Time for Kennedy to go

[Note from Z: Hey, look! My coauthor A is back!]

Ted Kennedy has, without doubt, had a long and influential career in the US Senate. While I’m not far enough to the left to idolize him in the way that some do, there is little question that our country is better off because he served. He has been an excellent senator. However, as he has struggled with illness recently, I have increasingly wondered whether it was wise for him to remain in his seat.  With his most recent difficulties, my mind has been made up. The responsible thing for Senator Kennedy to do now would be to resign his seat.

I see little reason for him to stay. He is fighting serious health problems, and unable to put the time and focus on his work that should be expected of a senator. I could of course understand someone pushing to stay when they know their replacement will have a different political stance. If you think certain policies are what are best for the country, then just keeping a vote in the Senate for those policies is very important. Kennedy, though, is from Massachusetts, a state with a Democratic governor who will appoint someone with very similar stances, and a state with no shortage of qualified Democrats to consider for the position. That person will continue to hold the seat easily in future elections. There really seems to me to be little reason for him to stay other than a desire to be personally involved in the decisions. That urge is of course totally understandable, but I think it would be appropriate if at this point, when a massive workload is being dumped on Congress, Senator Kennedy let someone else step in and take up the torch.

Kennedy hasn’t even been able to vote in the Senate recently. If he is unable to vote, there is no doubt that he is also unable to thoroughly research and understand whatever decisions he does make, and unable to try to influence other senators, participate in negotiations, and in general do his job. Naturally, it’s hard to push for someone who has serious health problems to resign. Everyone supports him personally and wishes him well with his illness. Being a senator is not a normal job, though, and you have an obligation to put your constituents above yourself. If an action is good for your constituents, you should do it, even if it’s unfair to you. This is one of those things, and it’s time for Kennedy to move on.

February 15, 2009 · Written by
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DNC: Day 1

I’ve gotta say I was a little disappointed with the first day of the Democratic convention.  Michelle Obama’s very good speech was clearly the highlight of the evening, though of course it wasn’t the outstanding caliber we’ve come to expect of her husband.  It was worlds better than what most of the non-politicians on stage at these things can do.  It was on a good theme, and I was happy with it.

The Ted Kennedy tribute, on the other hand, I think was a real mistake.  My agreements with him are much greater than my disagreements, but he’s still not a hero to me.  It’s a generational thing, and a partisanship thing, but I just don’t think his appeal is that broad.  In many groups, he’s the epitome of the hated northeastern liberal.  Did we really need to have a video about him and his yacht?  This is not the kind of thing that could possibly attract swing voters.  Now, if the goal is to get wavering older, female Democrats, then maybe it wasn’t so bad.  I can see some benefit there.  Honestly, though, quotes about how Obama and Kennedy will be working hand-in-hand once Obama is president are not going to help with independents.  I know it’s hard.  He’s a hero to most of the people in the convention center, and his health problems made his appearance inspiring to those who have been following his difficulties.  Most Americans, though, haven’t been.  Seeing him give a generally normal speech wasn’t that surprising to them.  The Republicans are good at picking the stuff that will appeal to the audience at home rather than whatever those in the convention want to hear.  That kind of message discipline is sorely lacking in the Democrats.

The rest of the night was… well, it wasn’t.  Nothing got much attention.  Of course, this is partly because I was watching on CNN, which chose its commentators over many of the other speeches, but that’s exactly the point.  The Democrats need to put on a show compelling enough for CNN to feel like it makes better television than their repetitive talking heads.  I don’t care if it’s a governor, a senator, a CEO, an Iraq veteran, or a high school teacher.  They needed to find some people who know how to give a good speech and give them interesting things to say.  A little bit of talk about issues, a little talk about Bush and his incompetence, a little talk about McCain and his flip-flops, etc.  It doesn’t really matter exactly what it’s about as long as it’s not a brief bio of the person coming after you.  (Well, it does, but anything is better than nothing.)  What’s important is that it gets people’s attention.  Tonight really did not succeed in that respect.  Now, future nights I think will be better.  A quick look down the schedule definitely shows tonight as the weak night.  (Gore, Warner, and Hillary Clinton all speak tomorrow, for example.)  Still, it’s one opportunity that was largely missed.

August 25, 2008 · Written by
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