Randi Weingarten for Senate?
Despite my ideological objections, the idea of sending Weingarten to the Senate is intriguing. She’d represent a wide array of constituencies that merit more influence, and she’d give opponents of educational reform a prominent platform. Just as we once had a “Senator from Boeing,” we’d have a “Senator from the UFT.” Not to say that we don’t already have dozens of senators from the UFT — not as many as we do from the oil and gas industries, perhaps — but there is a lot to be said for clarity. As Chris Rovzar suggests, her appointment might solve a political problem for Paterson:
But we see another advantage in all of this: Weingarten is the ultimate power broker with teachers in-state (and nationally, with her recent appointment to head the American Federation of Teachers). Teachers are already among Paterson’s biggest foes in his budget fight — giving them a powerful national advocate in the Senate might give him some bargaining chips.
And she’d be preferable to either Cuomo or Kennedy simply by virtue of her humble suburban origins.
I could be wrong here. Who’d be a better choice?
I don’t know, how about Ralph Nader or Michael Moore. Those would be “clarifying” appointments as well.
— wph · Dec 10, 07:50 PM · #
As a parent with young children in the public schools, I’d have to say: anybody.
— A Berman · Dec 10, 09:44 PM · #
Father Christmas
— Jackington Pitt the Fox · Dec 10, 09:59 PM · #
I think wph gets my spirit here.
— Reihan · Dec 10, 10:15 PM · #
wft is uft?
— Jim · Dec 10, 11:33 PM · #
Albert Shanker, z’l. He would have had his hand on the buzzer.
Seriously, though, the President-elect, mindful of the Kennedy family’s support in the primaries and general election, would probably support Caroline Kennedy for the seat, although — as a number of commentators have pointed out — she has never done anything that suggests she’s up to the political demands of the job.
Chuck Schumer, on the other hand, likely prefers Representative Anthony Weiner, his former chief of staff. Weiner ran for the NYC mayoralty in 2005, and almost forced a runoff in the primary with Freddie Ferrer. Weiner, a constituent-oriented congressman keenly focused on the next step up (whatever that may be), could turn out to be the second coming of Al D’Amato (Senator Pothole), without all the machine background that D’Amato could never quite shake off in Washington. Plus, getting Weiner into the Senate would take his mind off running for Mayor, thus opening up the Democratic field to city Comptroller Bill Thompson, and preventing a messy primary. You heard it here first.
Of course, Paterson will probably pick Caroline or Andy Cuomo. Hack, hack and hack: a partnership, including professional corporations.
— Gary · Dec 11, 07:46 PM · #