SLAMALOT CAMELOT

Posted at 7:29 a.m. ET

I don't like the whole thing.

The press this morning is loaded with the political story of the day - that Caroline Kennedy wants the U.S. Senate seat that will be relinquished by Hillary Clinton when Clinton is confirmed as secretary of state.

In my early years I worked in both New York and Illinois politics.  They had one thing in common:  Despite many decent, upstanding officeholders, they also had a culture of corruption underneath.  Favors were available.

Look at Illinois and New York today.  Together again.  Favors are available. More change we can believe in.

We know about Illinois.  A seat in the Senate is available because Senator Barack Obama has been elected president.  The governor put that seat up for sale.  Many details are still to come.

Here in New York a Senate seat is available.  There are many qualified people here - from political figures to diplomats to academics and entrepreneurs.  Caroline Kennedy, who has never held public office, and whose views on virtually every major issue are unknown, is engaged in a campaign to be appointed by Governor David Paterson (one "t") to serve the remainder of Clinton's term.  She would have to run for a full term in 2010.  As a Kennedy, in a heavily Democratic state, she would be odds-on favorite.

But Caroline offers little more than her name.  And her interest is already splitting the Democratic party.  In the primaries she endorsed and campaigned for Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton.  She then served as head of the search committee examining possible vice presidential candidates, and bypassed Clinton.  Now she wants Clinton's seat.  Some would consider that less than elegant, and more than nervy.

The Clinton people are reportedly livid.  They have a right to be. 

I have no evidence for this, but my gut tells me that Kennedy would not be taking this step without the approval, and even the encouragement, of the president-elect.  Why would he do it?  First, he'd have a new ally in the Senate, and one with name glitter.  Second, he'd be sending a message that there's a new boss in town, and that the Clintons are employees.  Having Kennedy in the Senate blocks the Clinton faction from holding the seat, and possibly keeping it warm should Hillary want it again.

Hillary may be devious, but she's no fool.  She can read the signs.  Caroline Kennedy is 51.  In 2016 she'll be 59, and Hillary will be 69.  Caroline will have had eight years in the Senate.  She could run for president, with Obama's blessing, dashing Clinton's ambitions to be the first female chief executive.

What might Hillary be thinking now?  She might be thinking that Obama had this in mind when he nominated her for State, thus opening the Senate seat.  "Why that little...#@$@"  She might be thinking that going to State is a bad move, taking her out of electoral politics and putting a prime competitor in her place.  She might be thinking that she's been had. 

She might, or might not.  But I would not be shocked to see some bare-knuckled politics played here.  Hillary may demand an ironclad commitment from the governor that he won't appoint Caroline.  If she doesn't get it, she could easily withdraw her nomination for State, and remain in the Senate.  Now that would be juicy.

Oh, by the way, having bashed a sitting governor, Sarah Palin, as unqualified to be vice president, how will Democrats defend the qualifications of Caroline Kennedy for the U.S. Senate?  Just asking.

December 16, 2008.