Caroline Kennedy Reportedly Ends Senate Bid (Updated)
[Guest post by DRJ]
The New York Times reports Caroline Kennedy has ended her bid to replace Hillary Clinton as New York Senator, citing concerns about the health of her uncle Ted Kennedy:
“On Wednesday she called the governor, David Paterson, who is making the selection of who should succeed Senator Hillary Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after a seizure during the inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with the health issues of her uncle, with whom she enjoys an extraordinarily close bond, was her most important priority; a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.
She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.”
Stay tuned. I’m sure there will be more on this story in the coming days.
UPDATE: Now there are conflicting reports.
— DRJ
Perhaps she feels she has a better shot at Uncle Ted’s soon to be vacated seat.
campfreddy (834170) — 1/21/2009 @ 4:43 pmTeddy’s condition…a convenient hook to hang her embarrasment from.
Teddy’s seat….Why would DeVal Patrick appoint her, when he himself could have the seat?
AD (ef385e) — 1/21/2009 @ 4:45 pmPlus, when was the last time she was a full-time resident of MA?
I agree with AD’s guess: At best, she foresaw that she wasn’t going to get the nod anyway and is withdrawing to save face.
At worst, she instead (or in addition) has a Geithner Problem or nanny problem or other vetting problem.
Mitch (890cbf) — 1/21/2009 @ 4:59 pmIf true, I will be relieved (as a NYS resident).
Seriously, Geithner has a problem? Is it serious? I thought it was only a bump and nothing to worry about.
In fact, I may just forget to file my taxes if I owe anything. Hell, I’ll still calculate them to find out if Uncle Barack owes me anything.
Dr. K (4dd7c3) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:02 pmI’m not buying it. If she were so concerned about family, why even rock the boat so dramatically in the first place by seeking out the position? She still has a 15 year old at home.
She reveals the heart of a true pol, this saving face. I don’t blame her. I don’t think she believed for a second that the public would be anything less than enthralled with her. What a shock it must have been.
Dana (137151) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:04 pmI disagree that Caroline Kennedy [Schlossberg] came to the conclusion that she wouldn’t be appointed. I think the appointment was in the bag but the Kennedy people took some polls and discovered that there would be lingering resentment among NY Dems and a certain level of derision from the American public if she ascended to the seat in this manner. They probably realized that this would hurt her chances of being elected to the seat in 2010. Better to keep alive the myth of the unstoppable political family rather than have one of them bounced out of office, especially her uncle Bobby’s old seat.
JVW (43923f) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:07 pm“He that fights and runs, lives to fight again.” Who said that? Hmmmmm..
Emperor7 (0c8c2c) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:13 pmWhat JVW said.
I imagine she will be changing PR firms. When you talk about “empty suits” … the Kennedys are the haute couture. They are all image and nothing else. There were only two Kennedys ever worth a damn, and both were named Joseph. One made the family fortune and the other died fighting Nazis.
Haldol does not always work (bbe952) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:14 pmSince 1952, there has been only one year (1961) where the United States Senate has been a Kennedy-Free Zone.
Official Internet Data Office (c048e2) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:15 pmJVW, do you believe Caroline herself felt this way or it was determined by Ted & the elders? I ask because she didn’t strike me in anyway as shrewd or calculating on her own..she actually came off as teenybopperish insecure and unsure of herself.
Dana (137151) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:16 pmHe that fights and runs, lives to fight again.” Who said that? Hmmmmm..
Comment by Emperor7 — 1/21/2009 @ 5:13 pm
Archilochos.
But in Caroline’s case it’s more like “This toy is too hard to put together. I’ll find another”.
Haldol does not always work (bbe952) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:18 pmI vote with #6.
Perfect Sense (9d1b08) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:21 pmComment by Emperor7 — 1/21/2009 @ 5:13 pm
Here’s an explaination.
“The quote has a long history and has been said in various ways:
The man who runs away may fight again [from the Greek]~Demosthenes, when asked why he fled from the battle of Chaeronea, 338 BC. It has been cited by Erasmus as an “old proverb,” admonishing that as long as the spirit is not conquered, the defeated can become the victor.
He who flees will fight again [from the Latin]~Tertullian, De Fuga in Persecutione, sec. 10 (c. AD 195)
He that fights and runs away, may turn and fight another day; but he that is in battle slain, will never rise to fight again.~Tacitus
The first appearance in the modern form is here:
For he that fights and runs away/May live to fight another day~Sir John Mennes and Dr. James Smith, eds., Musarum Deliciae (1656). No name was given in the text, but it is believed to have originated from Sir John Suckling.”
