Clinton senate replacement named

[frigidmagi]

BBC

New York Governor David Paterson has appointed Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to take up Hillary Clinton's vacant senate seat.

The vacancy occurred because Mrs Clinton was named as President Barack Obama's Secretary of State.

Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F Kennedy, had been a frontrunner for the seat.

She withdrew her name from consideration for the seat on Wednesday, citing "personal reasons".

Ms Kennedy's candidacy had been criticised by some, who expressed concern that she was not experienced enough, and was only being considered because of her family connections.

Gun rights

Ms Gillibrand, a Democrat, represents a conservative congressional district in upstate New York.

Correspondents say her support for gun-owners' rights puts her on the right wing of the party.

She will serve in the senate until 2010, when there will be a special election to fill the seat for the final two years of Mrs Clinton's senate term.

Governor Paterson has the sole authority to fill the seat vacated by Mrs Clinton.

Thank God it wasn't the actress from the Nanny.

[SirNitram]

I don't like this guy, honestly. I view 100% from the NRA but not the national hunting groups as a sign of a GOP bootlicker, and I just don't fucking like the Blue Dogs.

[General Havoc]

What exactly is so objectionable about a Democrat who trends towards the center?

[LadyTevar]

What exactly is so objectionable about a Democrat who trends towards the center?

Blue dogs don't do center, they are right-leaning.

[Cynical Cat]

What exactly is so objectionable about a Democrat who trends towards the center?

It's not the "trend toward center" but the "Blue Dog" bit that is objectionable.

[General Havoc]

By the standards of the Democratic rank and file, I'm sure they are right-leaning, but they're certainly not Republicans. I respect anyone who takes council of their own opinions rather than spending all their time obeying party whips. If only the Republicans had their own version...

[Mayabird]

I have to say that I'm glad it wasn't Caroline Kennedy as I really dislike dynasty politicians. As for this woman, whom I hadn't heard of until just now, I did a quick search. Pulled this out of Wikipedia (yeah, I know, but it was fast and her congressional website is down, for obvious reasons).

Considered to be a centrist or conservative Democrat,[9][5] Gillibrand was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition during her tenure in the House of Representatives.[20] She is an outspoken advocate for gun rights and has a 100% positive rating from the NRA, [21] but has also worked to strengthen such legislation as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Act to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.[22] She supports same-sex marriage,[23][24] abortion rights,[5] stem cell research, and the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act.[citation needed] She received a 100% rating from the American Civil Liberties Union[25]. Gillibrand supports extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for middle class families and opposes attempts to partially privatize Social Security.[citation needed] She strongly supported passage of the 2008 Farm Bill.[citation needed] Gillibrand broke with former Governor Eliot Spitzer on the issue of illegal immigration, opposing his plan to issue New York State drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.[26]

[General Havoc]

I agree with every single one of this woman's positions (save for the Farm Bill which I know nothing at all about). I support this nomination.

[SirNitram]

What exactly is so objectionable about a Democrat who trends towards the center?

Nada. But the Blue Dogs do not 'trend towards the centre', wherever the centre has moved itself lately. The current breed are those I'm criticizing; they trend towards the Greenspan, sprinkle on some Hoover, and were outrageously obedient to Bush in the past few years. The only reason I don't outright badmouth them regularly, is in this present crises, they are not opposing the stimulus, and delaying PAYGO until that's out of the way.

[Charon]

From what Maya picked up I approve of this appointment and, as a Buffalonian, I have to say a word of thanks to Paterson for NOT picking Byron Brown, who I heard was on the list. Seriously, we need him here. He's the first decent politician we've had in awhile.