George,

Caroline Kennedy is hard to beat. She is undeniably mythic. By virtue of her birth, she has been a public figure her entire life, always the stuff. She has absolutely no political qualifications for the job at all - and unlike most vying for high political office, she has no political dis-qualifications.

A race against her would, inevtiably be single-note--NO EXPERIENCE--however, she brims with intelligence and grace--two qualities in short supply in Washington, D.C. Indeed, Caroline Keenedy is a vital signal to the rest of the country of the rebuilding of Washington, D.C. and America as a "classy" establishment.

She is a departure from Ms. Clinton and Ms. Palin as career politicians, and she signals more the new brand of representative: public servant. Her candidacy would hearken back to an earlier time. She doesn't have the gritty knuckles to duke out the kind of campaign Mr. Obama just endured, but she does have courage, and she has forsaken, in this choice, what would otherwise have been a life of comfort free from any stain of defeat, and likely full of opportuinites without the burden of Washington politics.

If she hearkens back to her father, or either of her uncles, their legacies are not over-represented in the halls of Congress now.

Caroline Kennedy embodies the spirit of change. She is a fine figure for the future public servant: someone interested in political service for their own desire to positively influence the lives of their children, rather than capitalistically seeking a way to climb the ladder of power and advantage.

Her lack of experience makes her the perfect choice. If the match is uncomfortable it would be easy enough for her to step back and let a more seasoned Democrat run for the seat. They would not be weighed down with the division of holding the office for the first time and running a campaign.

Joe Clancy (Electronic mail, December 17, 2008)