A Tale of Two Senators

When she was a Representative, I did not care for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and I wasn't alone. Something has happened since she has become a US Senator. She is no longer identifying with the Blue Dogs (and that is a really good thing...think about who the spokesperson for the Blue Dogs is...Heath Shuler. The Heath Shuler! A man whose leadership skills were so valued by the Washington Redskins that he was replaced by Gus Frerotte. Frerotte was memorable for such things as headbutting the wall and giving himself a concussion. Frerotte had better leadership and decision making skills than Shuler and now Shuler speaks for a caucus. See what I am getting at here?) and has worked for a number of issues that are important to New Yorkers as a whole. (Notice, as a whole, as opposed to all New Yorkers, because there are those people who supported Carl Paladino and are still "Mad As Hell" with their baseball bats at the ready.)

In the past couple of weeks, she has been all over the place. Partially due to her work on the DADT repeal, her work on the Zadroga Amendment, and her friendship with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. She was on The View recently (Monday, 1.17.11) talking about all of these and more.



She was also on The Daily Show recently, and like she was on The View, she was charming, intelligent, vibrant, and Senatorial while retaining a sense of whimsy.

I do like that she is also moving to Albany for a short period of time. Why does this make me happy? It just does. I love the area, and I am very happy to have someone as notable as the Senator living here.

And then we have...

Senator Joseph Lieberman...

As I am sure you are aware, Senator Lieberman has announced that he will not seek re-election and it has been reported it is because he does not "want to leave the Senate feet first" and because he no longer fits into any particular political ideology.

That may be true.

My belief is that the are certain politicians who are able to serve until they are eighty because they have the strength of their beliefs that consistently reinvigorates them, while Senator Lieberman does not have the clarity of conscience to believe anew in his platform.

We have two Senators. One on the way up and the other on the way out, and contrasting them is interesting. As Senator Gillibrand became more liberal, her stock rose, and as Lieberman displayed more of his conservative nature, he became more reviled.

So, what does this mean? (or as JMFJT has often said to me, "Get to the point!")

President Obama has been tacking to the Center, which means he has been moving further to the right, since the election in the hope of winning re-election in 2012.

But that is a move in the wrong direction, and I know this runs contrary to prevailing wisdom, but...prevailing wisdom also said that the War in Iraq was a good idea, because President Obama ran on the power of hope and change and his biggest policy initiative has Bill Frist supporting it. That's not hope and change, that's triangulation, and President Obama is a poor substitute for the master of such a "trick".

I think of a line from The West Wing (written by Sam Seaborn and delivered by President Bartlett):

...but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars.

President Obama, please look at the examples set by these two Senators, and embrace the hope, change and excitement of Senator Gillibrand and take to heart the warnings exemplified by Senator Lieberman's shift to the right.

You have time to save your Presidency, and you can let Senator Gillibrand help.