Kirsten Gillibrand -- Update

One of the funniest things this weekend was watching Kristen Gillibrand walking the concourse at the Black Puerto Rican Latino Asian Legislative Caucus. She had a staff of Anglo women all looking nervous as all get out as they moved their way through the sea of Black and Brown folks. Like her entourage - Gillibrand was completely tone deaf and ill at ease. She lacks good political instincts and clearly is not used to the retail politics of working a crowd. I was stunned at her lack of political charisma and charm.

She’s a dud — and I don’t know why she got the nod from Governor Paterson.  First of all, she needs to recruit people for her staff that actually know New York and not just the 20th Congressional District. I mean she’s walking down the Concourse and seemingly did not know a soul. The Anglo women all looked really uncomfortable and out of sorts at having to deal with a diverse set of New Yorkers. I don’t think that’s a good way to start a “listening” campaign. She really needs to reach out and get some diversity on her staff REALLY QUICKLY. I mean tuned-in folks who can walk with her in an event like this.  Frankly, I doubt that she can effectively represent all of  New Yorkers if she keeps this up.  Above all Gillibrand needs someone on her staff that constantly whispers in her ear: “Memento te mortalem esse” (remember you are mortal). I seriously doubt she’s interested in “public service” – she’s seems more interested in self-aggrandizement - which given her Al D'Amato connection does not surprise me in the least.

IMO she’ll be lucky to make it to the primary. I don’t think she’s willing to make the necessary changes like fixing that all Anglo staff! She should position herself so that it will be possible to hear other voices and make inroads/friends within the African-American and Latino community. Otherwise her Patroonish blinders will be an albatross around her neck. In other words, it looks like she’ll be a one hit wonder and dead in the water by the next Caucus.