tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post8827085823574649031..comments2023-12-30T23:02:57.931-08:00Comments on Deep Thought: The perils of foot draggingEli Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-78867014027543887292009-01-10T15:00:00.000-08:002009-01-10T15:00:00.000-08:00update:Ritter did take my advice, and chose quickl...update:<BR/><BR/>Ritter did take my advice, and chose quickly and cleanly. Paterson is still dragging his foot, and Blago-- well, he's guaranteed himself a job as a talk-show host if he beats the rap after he's tossed out of office.Eli Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-65711305144081338242008-12-24T17:36:00.000-08:002008-12-24T17:36:00.000-08:00I don't think it's as clear cut as you lay out, El...I don't think it's as clear cut as you lay out, Eli. For instance, there was a lot of behind the scenes discussions regarding the appointment of Biden's replacement, with Biden apparently insisting that nobody be appointed that could stand in Beau's way. While it's never been confirmed, a lot of people believe that Minner wanted to reward her Lt. Governor, John Carney, who lost to Jack Markell in the gubernatorial primary. Biden stated that he'd stay in his Senate seat right up until his inauguration and Markell decided to be sworn in at 12:01 AM that same day, which would then cut Minner out of the decision. After considerable back and forth Minner agreed to nominate the placeholder.<BR/><BR/>In New York, my impression is that Paterson has been blindsided (no pun intended) by the pro-Caroline blitz. I doubt he'd begun to seriously evaluate candidates before that happened, and the way it's going down screams that it's the Kennedy family machine that's orchestrating this. This whole public campaigning thing by Kennedy-Schlossberg for the job is pathetic in my view, since Paterson's the only person she really has to convince.<BR/><BR/>I don't think Blagojevich was planning to draw out his decision all that long, either. Blago probably would have made a decision by now (since unlike the other three seats, this one is actually open) except that the Feds decided to arrest him. My presumption is that they moved when they did because he was selling the seat - there was no real rush to arrest him when they did otherwise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com