Caroline Kennedy Officially Announces She Wants Hillary's Seat; Ted Kennedy Offers a Bit of Pay-for-Play
Update: Richardson in Pay-for-Play, Too?

It's not exactly like the Blago situation, but it's close enough to be worth noting:

The elder Kennedy (D-Mass.), who's battling brain cancer, has sent word to Gov. Paterson's office that Caroline Kennedy, 51, has contacts and family connections that would mean legislation affecting New York would receive prompt attention, family sources said.

It's not illegal to offer this sort of I'll-take-care-of-your-priorities-if-you-take-care-of-mine type deal, of course. Pretty much that's what politics is.

On the other hand, Teddy Kennedy seems to have missed out on a teachable moment. What is the implication here? If New York puts his niece into the Senate, New York state will get "prompt attention" (money, of course).

Ted Kennedy is trying to get his niece a job by offering taxpayer money as a bribe.

Thanks to Anti-Harkonen Freedom Fighter Geoff.

Bill Richardson Too: How the sausages get made:

A federal grand jury is investigating how a company that advised Jefferson County, Alabama, on bond deals that threaten to cause the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, did similar work in New Mexico after making contributions to Governor Bill Richardson’s political action committees.

The grand jury in Albuquerque is looking into Beverly Hills, California-based CDR Financial Products, Inc. which received almost $1.5 million in fees from the New Mexico Finance Authority in 2004 after donating $100,000 to Richardson’s efforts to register Hispanic and American Indian voters and pay for expenses at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, people familiar with the matter said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation asked current and former officials from the state agency if any staff members in the governor’s office influenced CDR’s hiring, said the people, who declined to be identified because the proceedings are secret. Richardson, who is President-elect Barack Obama's designate for Commerce Secretary, has a staff of at least 30 people....

More: Sarah Palin wasn't qualified to be VP after two years as governor, but Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be Senator after 50 years as a fairy-tale princess.

Bonus: She founded and gives out the "Profiles in Courage Award."

2006's winner? John Murtha.

posted by Ace at 05:08 PM

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