Which part of "no supporters of abortion" doesn't Obama understand?!

The White House is struggling to find an ambassador for the Vatican. Strike two: Caroline Kennedy, who publicly supports abortion.

It's not that hard, really. The Vatican's requirements are quite straightforward and even has nothing to do with taxes: Don't send us an abortion supporter! That's it! Send us an ambassador who values life and preferably a Catholic.

But President Obama cannot get it through his head that no means no. And the choice of Kennedy? Obviously to make up for her blundered pre-campaign to fill Hillary Clinton's senate seat. He is clearly politicking this diplomat choice, and the result once again demonstrates that he's not as popular in Europe as he thinks. How arrogant of him to push the issue of abortion onto the Holy See?!

I'm not a Catholic and I'm even mad about this appointment! It's truly an insult.

Caroline Kennedy halts senate bid

Is she or isn't she? Today we have confirmation that Caroline Kennedy withdraws her bid as a New York Senator. Although there's been reports of various exchanges between her and Gov. Paterson, the NYT claims it's all about her taxes and a household employee:

Problems involving taxes and a household employee surfaced during the vetting of Caroline Kennedy and derailed her candidacy for the Senate, a person close to Gov. David A. Paterson said on Thursday, in an account at odds with Ms. Kennedy’s own description of her reasons for withdrawing.

The account emerged 14 hours after Ms. Kennedy announced that she was taking her name out of contention for the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, and as Mr. Paterson appeared to be leaning toward selecting Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand, an upstate lawmaker in her second term in Congress.

Hard feelings toward Ms. Kennedy were clearly building among the governor’s staff on Thursday, after a dramatic evening in which she was reported to be dropping out, then wavering, then ultimately, shortly after midnight on Thursday, issuing a statement ending her candidacy.

The likely appointment now? State Attorney Andrew Cuomo.

Caroline Kennedy faces an uphill battle (already)

It's not easy being a Kennedy, even when you have a Senator uncle. And I don't really think lunching with Al Sharpton would help. Come on, is that really a good strategy? Not to mention New York lawmakers are now examining a charity she helps run, The Fund for Public Schools, for questionable exemption grant by the state. Then there are voices against the sense of entitlement just because she's a Kennedy and a buddy of Obama's.

Kennedy off to a bad start in N.Y. senate bid

American politics have changed into a rougher and tougher sport. Just having a Kennedy name doesn't automatically catapult a person to Congress, as we've found out that having a Clinton name doesn't automatically elect a person to the White House. Caroline Kennedy has publicly declared interest in filling Hillary Clinton's senate seat in New York, and she's already touring the state to garner support (and headlines).

Unfortunately for her, she went upstate to meet with mayors and reporters, but her lack of political experience exposed her as the downtown city elite that she is. John Riley of Newsday.com writes:

It's true that NY is, nominally, a Democratic state. But upstate success is a recent phenomenon, and with no economic improvement despite endless promises from Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson, that worm may be ready to turn. Al D'Amato won three terms in the Senate by nurturing class and cultural resentments against Manhattanites with accomplishments like Javits, Holtzman, Green and Abrams.

In what way doesn't Caroline Kennedy fit that mold, without the accomplishments?

Best of luck, Caroline...

New York may get a Sen. Kennedy

With Sen. Hillary Clinton leaving the Senate to become the new Secretary of State, rumor has it that New York Gov. David Paterson may appoint Caroline Kennedy to fill in the seat. And she's said to be considering it.