Scott Brown, Senator elect

A Senate seat long held by a Democrat has passed to a Republican:

Scott Brown, a little-known Republican state senator, rode an old pickup truck and a growing sense of unease among independent voters to an extraordinary upset Tuesday night when he was elected to fill the Senate seat that was long held by Edward M. Kennedy in the overwhelmingly Democratic state of Massachusetts.

By a decisive margin, Mr. Brown defeated Martha Coakley, the state’s attorney general, who had been considered a prohibitive favorite to win just over a month ago after she easily won the Democratic primary.

With all precincts counted, Mr. Brown had 52 percent of the vote to Ms. Coakley’s 47 percent.

What will this mean for the president, especially with the fall elections looming in the distance? What were the people of Massachusetts trying to tell America on the eve of Obama's one year anniversary as POTUS? Will a man who rode on the winds of change became change incarnate?

the Kennedy seat

OK, Joe Kennedy. You are the son of RFK, and your uncle - an esteemed Senator - has just passed on. Are you going to step up and claim the Kennedy Senate seat?

“Joe Kennedy, as emotionally drained as he must be, cannot help but be moved by the outpouring of affection and respect that has come from people all over the country in the last several days,’’ said Dan Payne, a longtime Democratic media consultant. “I’m not saying he is going to run, but he wouldn’t be human and he wouldn’t be a Kennedy if he didn’t give serious thought to running for the so-called Kennedy seat.’’

Yeah. The so-called Kennedy seat. Because it's not a Kennedy seat at all. It was a Senate seat - one of two - held by a Kennedy for a very long time. It was only his temporarily, and it isn't his anymore now that he's gone the way of all the earth.

Speaking of Kennedys, I'm most interested in how this particular one will do. He's had such a history with alcoholism, drug use, and a bipolar disorder diagnosis. I hope he effectively utilizes the supports that are there for him.

First, she wanted the job and told the media all about it

Then, she saw something happen to a family member and decided she didn't want the job.

Now, she wants the job again.

Or, maybe, she doesn't.

Ms. Kennedy, what exactly is going on?

UPDATE: It's official. Caroline is out.

"I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate," the official statement read.

the good people of Minnesota still don't know if Coleman or Franken won the Senate seat

It seems likely that they won't know until 2009. Whoever is finally declared the winner will have to live under a cloud of suspicion that the seat should have gone to the other guy. If Franken wins, will he say, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me... I think?"

The 2008 Minnesota race for the U.S. Senate is almost like a carpet sale. Instead of Install in your home now, and you won't pay a dime until 2009!, it's Vote for Senator now, and you won't know until 2009!

another Kennedy in the Senate?

It looks like America is getting closer to having another Kennedy with political power. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, who seemed to be more like her "private" mother than her "public" father and brother, desires the New York Senate seat that will be left vacant when Hillary Clinton is confirmed as the next Secretary of State.

I have just a few thoughts on this...

1. I don't believe it's wise to make these sorts of pronouncements, considering the troubles the Illinois governor is having. Caroline could be accused of Blagojaviching the Senate, and I don't think Governor Paterson wants that scandal.
2. If she wants to "pursue" the Senate seat, why doesn't she do it the old-fashioned way?
3. Caroline called Governor Paterson on December 3, and they had an "informational" conversation about the Senate. Why in the world would Caroline need such a conversation? Couldn't she just ask Uncle Teddy about the Senate? That phone call was an obvious ploy to gain Paterson's appointment.
4. The article reads, "The governor was traveling to Utica today and could not immediately be reached for comment. " I guess the governor and his aides have never heard of those new-fangled devices called cell phones.

HIllary's open Senate seat

It seemed that every New York Democrat who eyed "Pat" Moynihan's open seat in 2000 stepped aside so that Hillary Clinton, who had never lived in the state, could take it. Now, the NY Democrats may step aside yet again - for Caroline Kennedy.

Ms. Kennedy called Gov. David A. Paterson on Wednesday to discuss the position, Mr. Paterson confirmed Friday. The governor will choose a replacement for Mrs. Clinton upon her expected confirmation as secretary of state next month.

“The conversation was informational,” Mr. Paterson said in an interview. “She did not express an interest in the Senate, but we talked about the Senate, so I got that she was just trying to get some information to determine whether or not she would like to have an interest in it. And that was it.”

He added, “I haven’t offered the job to anyone.”

Yes. I'm sure she's recently dialed up several governors, just to talk about the Senate. Informally.