Loath as I am to admit it Caroline Kennedy might well be our best bet. I worry how serious she is, is she going to exit the Senate feet first? The Senate shouldn't be used as a stepping stone. Power develops in the Senate through seniority. I'm intrigued that she would be probaly the most powerful first term Senators in quite a while. I'm kind of happy she isn't one of those typical pols been making trade offs to get ahead for herself and her friends I think her lack of elected office might be a plus. I worry about how electable she is but I think she could do it if she does a good job in the next couple of years. But if Gov. Paterson appoints her I wouldn't be crying. If Brown really thinks he stands a chance he'd have to be delusional. I don't think it's going to be anybody from upstate. All the others mentioned except Andy Cuomo don't have a chance of statewide electability. And I'm not certain I trust Andy Cuomo I'm not sure he cares about anything but his ambition.

I would vote for Ms. Kennedy if she was running for Clinton's Senate seat. Her support of Obama in the elections was smart.

In my opinion it is wrong to appoint our countries leaders on the basis of their wealth and political legacy. However, the election process is already rigged in favor of the rich and powerful. The fact that Higgins or Brown does not have the capital to run for a Senate seat speaks to greed being the controling factor of our countries government.

Why is the Wall Street ponsi criminal out on bail and why did AGI executives get bonus money from the Federal government bail out? Why does WNY gasoline cost the highest in the lower 48 states? Why is there a rush to destroy the West Side with a truck parking lot for Ron Reinas and why is the Skyway being placed at the back of the bus? Why is D'Youville College allowed to replace homes on the West Side with parking lots in a process that robs residents of their due process and self determination and why has governor Patterson cut funding to schools while providing a subsidy to Rich Stadium? Why does our taxes have to be used to prop up building Bass Pro and why is the money that should be used to improve the streets in our neighborhoods being siphoned off for projects that should be investment funded? Why is the NFTA hiking the cost of riding public transportation on the backs of the poor and not instead reducing management and their pay?

All these questions are suitable in regard to a system that would favor an American citizen who has never ran for public office and subvert a free election process. Senate seats should not be patronage positions.

And I might add Andy Cuomo already has a job. A kind of important job. Doesn't he have a little much on his plate to be running off to the Senate? Or maybe not, maybe he's nothing but an Empty Suit.

I read a news article a while ago about the possibility of Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster being a good choice to fill Hillary Clinton's senate seat. What a great choice he would be! Gov patterson indicated he would pay more attention to upstate, and his selection for the Senate would be a loud and clear message in that regard. I encourage everyone to write to and call media outlets and promote Mayor Dyster. The idea of Caroline Schlossberg, an upper crust effette Manhattanite, would be a step in the wrong direction for upstate. Go Paul!