Who will succeed Kennedy as Master of the Senate?

Patty Murray, Herb Kohl, Johnny Isakson, Michael Enzi, Mike Crapo, Jeff Bingaman, Tom Carper, Daniel Inouy, Thad Cochrane, Blanche Lincoln…

You need to be a pretty keen political junkie to know that each of these men and women are current members of the United States Senate. Nor have I cheated by including recent arrivals such as Roger Wicker who are still freshmen and, consequently, justifiably unknown to the rest of the country, never mind internationally. Still, its remarkable how many Senators make no impression whatsoever upon Washington. (Of course, one often has cause to regret the impression made by those that do insist upon making waves, news and bad legislation. But still…)

Doubtless the Senate has never been as classy a joint as its members like to think it. Nor has it always been well-stocked with genuinely impressive figures, far less the kind of politicians who might, even if only on their best days, be worthy of the garland “statesman”.