Why Carney, Why Now?
Ruth Ann Minner must appoint John Carney to the position of US Senator as soon as Joe Biden steps down. Joe Biden is currently number 5 in seniority in the Senate. This is a big deal for Delaware. Joe got his pick of committee assignments, choice accommodations and a bully pulpit for his (Delaware’s) issues.
Check out the anticipated seniority of the incoming Senate. Currently, the new Senator from Illinois will come in at number 92. This ranking assumes that Joe Biden doesn’t resign, Ted Stevens gets to stay, and that Norm Coleman wins in Minnesota. I will grant you that Coleman has a shot of staying, but the other two are foregone conclusions.
This leaves the IL Senator as number 90 (or 89) and makes Delaware number 91. If you also consider the possibility that John Kerry and Hillary Clinton are being considered for the cabinet (although that may be an either/or issue). It is even possible that Saxby Chambliss could be a goner. Speaking of which, there’s Ted Kennedy.
This could put John Carney in the Senate in the high 80’s of seniority. The very complexion of the Senate is going to change in the next few years and having a Senator that is going to be there for 25 or 30 years, starting now makes Delaware a stronger state. It took Tom Carper 6 years to rise to the high 80’s in seniority (he will be at 56 once Joe resigns).
How about this, if Ted Stevens wins his hotly contested reelection bid, Sarah Palin could (possibly illegally) appoint herself to the position in the event of his expulsion from the Senate. Would you really want Sarah Palin being sworn in ahead of John Carney? Or even one of his rivals?
Joe, please resign. Ruth Ann, please appoint John Carney. If not, we run the very real risk of Mike Castle stealing that seat from Beau in an open election in 2010 and having a Senator ranked number 100 and in the minority party.
Tags: Beau Biden, Joe Biden, John Carney, Mike Castle, Minner, Senate, Tom Carper
Makes sense to me. This seems like a no-brainer. So why all the foot dragging?
Perhaps there is foot-dragging beCAUSE Carney has been offered it with the understanding that he is a caretaker. That would not be a no-brainer.
And, somehow, the chant of “We’re Number 89!” fails to inspire much enthusiasm in the Beast Who Slumbers (or is it the Beast Who Never Sleeps? El Somnambulo needs an APAP machine, but he digresses…).
After all, if Con Carne is a mere placeholder, Beau or Congressman Beachhouse will start at the bottom of the ladder in 2 years anyway.
The governor of Alaska does not appoint replacement senators. Because Frank Murkowski, when he resigned his Senate seat upon his election as governor, then appointed his daughter to his remaining Senate term, the legislature changed the law. If Senator Stevens is re-elected, and then has to resign, there must be a special election within ninety days to fill the seat.
Governor Palin could run in that special election, but she couldn’t appoint herself or anybody else to fill it.
Jumping to 90 or 91 in seniority right when taking office seems like a no-brainer to me. I think (I hope) that Joe Biden, Ruth Ann Minner and chosen successor are in talks right now.
Dana is right. Alaska now has a special Murkowski law. Does anyone think that Palin wants to be a Senator? Isn’t it harder to stand out as #99 on the seniority list as a freshman Senator than as governor of a state?
Mr Geek wrote:
Now, why would you regard someone legitimately winning an election as “stealing” the seat “from Beau” Biden, as though it’s somehow Biden family property?
If the person is going to be a placeholder then seniority doesn’t matter. it’ll just reset when Baby Beau steps in.
No she doesn’t HAVE to appoint Carney! Are you saying “he earned it”? I don’t think Carney should be promoted nor should Beau get the seat. Its time the citizens choose who their Senator will be in an election in 2 years. The Governor has the right to choose someone else as a place holder until the citizens decide.
Gosh, we all sure have our panties in a twist over this one. When will Joe resign? Why hasn’t he resigned yet? Who will be his replacement?
I have the utmost confidence that Biden’s impending resignation is being handled inside the Obama-Biden Transition. He will resign when the brain-trust we elected decides that it is time for him to resign.
Now for who will be his replacement, that is a fun parlor game.
“Its time the citizens choose who their Senator will be in an election in 2 years. The Governor has the right to choose someone else as a place holder until the citizens decide.”
Yes, Liz, the people will choose who their Senator will be in an election in 2 years. What part of this process don’t you understand?
The Why (Now) makes sense, but only if the Why (Who) runs again in 2010. If Why (Who) is “not permitted” by the puppet masters to run in 2010 (a likely possibility), then this whole exercise is a waste. Viva la RuthAnn!
I hope it is not Carney. I hope the the Democrats are too arrogant to put up their best person.
What?
David knows that Carney would be unbeatable when he came up for re-election. The reason we *Democrats* should appoint Carney and not a placeholder (Carney is not and will never be a placeholder) is because Mike Castle Will. Not. Run. Against. Carney. Castle, at his age, is not going to run a race he stands a good chance at losing. Put in Placeholder Harriet, and we stand a fair chance at ending up with Senator Castle in 2010.
And we all know that Castle will NOT stand up for Delaware – he has no spine.
I don’t know if Castle is/was planning to run for Senate, or just to retire from the House when he is good and ready.
Either way, I know his plan will be worked out and coordinated with the Dems who protect him and refuse to put up a candidate against him.
If Castle does choose to run for Senate, look for Dems to put up a tomato can against him.
liz
“No she doesn’t HAVE to appoint Carney! Are you saying “he earned it”? I don’t think Carney should be promoted nor should Beau get the seat.”
I agree with you! If anything it would only represent a runner up prize! The voters determined Carney wasn’t Delaware’s leader so why send him to Washington on a free ride. But then again he has experience being the fall guy and may be willing to keep the seat warm for Beau! The right choice would be Karen Peterson but Minner won’t go there! My next choice would be in spite pervious disagreements, I would send Dave Sokola! He is seasoned and has the right blend of experience with a little arrogance to hang wiht the D.C. crowd.
Put John Carney in now and ask Beau to primary Carper…HA.
Sokola is a great idea but I think we need him here.
“If not, we run the very real risk of Mike Castle stealing that seat from Beau in an open election ”
How does Mr Castle ‘steal’ an open election?
Pretty stupid comment.
Mike – Are you being intentionally dense? He would steal a seat that is currently occupied by a Democrat. If a Republican wins a Democratic seat in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, that would be a theft.
Hey, could we charge him with something?
Actually, LG — and I may have to take a shower after this — but I’m with Protack on this one.
The seat does not belong to the Democratic Party, even if most of the people in the state have made the mistake of registering that way.
I don’t think Castle is interested in the seat. He had a hard nuff time running for Congress. He is not in the best of the health.
I believe Minner will appoint Harriet Windsor Smith and wait to groom a democrat to run in 2 yrs.
oh and Anon! I wholeheartedly concur with you. The dems and the repubs will pick for us…the deal is being made, we are not necessary!