Caroline Kennedy Would Be a Good Senator, Jeb Bush Wouldn't

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sILVER bELLE of MS,

Perhaps, firstly you should learn to use Upper & Lower case.

Obviously, your attempt is to incite guilt in poor Caroline Kennedy who could make such a positive contribution to America. Ms Kennedy is a sensitive, hard-working, courageous human being. She has been most generous with her time in raising millions for New York City's schools, plus the benevolent energy she has given to other worthwhile projects. Who are you to inflict such negative venom by threatening her with the possibility of putting her children's lives at risk. The fact that she has already suffered a lot makes her a special and humane person, and stronger from the multiple sadness she has had to endue in her young life. Why frighten off the possibility of greater things this young woman can achieve for a better world.

Australian Admirer of C.B.K

Wendi Nolan 12:36AM January 26, 2009

I am just an ordinary person struggling to pay my bills like many Americans. For 14 years I worked in a restaurant on Madison Avenue in New York City. This restaurant is frequented by movie stars, political figures, and the reason why I am writing here, Caroline Kennedy. The opinions that I have about her are not only shared by me but by the staff of the restaurant. Caroline Kennedy has an attitude problem. I can't quite tell why or pinpoint what it is but she definitely has an air of entitlement. During the many times I personally waited on her, she never said, "please" or "thank you", and she never left more than a 10% tip on the subtotal of the check. She would never smile or acknowledge my help or anyone else's. To her credit, she was never outrightly mean and she never complained but it was always clear that we were merely her servants. As far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter who you are, there are certain social manners that are expected in public. Looking your server in the eye and being descent is one of them. Caroline Kennedy, for 14 years, was just rude.

dhnyc of NY 12:36PM January 21, 2009

Erbe hosts a weekly program on PBS.....enough said!

Janetsgone of AZ 12:43PM December 28, 2008

Yes some of the Kennedys have done bad things, but what has that have to do with Carolyn? As far as we know she is squicky clean. You can choose your friends but not your relatives.

Mary at Mn of MN 10:35PM December 11, 2008

Yes more inexperience just what we need. Jeb Bush regardless of YOUR personal opinion was a damn good Governor and very popular. I would much rather see a person with a PROVEN track record over a inexperienced Kennedy.

DEE of NY 6:47AM December 11, 2008

And to underline a point made in the above comment--we do not need legislators who get there on star power. Give up all the legacies--Bush, Kennedy, Clinton, and do what the writers of the Constitution recommended. Put in people with real life experience--running businesses, providing essential services such as medical care, or accounting, or ranching or industrial workers, or truckers--not lawyers and professors---who also have some experience in state or local government, and who show leadership promise for the future. Then we can rediversify the problem solving experience at a higher level. Diversity isn't just about skin color, or gender--its about getting viewpoints from different directions so that the problems in a proposed approach can be seen and corrected before everyone signs on. If we continually send the same names--it is in essence a monopoly which will rule to its own benefit and not for the people.

MontanaMountainWoman of MT 12:44AM December 11, 2008

Oops, forgot my last point! Speaking as a New Yorker, I'd really appreciate it if people who live in other states/countries/realitite (ie. Kalifornia) would refrain from posting their opinions on this essentially local issue. True, the First Amendment applies to all of us, but this bittersweet episode in New York history (or herstory)is bad enough without getting free advice from those in other climes. Clinton was & is a phony, self-serving eogmaniac who carpetbagged to NY, did NOTHING for us, and now is magically going to DC to be SecState. Great, hope the world is ready for her and Bubba. But Caroline Kennedy has NO elected experience, and her name means less than nothing to many of us who watched the Kennedy soap-opera through the 1960's. So please, fellow posters, tackle global warming, pollution, Third World hunger, peace on earth, and leave this issue alone!

ChristmasTree of NY 10:43AM December 10, 2008

Aha! I finally figured out what's happening here, it's the 'Barbbyifcation' of America. That's right, it started w/ SarahBarbby, and now another attractive fluff piece is being pushed into the spotlight. No qualifications needed, just have to look good. Gee, in the next few years, we could staff the Senate and House with these 'Barbbys'. Call the Baywatch guys and have them send over their actresses. After all, in America we don't care about anything but looks..

ChristmasTree of NY 9:22AM December 10, 2008

Personal weaknesses of a family should not boscure us of the contribution in other fields. True, the kennedy family has falterd on the moral ground.But the family has also rendered fine service. Weaknesses apart, JFK restored to the people a sense of purpose when the nation was adrift.The family has had a rough course .Democracy is all about making mistakes and learning something from them. We grow only when we have the courage to err. caroline needs our sympathy and a chance to make good in public life. Let her be elected on her own merits, though the family name too counts. About the dynasty angle, it has a cutting edge. She cannot be punished for her forebears' sins.

There is one more question to be resolved. Is sexual morality the only thing that matters? Is not morality in the widest sense applicable to all of us? Implicit here is integrity. A person has to be judged by the track record of saying what he/she means, and trying to live upto the promise.

ramamurthy ms 2:30AM December 10, 2008

Jeb Bush served as one of the best governors that the Great State of Florida has had in a long time. When he left office, our education rate went up under his Florida One program. We had a $300 million budget surplus. Despite the boom times, he cut out the "turkeys" in the state budget. As a Florida resident since 1977, I would welcome Jeb over our recent do-nothing Senator Mel Martinez. Jeb Bush has intellect, demeanor, integrity, grit, and political savvy that Florida needs in the Senate. You are correct. Jeb Bush is a fighter and I, for one, am happy to have him in my corner. He is also a pragmatist and I believe that he would get more things done with the future administration. I plan on doing my part on getting Jeb into the Senate.

Johnny Charles of FL 10:52PM December 09, 2008

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Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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