Caroline Kennedy: Here are my elbows

Politico had an article Friday describing how the momentum behind the possibility that Caroline Kennedy might seek to succeed U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton was already waning.

Actually, the exact phrase was, "already the bloom is coming off the boomlet."

Why? It seems that lifelong pols in the Empire State are less than thrilled with the idea that someone who has -- sniff -- never won an election -- sniff -- might ascend to the Senate over them.

Kennedy, the 51-year-old lawyer, education advocate and daughter of President John F. Kennedy, has done little more than express interest in the job during a phone call with Gov. David Paterson — but that doesn't mean the woman who inspired "Sweet Caroline" is being spared the elbow-to-the-teeth New York treatment.

Rivals — including at least three members of the New York congressional delegation — are starting to doubt Kennedy's viability and experience, and Paterson is said to be less than enthusiastic about picking her, people close to him say. Critics are even questioning the substance of her accomplishments in education, her most high profile issue.

"There is no frontrunner - period," snapped a person close to Paterson, when asked about Kennedy's prospects.

Well.

Queens congressman Gary Ackerman offered this intellectual assessment of Kennedy's potential: "I don't know what Caroline Kennedy's qualifications are, except that she has name recognition, but so does J.Lo. I wouldn't make J.Lo the senator unless she proved she had great qualifications, but we haven't seen them yet."

Yes. When I try to think of someone similarly suited to the Senate as Caroline Kennedy, Jennifer Lopez is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Give me a break.

New York pols' objection to Kennedy seems to be the very things that would make her a terrific senator: She hasn't sought the spotlight. She hasn't spent a lifetime elbowing other egomaniacs out of the way. She's focused more on the policy of things, especially education, than the politics of them. From the Politico article:

Kennedy worked briefly as a journalist. She has a law degree, but has not practiced extensively. She has co-written two books and edited others, raised money for charities, and served at times as a family spokeswoman, with her highest profile role coming earlier this year when she bestowed the Kennedy mantle on Obama.

Oh, yeah. She sounds completely disqualified to be a legislator.

These pols' only hope was that Kennedy would decide she didn't want any part of the Senate seat her late uncle used to hold, or the legacy her family has established in America's highest legislative body.

Well, they're out of luck on that count, too.

CNN reported in the last half hour that Kennedy will, in fact, seek the Senate appointment from New York Gov. David Patterson. Read the New York Times' story on it here.

For his part, Patterson seems -- for the moment, at least -- unimpressed. He's trying to treat Caroline Kennedy just like everyone else seeking the seat. OK, fair enough. No one wants to be seen as playing favorites, especially when the word "Blagojevich" is on the cusp of becoming a verb. But there has to be some middle ground. Because doesn't denying Kennedy's undeniable political pedigree just make Patterson look ... well, kind of dumb?

Those other New York Senate wanna-bes were wondering whether Caroline Kennedy has what it takes to get things done, whether she has sharp enough elbows to make things happen.

You know that old saying, "Be careful what you wish for?" It looks like they're about to find out.