What kind of experience does someone need to become a Senator?  I think being a good and thoughtful person is all that is needed. 

Kennedy is a member of the New York and Washington, D.C. bar associations. She is also a member of the boards of directors of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Kennedy and other members of her family created the Profiles in Courage Award in 1989. The award is given to a public official or officials at the federal, state or local level whose actions best demonstrate the qualities of politically courageous leadership in the spirit of John F. Kennedy's book, Profiles in Courage. In addition, Kennedy is currently president of the Kennedy Library Foundation. She is also an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to her father. Kennedy has represented her family at the funeral services of former Presidents Ronald Reagan in 2004 and Gerald Ford in 2007, and at the funeral service of former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in 2007. She also represented her family at the dedication of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas in November 2004.

From 2002 through 2004 Kennedy worked as director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the the New York City Department of Education. The three-day-a week job paid her a salary of $1 and had the goal of raising private money for the New York City public schools. In her capacity, she helped raise more than $65 million for the city’s public schools. She currently serves as one of two vice chairs of the board of directors of The Fund for Public Schools, a public-private partnership founded in 2002 to attract private funding for public schools in New York City. She has also served on the board of trustees of Concord Academy, which she attended as a child.

Dennis...So she is a lawyer and has volunteered time with some civil rights organizations, as well her family has done some work with charities. While all of this is commendable, it does not qualify her, in my opinion, to be a senator for New York State.

Personally, I abhor the thought of another kennedy, or a Schlossberg in this case, in government unless she gets elected by the people of NY. This stinks of dynasty politics.

I agree with Marty, I think there should be an election and if the people of NY State can stomach another kennedy (Schlossberg) then so be it. It shouldn't just be handed over.

Another reason I feel Schlossberg is not right for NY is her stand on Gay marriage. On this subject, Obama and I actually share the same opinion, that there should be a civil union for homosexuals but not the rights of marriage.

 

From Fox News....

Caroline Kennedy, who has been criticized for her lack of political experience as she seeks to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, has revealed some of her positions on hot-button political issues.

Answering questions from Politico through her spokesman, Kennedy said she supports gay marriage and Bush's approval of an auto bailout. She opposed the war in Iraq and refused to say whether she will support the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City in 2009.

Kennedy answered seven of eight questions posed by Politico and her responses were brief and vague, the publication said.

Kennedy left no doubt, though, about her support for gay marriage, staking a position that is contrary to that of President-elect Barack Obama.

She "supports full equality and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples," her spokesman wrote. Obama supports civil unions for gay couples, but not marriage rights.

Kennedy's view on the war in Iraq, however, closely matches Obama's.

"Caroline opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning," her spokesman wrote. "She supports President-elect Obama's plan to work with our military leaders to begin a responsible withdrawal."

JX, my post on Caroline was not an endorsement, just a brief resume.

Dennis...I understand and didn't mean to insinuate whether or not you support her. I was merely stating my opinion.

There are only 100 senators. It is a very important office and should require both relevant experience and election by the people. I believe that Kennedy (if she prefers that name to Schlossberg) lacks the experience necessary for the job. If it were up to me, I would require that candidates serve a minimum of two terms in the house before they are eligible to run for the senate. I'm also getting pissed off about our political dynasties. I'm sure there are qualified candidates whose names are not Kennedy, Clinton or Bush.