New senator back on old turf
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Ted Kaufman today becomes the newest senator in Congress, but he's back on some old turf.
Kaufman will be sworn as Delaware's junior senator. Standing next to him will be the man he's replacing, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who stepped down from his seat yesterday after serving 36 years in the Senate.
But Kaufman's no stranger to Capitol Hill. He served on Biden's staff for 21 years, 19 of those as the Delaware senator's chief of staff. Now, he's been chosen by the state's governor to fill Biden's seat for the next two years.
There will be a special election in November of next year to determine who will serve the remaining four years of Biden's term. Kaufman says he only plans to serve the next two years and doesn't expect to run for election in 2010. Political observers expect that Biden's oldest son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, will run for his father's old seat.
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Change you CAN'T believe in.
I am soooooo sick of these political dynasties (both democrat and republican). Dynasties breed "corruption" and "political stagnation." But then again, their success is really just a reflection of the "mental laziness" and "low IQs" of us voters. We all like to thump our chest and say how we hate politicians (Throw the bums out!), but as soon as the media subtely "instructs" us to vote for their spouse or kid, of course we run out and do it. Maybe we should just go all the way and replace our government and constitution with a monarchy.
Another non-elected Democrat to the Senate.
'
Hey, how come CNN has not been allowing, y'know, comment on Princess Caroline stories on the ticker, y'know?
And, y'know, how come she's a Schlossberg-Kennedy when she's, y'know, flitting about with the elite, but suddenly a Kennedy, y'know' when she wants to be coronated Senator? y'know?
Enquiring minds wanna (you) know.
`
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Placeholding....cronieism.....nepotism. Change we can believe in.......
I bet you where also complaining when Obama started running for president because he was not established enough, right. You can't have your cake and eat it too, Allen........whatever that means lol
Allen, I feel your frustration. We need to vote based on our principles, not on who will "bring home the pork". That is often a difficult concept to grasp.
I know the term "political dynasty" is thrown around a lot, but it really doesn't make sense. A dynasty has to consist of more than two people. The Clintons, the Bushs, and in this case, the Bidens are not dynasties.
To think that multiple members of a family holding high public office is in and of itself bad is ignorant. Nepotism is only a bad thing if the beneficiary is not able to perform in the role they are "given". Would you say that Jack and Bobby Kennedy were a "reflection of the 'mental laziness'" of our country? I don't think so. Now, not all political families are successful, but the simple fact that they have a family member who previously held office, does not make someone incompetent.
It also makes sense that members of the same family (either by birth or by marriage) would have similar mental and political acumen, not to mention a proximity to their predecessor, that would prepare them for their new job.
I think the more obvious sign of "mental laziness" is that people are too reliant on blanket generalizations, and are too afraid to explore deeper causes of problems within our government.
the idiot January 16th, 2009 10:06 am ET
Another non-elected Democrat to the Senate.
________
Right, because no Republican Governer has EVER in the history of these United States, filled a vacant Senate seat with another Republican. Oh no, not ever.
Welcome to example #8,457 of "When a Republican does it, it is ok, when a Democrat does it, it is wrong."
The comments left here are anonymous attempts at expression that I find to be;humorous, pathetic, partisan,enlightening,encouraging,depressing,uplifting,disgusting, slanted, sly, witty, moronic,scary,heartening,stimulating,satirical,whimsical,boring,misspelled, misguided, eloquent, grammatical masterpieces. Keep up the good work....sigh.
Carrying on the Biden dynasty under another name....
*** And, y'know, how come she's a Schlossberg-Kennedy when she's, y'know, flitting about with the elite, but suddenly a Kennedy, y'know' when she wants to be coronated Senator? y'know? ***
The wording of your post says more about your intellectual capacity than any reply possibly could.
It's always been just Caroline Kennedy. She never changed her name. The press sometimes used Kennedy-Schlossberg (not Schlossberg-Kennedy) entirely on their own initiative.
So now, y'know, you know.
`
Allen sez... I am soooooo sick of these political dynasties (both democrat and republican). Dynasties breed "corruption" and "political stagnation." But then again, their success is really just a reflection of the "mental laziness" and "low IQs" of us voters. We all like to thump our chest and say how we hate politicians (Throw the bums out!), but as soon as the media subtely "instructs" us to vote for their spouse or kid, of course we run out and do it. Maybe we should just go all the way and replace our government and constitution with a monarchy.
You bet'cha, Allen, y'know, just like the current attempt by the elite to, y'know, cash in on the Kennedy dynasty, y'know, and give Princess "I don't, y'know, vote " Caroline the NY celebrity senate seat,.
y'know?
.
*** Another non-elected Democrat to the Senate. ***
Yes, non-elected people in the Senate is what happens when Senator leaves office and has to be replaced. It's in the Constitution. Clearly you don't read much, though.
Wonderful, the Governor made an EXCELLENT choice.
Tom, you and I think alike.
And so we have yet another unelected democrat inserted into the power structure due to his proximity to those who exert influence.
Americans have become so galvinized by partisan rhetoric we no longer care if we are deprived of our voice. To the contrary, we have degenerated to the point that we are perfectly happy to forfiet our own constitutional powers to facilitate the ascension of a particular political party. Yet, we wonder why our government is so utterly detached and irresponsive; how congressional seats remain in the same hands for decades at a time; or why the power and prestige of our government continues to increase as our own diminishes. Can not blame the press for our own willful submission.
Sounds like a Plan
Personal to the idiot:
We just had a non-elected, two-termer in the White House; what's your point. At least these men were properly appointed and not installed using tricks and making a mockery of the voting system!
Yes, the Governor selected him to the Senate until the next special election because we all know why, Good ole Vice President-Elect Biden will have his Son become the next Senator of Delaware.
Do any of you honestly believe that the soon to be "Senator Kaufman" does not understand his position in the entire process of who will become the next Senator in 2010....
Change in Washington...hmmm. I remember hearing that over and over during the Primaries and as we can see, nothing will change until we get rid of the same ole Politics and the folks who run Washington. President Bush is leaving, Vice President Cheney is leaving, now we need to get rid of Senator Reid, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi...etc.
God help us!!
HELLO! Beau Biden was not appointed to this seat. He'll have to run for the seat in two years. The only thing that any of you people can rightfully complain about is the fact that a democrat who had no interest in running in 2010 was appointed to the seat. Maybe he'll win because of his name, but he is clearly a qualified and competent candidate.
Now that's a breath of fresh air in what has been a disastrous month. To actually appoint someone who "knows the ropes" to a temporary senate seat, and in two years, if he does his job well, give him a shot at making it permanent, in spite of what he says.
I like that. I wish everyone else would sit up and take note. With Mr. Obama's conciliatory moves, Mr. Bush's gracious transition work, and a sensible appointment by the Delaware governor, things are looking up.
I hope on January 21 we can all be Americans and try to be civil, working on the main thing, which is pulling together. Both parties can play a role in this. Things seem to be getting better.
Hey, governor. Albany's not that far away. Why don't you go visit New York's governor, and see if you can talk some sense into him as well? He might come up with as good an appointee as you did. This Republican is not joking or sarcastic. I mean it.