A good step for Caroline

And good leap for democracy:

I informed Gov. Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate.--Caroline Kennedy

When under extenuating circumstances, it makes sense to me for a person not elected as governor to appoint a person never elected as senator. And indeed, that is what might be happening in the state in which I am domiciled.

But in the spirit of self-government, it would be more seemly for Governor Paterson to appoint someone who has been elected to public office, as opposed to someone with cultural cache.

UPDATE: NY Times reporting Caroline had some housekeeper and tax skeletons in her closet.