Caroline Kennedy Out (this time we mean it) as Senator But Dem Circus Rolls On!

There's never a shortage of clowns in this circus!

note: please play the accompanying theme music for this post by clicking the play button above.

On Monday, it was reported that Caroline Kennedy was the sure pick for the Senate seat in New York now vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, she mysteriously took herself out of the running. Reports vary on what happened next. Either she changed her mind and decided to stay in the running or Governor Patterson asked her to reconsider withdrawing or was leaking damaging stories to the press about her qualifications. It looked for a while like she may be back in, but sadly on Thursday made it official. She's out and Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D) is the likely pick to be announced Friday.

What delicious farce we had going on there for a while and I have to say I am sorry it is over. I was hoping to make quite a bit of use out of the graphic below:

The best thing about a circus is that as an act ends in one ring another begins and in this case they are related. Caroline Kennedy is reported to have withdrawn because of issues surrounding her nanny and taxes. No doubt it was all an "innocent mistake." Where have we heard that before?

If Caroline Kennedy is unfit to be a Senator because of concerns over nanny and tax issues then why are Senators giving Obama's nominee for Treasury Secretary a pass on those same issues? Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner only paid all of his back taxes when he was informed he might be nominated. And yet Senate Democrats on the Finance Committee voted in lockstep to approve Geithner who, if confirmed by the full Senate, would be in charge of collecting taxes on the rest of us.

Do we have a higher standard for Senators than we do for Treasury Secretary in charge of the IRS ?

(O.K. stop laughing)

And let's not forget that in circus rings 2 and 3 we still have the Blogjevitch-Obama senate seat for sale scandal and the bizarre senate race in Minnesota where tragic clown Al Franken (D) is claiming victory after a recount board overlooked the fact that many of the precincts reporting high vote totals for him counted more ballots than voters.

What's next in this circus? Something tells me we won't have to wait long to find out.

After all, the show must go on!