Emperor7 (0c8c2c) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:21 pmI don’t know, Dana, I wonder who passes for an “elder” in the Kennedy Crime Family anymore. Teddy is ill and probably doesn’t have the day-to-day involvement, and the old advisers of that generation are either gone or in deep retirement. My guess would be that it is the paid political hacks that surround this new generation of Kennedys who did the polling and presented the data to Caroline. I doubt if she is super bright, but she knows enough about politics to realize her appointment would be a Pyrrhic victory.
JVW (43923f) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:32 pmSomewhere there in #11… I think CK has a lot to offer. She could reappear in a number of ways.
She’s been steeped in politics her entire life. Her speaking skills aren’t quite what I expected, since she’s had the best schooling and much world travel. So it was just the suddenness of asking for this open seat and then withholding her finances and trying to get the job on her own terms. Because the DNC is horribly elitist, they really need her in some capacity. Congresswoman, DNC committee, etc. JVW pretty much said it best, regarding the what and what not.
Vermont Neighbor (ab0837) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:37 pmI’m glad she’s going away.
She may have a lot to offer, and if so, I hope she reappears as an applicant for a more suitable job.
I don’t like dynastic politics; the fact that one had a politically powerful forbearer does not entitle one to a political position. If she wants to be Senator, she should earn the position, rather than waltzing into it on the basis of her name.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:41 pmUncle Teds’ health????Bucksnort, somebody told her she’s a bubblehead and two weeks later she figured out what that meant.
glenn (fcbc78) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:49 pmJeeez – what next
EricPWJohnson (a47759) — 1/21/2009 @ 5:59 pmNYPost reporting that it was quietly made known to her by Patterson’s folks that he was not going to pick her due to her poor performance in the media, and in interviews with public officials vetting the position.
Rumors are that the NY GOP was quitely gleeful that it was going to be her and not Cuomo.
WLS Shipwrecked (26b1e5) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:04 pmI would have liked to have seen Mrs Schlossberg get the seat. She wouldn’t have been any worse than anyone else Governor Paterson would appoint, and we could have a lot of fun with the dynasty meme.
And while it’s possible that the Senate could be Kennedy-free soon, Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) is still a member of the House of Representatives.
The opportunist Dana (556f76) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:06 pmCuomo isn’t a lock.
Paterson could name Rep. Carolyn Maloney, driving the gun lobby into full-throated shriek.
steve (49323f) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:10 pmHer uncle probably has less than a year to live, if you go by survival rates among brain cancer patients. So no, I don’t believe for a nanosecond that all of sudden she felt he desperately needed her at his side – the man is running out of time, and she decides to run for the Senate less than a few months after his initial diagnosis? Yeah, suuure.
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:13 pmThis is the best news for New York since Eliot Spitzer left the governor’s office.
Alan (551a6d) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:27 pmthe man is running out of time, and she decides to run for the Senate less than a few months after his initial diagnosis? Yeah, suuure.
Comment by Dmac — 1/21/2009 @ 6:13 pm
Emperor7 (0c8c2c) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:33 pmThat is the most idiotic, vapid, stupid, clueless comment you have ever made. Once a moron always a moron.
The Japanese condom is really on a pro-empty suit roll, tonight.
Haldol does not always work (bbe952) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:48 pmOk, I see what happened. I made myself look like a spammer.
nk (bbe952) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:49 pmNK,
Your comments were in the filter. I’m sure it was because H-a-l-d-o-l is on the list of banned words to avoid the pharmaceutical marketers.
DRJ (345e40) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:50 pmYeah, but what a great non-spam joke.
For those who don’t know, Haldol is an anti-psychotic drug! 🙂
The amused Dana (556f76) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:51 pmDon’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Someone let her, like know, she was not getting it, like, you know?
Joe (17aeff) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:54 pmThank you, DRJ. I changed my signature to mock a troll and forgot to change it back.
nk (bbe952) — 1/21/2009 @ 6:55 pmLike, you know, this is actually bad news because, you know, this makes it like harder you know to get a Republican in there.
You know.
Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e) — 1/21/2009 @ 7:04 pmThat is the most idiotic, vapid, stupid, clueless comment you have ever made. Once a moron always a moron.
Aww, the poor Bobo is really vewy angwy right now. There, there, Bobo – take a few Vicodin and sleep all that stupidity off.
