The Pattern of Star Power

Me at Q&O just now, on the bit with Caroline Kennedy and the senate seat here in NY:

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I’m not totally convinced that the issue is one of entitlement, or dynasty, or anything of that sort. I suspect that what’s really going on here is the Democrats and their recognition that amongst the Democrat party faithful, star power is of far more import than is actual ability for the office they propose to fill. That, if nothing else, is one of the lessons that was learned by the Democrats in Obama’s election. More than once I and several other people have commented on how thin the resume of Barack Obama is. So, how else did he obtain the office, other than star power?

Speaking of that, one wonders how much of Caroline Kennedy being offered the position is recognition of her endorsement of Obama, and her willingly tying him on to the Myth of Camelot. After all, she is the only one left who could legitimately do that.

The whole thing seems rather well planned; all of the strong points are being hit, and all of them were out in the news, within 24 hours of the announcements first being made. One cannot help but wonder if this wasn’t part of the chat that Obama and Hillary Clinton had a short while ago.

However that may be, what we really have here is the political need being dealt with before the nation’s need was.

There does seem something of a pattern to this. Consider a parallel case; Paul White. White was recently named to be Secretary of the Navy. In looking at the lay of the land there is only one conclusion to draw about the appointment; Obama was responding to pressure from the left over the Rick Warren thing, by appointing an openly homosexual man to a cabinet post. Now, one may argue that the appointment was not extraordinarily successful to that end, and I can almost see the argument. Regardless, it seems clear to me that as with Kennedy, the political need trumped White’s ability to perform in the role.

It doesn’t take great genius to know that such politically driven appointments very seldom worked out to the advantage of the role. They do, often as not, however, workout for the benefit of those in power, particularly within a political party. Is this the pattern we’re going to see for the next four years? Sadly, I think the answer is “yes”.

Addendum: (David L)

Star Power?   Do the Democrats depend on star power rather than competency?    Does the Kennedy family retain star power and does Mrs. Schlossberg  have star power herself.  Yes, some, and no.

The Senate Democrat caucus does  resembles an elite country club.

As for Kennedy family star power, does it exist outside the confines of the Peoples Republic of Massachusets?    I think not.

As for Mrs. Schlossberg, does she have any personal star power, as opposed to merely a family name?   If star power is the power to fill a room or a stadium, Mrs. Schlossberg  simply does not have it.    Sarah has star power.  Mrs. Schlossberg  is simply a nice person with good upbringing and am excellent education.    Mrs. Schlossberg  might be everything a man would look for in a wife.   However Mrs. Schlossberg  is not asking for the state’s hand in marriage.    She asking to be New York State’s junior senator.   Mrs. Schlossberg is the best a sorry lot, a decent person in family of reprobates.

However the citizens of  New York need a good senator in Washington and not merely a nice perosn.  As a politician, Mrs. Schlossberg  simply does not exhibit the confidence, knowledge of the issues or display either the desire or willingness to lead.    I have utterly no confidence that Mrs. Schlossberg  will have the couage to stand-up to BO.    We can not afford another sycophant in the Senate.

Addendum: (Bit) Courage to stand up to The Chosen One? Say rather, she will lack the desire to.

As to the name having star power outside of Mass, I’m not so sure they do not. Consider the history of Bobby Kennedy.  Other levels of celebrity come to mind;   Nelson Rockefeller,   Averill Harriman, and  Hillary Clinton being among these. Not a one served a day in any state level job prior to their biggest gig, most never really lived in NY state, and those who did, Caroline Kennedy particularly, along with Hillary Clinton, did so in name only.  Interestingly, the Democrats who argued against Clinton taking the Senate seat a few years ago are pretty much using the same arguments against Caroline Kennedy. They were equally inappropriate for the job. Yet, by popular (Democrat) acclaim, they took the job.

Do not under-estimate theattraction of star-power… the attraction of celebrity to the rank and file Democrat. The polling I’m seeing at the moment, shows Kennedy in a proverbial dead heat… 25% each,  with another celeb.. Andrew Cuomo, who also has more celebrity than ability.