Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Ambadassor To Ireland

So who will it be?

How about Caroline Kennedy? She's got the roots, they adore her father up and down the Emerald Isle, and she's in need of a quiet place to recover after the debacle of her Senate bid.

How about John Sweeney of the AFL-CIO? Bet he knows all the words to The Ballad of James Larkin. Everyone's in a union in Ireland, so Mr. Sweeney would fit right in.

Ambassadorships are handed out like prizes to those who did their bit to support a candidate. Usually they're wealthy, and held fundraisers that bankrolled the campaign. The more they've given, the choicer the spot, and if they gave by the boatload and happen to have Irish roots, it's off to Dublin.

The leading candidate, if rumor is to be believed, will be rather busy this Sunday. His football team is playing in the Super Bowl.

Dan Rooney, Hibernian-rooted businessman, owns the Pittsburgh Steelers so you know he's not hurting for cash. Along with Tony O'Reilly, he founded the Ireland Fund charity, making him a known commodity for the Irish establishment. And early on he supported the Obama candidacy, leaning on his friends to hop on board while annoying many Steelers fans who were backing John McCain. He's got all the credential ducks lined up in a neat little row.

The decision is typically announced around St. Patrick's Day, so there's time for lobbyists to put in a good word for their man.

Any chance that the new President will be spotted in Mr. Rooney's skybox come Sunday?

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