Gillibrand is actually not a bad pick (as Dems go). She voted against the bailout and is NRA endorsed. For bonus points, we'll retake the House seat.

Hey, speaking of experience I have an idea. How about we make a governor of a small state with less than 2 years experience a heartbeat away from the White House when we have a guy in his 70s with a history of cancer as President! I mean to use Karol's phrase, "that's two whole years."

Experience is overrated.

I'd take a governor with 5 minutes of experience versus a senator with 10 years. It's a world of difference, I know you know this, stop trying to be so contrarian.

Actually I'm with Dorian on this one. I do think experience is a little overrated in politics. Some of our better presidents (Lincoln is the obvious choice but there are others-Grover the Good had been governor for 2 years before his first term and Arthur's highest post had been collector of the port of NY before his six months as VP) had little experience while some of the worst had bunches of it (I'm thinking Buchanan and Taft though I'm sure others would point fingers at Hoover and the first George Bush). We've also had some less than stellar presidents who had been governors in recent years (namely Clinton, Carter and W).

"a world of difference?" Seriously?

I would venture that Kristin Gillibrand's constituency is as large as the state of Alaska...and, she's actually quite accomplished, and is an Ivy League grad, and has a J.D., and practiced at one of the most respected firms in the nation where she probably actually had to care about what the law said (unlike up in small-town values Alaska)... I mean, if we're comparing her to Palin, its really not a seriously comparison, now is it?

No, of course not, Katie. Palin is like 5 billion times more accomplished. Kristin is one of over 400 people voting on any given issue, Palin is actually RUNNING A STATE, and running it well. Look, mock Alaskan small towns all you want but unlike Democratic women like Hillary or Carolyn, Palin actually got to where she is without a man. And Kristin is a total joke who won a fluke of an election and is nowhere near ready for higher office. It doesn't always have to be knee-jerk partisanship, does it?

Gillibrand was a partner in David Boies' law firm. Remember him ? He was the guy who argued for Gore in 2000. She unlike Kennedy, has actually worked as a lawyer. She's also a magna cum laude grad of Dartmouth. Worked as a lawyer for President Clinton in HUD. Currently serves on the Armed Services Committee. One of the top ten fundraisers in the House. Working mother of two young children.

Champion for abused women. I mean, come on, this woman has been working like a dog. She would be a great Senator.

Another plus is that she's voted in every election.According to the Village Voice, Kennedy has skipped voting in half the elections since 1988 - yet she wrote an essay that year saying how it was important to vote, and that Election Day was more important than July 4.

If Paterson picks her, I won't be voting for him.

Karol: Actually Gillibrand has been elected twice. First Dem to carry the district in decades. Sorry, winning once may have been a fluke, but not twice.

She'd be a great Senator.