The qualifications to be Senator from NY (as there seems to be confusion)

[LanternWaste]

Qualifications.

As Inigo Montoya so famously said, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." These are the qualifications to be Senator from NY:

1. at least 30 years old.
2. a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate.
3. a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate.

And that's pretty much it. Everything else is subjective interpretation and bias-- words that do meet a standard of relevance in this context. So yeah, as far as I know, almost everyone in the beautiful state New York is qualified to run or be appointed. And that's a comforting thought to me.

I certainly don't mind Ms. Kennedy being considered, nor will I wear a black arm band if some else is appointed, I'll be happy as long as it's a Democrat-- so I'm not really speaking from a position of extreme bias one way or the other. I just threw this post out there because it seems we have so many people confused on what the qualifications are...

(And before you throw the "Dynasty" word at me, unless you're ready to support an amendment that denies an American citizen the right to run for office for no other reason than someone's blood lines or lineage, don't. It's patently absurd.)


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[JaneQPublic]

1. How often do they question the quals of male senate candidates?

I suspect this talk of qualifications is at least partially sexist. At least it doesn't seem to arise as often when the candidate is a male without any prior experience as an elected official.

If you go down the list of all current senators, I'm guessing more than one or two had qualifications no more extensive than CKS when first running for the Senate. After all, she is an attorney, just like many sitting senators.

[NashVegas]

2. I Don't Believe It's Sexist - YET

At this point, I think the public resistance of various essay writers is attributable to:

1. Former Clinton backers who are purposefully mimicking the behavior of Obama supporters from 12/07-07/08

2. Obama supporters who threw those same arguments against Clinton and still haven't figured out what rubes they were and/or fear looking like hypocrites. (Too late!)

[sohndrsmith]

3. might want to add the rules (Constitution-wise) when a Senate seat is vacant.

rounds out the argument some, no? : )