Politics on the Hudson

   Will we soon be addressing Caroline Kennedy as U.S. senator? Gov. David Paterson hasn’t been talking about who he will appoint to replace U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, but the news stories keep coming. This one says Kennedy, who lives in New York City, will be the successor. This one quotes anonymous sources saying she will be his pick. This one says the governor hasn’t made up his mind yet.

   Clinton has been tapped as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state, but she has to be confirmed. Paterson said he won’t be announcing a replacement for Clinton until she is confirmed and actually resigns her senator post.

   The New York Times quotes Paterson saying, “It ain’t nothin’ till I calls it,” similar to what major league umpire Bill Klem once said. “And that’s how I’m telling you,” the govenor added, according to the newspaper. “Pass that along to any of these excited people who think they’re going to influence me.”

   Meanwhile, the man appointed to fill Obama’s now-empty Senate seat may not receive a warm welcome when he gets to Washington. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has been accused of attempting to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder, has appointed Roland Burris, former state attorney general, to the position.