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.