Dmac (eb0dd0) — 1/21/2009 @ 7:20 pmHow did Tacitus know how to make it rhyme when translated into English? Those Romans really were smart.
I’d have to agree with Dmac – seems implausible that, upon learning that Teddy has brain cancer, you want to be a Senator, then 2 months later, you realize that you want to be there for him. He has a year, two maybe tops.
For sleeping off stupidity, I recommend gin and muscle relaxants.
carlitos (05e522) — 1/21/2009 @ 7:26 pmNYPost reporting that it was quietly made known to her by Patterson’s folks that he was not going to pick her due to her poor performance in the media, and in interviews with public officials vetting the position.
That is very interesting. A part of me wonders if this is not Paterson going behind the scenes to salvage his own reputation. After all, how does it look to the average voter when the governor was willing to ignore Caroline’s obvious deficiencies and give her the appointment (at least as was reported as late as this past weekend), then suddenly she pulls the rug out from under him by withdrawing her name? I would imagine that he would be pretty steamed at her and might have wanted to take a sly shot at her via the NYPost while she slunk back to her Park Avenue apartment suite.
JVW (43923f) — 1/21/2009 @ 7:34 pmComment by Dmac — 1/21/2009 @ 7:20 pm
Emperor7 (0c8c2c) — 1/21/2009 @ 7:50 pmWhy are you having problems with spelling?
the poor Bobo is really vewy angwy right now
Vewy=very, stupid.
Angwy=angry.
And “Bobo” is the name of your female mannequin. You know, the one you like to abuse in the night.
You are disgusting, Doofus.
I made myself look like a spammer.
Comment by nk — 1/21/2009 @ 6:49 pm
Emperor7 (0c8c2c) — 1/21/2009 @ 7:58 pmNo, you made yourself look like the stupid jerk that peeps into women’s rooms. That’s what you look like.
Lovey – Don’t stroke out on us here. Watch the blood pressure potty mouth mommy.
daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 1/21/2009 @ 8:07 pmPolitico reports now that it may have been a misunderstanding,
“A Kennedy family source told NBC’s David Gregory that Caroline Kennedy has not withdrawn. Two sources hinted to NBC News that there may have been a miscommunication between Kennedy and Gov. David Paterson’s office and that initial reports of her withdrawing are incorrect.”
Dana (137151) — 1/21/2009 @ 8:12 pmDana,
The AP is reporting that, too.
DRJ (345e40) — 1/21/2009 @ 8:19 pmDaleyrocks #37,
We have a Japanese condom with pretensions to erudition. At least it’s finally posting under its real identity.
nk (bbe952) — 1/21/2009 @ 8:23 pmComment by DRJ — 1/21/2009 @ 8:19 pm
Emperor7 (0c8c2c) — 1/21/2009 @ 8:28 pmJust like you predicted here:
Stay tuned. I’m sure there will be more on this story in the coming days.
Question is, where did the first information come from? Who released it and for what motive? Or did she change her mind again? Questions.
I just noticed Powerline reports Kennedy family members says Princess Caroline has wavered and still wants the job. The world needs someone to compete with Stuart Smiley as least qualified, but I wonder what would make Beau Biden qualified in Delaware.
The family does get around, serving in Rhode Island, Mass, New York and Maryland. How about a slot for the dynasty if D.C. manages to acquire 2 Senators and a rep.?
aoibhneas (0c6cfc) — 1/21/2009 @ 8:59 pmUPDATE: Caroline got pissed off that Paterson was dissing her “poor performance” and in a fit of pique decided to put him back on the spot by re-entering the race. Is that a plausible scenario? Now Paterson is in a position where if he does not appoint her he has created a very powerful enemy. This could perhaps be one of the funner political stories to come along in some time.
JVW (43923f) — 1/21/2009 @ 9:35 pmComment by steve — 1/21/2009 @ 6:10 pm
You’re confusing Maloney with McCarthy.
AD (517490) — 1/21/2009 @ 10:17 pmIt is McCarthy who hates the NRA, and was elected on a ban-guns platform (her husband was killed by the LIRR assassin – which is one of the reasons she ran for office).
JVW wrote:
If Governor Paterson doesn’t appoint her, what real power will she have? I’d think that he’d be more concerned about Andrew Cuomo.
