In the Year 2000, John Ashcroft Was Defeated in a Senate Race By a Dead Guy

[NashVegas]

Funny how many people have forgotten about Jean Carnahan being appointed to fill her late husband's US Senate seat.

When she ran for it outright two years later, she lost.

Kennedy may do well to back off and run in two years, but for now, the "She's not qualified" arguments against her are entirely out of line and from outer space. The US has a solid history of appointing AND electing people who don't appear qualified on paper.

[GarbagemanLB]

1. She is the frontrunner simply because of her last name at this point.

[NashVegas]

2. So What?

[HeraldSquare212]

3. So why don't we find someone who's got qualifications?

Just because people who are not qualified on paper have been appointed before, doesn't mean we have to do the same thing now. There are plenty of state senators or mayors or even community organizers out there who I'm sure would do very well, would be more in touch with the people and briefed in on major issues, and who have demonstrated a desire to serve their community. Should their service be rewarded instead of having them be told that, sorry, no matter how hard you work and for how long, one of the most important positions in state politics will never be yours because we prefer celebrities?

Chuck Schumer was a city councilman and a congressman before he became senator, and love him or hate him you have to give him credit for being a doer. That's what we need and as a NYer, that's what I want - someone who can serve effectively from day one.

[NashVegas]

4. Historically, Qualifications Are Actually Pretty Low

Why change now?

[snowbear]

5. Have they done a recent poll of New Yorkers with Caroline in it?

.
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Just wondering if she's the frontrunner with residents of NY?

[Hippo_Tron]

6. That was Missouri and a horrid year for Democrats due to Bush's 80% approval ratings

And even then she lost by a point. New York is not Missouri by any stretch of the imagination.