Just caught part of an interview with Caroline Kennedy.

[bertman]

Y' know what I mean, y' know.

For a potential U.S. Senator her public speaking is weak.

[Ian David]

1. Just turn the sound off and watch. n/t

[bertman]

3. I'll try that next time.

:rofl:

[Idealism]

2. Oratory is a required skill for all Senators

It says it right in the Constitution.

[Ian David]

4. I hear Larry Craig gives great oratory.

Oh, wait...

[Idealism]

5. Whose your Orator-In-Chief and what does he do?

[cali]

10. communicating with the public is pretty important

if you want to get elected. If the public feels she's communicating with them, fine. If she can't communicate with the voting public, she'll be in trouble when it comes to getting elected.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

6. It's right up there

with "Ya betcha!"

ya know?

[donheld]

8. It's Hugh, I'm series!

[donheld]

7. "Y' know?"

Big deal.

[midnight]

9. I've only heard her speak a few times, but I always thought

she came across as a thoughtful, caring person. when she introduced her uncle Teddy, at the Democratic convention, her speaking voice and statements were very enjoyable.

[mwb970]

11. You are correct.

But, in recent appearances she has seemed nervous and ill at ease, falling back on verbal tics, like saying "you know" 400 times in 3 interviews. Something like this, though harmless, calls attention to itself and away from her qualifications.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. That's it then.

She's COMPLETELY unqualified to be an INTERIM Senator. She should at least have a law degree or a scandal-free past or have a high degree of intelligence. Oh wait . . .

[robcon]

13. That's not why she unqualified.

She unqualified because she said she will not run for any elective office if she's not appointed Senator.

No commitment whatsoever. She doesn't have a public service committed bone in her body. She wants to be appointed (or should I say anointed)... THEN, AND ONLY THEN she'll run for office (Senator in 2010.)

Her lack of commitment to politics and her potential constituents means that she's pathetically unqualified to be Senator, and an embarrassment to our party.

[Le Taz Hot]

15. My response was to the OP who stated,

and I quote:

"Y' know what I mean, y' know.

For a potential U.S. Senator her public speaking is weak."

He/she was making an argument that Caroline Kennedy shouldn't be a Senator because her public speaking is weak. I just thought it was an incredibly shallow argument.

Frankly, I'm 3000 miles away and don't really have a dog in this fight. I do wonder, however, how you would know "she doesn't have a public service committed bone in her body?" And didn't she actually campaign for President Change and endorse him early on? I don't see how this makes her "an embarrassment to our party."

[bertman]

16. I was NOT making a statement that she should not be a Senator. Where did you get that?

Please go read what I said.

I was commenting on the FACT that she had a very weak presentation during her interview that I saw on the tube. It was very obvious that she was unprepared to speak extemporaneously without fumbling mightily for words.

While that is not in any way an indictment of her knowledge or ability to serve as a Senator, it would be a major impediment to presenting rational arguments in settings where she is called upon to do so "off the cuff". What really struck me was that she spoke like many teenagers I know, rather than the well-educated, self-assured, intelligent person that she obviously is--when not called upon to answer questions in an unscripted way.

The "y' know", "like", "know what I mean", syndrome is widespread in America and is a blight on intelligent discourse.

For the record, I was initially skeptical of her as a choice for the Senate seat because I am sick and tired of DYNASTY POLITICS regardless of whether it's Bushes, Clintons, or Rockefellers. However, after being enlightened by DU regarding her non-political work over the years I have changed my mind and feel that she may actually be a better choice than one of the "machine" politicians who are in line for the job. I disagree with the post that says she hasn't worked her way up the ladder and learned the ropes. To me that will be an asset. We don't need another Senator who feels beholden to the old style of good-old-boy-politics as currently practiced in the Senate--and House.

A fresh, liberal face with intelligence, integrity, and a committment to what's good for the PEOPLE of our country and the world would suit me just fine. But it would be a huge plus if she were articulate enough to hold her own in front of the cameras.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. And if you had stated all that in your OP

you might not have been on the defensive now.

[bertman]

19. If wishes were horses beggars would ride. Give it a rest. Are you having a bad day?

[spanone]

14. so?

[earth mom]

17. So, who gives a shit if she was nervous?

Stop buying into rethug bullshit. :puke:

[applegrove]

20. I used to say "if you know what I mean" after every sentence. I suddenly

stopped saying it. Don't know why.