Speed reading the coverage of Kirsten Gillibrand
We read all the coverage about Kirsten Gillibrand's appointment to the Senate so you don't have to.
And there certainly has been plenty of it.
+ In a statement, Barack Obama said the selection of Gillibrand was "a wonderful choice." [NYO]
+ The pick of Gillibrand "came under harsh criticism from her party's left wing and advocates for immigrants and gun control." [Newsday]
+ Despite the wailing from the liberal side of the Democratic Party, Ezra Klein notes that Gillibrand's voting record indicates she's actually a "generic" Democrat. [American Prospect]
+ Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who represents a Long Island district, has already said she'll run against Gillibrand in the 2010 primary because of Gillibrand's stance on gun control. [Newsday]
+ Gillibrand said Sunday, "I very much believe in protecting hunters' rights." [NYT]
+ The selection of Gillibrand was "shocking" to many Democrats. [NY Post]
+ People who've known Gillibrand say it's not surprising she's risen so far, so fast. [Newsday]
+ Both Democrats and Republicans in Gillibrand's former House district are praising her. [Kingston Daily Freeman]
+ She got a standing ovation in Harlem after appearing with Al Sharpton on Saturday. [AP]
+ Democratic insiders seem to think that Chuck Schumer was a winner in this situation because he had been touting Gillibrand behind the scenes. [NYT]
+ Often described as ambitious, Andrew Cuomo "played against type" during the Senate selection circus. [NYT]
+ The other members of the NY Congressional delegation apparently are not fans of Gillibrand, having nicknamed her "Tracy Flick" because of her out-in-the-open ambition. [Politico]
+ Gawker on the soon-to-be Senator: "Gillibrand, a fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat, has sneakily wormed her way into contention for the senate by doing a competent job in a series of increasingly powerful positions relevant to being a senator, and by completing sentences without saying "uh, you know, well" 47 times." [Gawker]
+ Local leaders are hoping Gillibrand will be an "upstate watchdog." [Saratogian]
+ Gillibrand has already started fundraising for her 2010 Senate campaign. [Politico]
+ First task in raising her profile around the state: explaining how to pronounce "Gillibrand." [NYT]
+ Gillibrand conducted "opposition research" against herself before running in 2006. [Politico]
+ Republican Rep. Peter King, who's considering a run for the Senate in 2010, says "there is a cloud over this appointment." [Politico]
+ In criticizing David Paterson, Maureen Dowd describes Gillibrand as "an N.R.A. handmaiden" whose connections to Al D'Amato are "gross." [NYT]
+ Errol Louis says Paterson "stumbled badly" in selecting Gillibrand. [NYDN]
+ Ben Smith says "there's a great book to be written about" Polly Noonan, Gillibrand's grandmother and longtime "confidant" to former Albany mayor Erastus Corning. [Politico]
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
My favorite quote regarding her appointment: “Paterson has no comprehension of upstate New York, absolutely none, and has chosen someone better at representing cows than people.†- Lawrence O’Donnell
... said Emma on Jan 26, 2009 at 4:32 PM | link
I thought O'Donnell's statement after that sentence was interesting:
"What you have is the daughter of a lobbyist, instead of the daughter of a former President or the son of a former governor. This is the hack world producing the hack result that the hacks are happy with."
So, America is a caste system now? Or perhaps there's something about presidential or gubernatorial DNA that makes their offspring more fit for public office.
... said Greg on Jan 26, 2009 at 8:39 PM | link
I read Maureen Dowd's column yesterday, in railing against Gillibrand she actually makes a great case as to why Gillibrand is an excellent choice.
... said Elizabeth on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:47 PM | link
@Greg: It was all very elitist of him. I liked the first part because there are actual states with more cows than people so is he saying those states don't deserve representation. Also, on a slightly more serious note, by saying that he did nothing but put another axe in the divide between upstate and downstate.
As for the second part that you mentioned, from what I can find, his mother was an office manager and his father was an attorney...so by his system, what does that make him?
... said Emma on Jan 27, 2009 at 9:07 AM | link
This fall I took a trip to Las Vegas and had the opportunity to meet Dem Congresswoman Shelly Berkley. She's as automatic for reelection as they come. Our conversation turned to Gillibrand and she lit up and said how much she is liked and how they had a baby shower for her last year, etc. I don't know where this "she's not liked" stuff is coming from.
By the way, Berkley on Tim Mahoney...the guy who succeeded Mark Foley from Florida and then had his own sex scandal: "I gave that a--h--- money and I want it back!". I really liked the lady.
... said bb on Jan 27, 2009 at 9:33 AM | link
Maureen Dowd should in a bar, shouting at her glass of tequila. Her snide and flippant tone completely obscures any valid point she might have.
... said lucy on Feb 5, 2009 at 9:37 PM | link