Monday, January 5, 2009

Who do you want to see fill Obama's and Clinton's seats in the Senate?

14 comments:

Tanya said...

Smart people of color, particularly women. To say that there aren't any in IL or NY is to lack vision and appreciation of all the folks that have committed themselves to social justice. Just look at their Assembly and local governments.

K8 said...

Not Caroline Kennedy. NY has so many problems we need a real politician not sensationalism.

Also, Eddie Vedder.

Martin Andres Austermuhle said...

Is "me" and "me" a good answer?

For Obama's seat, Roland Burris. Like the way or not he was appointed, it was legal and it's ridiculous to think that the Senate can invent the authority to refuse to seat him.

For New York, anyone but Caroline Kennedy. I mean, for real? That's the best NY Democrats can come up with? We need fewer legacy appointments in the Senate, not more.

John said...

Am I the only one who really likes that Caroline Kennedy might do it. She's beholden to know one and is one of the few Kennedy's alive who has all their good qualities and none of their bad. If she's really that shitty of a senator she'll be gone in 2 years.

For Obama's seat, Oprah...no doubt.

beenu said...

no kennedy's! oprah for IL b/c there's nothing she can't do. and anthony bourdain for NY b/c he's freakin awesome.

eddie wouldn't do it. he'd get drunk on red wine and would start tirades about the man and then get kicked out for tossing tambourines out at the rest of the senate.

Anonymous said...

The obvious answer is Janice Dickinson. Duh! Is Martin's middle name really Andres?

Unknown said...

certainly not the people up for the seats (i.e. burris and kennedy).

for illinois, my mom. for ny, i would say fran drescher for the comedic value, but she would really annoy my mom, so maybe barbra streisand, because my mom LOVES her. And there would be comedic value there, too.

Cate said...

Barack Obama was one of 3 (count them: 1, 2, 3) African American Senators to serve since Reconstruction. Now that he's Prez-elect (yay!), the Senate has zero (boo!).

Since "what the f is a Barack Oba?" was my favorite quote of the '08 cycle, I nominate DMX.

John said...

Someone make the case for me against Caroline Kennedy. You can't use "nepotism" or "dynasty" in this answer because it's not fair turn to reject a qualified candidate because of their name.

Cate said...

Oops - that quote should be "what the f is a Barack Obama" obviously.

Also, since Lizard People didn't win in MN, maybe we can give them the IL seat.

Unknown said...

Yes! Lizard People get Obama's seat and a bowl full of kittens gets Clinton's seat!

SngngMSW said...

i have to agree with cate that the absence of african american senators is frightening. what would be fabulous is to get an african american woman in there...so oprah might be a good pick. (then again, i actually don't like her that much and have always thought she was a feminist imposter.) jan schakowsky is my favorite representative so i'd love for her to get it, or maybe jesse jackson, jr. also, john cusack keeps saying he's going to run for office - and he's from IL!

i have a problem with caroline kennedy taking over hillary's seat - what has she done to make her qualified to serve as a U.S. senator? i'm going with carolyn maloney.

Martin Andres Austermuhle said...

John,

I agree that it's not fair to reject a candidate because of their name or family, but she's been using it to her advantage. If she wasn't a Kennedy, most everyone in NY would simply say "Who the hell is that?" and look for someone else.

NY is a huge state with tons of dedicated political activists, community leaders and elected officials. I don't believe we can't do better than Kennedy! Speaking of African-Americans in the Senate -- or the lack thereof -- why doesn't NY appoint one?

Leslie said...

I vote for Martin in both seats. He can multi-task.