INDEPENDENT VOTERS
If you want to call it “fickle” to leave the two-party system behind in favor creating a new political culture, call me fickle!

2010: Fight for fickle kids (By: Eamon Javers, Politico) Stanford University political science professor Morris Fiorina is convinced that both political parties haven’t yet grasped the scale of the change that’s happening [...]

What a difference a day makes…
ALBANY – Gov. Paterson, defying the liberal wing of his Democratic Party, has chosen little-known, NRA-backed, upstate Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as New York’s junior senator, it was learned last night.
The surprising – and, for many Democrats shocking – decision to pick the conservative Gillibrand, [...]

It appears that Caroline Kennedy’s withdrawal from consideration for the open New York Senate seat had nothing to do with her uncle’s illness:
ALBANY — Problems involving taxes and a household employee surfaced during the vetting of Caroline Kennedy and derailed her candidacy for the Senate, a person close to Gov. David A. Paterson said on [...]

It’s been reported that Dame Caroline Kennedy has called New York Governor David Paterson and withdrawn from consideration for appointment to fill the Senate seat vacated today by Hillary Clinton. Supposedly, Kennedy doesn’t want the appointment any more, due to the poor health of her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. But Ted Kennedy has been [...]

Prince Andrew Cuomo in a contemplative moment
“A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.”   -Niccolo Machiavelli
Within a few days, New York Governor David Paterson will appoint a successor to Hillary Clinton in the United States Senate. I’m going out on a [...]

The Barack Obama administration is pulling a lot of people from the Senate. That has already caused some big headaches. Now it looks like the protracted and highly secretive process to fill Hillary Clinton’s seat in New York may be violating state laws:
Governor David Paterson has disclosed next to nothing about how he’s selecting a [...]

Four Senate vacancies. In one, literally a staffer is appointed to keep the seat warm for the Senator’s son. In another, it’s an ongoing battle of which high-profile election surrogate to reward for their loyalty. In the third, the trumping consideration was apparently in favor of the guy most connected to big money, at the expense of qualifications or experience. And in the fourth, the guy nominated was an unimpeachable public servant undeniably qualified for the job.

John wrote about this a couple days ago and now NBC picks up the meme.

You know how I said Caroline was nearly a lock for this seat? Well, I think I’m going to have to eat those words. Public sentiment is starting to turn against her and if she doesn’t move quickly, the seat is [...]

(Hat tip: Politico.com)
Dame Caroline of Camelot finally sat down with several major media outlets over the past few days, presumably to counter growing criticism of her running away from questions and saying little or nothing about the issues that will come before the Senate she wants to join.
At her sit-down with The New York Times, [...]

Hi, this is Danielle Ivory from the American News Project. My colleague, Lagan Sebert, and I just published a new video on the bailout and a lack of serious oversight.
Today, Henry Paulson urged Congress to release the second half of the $700 billion of the bailout money. But no one seems know what banks [...]

On Wednesday, New York’s Governor David Patterson unveiled a proposed $121-billion budget for next year, which includes a barrage or 88 new or higher taxes and fees to help close a $15.4-billion gap. Among the new revenue raisers are an “I-Pod tax” on downloaded music, sales taxes on cable and satellite TV, new taxes on [...]

As Caroline Kennedy made a pilgrimage to Harlem to lunch with Rev. Al Sharpton, her rivalry with Cuomo scion Andrew, who is currently serving as New York State Attorney General until he can find a higher office, heated up.
Kennedy actually answered a couple of reporters’ questions in a sidewalk press availability, after munching with Rev. [...]

Caroline Kennedy Meets With Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll

My lady of Camelot, I know I speak for all respectable persons residing in the outer provinces when I say how deeply shocked we are by the offensive manner in which your ladyship was received by that pack of louts who badgered you with impertinent questions during your [...]

She doesn’t want to be involved in the “Stop Caroline” campaign in any way, and she’s making that crystal clear.
From Politico:

Prominent Clinton supporters, including Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), union leader Stuart Applebaum and fundraiser Robert Zimmerman, recently expressed skepticism about the choice, suggesting that Clinton’s supporters would see naming Kennedy — a crucial Obama backer [...]

Oh, thank you, my lady of Camelot. I know I speak for all of your loyal subj…er…supporters in New York when I say how pleased we are that you have seen fit to govern us, as indeed, you should. Yes, we mark ourselves as fortunate to have one of your noble grace and bearing willing [...]

It’s official. She wants it.
And frankly, it could be refreshing to have somebody who hasn’t been a diehard political operative in that seat.
From Politico:
Her move raises the pressure on New York Governor David Paterson either to choose her or to select someone else soon, as Kennedy’s rivals for the seat have already begun to [...]

Former President Kennedy daughter has thrown her very expensive hat into the ring for New York’s soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat:
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided she will pursue the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a person told of her decision said Monday.
The decision came after a [...]

I find this news a bit puzzling, especially coming from the left wing of the Democratic party.
Maybe they want Andrew Cuomo instead?

And to the point of liberals being a bit too vocal too early, here’s Steve Hildebrand about this today…
This is not a time for the left wing of our Party to draw conclusions [...]

She has said she wasn’t interested numerous times, but I can’t help but think that getting into the family business at this time in history is too attractive to pass up.
From ABC:
The crazy speculation about Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat may not be so crazy after all. A Democrat who would know tells ABC [...]