Caroline, No

This post isn't about Brian Wilson's song, but rather another exercise in 1960's nostalgia: the failed attempt by Caroline Kennedy to succeed Hillary Clinton as New York's junior senator.

The Democrats should all send Gov. Patterson a thank you note for not giving into the pressure to name Ms. Kennedy to the seat. Republicans took a hit a couple years back by a nasty string of scandals that created the impression of a "culture of corruption." Something similar could happen to Democrats if they appear to be treating high public office as a mere reward to be conferred on celebrities and other lightweights.

The Democrats have already added Al Franken and Roland Burris to their Senate caucus. Appointing Ms. Kennedy to the seat ahead of innumerable candidates who were better qualified would have appeared frivolous at best, and highly cynical at worst.

Even without Kennedy, Senate Democrats are becoming an increasingly unimpressive lot. Clinton's seat was formerly held by the estimable Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Nobody of his stature remains. The Lion of the Senate, Caroline's Uncle Ted, is in the closing chapter of his Senate career. Robert Byrd, who was once admired as a great defender of the institution, rules, and traditions of the Senate, has been similarly ravaged by age and poor health. The thoughtful and admired Joe Lieberman is a pariah among Democrats. The talented Christopher Dodd has been (justly) tainted on account of preferential treatment he received from a mortgage company. Up-and-comers Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have moved onward and upward.

Unfortunately, the crew left behind in the wake by these stalwarts is decidedly lacking in stature. Majority Leader Harry Reid evokes anything but true leadership. Men like Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin have become the visible face of the Senate Democrats. The only good news is the buffoonish Joe Biden's ascension to the vice presidency, which seems to qualify as addition by subtraction.

In fairness, the talent level of Senate Republicans has probably fallen off as well over the last few years. What's troubling in the case of the Democrats, however, is that there's no strong core of leadership among the senators of Barack Obama's own party to guide him through the difficult times ahead. The Senate was meant to serve not merely as a check on executive power, but as a source of advice and counsel for the president. It would be nice to believe the Senate was stocked with sufficient human capital to serve that function for a young and untested president.