The Next Senator Kennedy

Susan Estrich:

The news that Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president and much-dubbed Princess of Camelot, is seeking to replace Hillary Clinton in the United States Senate has set many tongues to wagging.

It's all about entitlement, some are saying: What has she done to deserve a seat in the Senate? What does she know? Who does she think she is?
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Will Caroline Kennedy be a more effective spokesperson for New York for all these reasons? Of course she will. When she stands up, people will listen. When she asks, people will respond. When she puts herself on the line, the chances of a bill passing or a nominee being confirmed will increase. Most junior senators, especially the ones even people in their home state can't identify, don't have much clout in Washington. Caroline Kennedy will be a player from the moment she arrives.
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With Hillary leaving and Ted Kennedy fighting serious cancer, the Senate is heading for a giant gap.

Caroline Kennedy doesn't need to be a senator in order to be noticed, listened to, taken seriously and invited to fancy parties. She can do all those things right now. She doesn't need the Senate in order to speak her mind and have her voice be heard. She certainly doesn't need the salary, and she could probably live without the aggravation. Two campaigns in two years is not exactly a gift. She will lose her privacy and become a target for the toughest media crowd in the country.

I think it speaks well for her -- and for the idea of public service that her father so eloquently championed -- that Ms. Kennedy is throwing her hat in the ring. I wish her the best of luck. She doesn't need the Senate, but the Senate could certainly use her.

Yeah, yeah, Estrich is not everybody's cuppa because she can be one of those accomodationist Dems, but still! 

Anyway, I still don't have a dog in this hunt, but I am fascinated by the continued bile directed at Kennedy by the leading lights of the all-powerful progressive netroots and will immensely enjoy her appointment, should it come to pass, simply for selfish bloggy spite value at this point.  The likelihood that Kennedy will also be an excellent legislator is just gravy...

ntodd