The doubtful Dana (3e4784) — 1/22/2009 @ 7:07 amI don’t think it was a case where prople were not enthralled with her. Why should she worry about that? Only the envious would think of such a thing! I don’t blame her. First thing the media screetches she’s not qualified and some of the people. Hillary was not even a resident of New York when she took office. She came in, dropped her suitcase, and was elected. And really what were her qualifications? She wasn’t govenor, senator or anything but First Lady? So don’t gloat too much over Caroline. At least she is educated and she does some good works. She doesn’t need admiration. She’s first class all the way.She was more qualified than Palin was for VP. Only a few caught on that Palin didn’t know anything. Palin could use some of Caroline’s education if you ask me. Peterson sounds like a jerk to me! One of the “good old boys” ?????
Rachel (319d81) — 1/22/2009 @ 7:18 amSeveral things jump out with this:
Wesson (3ab0b8) — 1/22/2009 @ 8:00 am1) She is lying. Patterson warned her she was not getting the job. They concoct this story that she isn’t getting it because she quit.
2) She is so disorganized, she can’t even get her own people on the same page. It seems some in her camp were rushing the Ted Kennedy excuse into the press.
3) There is good reason to believe she would become the lightest of intellectual lightweights in the Senate.
4) Put an end to all these political family entitlements. Kennedy, Cuomo, Bush, Clinton, all of them. Good for Patterson for standing up to the Kennedy empire.
The doubtful Dana asked:
If Governor Paterson doesn’t appoint her, what real power will she have?
Well, my guess would be that Caroline is such an East Side doyenne that she can make sure that Paterson has a very difficult time raising money in the salons of rich liberal upper-Manhattanites. I would think the Kennedy family in general can make sure that the fund-raising for the governor slows up considerably, and if Paterson were to appoint a man they could probably get the feminists to raise hell.
JVW (63b196) — 1/22/2009 @ 8:56 amYou see, doubtful Dana, Rachel (1/22/2009 @ 7:18 am) is just the type of liberal voter that will give Paterson problems if he bypasses her.
I’ll bet Rachel is really proud of herself for sneaking a shot against Sarah Palin into her screed. I would love to see Caroline Kennedy [Schlossberg] debate Sarah Palin. Gov. Palin would wipe the floor with her. Ms. Kennedy [Schlossberg] would spend her whole 30-second rebuttal stammering out “you know” and “uh.”
JVW (63b196) — 1/22/2009 @ 9:01 amDRUDGE now reporting:
UPDATE: She’s out again — for real this time…
With video taken from outside Her Ladyship Countess Caroline Kennedy von Schlossberg’s simply fabulous Manhattan apartment!
Official Internet Data Office (c048e2) — 1/22/2009 @ 9:11 amI’ve said this before and Rachel just confirmed it. The bar in New York is so low that Socks, the Clintons’ cat, could be appointed to replace Hillary. Have I ever told you why “Fail Safe” is my favorite movie?
nk (bf9c84) — 1/22/2009 @ 9:12 amThat really rich, Rachel. Any relation to the mutant Rachel Corrie who was driven over by a bulldozer? That only helped the gene pool.
Princess Caroline is more qualified than Palin? Palin was mayor for 8 years and took on the good old boys of her own party to win the Alaskan governorship and had outstanding approval ratings. Princess C. is having an adulterous relationship with NY Times dipshite Pinch. She was never elected to ANYTHING and her public approval ratings suck. You’d give her a pass because of the lib magic of Camelot? Typical libtard voter.
aoibhneas (0c6cfc) — 1/22/2009 @ 12:32 pmOK, a good last word on this topic is provided over at NRO. The Rachels of the world would do well to read it to understand why most of us here were so galled by the notion of Princess Caroline being appointed to the seat.
JVW (bff0a4) — 1/22/2009 @ 5:42 pmSo let me get this ..
1) She has a possible illegal alient nanny
2) She does not pay her payroll taxes to help the workers of the world
3) She can not speak properly
4) She has accomplished nothing
5) She is fucking Punch Sulzberger
…. imagine all the mentally retarded babies from that union
Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e) — 1/22/2009 @ 7:40 pmI am so happy another Libtard Hypocrite is being flushed down the toilet.
Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e) — 1/22/2009 @ 7:40 pmSchadenfreude forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e) — 1/22/2009 @ 7:41 pmIncidentally, the NYT disabled Blog comments on this story once when the rumor finally hit.
Hilary got her revenge I guess.
Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e) — 1/22/2009 @ 8:00 pmFox News is reporting that New York Governor David Paterson has chosen U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand for the Senate.
Official Internet Data Office (a33193) — 1/22/2009 @ 10:33 pmThat’s rich.
Vermont Neighbor (ab0837) — 1/23/2009 @ 9:05 am