, 19 million or so. |
