The Lords of the Senate

In 1913 the U.S. Constitution was amended for the 17th time to allow for the direct election of Senators.

Sounded like a good idea at the time. After all, who isn't in favor of democratic elections?

in this case, well, me.

The original Article I, Section iii of the Constitution provided for each State Legislature to choose their Senator, thus fostering an even greater link between State and Federal Governments with higher authority being held by the former. You know, Federalism. This modern system has turned the U.S. Senate from a chamber acting on behalf of their State, the State that sent them to Washington D.C., into a an American version of the House of Lords.

And this is a bi-partisan bastardization of Federalism. From Ted Stevens (found innocent) to Ted Kennedy (never found guilty) and every Biden, Dodd, Thurmond and KKK member Byrd in between, the Senate has morphed into an Upper House dedicated to self-preservation and nation priorities and even hereditary rule.

When Bobby Kennedy decided he wanted into politics, after LBJ fired him from the DOJ, he moved to a State with an open seat and a democrat/Catholic population that would sympathetically vote for him despite being underqualified. Some 40+ years later First Lady Hillary Clinton did the same thing. Neither cared about New York. Neither were New Yorkers. I'm sure they loved the City and even though Bobby enjoyed schtuping Marilyn Monroe at The Plaza on 5th Avenue and Hillary loved her Fundraisers in East Hampton, neither extra-curricular activities should constitute residency. A State Legislature would not pick such carpet baggers who would use and abuse 1/100 of the Senate while mounting a Presidential bid.

After Senator Clinton was named Secretary of State (remember how Senator Obama attacked her foreign policy credentials as nothing more than tea time with first ladies? After he won the primary I guess she became qualified. Funny how that works. Obama, after all, had more foreign policy experience. He was born in Indonesia. But that's another story) Caroline Kennedy decided she wanted to job. And in the American House of Lords, that should be enough. Family name and personal wealth are sufficient credentials.

John Corzine also desired to be a Lord. So he bankrolled a few million dollars into a campaign to buy his dutchy of New Jersey. Then headed to Washington to tell people in other dutchies what their education program should look like.

Recently Beau Biden decided to renounce his father's seat, kept warm for him by a temp appointment. At least one Biden is smart. Scott Brown's victory over the witless, gutless, clueless Martha Coakley is a step in the democratic direction. Baroness Coakley assumed that little effort would be needed to assume her position as a Lady of the Senate. After all, should she "stand out in the cold at Fenway?" to greet the peasants on her Feudal Manor? Hell no! She was the successor of Sir Edward Kennedy, Duke of Hyannisport, Lord of Chappaquiddick Bridge and Jamison Fine Irish Whiskey. Martha would not, should not need to "work" for this position like a candidate to The Commons. Martha by right, by inheritance, was above such efforts.

Damn that green truck and its 200,000 miles.

Lord Robert Byrd has hung in the throws of death for about 15 years. He has been a Senator since the battle of Bull Run (he calls it Manassas Junction and still laments the war's outcome.) Sir Christopher Dodd is finally stepping down. And Sir Arlen Specter may too be ousted from his, yes HIS, seat.

Scott Brown taught us a good lesson. It is not Ted Kennedy's seat- or anyone's seat. All true Senators should know that they are classic interlopers. May the people, the rabble commoners, now called "tea baggers" by some Lords return the Senate to its purpose and intent: defending the rights of the States from the crown, er, President.