It looks like Ellis Henican hit the nail on the head with Sunday’s column about Caroline (Kennedy) Schlossberg’s candidacy (note the title, "How THEY, Elected A Kennedy").  From the beginning, it seemed like something with the Caroline (Kennedy) Schlossberg nomination was fishy and Ellis did a good job of pointing out what it was.

Here’s Henican’s theory.  Caroline’s nomination is Obama’s payback for Teddy’s support during the presidential election.  In order to complete this plan, Teddy and Obama had to move Hillary out the way, accomplished by Teddy publicly scolding Hillary after her attempt to create and chair a Senate Health Subcommittee and the subsequent offer of SoS by Obama.  In effect it was a game of good-cop/bad-cop, with Teddy letting Hillary know that she was essentially persona non-grata in the Senate and Barack coming in as the knight in shining armor to offer her a way to regain her dignity.  One more glitch though, the vacant Senate seat would then be filled by the fickle accidental Governor Paterson.  That’s where the promises of bundles of Kennedy fundraising money and “good relations” with the White House come in.  Let’s face it folks, if Paterson picks Kennedy, he’s Blagojevich with the caveat that the money is going to his campaign committee (it ends up having the exact same result as the one Blagojevich was looking for).

According to Henican, this is a win for Paterson, win for Kennedys, win for Obama, and a win for Hillary.

But Ellis forgot someone that doesn’t win in this scenario; the people of the State of New York.

Why is everyone overlooking the fact that Caroline Kennedy is a political neophyte with NO experience in New York politics and only limited experience in national politics (no-show job with the NYC BOE and honorary title with Obama’s campaign notwithstanding)?  Why are we allowing outside influences from Massachusetts, Illinois, and D.C. determine who should represent NEW YORK in the United States Senate?  Our democracy has been usurped and, if Paterson is to be believed, we only have approximately two weeks to let the Governor know that the People of New York should come first, not the Kennedy Family and not Paterson’s ambitions and fundraising goals.

There are numerous candidates, all experienced New York public servants, that are better suited for this seat than (Kennedy) Schlossberg.  My personal pick would be Tom Suozzi, a man with a proven track record of sound fiscal policies, good governance, and the ability to use a high profile position like Senator to completely finish off the corrupt New York Republican Party in the NYC suburbs.  Of course, Andrew Cuomo would also be a fantastic Senator, however I’m afraid of giving the power of appointing the next Attorney General to Shelly Silver, who would undoubtedly use it to appoint blowhard Richard Brodsky to the position.  If we want to stay with the woman theme, Carolyn Maloney is a tireless politician with legislative experience in Washington.  She knows The Hill and would be as effective as a Senator with no seniority can be. As a last resort, I would even support David Paterson appointing himself as Senator.  It would allow him to get out of Dodge and avoid a horrible fiscal situation as governor, which will leave no one in the state happy and undoubtedly permanently destroy his future potential as a politician.  As the man who can’t say “no”, is Paterson really ready to piss off EVERYBODY in the state when he cuts all services and raises taxes?  Of course, this would create a logistical nightmare as Malcolm Smith (or Jeff Klein or whoever is the Senate Majority Leader) would ascend to acting-Governor until the special election is held for the people to vote for a new Governor and Lt. Governor.

But let’s not lose track of the topic at hand.  The next Senator from New York should be someone who is QUALIFIED for the position, not someone who is seen as a cash-cow due to her last name and famous family.

Say NO to Edward Kennedy.  Say NO to unqualified nepotism (Paterson, Cuomo, Suozzi, I know, but at least we know who they are and what they’ve done).  Stand up. Write to Governor Paterson and SAY NO TO CAROLINE (KENNEDY) SCHLOSSBERG.